Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think the new British Airways uniform (announced today) is awful?

288 replies

Waterandair · 06/01/2023 16:12

The options are either a jumpsuit all in one or what is basically a suit and skirt. The males are fine with their suit but us the girls have been screwed over. Myself and pretty much every other crew member I know think it’s awful, we’ve been told if we don’t agree to wear it then our contracts will be terminated. Nothing feminine about it. Your fine wearing the suit if your a man but us females will look so manly it’s terrible!

To think the new British Airways uniform (announced today) is awful?
To think the new British Airways uniform (announced today) is awful?
To think the new British Airways uniform (announced today) is awful?
To think the new British Airways uniform (announced today) is awful?
To think the new British Airways uniform (announced today) is awful?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Rachaelrachael · 06/01/2023 18:40

I agree it's absolutely vile. Reminds me of my old Thomas Cook cabin crew uniform from 15 years ago. With some extra red triangles 😂

BIWI · 06/01/2023 18:39

mynamesnotMa · 06/01/2023 18:32

It's like an old 80s Marks and Spencer uniform....no trousers blimey. Even the models look dowdy.
I'd wear the boiler suit and cut a whole in the crotch region.

@mynamesnotMa

If you'd bothered to read the whole thread you'd see that there are trousers!

BIWI · 06/01/2023 18:37

Too true @ReviewingTheSituation!

No uniform will suit/please everyone, but there are 4 different things to choose from - that's 4 times as many choices I had when I had a uniform for work

When I worked at Safeway (a million years ago now) we had a very fetching (not!) nylon overall. That was all.

Too long on me as I'm a shortarse. And we had to wear American Tan tights underneath it. Not allowed to wear trousers.

LicoricePizza · 06/01/2023 18:36

Why a jumpsuit?? Totally impractical. Why wld they sign off on that? Obvs nobody will wear it & will stick to the skirt combo.

MintyFreshOne · 06/01/2023 18:34

You’re at work, not London fashion week

Apropos of nothing, Hainan Airlines has the best uniform and they debuted it at Paris Fashion Week iirc. That blazer 😍

To think the new British Airways uniform (announced today) is awful?
saltinesandcoffeecups · 06/01/2023 18:33

BIWI · 06/01/2023 17:32

As so many people seem not to have read the article, and have only read the OP, here's the article in full, with the important bits in bold:

British Airways is the latest airline to try to shake-off that reputation with its first uniform revamp in 20 years - and it includes a jumpsuit.

It follows Virgin Atlantic allowing male pilots and crew to wear skirts and female colleagues to choose trousers.

As well as the all-in-one, designer Ozwald Boateng has also created a tunic and hijab for BA's new uniform.

But it has taken some time to get the clothes from the page to the plane - nearly five years in fact, including two years of delays because of the coronavirus pandemic.

During that time, Mr Boateng's designs have been put through their paces including testing the gear for BA's outdoor workers in freezing temperatures and pouring rain.

Finally the collection will be rolled out in spring for BA's 30,000 staff. Mr Boateng, a Savile Row tailor, has designed a three-piece suit for men while women can choose to wear a dress, skirt or trousers.

Staff will be allowed to order different cuts - normal or skinny-fit trousers - and will be able to book a fitting so the uniform is more tailored.

As for the jumpsuit, that will be for female check-in staff at first but BA expects cabin crew to be able to wear them by the middle of the year - after further testing.

Female cabin crew have already been trying out the new uniform and asked for changes. Emma Carey said: "The pockets on the apron, for example, were widened after the trial so we had more room for everything we need during meal services on board."

Engineers also requested tool pockets, and ground handlers asked for glove fabric that could cope with touch screens.

Last year, rival airline Virgin Atlantic announced it was taking a "fluid approach" to uniforms which allowed staff to choose their clothing "no matter their gender".

Savile Row tailor Ozwald Boateng has designed a three-piece suit for BA's male employees

Though it later said the policy did not apply to crew on board the England football team's flight to the World Cup in Qatar, which has been criticised for its treatment of LGBT people.

A spokesperson for BA said that although its uniforms were gendered, it has a policy which allows staff who identify as a certain gender to wear that clothing.
British Airways pilot uniforms

BA's uniforms by Ozwald Boateng (left) will replace those designed by Julien MacDonald

"As a colleague, you can chat to us about that and you can wear what you want. We've got a number of transgender colleagues, and have had that policy for decades," he said.

BA relaxed its dress code last year by allowing male pilots and cabin crew to wear makeup and nail varnish.

As for the jumpsuit, that will be for female check-in staff at first but BA expects cabin crew to be able to wear them by the middle of the year - after further testing.

🤣Hopefully that testing includes field trials!

CousinKrispy · 06/01/2023 18:33

Ooh I quite like that dress

mynamesnotMa · 06/01/2023 18:32

It's like an old 80s Marks and Spencer uniform....no trousers blimey. Even the models look dowdy.
I'd wear the boiler suit and cut a whole in the crotch region.

ReviewingTheSituation · 06/01/2023 18:30

SO MANY posts about the impracticality of a jumpsuit in a plane toilet... which is very true, but
A- the jumpsuit is currently ground staff only
B- the jumpsuit is not compulsory. There is a choice of skirt, dress and 2 diffent cuts of trouser.

No uniform will suit/please everyone, but there are 4 different things to choose from - that's 4 times as many choices I had when I had a uniform for work.

caravanbuckie · 06/01/2023 18:28

@CryInToYourCornflakesNicola

The Concorde team are airport staff

Whattaboutit · 06/01/2023 18:27

I’m thinking the jumpsuit is purely a PR exercise and will never see action. Virgin got loads of press about their new gender neutral uniform so BA needed something to garner headlines as well.

Agree the uniform is awful. The Guide uniform skirt was like that in the 80s. Plain navy but exactly that style.

CryInToYourCornflakesNicola · 06/01/2023 18:26

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 06/01/2023 17:39

These look like ladies' trousers to me. But perhaps the Concorde crew are different?

Uh, 20 years since Concorde flew. I think their ladies trousers are well past useable.

caravanbuckie · 06/01/2023 18:22

@marmiteislife

There should be an option for women to wear trousers if they want

There is.

KnitterNat · 06/01/2023 18:18

FictionalCharacter · 06/01/2023 18:01

The pilot uniform with the badly cut jacket and culottes is one of the ugliest uniforms I’ve ever seen.

That is really shocking.

marmiteislife · 06/01/2023 18:16

I don’t mind the dress. Not keen on the rest (and agree with the point about jumpsuits and toilet visits) but I’ve never seen cabin crew on any airline wearing something I would actually choose! There should be an option for women to wear trousers if they want but otherwise it’s not too bad. At least there will be proper fittings. In my job I’m stuck with a unisex uniform that takes no account of women’s hips so I either have a top that’s too tight around the hips or massive around the shoulders.

Waterandair · 06/01/2023 18:14

WonderingWanda · 06/01/2023 18:12

Really unflattering. That dreadful red triangle at the front, horrid cut to the jacket and what are they thinking with a jumpsuit! It reminds me very much of one to the old Woolworths uniforms I used to wear and hate. Anyone remember the one with the green shirt? Same sort of dreadful shaped skirt and toppled off with a straw hat if you were really lucky and worked in the cafe!

This

OP posts:
Ellmau · 06/01/2023 18:13

It looks like a school uniform, and not a good one.

The men's suit is quite smart in comparison.

londonmummy1966 · 06/01/2023 18:12

THe tunic and slightly baggy trousers that are fitted at the ankle that you can see in the background of the video actually look quite nice, comfortable and forgiving so perhaps you should all opt for that version. (It is probably the least "designed" of all the outfits but I have to say that beyond the dire (lack of) design, the cut and fit of the women's clothes is terrible - probably what you would expect from a Saville Row tailor who has never learnt to fit a female form. The single button below the bust fastening means the jacket won't sit well on anyone.

WonderingWanda · 06/01/2023 18:12

Really unflattering. That dreadful red triangle at the front, horrid cut to the jacket and what are they thinking with a jumpsuit! It reminds me very much of one to the old Woolworths uniforms I used to wear and hate. Anyone remember the one with the green shirt? Same sort of dreadful shaped skirt and toppled off with a straw hat if you were really lucky and worked in the cafe!

Sidge · 06/01/2023 18:12

@Waterandair Just because it’s approved doesn’t mean you have to wear it! Looks like there are plenty of options.

As long as what you choose to wear fits, is washable and comfortable and reasonably smart who cares what it looks like really. You’re at work, not London fashion week.

Username6194 · 06/01/2023 18:11

On paper, there are a lot of options. Skirt/dress/jumpsuit/ trousers.

It's the actual design which looks horrendous, uncomfortable and unflattering.

Chersfrozenface · 06/01/2023 18:10

The photo on the BBC website shows the jumpsuit being modelled in the cabin of an aircraft. The model is leaning on the back of a passenger seat.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64184902.amp

Waterandair · 06/01/2023 18:06

Sidge · 06/01/2023 18:04

The jumpsuit is just for ground crew currently….

Talk about a storm in a teacup!

currently… the jumpsuit is still pending approval by the CAA for us cabin crew and BA are hoping to have it approved for us by the time they roll out the uniforms in spring. It’s all awful though, there’s so much wrong with these new uniforms

OP posts:
geonosis · 06/01/2023 18:05

Frumpy! I agree about the red slash looking like a leak!

Sidge · 06/01/2023 18:04

The jumpsuit is just for ground crew currently….

Talk about a storm in a teacup!

Swipe left for the next trending thread