Cabin Crew interview process ended based on weight - discrimination?

[CityCommuter]

I feel sorry for a friend who has always wanted to be a flight attendant / part of cabin crew for as long as I can remember. She applied and got as far as the first interview phase having already submitted a detailed application form. The form states that 'weight must be in proportion to height'.

She believes that the interview panel judged her when she walked into the room by the way they looked at her (UK size 18, height 5'5"). Obviously weight wasn't mentioned but she didn't get approval for the next interview phase. She thinks it's discrimination on their part and that it shouldn't matter even if she was a size 24! She doesn't even look like a size 18 btw but more like a 14. I'd like to advise her to lose a few pounds but can't as she has always been very sensitive to any weight related conversation even if talking about someone else! What advise would you give her?

I know a guy whose life’s ambition was to be a police officer. He watched every police show on the telly, read everything he could find about the police and applied to join as soon as he was old enough.

He didn’t get in because he failed the (fairly basic) fitness test. Twice. Whose fault is that?

If your friend really wants to get a cabin crew job, she will do whatever it takes to lose the weight. If she doesn’t, she won’t. It really is as simple as that.

We are all thinking size 18 is fat?

You absolutely cannot tell your friend to lose some weight. You sound like a nightmare and not a friend at all

@Daisychaincarrot

We are all thinking size 18 is fat?

You absolutely cannot tell your friend to lose some weight. You sound like a nightmare and not a friend at all

Eh?

Of course it is discrimintion but that doesn't mean it is wrong for the airline to discriminate on the basis of weight. They will also discriminate on the basis of age and some disabilities because of the nature of the job. Discrimination is not always wrong, sometimes it is necessary.

you should have a look at Emirates cabin crew criteria/ uniform

I am size 18. I agree with the airline. I would not be agile enough in emergencies. Also obese have higher chance of clots and taht combined with highten chances with flying often is quite a risk increase.

@Daisychaincarrot You don’t think size 18 at 5 foot 5 is fat?

Size 18 at 5'5 is likely to be obese and not a suitable weight to be cabin crew who need to squeeze past passengers in tight spots and be pretty agile in general. I used to be that size although a couple of inches taller and there is no way I would have been able to do a physically demanding job like that when I was so overweight. It sucks for your friend and I know it's not always easy to lose weight, but if she is really serious about it then I'd suggest pointing her in the direction of books by Jason Fung or Michel Molesey.

I'd advise her to ask for feedback from the interview panel. Has she done that, or is she just guessing based on her own insecurities?

@Daisychaincarrot

We are all thinking size 18 is fat?

You absolutely cannot tell your friend to lose some weight. You sound like a nightmare and not a friend at all

Speaking as a size 18 myself, yes it is fat.

Did she not research this beforehand.Do we see size 24 jockeys?

Size 18 at 5ft 5 is fat. Even size 16 is plump or hefty if you prefer at that height.

I'm 5.7 and size 18 to 20 and I absolutely would not be suitable for that job. Plane aisles are narrow and awkward and you have to squeeze into teeny spaces. It's not that they are looking down on her or judging her for being bigger, its just practicality, she will find most aspects of the job difficult to impossible because she takes up more space that just doesn't exist on an aircraft.

Weight has always been a thing with this job. Some airlines seem to stick to it more rigidly than others but there are practical and health reasons why being overweight as cabin crew is a problem. It’s not just about looking the part as a “sexy stewardess”, it’s about the tight working environment, being able to assist passengers in a small space, risk of blood clots, etc so if they think she’s too big, then she is. And I say this as a size 18/20. I was told when I was younger by someone that worked for an airline that I’d be perfect for it, so I looking into applying but at a size 12-14 I was still too big!!

Sorry but cabin crew need to be slim in order to squeeze past the trollies blocking the aisle / deal with emergencies etc . There’s also the whole issue of the airline brand . People who’s weight is in proportion to height are going to look a lot more attractive in uniform than obese people . Sorry if that offends but it’s the reality of the situation

Size 18 at 5’5 isn’t just fat, it’s clinically obese.

She believes that the interview panel judged her when she walked into the room by the way they looked at her (UK size 18, height 5'5").

Judging her is their job. She has absolutely no idea what part of that judgement meant she didn't get through though. She can't go shouting discrimination without actually knowing the reason she wasn't chosen. That's utterly ridiculous.

I'm surprised airlines are interviewing for more cabin crew. Haven't they furloughed/laid off a huge number?

It's got fuck all to do with safety and everything to do with image. Cabin crew have to look a certain way. Even for budget airlines.

It's not a protected characteristic, so it's not discrimination.

If it says in the person spec that weight should be in proportion to height that's what they're looking for.
It's that simple.
In no way is that discrimination

@Daisychaincarrot

We are all thinking size 18 is fat?

You absolutely cannot tell your friend to lose some weight. You sound like a nightmare and not a friend at all

It's not about whether she is 'fat'. There'll be a specific width that every member of staff needs to be within. They don't employ rugby player sized men, either, even if their width is 90% muscle.

You have to be fairly slender to be flight crew, for safety reasons. It's not an insult.

OP is consulting a forum to get advice on how to advise her friend. She also feels sorry for her friend and wants to help. Doesn't sound much of a nightmare to me. In fact, if a friend was doing that for me, I'd be quite touched.

By the way , I wouldn’t give her any advice if I were you . If she owns a mirror then she knows she’s obese

Did they say it was because of her size?
If not, then I’d say she didn’t cut the mustard on the day.
I’m ex cabin crew and there were crew of all shapes and sizes. Though, you had to be over a certain height, which wasn’t a problem for me at 5’10”. I also speak another language fluently.
From the top of my head the two airlines that would be bothered with weight would be Emirates and Virgin.

I agree with the fact it's got significant health impacts. I'm not a huge person myself but I'm not skinny either and I have had DVTs and PEs after flying.

It's significantly more likely if you're overweight to develop clots and you're lucky if they're not in your head or your heart.

Not to mention the logistical issues of getting up and down the aisle with passengers, trolleys and luggage.

Likewise you need to be below a specific weight if you want to train as a telephone line engineer. It's not discrimination, it's a job requirement.

She needs to ask them for feedback because it mightn't have been her weight that decided it. There might have been something else. She might or might not have a chance on reapplication, if she lost weight. It would be worth her while finding that out.