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?

Not discrimination, but I would avoid advising her. She knows why they didn't want to hire her, even if she thinks it's unfair, and you say she's sensitive on the subject. I can't see how you can phrase it without her feeling hurt or annoyed.

@MarianneUnfaithful

On the NHS BMI calculator she is at the end of the scale for obesity with a BMI if 41.9

She may have not passed the interview for any number of issues but to call ‘discrimination’ is deluded

There are long lists of jobs she could not go for at that weight.

You can’t give advice.

How have you been able to work out her BMI when you don't know what she weighs?

Not discrimination. Risk of dvt higher if you are overweight, flying all the time not ideal. Squeezing past in narrow aisles, risk for health and safety too.

Good luck to your friend, hope she will lose a few kg and try again, not feel upset by this.

I've always thought obliging women staff to wear heels & makeup when men don't have to, is more discriminatory.

That serves absolutely no practical purpose, whereas I get it that being broad of beam, so that you have to go down the aisle crab fashion, can't squeeze past a trolley or strap in on a tiny tip up seat, might be awkward.

Having flown last night so it's fresh in my mind, the test should be if you can comfortably sit in an economy seat. If you don't mind a little podge, use Qatar Airways seat, if you want a skinnybalinks, use a Turkish airline's seat. Extra points for Turkish if you can be as rude as possible to everyone you encounter, it's apparently a part of the job

It’s not discrimination if her weight would potentially hinder her ability to do the job properly. Also if she can’t be sure that she got declined because of her weight and this is based on assumption it’s a bit statement to make without any proof.

If that's the reason then yes it is discrimination but all sorts of discrimination is perfectly legal and for good reasons.

Lots of airlines have what seem to be strange rules but are actually quite sensible eg being able to close the overhead bin but not being too tall that they have to stoop to do their job.

Most flight crew don't see an emergency in their entire careers but they are all still trained in what to do. This is why pilots cannot have beards, if a plane looses pressure the pilots' masks have to fit securely. It's also why flight attendants have to be able to swim.

i remember being surprised seeing an over weight air stewardess, does she even know why she wasnt successful ?

I was rejected as cabin crew for being too tall (over 6ft and then add in the heels and hat). Your body needs fo fit the role for so many reasons.

@WithANameLikeDaniCalifornia

So they didn’t say anything about her weight? She’s just paranoid and wants to feel like a victim?

This.

I got sacked as cabin crew for putting too much weight on haha. That was in the 1980s though. It was all that fatty flight food and peanuts.

You have no idea why she didn't make it through to the next interview stage because they have not given a reason. Your post title is just pure conjecture.

Your friend should ask them why she didn't get through. Most companies will offer interview feedback. If the reason they give is her weight then I would honestly see that a good news, because it's something she can change. She can lose some weight and then go back and interview again, and hopefully be offered a position.

Which airlines are recruiting?

I'm fairly certain - when I was a lass - there were actually height and weight restrictions on flight attendants.

Has that gone now? Is it now still there but unstated? (Which seems unfair - not knowing the limits)

Weight in proportion with height is arbitory isn't it - your friend feels she is and with out actually stated weightor height there's no way to make her realise she's not. Unless they had one of those cages she had to fit into - like the hand luggage ones - she might realise but that would be more humiliating in an interview than just not getting through to the next round.

* So they didn’t say anything about her weight? She’s just paranoid and wants to feel like a victim?*
^This

Probably less she wants to feel the victim and more that she knows full well she doesn't fit that required height fitting weight proportion. She just doesn't want to accept it.

Would your friend pass the swimming test? Can she swim underwater?

GThe form states that 'weight must be in proportion to height'. *
Did she not think to investigate that statement further before spending time filling out an application form and attending an interview.

Yabu .

This is a strange one. There are a myriad of books, forums and Facebook groups dedicated to getting getting a job as CC. Surely someone who's dream was to be CC would be prepared and know that being too fat would automatically disqualify them. Everyone knows that there are hardly any size ranges for the uniform. Indeed the Singapore airlines uniform comes in one size - tiny.

Which airlines are actively recruiting?

It’s not discrimination if her weight would potentially hinder her ability to do the job properly.

It is discrimination, but perfectly legal and acceptable imo.

Ryan Air are recruiting it seems

careers.ryanair.com/cabin-crew/

(I just had a nose to see if I could get a job as CC - suprised I can as I struggle to reach into their overhead lockers!!)

Has she seen the crew rest area on long haul aircraft? In a previous job as a size 14 I had to perform a security sweep pre-flight and I would struggle. It's tiny and claustrophobic. A size 18 would find it impossible to access.

Why would she automatically assume it's about her weight if nobody mentioned her weight and she only looks like a size 14? Presumably she just did a shit interview, but even if it was based on weight she knew she didn't fit the criteria and wasted their time.

That is very overweight though, size 18 at that height. I'm 5'11. I would be very over weight at a size 18.