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Original poster

Cabin Crew interview process ended based on weight - discrimination?

361 replies

CityCommuter · 07/07/2021 22:35

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?

OP posts:
Essentialironingwater · 08/07/2021 06:58

Did she actually ask for your advice? If not I'd just give sympathy.

She must've noticed she'd never seen a large steward!

Signoramarella · 08/07/2021 07:00

I joined BA,in 1998. The interview was perfect, afterwards I had a job offer , conditional on fact that I would get under 10 stone as a requisite. It was my dream, so, at 5 feet 5, I went on a diet. 12 month later I was on my training course. No. I didn't find it insulting, I was only half z stone over. And yes, the job was worth it. Changed my life. Had an amazing ten years as crew! No way could a size 18 do what we did. Squeeze past trolleys, sleeping 747 bunks a metre narrow. Up and down a380 stairs, with trays, no way. Think about it. Wishing your friend luck, diet and try again.

Doghead · 08/07/2021 07:02

@WithANameLikeDaniCalifornia

So they didn’t say anything about her weight? She’s just paranoid and wants to feel like a victim?
This!!
BarbaraofSeville · 08/07/2021 07:11

@moynomore

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.

Men could also argue that the upper height limit disproportionately affects men, but obviously the height and weight limits are legal discrimination due to the requirements of the job.

I'm surprised they got as far as a face to face interview without discussing weight with candidates as in looking at full length photos for example, although it could be that if they have an otherwise good candidate who's slightly above their requirements they could tell them 'you can have a job if you lose X amount of weight before Y date'?

While your friend seems to be fixated on her weight as the reason for not employing her, perhaps it was other aspects of the interview performance?

After all many people think it's about looking glamorous, serving food and drink and chatting with passengers, but obviously the cabin crew have to be competent in calmly following safety procedures in stressful and frightening situations plus the day to day physical aspects of the job - being on their feet for long hours, opening and closing the door, shifts etc so maybe they didn't think she was up to this aspect of the job. I know someone who went to an assessment centre as part of a group interview situation and she walked out because she knew she couldn't deal with this sort of stuff.

Xenia · 08/07/2021 07:13

So she knew the requirement, chose in effect to lie by putting herself forward and wasted the time of the interviewers - I think she ought to pay a bill for all that time her deception cost them!

PearlNextDoor · 08/07/2021 07:15

Yeh, I would hate to hear of a woman rejected from a role in a shop or an office for her weight, but why is she squaring up to be made feel overweight?

midsomermurderess · 08/07/2021 07:21

She is overweight, very overweight.

PearlNextDoor · 08/07/2021 07:23

@CityCommuter just reading your OP again and I don't know if you're coming back, but the fact that you say she is very sensitive around the issue of being overweight even if the subject isn't herself, I wonder if she is in a bit of denial and was using this experience (being cabin crew) to perpetuate that denial, ie, her weight is FINE, except, it didn't work out :-/

You will not be able to say the right thing so say NOTHING
That'll be wrong too..

girlmom21 · 08/07/2021 07:25

@PearlNextDoor

Yeh, I would hate to hear of a woman rejected from a role in a shop or an office for her weight, but why is she squaring up to be made feel overweight?
Would you hate to hear of someone dying on an aeroplane because the person who was supposed to administer their first aid couldn't get to them because of their size though? It's a bit different conditions-wise.
LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 08/07/2021 07:29

She is almost certainly correct that they did reject her on account of her weight/size. But it’s not discrimination in accordance with Equality Act.

The application form made it plain that height and weight need to be in proportion. This applies to men and to women. The demands of the job make it necessary. I do think she was a bit daft to apply given the requirements. She could have saved herself the rejection and the interviewers some time by adhering to the requirements.

I do feel sympathy for your friend though.

mummyh2016 · 08/07/2021 07:41

I used to be CC and my ex employer is one of the very few hiring at the moment so I can only presume it is the same airline.
13 years ago when I did my training the largest uniform size that was offered was a 16. Sorry but if you're bigger than that you will struggle to do the job. You're on your feet all day. Plus the harness' on the jumpseats aren't huge. If you can't fasten it what do you expect to happen.

33feethighandrising · 08/07/2021 07:41

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Teddy1970 · 08/07/2021 07:42

I'm previous cabin crew Op, I worked for a major Airline for over 17 years and it's always been this way, it's not discrimination it's safety, some aircraft types have overwing exits which are pretty tight to get through and if she's in charge of that door and she needs to get the passengers out in an emergency she will probably get stuck, in fact obese passengers are not allowed to sit in the seats opposite them either. Being on a long flight in a cramped space takes its toll on your body, you swell up and your uniform gets ever so tight even if you're really slim, it's so uncomfortable I can't imagine flying for a living being a size 18 or above.

careerchangeperhaps · 08/07/2021 07:42

Size 18 isn't 'weight in proportion to height' neither is size 14.
It's no secret that cabin crew need to be on the slimmer side of normal. I'm sure it's partly for vanity reasons but also health and safety. The working environment is challenging in terms of space - it wouldn't be safe for a larger person to be working in that role.
Hopefully this will incentivise her to loose some weight and get her dream job.

careerchangeperhaps · 08/07/2021 07:43

PS I'm 5'5" and wear a size 12, but with a BMI of 25.6, I'm overweight. Your friend is probably very overweight if not obese.

Katkinsgreyy · 08/07/2021 07:44

I knew someone who had an interview for a flight assistant job.
They did check height and weight (she was around 4 stone overweight)
And also she had to cover up any visible tattoos. She didn't get the job.

The cabins are so narrow that I can understand why the staff have to be a certain size.

BarbaraofSeville · 08/07/2021 07:45

If it was all about being easy on the eye for passengers, they wouldn't have female cabin crew wearing such ugly shoes

I understand that high heels aren't practical, but the compromise shouldn't be those horrible blocky semi heeled shoes they do wear. Surely they could come up with something better than that?

mrsnec · 08/07/2021 07:45

I had several cabin crew interviews in my youth. At one point I was convinced it was the life for me.

I failed several interviews. BA told me it was because my second language was French and they needed Asian language speakers, JAL didn't give me a reason, Virgin said it was because I failed the mental arithmetic test. I was wieghed and measured at a Thomas cook interview in front of the other candidates. I found it humiliating. (5ft3 size 14) I got a job after that as a rep for Tui and felt I had a better life than my cabin crew friends.

The ones who worked for BA had to wait years for the good trips then spent only 24 hours there, staff travel was very restrictive I'd hate being told how to wear my hair or what colour lipstick to wear and I agree I would be uncomfortable in my weight in confined spaces and I can't reach the overhead lockers that wasn't explained at application process.

Also crew life can be quite lonely and not always a stable profession. I can imagine some airlines recruiting now for when they're back up and running. Several crew I know have re-trained in other professions during the pandemic and aren't going back.

If I wanted to convince someone it's not the profession for them I don't think I'd focus on the weight thing I think I'd focus on the other negatives of the profession which, in my view, there are many.

HerMammy · 08/07/2021 07:45

@33feethighandrising
Have you just ignored all the pp who are cabin crew and state the reasons for weight/size being relevant?
Do you think someone at 20st can do the job easily?

FrankButchersDickieBow · 08/07/2021 07:46

I think this OP is a load of old bollocks tbh.

PenelopeP1tstop · 08/07/2021 07:46

Clearly a load of nonsense thread designed to get some of you frothing about fat people. Airlines aren't recruiting at the moment

BirdsandBeesmakinghay · 08/07/2021 07:48

Quite apart from all the comments above, the extra weight has a bearing on the weight load of the plane. If all the crew were several stones overweight, that would affect the amount of fuel burnt. Of course staff need to be slim for all the reasons above. It’s obvious.

motogogo · 08/07/2021 07:49

Once upon a time they would state you needed to be slim, size 8 - 10 but nowadays they say proportional to height to allow for particularly tall people. I'm taller than your friend, 2 sizes smaller and definitely not proportional, I'm fat.

It's not just size, they need to be fit, able to be on their feet for 8 + hours and whilst size and fitness aren't completely aligned it's a half decent approximation. If it's her dream job why not loose weight? I certainly need to as well so I have sympathy but it's easier with a goal

careerchangeperhaps · 08/07/2021 07:51

@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

Erm.. yes. Size 18 is most definitely fat at 5'5".
CaptainMyCaptain · 08/07/2021 07:53

@CareBear50

Sorry but for this job I don't see it as discrimination.

Air stewards need to be quick on their feet in case of emergency, and able to squeeze past passengers if necessary. Being a size 18 would hamper the ability to do that.

And I say that as a v overweight person myself.

This. They could be called upon to save lives and need to be able to move quickly. I'd say it was more about fitness for the job than appearance.