Donning my hard hat for this one - cabin crew appearance

[TellerTuesday]

I do realise I'm probably going to get flamed for this but has anyone else noticed a real decline in the appearance of cabin crew members?

Just had a flight with Virgin and the female members honestly looked dreadful. Ill fitting uniforms, red trousers stretched over VPL bottoms, tight white gaping shirts, one had a drab cardigan over the top.

I realise it's a sexist notion but when I was younger they always looked so glamorous strutting through the airport in their heeled court shoes (mainly flat now it appears), immaculate hair and make up.

Also thought the same when I last flew with TUI. The male cabin crew always seem to look well turned out.

In the early days of plan travel it was seen as a luxury because of the cost. International long haul travel wasnt as well used.. It wasn't seen the same as a coach or train. So, it was an occasion.

I think it depends on the airline. I fly lots long and short haul for work and noticed the cabin crew (male and female) on Qatar, Emirates, Ethiopian, Kenya Airways etc. seem younger and more made up. The crew on American and European carriers seemed older on average and not wearing as much make up. It hasn’t made any difference to me personally and their appearance didn’t have any direct impact on their ability to do their job.

Yes but we’re talking about now.

What an idiotic thing to get het up over.

I'd just be glad that the uniforms are more practical and they can be comfortable, hopefully without the ridiculous requirement to be under a certain bodyweight.

This thread made me wonder about cabin crew salary. If Google is correct, it’s lamentably low.

When I was a child in the 80s you used to get your photo taken coming off the plane. I've photos of us, my mum looks like a movie star and my sister and I are in pretty little dresses. These days we're all in our baggy sweats and trainers for comfort. Just like it should be imo.

Flying is a lot more accessible, no more glamorous than taking the train. It would look ridiculous if cabin crew were dolled up to the nines and in 6 inch heels, times have moved on thank god.

My husband is a pilot. His suits are awful. Kids literally have better quality school uniforms.

I am old enough to remember Tanner Krolle cabin crew bags (!!!!) in BA, gorgeous staff and amazing uniforms. Perfectly done hair. It was difficult not to ogle when admiring their perfection. Today they all look like Agnieska and Petar from RyanAir and sound like that too, I am afraid.

Depends on the airline. Basic is low. Cabin crew can earn commission on on board sales. Crew usually get a flying allowance per hour checking in (some airlines pay this 24 hours a day while away on a trip) and/or sector pay (an amount per landing). Sector pay and flying allowance are tax free. There are also extra allowances for people with nursing/ medical qualifications and additional languages. Some bases are tax free.

While down route or if not at base hotel accommodation is paid for aswell as transport. Most hotels offer crew discount or food allowance (depends on what has been negotiated). We used to stay at a few all inclusive which were nice. I've stayed at Ritz Carltons, many Hiltons, Intercontinental but also some questionable hotels. There is usually share options and free medical cover. All airline dependent.

Crew can make quite a bit. I used to bank my flying allowance and save it. A friend of mine worked for sn airline in a county where they are paid tax free and saved enough to buy a house when she eventually came home.

Should add. I haven't worked for a low cost carrier and wouldn't so can't comment on their salary/ payments.

QANTAS cabin crew remain immaculately turned out.

(Waves to SIL who is one.)

@AndiOliversGlasses you might like this safety video from Uzbekistan Airways. Sadly though no one on our flight, either crew or passengers, looked like this!

@TellerTuesday emirates airlines have, by far, the best and most attractive uniforms. the stewards can change to flats on the flight to serve the food etc

Suitable comfortable, practical uniform for cabin crew:
-soft t shirt or polo shirt
-jersey shorts/ joggers
-crocs
Save the trolly dolly for 70s porn?

I don’t really notice what the cabin crew look like (it’s usually either bright orange or blue and yellow on my flights) but I do have a thing about heels. I really dislike them on both men and women! Just looking at them makes me feel uncomfortable, and I’m sure that comfortable feet must be a priority for someone working on a plane.

I agree with whoever said they like seeing a pilot wearing a hat, it feels strangely reassuring 😂 the hat must subconsciously say to me that it denotes a position of composed confidence - I’m usually very against hats being worn indoors 😂😂

Anyway, I dgaf what the cabin crew look like or wear, they are trained to ensure safety standards are adhered to and try and help everyone have a pleasant flight. I’m terrified of flying and thank them all profusely because I worry that if I piss them off they’ll order some extra turbulence or something specially for me! They can look or wear what they like as far as I’m concerned, if they’re putting me at ease while I’m hurtling though the air in a tin can I’m happy. Not as happy as when I’ve landed and got my feet on the ground mind…

Everyone knows you need a good hat to convey authority and competance.

I reckon we'd trust MPs more if they had a good hat.

I was thinking the opposite the other day. Flew Emirates and their dress code must include all ladies wearing the exact shade of lipstick with a full face of makeup and under a size 10! All tottering around - just seems strange to me.

Yeah because looking good is a prerequisite for doing an effective job 🙄. Internalised misogyny much?

Aer Lingus staff always look smart and also have really great attitude. I love hearing them chatting and giggling amongst themselves at back of the plane. Nothing wrong with a cardi when you're feeling chilly

I agree. Had a Ryanair flight a few months ago. I know it’s budget airline but Christ the staff all looked like they needed a good wash.

Orange fake tan hands, shirt collars covered in equally orange make up, hair extensions half hanging out and just generally scruffiness.

I judged, but would have felt the same if they were serving in Costa tbh. Just be clean and tidy. That’s all.

I look ill in red. When I worked on a boat (they let us ugly people be cabin crew on boats, sorry OP), I looked sea sick even when I wasn't and was ordered to wear blusher.

add in many airlines and other businesses have touted their move to gender neutral uniforms. Now I support this under the idea that a piece of clothing should be available to anyone. However, the businesses have taken it to mean making one pair of trousers in a boxy fit that has no hope of fitting a woman’s hips properly. The same goes for tops. The cuts are straight and boxy with no angles to accommodate breasts and waists. So you end up with clothing that is both too tight and too loose simultaneously.

This. I worked in a police control room where we had to wear uniform. The women's shirts were just what appeared to be men's shirts, with the buttons on the other side. So if you were blessed in the boob department, you had to order a size or two up to get them to fit. Which meant the shoulders were far too big, which looked even worse once you got your epaulettes on. Especially when you're just a shade over 5' tall, like l am.
They were just square and totally shapeless. Difficult to look smart in those.
I wore my own black trousers, we were sitting down all day, and no one noticed.
There didn't seem to be any attempt to make concession for differences in gender/body shape.
Didn't stop us doing our job, though. So long as l was comfortable, l could cope with that.

The cabin crew thing has changed dramatically over the years. They're not paid a fortune, and they don't actually start getting paid until the doors close ready for departure. I don't think it's classed as the glamorous role it used to be. I have a friend who is cabin crew, she has a fairly lengthy travel to/from the airport she works from, and she's often given short notice of working.
I, for one, wouldn't fancy being stuck in a tube 30,000 feet up in the sky trying to deal with drunken idiots for hours on end.
It's a good thing some do, though, or we'd be screwed without them. So long as they look presentable like we're all expected to at work, and do a good job, that's what matters.

I don't know. I've never been one for glamour over comfort so I really don't care as long as people look clean and presentable. When I see women wearing heels I just think about how much their feet must be hurting and when I see women wearing a lot of heavy makeup it makes me think about how miserable their skin must be underneath.

None of that means that other women can't dress up more than I do if they want to, obviously.

That was great. It would really capture your attention.