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.

VPL? Wow they had pants on and you knew. Outrageous.

Ex Virgin Crew here, albeit from 2007! Yes, make up was mandatory, we had a full day's training on hair and make up. Got to say though, I loved it! We were treated so well, long stop overs, good cash to spend down route. Best job ever. Uniform by John Rocha then. We had to wear bright red or French manicured nails, red lippy! Even fake hair pieces. By the way, the high heels then were for walking through the airport only, we had flats to change into once onboard. Yes, sexist but i never felt exploited. I was treated so well. Loved it and Richard Branson, back then was around a lot. In the training offices and onboard (flying economy to talk with the customers) only positive things to say. Now, I think it's great crew have a choice, that is how it should be.

I'm sure it's been mentioned already - but the primary role of cabin crew is safety! I really wouldn't care what they look like! I know first hand that if a passenger takes ill/ the plane hits turbulence (look what happened this week!) They will do their best to keep everyone safe!

I was on a BA flight recently, they were all very professional looking and excellent at their jobs. The concept of anyone wearing heels on long haul flights while doing service is ridiculous.

Cabin crew are still neater than the scruffy passengers that they have to deal with.

Incidentally, "I'm donning my hard hat* is just as naff as "I'm probably going to hell for this". Makes you sound pathetic and desperate to avoid censure. If you can't take criticism for what you post then don't post it. The world will still turn without your sneaky input.

Not sure about the budget airlines but in all flights I've been on the cabin crew are in full uniform, including heels, for welcoming but then change into more comfortable and practical clothes for food service etc and then back into heels etc for the goodbyes!

I did notice on Virgin Atlantic that it looked like their make-up had been applied by Bob the Builder! Do the VA staff still have to buy the specific lurid red lipstick that is/was incredibly expensive?

@JudgeJ Back in 2007 we just had to wear pillar box red lipstick, but no particular brand.

Please let’s not start that debate….

OP returns (jet lag)

As I said in the original post, I did realise there would be some flaming but it's my observation and opinion and I stand by it.

Yes, it's judgey but as a PP said, would be the same feeling if it was someone serving on the check in desk or in the Costa before the flight. I'm sure it doesn't impede their ability to do their job in case of an emergency but was merely an observation that standards have dropped considerably in part probably due to the quality of the uniform.

No issue with VPL per se but if someone is of ample sized bottom, wearing a pair of trousers two sizes too small is never going to be a good look.

Generally, and perhaps not surprisingly, the strictest airlines (lipstick shades etc) tend to originate from countries that have the most oppressive regimes when it comes to the rights of women.

The only thing I've noticed is most of the female staff seem to be wearing uniform that's at least one size too small and looks really uncomfortable and not very practical.

This is a very good point.

people travel without even a basic wash sometimes. Shorts and dirty clothes etc.

when cabin crew used to dress up it was in an era where people were smarter when travelling.

although some crew still look fantastic. Singapore air for example. Beautiful men and women crew

I don’t think op means to be judgy. I think she’s making an observation on something she has noticed changing

"OP returns"... that's probably where the 'cringe myself inside out' comes from, it really fits.

Be judgemental if you want to but if you can't keep your nasty thoughts to yourself then expect to be pulled up on it. Your posts are just condemnation of others for the sake of it and you'd like some attention and for posters to agree with you in droves.

Did they have clean hands and hair tied back? Were they pleasant and helpful? Surely that's all that really matters?

I’d rather cabin crew worse flat shoes and trousers, so in an emergency they’re more able to carry out safety related tasks.
DH flew for virgin and had a Vivienne Westwood suit that looked very smart! So the pilots look smart still.

I'm not a frequent flier and can't say I've noticed that much.

However I did notice and think how uncomfortable their uniforms and dress/makeup codes often looked.

If they wan't to dress in a more comfortable way then I've no problem with that at all.

I stuck to a dress code as a teacher but still dressed for comfort and an ability to move easily without worrying about splitting my clothes.

Not cabin crew in particular, but lots of people dress horribly these days. There doesn't seem to be much pride in clothes any more. I went to visit a friend last year and she wanted me to go for a walk With her dog round the local area- so round the village, along a footpath etc. and back home. I was wearing jeans, a blouse, trainers and a casual style blazer from Hush. She seemed think it would be inappropriate to go for a walk in a blazer and insisted I borrow one of her hoodies as people might look at me funny

I am not bothered about vpl or make up, most do a good job and passenger safety is the most important thing.
Shout out for the Jet2 cabin crew member on my most recent flight to Spain who was rude to the woman next to us who got up for the loo (‘will you just sit down fgs’) sighed a lot and was overheard by my DH saying ‘ I suppose they all want fucking hot drinks now’
She was a delight.

Did you suggest they all wear a thong?

OP isn't at work. Cabin crew are.

Heaven forbid a woman should wear flat shoes and pants that don’t ride up the crack of her arse while being on their feet for hours serving hot drinks in a metal object flying through the air.

@Itsnamechange And isn't it ironic that it's women complaining?

👏🏻

I do remember the first time I ever flew (way back to around 1977) and I remember feeling really disappointed that the crew didn’t look like models, they just looked ordinary. I was just a teenager though so was still a bit wide eyed about everything and had this image in my head that they’d all be stunning and glamorous.