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.

Some people think its like that scene from catch me if you can where Leonardo walked through the airport with the trollie dollies on his arms lol.

YANBU.

I fly frequently for business and I have noticed a significant number of overweight cabin crew, of both genders - although not on Middle Eastern or Asian carriers, interestingly.

Clearly some no longer take pride in their appearance, beyond their right to adorn their body with ‘artwork’ and to make a statement concerning their gender identity etc.

To me, it would be reasonable for those criticising hard working cabin crew on this (now somewhat dated) thread would conclude their posts with their sex and weight.

Seems fair. And age. Maybe a pic.

I have never heard a true feminist describe a woman walking around as “strutting”.

Definetly fair, would be very hypocritical not to be expect to be valued in the same way they value others.

I don’t really care how they dress. But what annoys me are the ones (and it’s usually British ones) who are always giggling and pissing about. Especially during the safety briefing. Just doesn’t fit right, not reassuring at all.

All part of the transition from airlines being the preserve of the well to do and jet set.

In the past it was glamorous people dressed to the nines sipping champagne as they glide through the air.

Now its about drunken slobs fighting in the aisles for space to fit their 200 full strength and bottle of cheap vino in the overhead locker.

@GasPanic..

The rot set in a while back but it’s not been helped by MOL spouting nonsense like this (and then had the cheek more recently to say people had unrealistic expectations of how low fares could go):

”"The problem with aviation is that for 50 years it's been populated by people who think it's this wondrous sexual experience," … "when really it's just a bloody bus with wings."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/16/ryanair-moan-glamour-air-travel

The airline I worked for would put you on their ‘fat list’ if you were getting a bit porky. You were then expected to lose the excess. A friend of mine was on it. But this was aeons ago.

TOTALLY agree with your comments about the drab, dull appearance now of some cabin crew. What the hell is wrong with these airline bosses - ruining the once elegant and stylish look of their female crew by forcing them to wear horrible, unlikeable uniforms?

BA's new uniform is a prime example of just how bad cabin crew uniforms have become. They had a beautiful uniform in the Julien MacDonald, yet they went and changed it for one that looks, tbh, more like the kind of drab gear a car tyre fitter might wear.

Maybe they are more concerned with comfort and practicality than being elegant and stylish?

I take your point. However, there are some really BAD cabin crew uniforms rolled out recently - esp from BA - who look more like the kind factory workers would wear than airline crew. It has to be said.

Really? You’d work in a factory in a split skirt, heels and a satin/silk scarf tied around your neck?

Smart, in the correct size, is a reasonable requirement from an airline.

But harking back whistfully to a time when women had to be on their feet in high heeled shoes that had no support (courts are horrendous for giving no support - and not suitable at all unless you’ve got really broad feet) is awful. Terribly for the feet.

So yes, YAB incredibly U.

Saying “donning my hard hat” doesn’t make it less offensive frankly.

Customer service has also declined! There is no way they are using the same standard of interviews as they did years ago. And yes I’ve flown virgin lately, and BA and easy jet. To be fair essyjet was very good! Great crew all round !

I'm ex crew, when I was first employed we were weighed at the interview. We had strict guidelines in regards to appearance and had training on how to dress and apply make up etc. We were also tested in regards to things like the height of heel we were allowed to wear (in the cabin and outside of the aircraft cabin/dress shoes), type of nail Polish and even which hand to carry our handbag or crew bag in.

I think the decline of the industry and the introduction of low cost airlines has lead to the decline of standards in regards to appearance (this isn't a reflection of my view which is subjective). Also the equality movement has meant that not fitting the traditional appearance of what cabin crew was has changed.

What I will say is being a member of cabin crew is a lot more than looking pretty and serving drinks. CC are tested prior to each flight to ensure they are able to meet the safety and first requirement of their job. Imagine being tested at 2am on the pre flight check (how many, where, if there any signs of use, use by date etc), how to use in detail a piece of equipment (could be anything from a specific fire extinguisher bcf or water to oxycrew to the procedure for an evac on ground to a toilet fire to pilot incapacitation to decompression to.a hijack.... you get the idea) then being tested on any aspect first aid (nose bleeds, heart attacks, stroke, anaphylaxis,broken bones, birth......). Think of the scenarios ditching on the sea (if you manage to survive), life rafts, food equipment to take, landing on the ground in an emergency, fires, terrorism, hijacks . CC are trained for a million possibilities and hope they don't face any.

They then board 100-450ish people who judge them on their appearance. They get them seated, resolve any issues and get them to.their destination.

They may also have been called from home with one to two hours notice.

Not many people meet the requirements to be CC. You require no convictions/ dbs (or whatever it's now known as), a full five history with no gaps that can be proven for an air side pass, height requirements, swimming requirements, healthy, the ability to pass the course and exams plus the other skills and qualifications to work with the public and need to pass a x-factor style recruitment. Then and most of all the ability to smile at complete idiots on top of everything else.

I think the industry has declined unless you want to pay a premium.

I guess my long winded post was to say be grateful they know their stuff because if you really need them you won't care what they look like.

But yes I do agree standards are different now to.say 20 years ago.

Of course all the above (pre-flight briefings, Q&A etc)., are still required.

I think the bigger issue might well be that as costs have been chased down and fed into T&Cs companies are been willing to accept an increased “churn” of cabin crew which has led to a reduction in experience levels….crews do their best with they have but it’s a bit like nostalgia, it’s not what it used to be…

I agree but I'd rather ashetics were deteriorated than ability to perform in an emergency.

Aesthetics even

Agree with you.

Good grief, are you a man from the 1950s, expecting women doing a service job to look perfectly turned out, what the heck does it matter

The employees took part in testing them and picked stuff that was comfortable.
I do hope you hop on the plane in your Prada and high heels to show them what stylish look like 😂

I’m not in the industry anymore and this is a IMHO anyway but I think the regulatory side of things is still strictly policed and there’s not much change.

Where the lack of experience sometimes showed up, certainly on Longhaul was sometimes in the time taken to maybe get through a meal service or the ability to perform miracles when there had been a catering shortfall. (E.g lack of special meals).

Many of the experienced crew members I worked with often seemed to be able perform wonders when it came to things like service recovery without breaking sweat, the newer crew not surprisingly often found it tougher.