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.

The old ads are, erm, enlightening.
https://www.vox.com/2015/8/7/9113743/vintage-sexist-airline-ads

I think the budget airlines try to copy that 1960’s glamour look but fail because of the quality of the uniforms ect…. They should really just move to a simple, comfortable, practical, durable uniform. The world has moved on from the high heels and pencil skirts.

Lol to VPL
Are you serious?!

You can be comfortable AND well-groomed. It's called a professional appearance.

People in general dress like slobs these days so it's not surprising that most of the PP are flaming you, OP.

I worked for that company up until about 20 years ago. The uniforms were always cheaply made. (Fabric like cheap Primark clothing.) Working in heels as a flight attendant causes physical problems like back and hip issues as well as foot and toe ones. The average flight attendant walks up and down the aisles so much they are literally walking miles.
The next thing you need to think about is the declining behaviour of passengers. Most think that flight attendants are there to look pretty and serve. A “waitress with wings” or a “trolley dolly” if you wish. The truth is that they are primarily safety officers. All skilled with first aid and aviation-specific medical emergency care. Also fire and evacuation officers. And security.

I think if the uniform has changed to flexible, breathable fabrics that work with the body, then that’s great. Obviously heels are ridiculous things to wear on the daily. It would be fab if they could wear sneakers, tbh.

Well OP looking forward to seeing your Daily Mail article in a few days.
Honestly if you can't write your own articles why are you a journalist?

YABU OP but you know you are already. I agree with comments in decline of quality of uniforms though but the comment about they are primarily safety officials hits home this week. I waved a good friend back to NZ last week on Singapore Airlines only to realise she was on the flight where 31 were injured and 1 man died of a heart attack. She cannot stop saying how amazing the staff were and how although she could see the horror in their eyes they kept calm and helped everybody - 1 Woman air steward kept going despite having an obviously broken arm. They were in the aisles with those heavy heavy trolleys when everyone not in a seatbelt hit the ceiling along with every untethered item and then hit the floor - repeated several times. I wasn’t even there and her descriptions make me shudder. I will keep a seatbelt on at all times (except in the toilet natch) Fuck that for minimum wage but above and beyond professional. She didn’t comment if their uniforms were flattering or not strangely!

Perhaps your head is hard enough without the hat?!

The cabin crew are much more professional now IMO, they are not there for decoration.

I’d rather have someone on board who is genuinely good at their job - for example good people skills, not employed because they look a certain way.

I agree OP. I don’t necessarily think the cabin crew are to blame for it, it could be the poor quality of their uniforms but I fly regularly with Ryanair and their white shirts always look grey and the uniforms are way too tight. I remember Easyjet flirting briefly with T shirts and neckerchiefs. Those were actually better, at least they looked comfortable.

In the days when air hostesses had to be slim, glamorous and bilingual, we as passengers were also expected to put in some effort. Flying was treated as an event and people dressed for it. Nowadays they rock up in any old rubbish. The cabin crew look no worse than the people they’re serving.

Ironically this was Singapore Airlines, which has the cute dresses with the mandatory makeup. I was told that the makeup has to match the colour of the outfit too! And it must be kept immaculately (ironed etc).

Also I am told there are age limits to the job, certainly in first class.

So these sexist standards did not compromise safety at least …

Honestly if you care at all about glamour, avoid Western airlines and go with a Middle Eastern or East Asian airline. You will also find they are more professional despite being younger. They are also more friendly ime although I kind of like the grandmotherly ones you find in American ones (some can be extremely unfriendly, on the other hand!)

I remember having a conversation with a colleague years ago, whose mum had worked as cabin crew. She regularly abused laxatives to try keep her weight within certain limits.

@TellerTuesday

You do know that the primary role of cabin crew is to keep you safe yes? Not to look pretty to avoid offending you.

I agree, just been given my polo shirt from the charity I volunteer at. They are unisex, in other words cut for men. To fit my bust I had to get XL, the shoulders hang down my arms and it’s so long it fits under my bum. Funnily enough, they fit the men great.

i used to have to wear a work uniform shirt, it was generic shirts, they didn’t fit and were cheap and nasty.
the airline probably cut down on quality

I honestly think the idea of having cabin crew looking 'glamourous' is ridiculous and ought to stop now. They're not there to be looked at, they have jobs to perform and safety to ensure. They're on their feet for really long days so why on earth should heels be a good idea? I think cabin crew should ideally wear comfortable, well fitting uniforms of good quality materials and comfortable shoes. Makeup optional and subject to individual preference. Anything else is outdated and sexist.

I echo a PP by saying don't feel sorry for us - it's not required! The majority of us actually love our job. That's why we do it and you don't! It's so patronising to say that.

They're on their feet for really long days so why on earth should heels be a good idea?

They don't wear heels on a flight.

Why do posters keep perpetuating this myth?

I've been out of the industry for a few years now (and didn't work in the UK), but the quality of the uniforms meant they would get quite smelly and due to very short layover times we'd often have to wash our uniforms in hotel bath tubs (nothing looks good after being washed in the tub).
We had to wear a full face of make-up and red lipstick every day. Once my lips were so inflamed and bleeding from wearing the lipstick, I asked if I could please wear a balm. I was told no, I had to wear lipstick.
I was also told off by a supervisor because my high heel broke as I walked through the terminal. He was very mad I had to switch to my flats.
So yeah, I wore comfy vpl undies 😁

This is so gross. They’re there to do a job not bd objectified and drooled over by you.

It’s basically just being a waitress in a confined space, why on earth would they need to be dressed in a sexually appealing way to push a trolly or point to an exit ?!

I think it looks like a pretty miserable job made worse by the expectation that passengers are looking at whether your pants are visible.

My dn wanted to be a dinner lady in the sky. 😂
That was 30 years ago. No free dinners now.

As long as they don't smell them I don't care.

I hope you were okay and managed to survive the flight despite the hideous cabin crew. It must be really hard if someone serving you drinks is not immaculately turned out for their 12 hour shift on their feet. Please don’t also tell me they weren’t in stilettos?

Literally everyone has VPL unless they are going commando.

I think on some airline, eg Emirates, they do and I have seen plenty of them in heels. I can’t think of anything more painful so I’m pleased this requirement has been dropped on many airlines. Poor people - it’s not a fun job and not well paid either.