Outrage over sexy uniform ban for overweight flight attendants
By Kate SchneiderNEWS.com.auJuly 16, 2009 08:00am+-
AN airline's policy of refusing to let overweight female flight attendants wear its eye-catching red uniforms has landed it in hot water.
US airline Northwest is protesting merge partner Delta Airlines’ uniform policy of not providing its signature red dresses to women over a size 18.
The red dresses, designed in 2006, have a cinched waist and are eye-catching.
The Association of Flight Attendants at Northwest (NWA AFA) is outraged over the policy, saying that Delta clearly doesn’t want to draw attention to its larger employees.
“Red is a colour that attracts attention and someone, somewhere has made a decision that they don’t want to attract attention to someone in a dress that’s larger than a size 18. I’m very offended by it,” Patricia Reller, Vice Chairwoman of the NWA AFA grievance committee, told the Atlanta Metro News.
“There are fuller-figured women who would like to wear the red dress.”
Delta has defended its policy and the dispute is headed for mediation.
“It’s a variety to fit a very diverse group of preferences and sizes, and to continue presenting a uniform collection that is both stylish and very functional,” Delta spokeswoman Gina Laughlin said.
Delta closed its deal to acquire Northwest last year and Northwest flight attendants and other staff started wearing Delta's uniforms around three months ago.
The red dresses are not the only uniform options for Delta’s flight attendants, there are blue pantsuits available in larger sizes.
http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25785205-5014090,00.html?ref...
Catherine Malandrino
Lady in red...with the big butt. I'm just say'n. I save the red dress for fun (size 12-14 with BIG BUTT).
1If the want to wear it and its cut for them let them. Otherwise Delta is Fatphobic.
2***************
"I will marshal all the forces of darkness to hound you to an assisted suicide." - In the Loop
I looked at them and they are flattering for many shapes. The sizes they are not allowing to wear this dress--would be people they'd never hire anyway.(over size 18) Like it or not there is a weight restriction for all people that work in flights (including pilots) so this is just a silly non-issue. If you can't get down that aisle with a cart...you won't get the job. That is simply fact. This is not a "weighty" issue.
3How does anyone in a size 18 get through the aisle? I'm not in favor of this ban, but let's also be realistic. There is limited space on a plane.
4cheeky, you might be surprised about hiring size 18+ and undave, you are correct. When I flew for continental express (the embraer jets), we had one woman in our class who really couldn't walk straight down the aisle. i don't know how she managed ~ likely she walked at an angle. the larger jets have wider aisles, of course, but i don't recall seeing a large flight attendant flying for continental mainline. i'm not really sure they should have changed the uniform colors any way.i loooove the color red, but the standard navy uniforms are just classy, imo. also, they should impose size limits on fa's again. i don't see how a large woman (or man) could safely evacuate a plane in the event of an emergency.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
5"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Ronald Reagan
There is a standard of fitness which is required to do this job--the pivotal point being they must be able to assist others in an emergency situation, something difficult to do 18+....I was 18+ at one point in my life which was pretty darn scary...if you can't tie your own shoe that is a pretty good indicator you may be limited to assist others. Struggled with weight on both sides of the scale and neither were pretty.
If someone can pass the physical requirements then they should get the job no matter what their size...however I will echo my BFF's comment which was...she'd never seen a dwarf as a flight attendant--and she'd have noticed as she is a dwarf.
6guys the uniform is worn by staff air & ground. Size really is not an issue if you are a ticket agent.
7***************
"I will marshal all the forces of darkness to hound you to an assisted suicide." - In the Loop
maybe it is also when the calculate the "overweight"...
Company policy...
8I thought the new uniform was for flight attendants only..?
9I think ground usually has something similar and the only other option from delta is a pants suit. Like everyone is going to dress like Hillary.
10***************
"I will marshal all the forces of darkness to hound you to an assisted suicide." - In the Loop
I don't really see anything wrong with it.
Cheeky, I has the same first thought as you, as far as the size/fitness limitations on flight attendants.
Even if this does apply to the ground crew as well, I still think it's OK. The company has the right to dictate how their employees dress while at work.
11weight is one of those things like age- most people are extremely sensitive.
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have".
12Thomas Jefferson
I'd like to see some cross-dresser guy demand to be able to wear this uniform instead of his "allocated" garb---heck some guys have some great legs!
13Cheeky, I worked with a male flight attendant when I was based in Newark ~ he had a real cute page boy haircut and his makeup was more perfect than mine! But they didn't let him wear a dress....
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
14"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Ronald Reagan
I'm sorry, but I really don't want to think of flight attendants who are over size 18 in any form of dress! Wait a second: that didn't come out right!
15Yes...once you get past an 18 it is no longer a dress--it is a tent.
I can say that because I have been there...it was NOT pretty---so NO hate mail plz.
16I say if you can't fit the outfit then you just can't fit it. The company has to do something with you if you want to keep working for them. You cannot squeeze into the uniform and look your best on the flight, you will gross people out for hours.
17Pink...you crack me up!
18Some people are sooo sensitive.
19Dave's got a point: if you're too large you can't more through those skinny aisles.
Post A Comment
To post comments, please log in or register.