Rules regarding flight attendant uniforms and general appearance on the job have changed countless times since commercial flying first started reaching travelers in the 1950s.
A 1960s-era job advertisement from United Airlines (UAL) that often ends up getting circulated now says flight attendants for the airline must not wear glasses, not be older than 27 years old and have weight "proportionate to height but no more than 135 pounds." The goal was to project a "glamorous" image of the flight attendant commonly associated with the Jet Age to this day.
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While rules for being a flight attendant have since loosened up dramatically, airlines still hold employees to an appearance standard that is stricter than in many other industries.
As first uncovered by the aviation site PYOK, Delta Air Lines (DAL) has sent the prospective flight attendants it is interviewing for roles an "appearance requirement acknowledgment" around how to dress for the interviews — in particular, specifying that any perfume or cologne must be "applied lightly" while "proper undergarments must be worn but must not be visible."
'A genuine graciousness that will be remembered by our customers'
"The Delta uniform represents always putting safety first, pride in the Delta culture and demonstrates a genuine graciousness that will be remembered by our customers," reads the note sent to those who have made the initial selection round to be a flight attendant with the airline. "To help ensure commitment to Delta's brand and customer service we have created updated appearance requirements for your interview process."
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Other rules specified in the appearance requirement acknowledgment asks flight attendant prospects not to chew gum, use profanity while on the job and keep their nails trimmed and, if painted, done so in a simple color such as pink or red.
Any chosen clothing must also be "professional and fit properly"; the general recommendation is to look as professional as one would when working for Delta just without the uniform.
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Flight attendant appearance rules have changed over the years (here is how)
Rules related to flight attendant uniforms and appearance are some of the most controversial in the industry; a very common criticism is that female flight attendants are held to a stricter standard than male ones.
In the spring of 2023, Australian flagship carrier Qantas Airways (QUBSF) updated its uniform rules to no longer require female flight attendants to wear makeup or high-heeled shoes on long-haul flights and get rid of distinctly "male" and "female" rules for appearance standards — anyone can wear makeup or have long hair so long as it is properly tied up.
Over in Spain, International Airlines Group (BABWF) -owned vacation carrier Vueling was fined €30,000 by a Barcelona court over a requirement that female flight attendants wear a full face of makeup and heels between one to three inches while male counterparts only had to have a "clean and neat appearance."
The airline has since updated its rules to be more equal across genders to be in line with the court's ruling that any uniform rules be "less burdensome and more balanced" as well as not display any gender inequities.
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