Why do aircrew look so scruffy?
Discussion
I am currently doing some consultancy work at Gatwick so on a daily basis I am seeing a lot of flight deck crew wandering around.
What has surprised is how overweight and scruffy a number of them look. As a child of the 60’s I remember aircrew in the late 60’s and 70’s looking very dashing and smart. Kids used to ask for their autographs and pics to be taken with them and young ladies would aspire to date or marry one.
The ones I saw today had ill-fitting and very cheap looking uniforms and none of the flight crew had the demeanour of someone working in what I thought used to be a glamorous job as a pilot.
Where did it all go wrong?
What has surprised is how overweight and scruffy a number of them look. As a child of the 60’s I remember aircrew in the late 60’s and 70’s looking very dashing and smart. Kids used to ask for their autographs and pics to be taken with them and young ladies would aspire to date or marry one.
The ones I saw today had ill-fitting and very cheap looking uniforms and none of the flight crew had the demeanour of someone working in what I thought used to be a glamorous job as a pilot.
Where did it all go wrong?
Eric Mc said:
Are you implying flight crew should be recruited for their looks rather than their skills?
Absolutely not Eric. I have the highest respect for flight crew otherwise I would not put my families wellbeing in their hands.It was purely that a number I have seen lately looked a little beaten down, their uniforms a little cheap and in need of a dry clean and not carrying themselves in a way I used to remember, maybe its rose tinted specs coming into play here.
On the flip side an Emirates crew I saw this morning looked very smart and well turned out, plus they looked happy
I'm in a similar situation (working around Heathrow) and have noticed the same.
I think it's the ill-fitting uniforms. Or maybe the poor tailoring. It's like they've gone to the uniform supplier and asked for the 1990s look. Baggy trousers, usually too long, jackets too big around the shoulders and waist.
Not that has any impact on their ability to do their job, just an observation.
I think it's the ill-fitting uniforms. Or maybe the poor tailoring. It's like they've gone to the uniform supplier and asked for the 1990s look. Baggy trousers, usually too long, jackets too big around the shoulders and waist.
Not that has any impact on their ability to do their job, just an observation.
The airline industry was once an exclusive club with employers picking and choosing people that they saw as being "the right sort" and of the right type to deal with the "jet set" passengers who made up their customer base.
Airline travel has changed beyond recognition. It is now a mass transit form of transport with most people from most demographics being able to afford to fly.
There are more airlines and there are more airliners now than at any time since the industry began almost 100 years ago. Image is far less important now than being competent and efficient at your job.
Airline travel has changed beyond recognition. It is now a mass transit form of transport with most people from most demographics being able to afford to fly.
There are more airlines and there are more airliners now than at any time since the industry began almost 100 years ago. Image is far less important now than being competent and efficient at your job.
mcbook said:
I think it's the ill-fitting uniforms. Or maybe the poor tailoring. It's like they've gone to the uniform supplier and asked for the 1990s look. Baggy trousers, usually too long, jackets too big around the shoulders and waist.
The trouble is, they usually make the uniforms in standard sizes and as you can imagine, there’s all sorts of sizes of pilot between people in their early twenties and mid sixties. Most of my uniform fits ok but The bits that don’t, I’d have altered or even made, if it didn’t.
There’s hotel tailors and places abroad that specialise in making uniform bits for us. Because the one issued wasn’t great.
I was once getting some uniform altered after dinner in a tailor in Thailand and some of my passengers came in to get a dress altered. The tailor boasted about how he made all the pilots uniforms. The passengers seemed amused by me standing there half in uniform getting measured up. While my drunken coworkers offered unhelpful advice.
As you’ve possibly seen though, most people don’t really care about the tailoring though.
Eric Mc said:
Are you implying flight crew should be recruited for their looks rather than their skills?
There's a big difference between scruffy and not good looking. It seems like people not taking pride in looking smart and well presented for their job which is a shame. I work in an office and I certainly wouldn't want people to think I look scruffy and unkempt.
Are the people you see definitely flight crew, or are they ground staff working for the airline, via a handling company no doubt, who just wear a similar uniform?
But other than that - some airlines still mandate exactly how the crew should look a lot more than others, what is an acceptable hairstyle, lipstick colour, how long your beard can be.
Some make the staff pay for their uniform as well, and some do not.
But other than that - some airlines still mandate exactly how the crew should look a lot more than others, what is an acceptable hairstyle, lipstick colour, how long your beard can be.
Some make the staff pay for their uniform as well, and some do not.
Eric Mc said:
Image is far less important now than being competent and efficient at your job.
The problem is that, in the absence of any other knowledge, first impressions count, so if an air traveller sees flight crew looking scruffy, it may lead them to form an impression on how they undertake their duties.Europa1 said:
Eric Mc said:
Image is far less important now than being competent and efficient at your job.
The problem is that, in the absence of any other knowledge, first impressions count, so if an air traveller sees flight crew looking scruffy, it may lead them to form an impression on how they undertake their duties.They should be reassured when they see scruffy crews, that O’Leary or whoever has definitely passed on the savings to the customer. Their aircraft might even be faster as it’s carrying the absolute minimum amounts of fuel and has the minimum legal amounts and values of everything on board.
Shakermaker said:
Are the people you see definitely flight crew, or are they ground staff working for the airline, via a handling company no doubt, who just wear a similar uniform?
But other than that - some airlines still mandate exactly how the crew should look a lot more than others, what is an acceptable hairstyle, lipstick colour, how long your beard can be.
Some make the staff pay for their uniform as well, and some do not.
I am definitely talking about flight crew as they tend to have the hats and the stripes on their cuffs. But other than that - some airlines still mandate exactly how the crew should look a lot more than others, what is an acceptable hairstyle, lipstick colour, how long your beard can be.
Some make the staff pay for their uniform as well, and some do not.
Talking of which what rank are you if you have two stripes, three stripes or four stripes on your cuffs and is there a massive difference in pay scale? Sorry just be nosey as some I have seen don’t look much older than my 17 year old
In days gone by Airlines used to have a "look book" which was about an inch thick and in it everything was exactly detailed as to how every employee was supposed to look in uniform wherever in the World they were and whatever the conditions were including accessories (handbag, scarves, hats, suitcase, gloves etc etc etc)
There were Summer and Winter Uniforms and then approved variations given certain conditions but these variations were dictated by the senior person so that all staff being seen no matter what their role would be in the same or variation of dress code and woe betide anyone who wasn't perfect, disciplinary!
Also some airlines had proper uniform departments woudl woudl get the standard uniform in and then alter it to the individual at fittings.
I guess with the entry to the market of low cost airlines these things are easy to stop and save a lot of operational cost.
There were Summer and Winter Uniforms and then approved variations given certain conditions but these variations were dictated by the senior person so that all staff being seen no matter what their role would be in the same or variation of dress code and woe betide anyone who wasn't perfect, disciplinary!
Also some airlines had proper uniform departments woudl woudl get the standard uniform in and then alter it to the individual at fittings.
I guess with the entry to the market of low cost airlines these things are easy to stop and save a lot of operational cost.
Streetrod said:
I am currently doing some consultancy work at Gatwick so on a daily basis I am seeing a lot of flight deck crew wandering around.
What has surprised is how overweight and scruffy a number of them look.
Do you see a difference by airline though? Airlines from some countries are regarded to still be in the 'lose weight or lose your job' camp.What has surprised is how overweight and scruffy a number of them look.
Streetrod said:
I am definitely talking about flight crew as they tend to have the hats and the stripes on their cuffs.
Talking of which what rank are you if you have two stripes, three stripes or four stripes on your cuffs and is there a massive difference in pay scale? Sorry just be nosey as some I have seen don’t look much older than my 17 year old
Two stripes - First OfficerTalking of which what rank are you if you have two stripes, three stripes or four stripes on your cuffs and is there a massive difference in pay scale? Sorry just be nosey as some I have seen don’t look much older than my 17 year old
Three stripes - Senior First Officer
Four Stripes - Captain
Yep, decent jumps between ranks. But long-serving Senior First Officer can be paid more than newish Captain.
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