Kleinsim From Qatar, joined Jan 2007, 154 posts, RR: 0 Posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 11118 times:
Hello there,
I recently flew PHL-FLL-PHL on US Airways and noticed that apparently US Airways' uniform (at least for this domestic flight) consisted of dress pants and a sweatshirt with the US logo on it. Have they always had this and am I the only one that finds this somewhat unprofessional? What do F/A wear in summer time?
When I think of the uniforms of LH and BA where one can actually tell that a particular person is a crew member this sure is a hell of a difference!
Atrude777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 4234 posts, RR: 56 Reply 2, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 11091 times:
Southwest for years has allowed this.
Get this, at WN they were shorts during the summer!
Not sure if it is a cost cutting measure, but WN's reason is, they are more comfortable in the clothings, and being comfortable ensure they are in a good mood which passes the good mood onto the Customers.
Alex
Good things come to those who wait, better things come to those who go AFTER it!
BrianDromey From Ireland, joined Dec 2006, 3066 posts, RR: 10 Reply 4, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 11020 times:
I think trousers and a polo neck look unprofessional, in any customer facing job. This is my opinion only, however.
People keep saying how much more comfortable a polo shirt is than a proper shirt, tie, smart trousers and shoes. I've worked a 14 hour day in such clothing, turned around and did it all again the next day with no problems.
Brian.
Next flights: ORK-MAN (WW); MAN-ORK (EI) DUB-HHN-DUB(FR)
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 6999 posts, RR: 27 Reply 5, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 10981 times:
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 1): Very unprofessional indeed.
Man we are nitpicky in this place. I suppose if you think an ill-tailored polyester suit makes one more professional than go ahead.
For a winter uniform I have no problem with a sweatshirt/sweater. Frankly it makes a lot of sense. Maybe if it is worn w/o a collared shirt underneath I suppose it could look bad. But it wouldn't lower my opinion of the person working my flight. Was there anything about this particular flight attendant's demeanor or the way they conducted the service that made it seem less "professional" or were you blinded by the person's top and couldn't think objectively beyond that.
Frankly FWIW I think most airline uniforms are pretty atrocious... refer back to my ill-tailored polyester comment. Few airlines have good looking, stylish uniforms, for their crews to choose from. I think Delta and JetBlue are notable exceptions.
Quoting Atrude777 (Reply 2): but WN's reason is, they are more comfortable in the clothings, and being comfortable ensure they are in a good mood which passes the good mood onto the Customers.
I would tend to agree with that as well.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
UAL747 From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 6664 posts, RR: 35 Reply 7, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 10763 times:
If you want tailored F/A Uniforms, gawd, look at Korean. (I'm assuming that's who I saw at NRT with their very light turquoise colored uniforms). GAWD! Those girls probably need to oil up before they slip inside those things. They are tailored to hell! But they look absolutely stunning!
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 18610 posts, RR: 59 Reply 8, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 10747 times:
Quoting DesertJets (Reply 5): Man we are nitpicky in this place. I suppose if you think an ill-tailored polyester suit makes one more professional than go ahead.
For a winter uniform I have no problem with a sweatshirt/sweater.
Sweatshirts are not sweaters. Most people don't equate them in their look or quality. A sweater is usually better tailored and more "proper" looking. Airlines have been allowing various forms of sweater for years as uniform.
But I've never seen a sweatshirt on an F/A before, and agree that it just sounds cheap. Not unprofessional, but cheap. Now maybe the sweatshirt they have is very well built and looks very clean and professional, but it doesn't sound so from the OP.
I suppose a hoodie would be just fine too? Draw strings and front pockets and everything? Or where do you draw the line?
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
AvConsultant From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 1246 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 10658 times:
Quoting Kleinsim (Thread starter): I recently flew PHL-FLL-PHL on US Airways and noticed that apparently US Airways' uniform (at least for this domestic flight) consisted of dress pants and a sweatshirt with the US logo on it. Have they always had this and am I the only one that finds this somewhat unprofessional? What do F/A wear in summer time?
OMG, Are you kidding me?!?! You're talking about an airline in a country with the same average airfare (in major markets) as 30 years ago where the cost of labor, jet fuel, a/c, property, etc. are at today's cost. The airlines cannot raise fares so they have to be creative in reducing cost which might seek a cost control measures in uniform. Either way, the flying public in the United States will not boycott an airline over a sweat shirt.
Quoting DesertJets (Reply 5): Man we are nitpicky in this place. I suppose if you think an ill-tailored polyester suit makes one more professional than go ahead.
Thank you.
Quoting UAL747 (Reply 7): GAWD! Those girls probably need to oil up before they slip inside those things
O.K. Am I the only one turned on right now with image UAL747 just described???
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 18610 posts, RR: 59 Reply 11, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 10638 times:
Quoting AvConsultant (Reply 9): OMG, Are you kidding me?!?! You're talking about an airline in a country with the same average airfare (in major markets) as 30 years ago where the cost of labor, jet fuel, a/c, property, etc. are at today's cost. The airlines cannot raise fares so they have to be creative in reducing cost which might seek a cost control measures in uniform. Either way, the flying public in the United States will not boycott an airline over a sweat shirt.
People use all kinds of excuses for lowering standards, but the reality of the situation remains. Lowered standards are very difficult to raise back up again.
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 6999 posts, RR: 27 Reply 12, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 10608 times:
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 8): I suppose a hoodie would be just fine too? Draw strings and front pockets and everything? Or where do you draw the line?
Idk... a hoodie would be slightly out of place. But the big front pocket could be used to carry peanuts and such.
And I guess I agree w/ you on the distinction between sweater and sweatshirt. Having not seen the offending garment maybe I should defer judgment to the OP.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
AvConsultant From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 1246 posts, RR: 3 Reply 13, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 10569 times:
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 11): People use all kinds of excuses for lowering standards, but the reality of the situation remains. Lowered standards are very difficult to raise back up again.
Right out of college, I worked for an airline and we were trying to find away to reduce cost & increase efficiency without layoffs. I came up with a 10 hr shift of 4 on 3 off. Mind you, I'm a lonely department manager. I was called into our COO's office and too my surprise was our CEO and my VP with no sign of the 4 bosses between me & my VP.
The CEO thanked me for my due diligence in meeting the companies needs and explained a 4 on 3 off work schedule could be a reward, but we were moving into bad times where we might have to cut further and going back to a 5 day work week could have a negative impact.
TDubJFK From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 10376 times:
Did the OP say it was F/As wearing the sweatshirt .. or was it an agent? I was a PSS for USAirways Express for most of the 90s and the sweatshirt was part of the ramp uniform, but when it was necessary, ramp agents who were counter/gate qualified would jump in and help inside when required.
Quoting JFKMan (Reply 3): Why is this an issue with US but not with WN?
JFKMan .. there's definitely a double standard on this site.
Quoting AvConsultant (Reply 9): Quoting UAL747 (Reply 7):
GAWD! Those girls probably need to oil up before they slip inside those things
O.K. Am I the only one turned on right now with image UAL747 just described???
Kleinsim From Qatar, joined Jan 2007, 154 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 10358 times:
Hey again,
Sounds like I got something mixed up (as I always do). He was wearing a sweater, not a sweatshirt (there was no hood to it). It did have a bit of a turtleneck and there was no dress shirt underneath as far as I could tell. Sure it looked clean but the color and fabric reminded me a bit of those blankets they used to give you for free... Oh, those were the days...
I've also never flown WN and am not necessarily comparing WN to US. I wouldn't mind seeing a flight attendant at WN wearing a sweater like this. However, I still somewhat expect more service from a legacy carrier though I guess with LCC as their stock ticker symbol I think I should revise your expectations.
Seems like that's what air travel in the United States has come down to... Managing expectations...
Kinglobjaw From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 95 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 10330 times:
I've seen the new US Airways uniforms in many variations and not a single one looks unprofessional and neither of them even slightly resemble WN's uniforms.
There are classier looks and also ones that are more casual. I prefer the classy ones, but the casual ones are not bad.
This version is the most casual one and I think it looks still pretty good. The colors are nice. If this were any other color it would look poor but the dark blue looks really good.
MD-90 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 7466 posts, RR: 18 Reply 18, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 10224 times:
Quoting Kinglobjaw (Reply 17): I've seen the new US Airways uniforms in many variations and not a single one looks unprofessional and neither of them even slightly resemble WN's uniforms.
I flew US in January and some of the FAs were wearing ugly sweaters that looked like they came from Wal-Mart. Generally I don't care, but after seeing stunning Delta FAs in their beautiful red dresses the poor US FAs looked pretty shabby and cheap in comparison.
TG992 From New Zealand, joined Jan 2001, 2906 posts, RR: 14 Reply 21, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 10040 times:
Quoting Kinglobjaw (Reply 17): I've seen the new US Airways uniforms in many variations and not a single one looks unprofessional and neither of them even slightly resemble WN's uniforms.
I took my first flight on US Airways last year. It compared very unfavourably to American Airlines, who I flew a few days earlier.
Background - I'm a flight attendant for Air New Zealand.
My impression was that the entire operation was shoddy from start to finish. The ugly fleece-style sweaters that you don't seem to have ever seen were a particular lowlight for me.
Some more points..
* Unprofessional ground staff appearance and announcements.
* No greeting from the crew
* No namebadges
* Crew addressed other passengers rudely and unprofessionally.
* No pretakeoff checks - we climbed out with passengers lying across three rows of seats, texting on their cellphones.
* Not a single walkthrough of the cabin on the hour long flight.
* Following cabin clearance, passengers up and about for up to five minutes.
* No landing checks.
I found AA far superior despite being an ageing, battered MD80 compared to US's rather more modern A320.
I can't find a single positive thing to say about my US experience, other than that we arrived safely.
I call my passengers mate - therefore I'm tacky and lower-classed
Luv2cattlecall From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 1578 posts, RR: 2 Reply 22, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 10035 times:
Quoting Atrude777 (Reply 2): Southwest for years has allowed this.
Get this, at WN they were shorts during the summer! Wow!
Not sure if it is a cost cutting measure, but WN's reason is, they are more comfortable in the clothings, and being comfortable ensure they are in a good mood which passes the good mood onto the Customers.
Alex
The casual wear is something Herb promised all WN employees if the could win the Triple Crown award 5 years in a row. I personally would be willing to take about a $1,500 cut in annual pay if I could wear polos and slacks on days where we don't deal with vendors/clients face-to-face. I'm sure the employees of WN see the lack of a complex uniform as a big perk as well...
Quoting Kinglobjaw (Reply 17): I've seen the new US Airways uniforms in many variations and not a single one looks unprofessional and neither of them even slightly resemble WN's uniforms.
There are classier looks and also ones that are more casual. I prefer the classy ones, but the casual ones are not bad.
This version is the most casual one and I think it looks still pretty good. The colors are nice. If this were any other color it would look poor but the dark blue looks really good.
What? Why does the FA on the right have a baseball cap on? Even Skybus wouldn't dare allow a FA to dress like that.... (not unless it was a park ranger hat, of course!)
When you have to breaststroke to your connecting flight...it's a crash!
ATTart From United States of America, joined Dec 2008, 395 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 9979 times:
Quoting TG992 (Reply 21): I took my first flight on US Airways last year. It compared very unfavourably to American Airlines, who I flew a few days earlier.
Background - I'm a flight attendant for Air New Zealand.
My impression was that the entire operation was shoddy from start to finish. The ugly fleece-style sweaters that you don't seem to have ever seen were a particular lowlight for me.
Some more points..
* Unprofessional ground staff appearance and announcements.
* No greeting from the crew
* No namebadges
* Crew addressed other passengers rudely and unprofessionally.
* No pretakeoff checks - we climbed out with passengers lying across three rows of seats, texting on their cellphones.
* Not a single walkthrough of the cabin on the hour long flight.
* Following cabin clearance, passengers up and about for up to five minutes.
* No landing checks.
I found AA far superior despite being an ageing, battered MD80 compared to US's rather more modern A320.
I can't find a single positive thing to say about my US experience, other than that we arrived safely.
Then, here's a thought. Don't fly them again and fly the airline that lives up to your standard then. The times I have commuted on US I found the crew to be very pleasant. They, may not all be super models. But, the staff and crew were very professional.
Remember: When someone talks behind your back, it only means you're two steps ahead of them!
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 11635 posts, RR: 13 Reply 24, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 9945 times:
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 1): Starting this summer, bare chested male f/a's, and the female f/a's will only wear a bikini top.
Southwest flight attendants (among others) wore a little more than that, but not much, during the 1970s when miniskirts and hotpants were in style.
25 ATTart: Oh, I remember those outfits. My, Aunt us to work for PSA. She, loved working in them.. Well, she was a big flirt anyway..
26 TG992: Unfortunately for US, that's exactly what I'll do. This is why first impressions count.
27 TG992: You guys are both fudging the issue. I'm not handsome myself, and the uniform of my own airline is casual (no tie). However, I present myself decentl
28 ATTart: Then good for you. I will use them when I need too. For, if they get me to point A to point B safely. That, is all that matters to me.
29 N702ML: TG992.... First off, let me say....I am NOT an employee of USAirways. Second, let me say....although USAir was the first and only airline I ever flew
30 HPAEAA: While yes, this is the most important thing to me - I also prefer to goto a service provider which inspires confidence in this ability, and also trea
31 TDubJFK: BINGO! And when I think about one manager we had that was SO adamant that the 'Class-A (Inside)' and the 'Class B (Outside)' people stayed in their d
32 Sf3SCE: You go! i agree with every word you said!!!
33 AJMIA: I would be more comfortable without the polyester pants and the neck tie. I spent the summer of 2003 working with Eagle in ORF wearing cargo shorts a
34 Ridgid727: In many markets we are glad to have the likes of AA, DL, US etc. When Air New Zealand starts services to Fargo and Des Moines, and Greensboro, maybe
35 Kinglobjaw: Folks! Sorry for the confusion. The guy on the right is me- I thought that was clear. LOL! Hehe! Thanks, FlyBoy80 for picking up on that. -Kinglobjaw
36 M11Stephen: I really can't stand it when an airline has a million different uniforms for its flight crews and its ground crews. Sometimes the F/As are dressed so
37 ATTart: If, you want to go down that road. Well, I will tell you about my first impessions of Air New Zealand. I had to deadheaded on from AKL to Nadi. I tho
38 Ryanair!!!: Ok ok... It was only a matter of time before I chime in... With this kind of mentality, it is no wonder the US airline service levels are where they a
39 ATTart: Yep, that is why the US airline service is the way it is. You, hit it right on the head. That, is the only reason. Bravo.. Bravo.. For, I know I don'
40 Brons2: Stunning Delta FA's?? No such animal! (i've had a few too many DL flights with Grandma Sarge's non-service)
41 ATTart: I never said I condone them looking that way. I just said I have never had a issue with them. That, the flights I was on they looked professional. Al
42 SkyguyB727: You must never have flown on WN then. I flew them around Christmas one year. All the cabin crew were wearing thrift store Santa Claus sweatshirts wit
44 LHR777: Well, I do work for a US carrier, (not US Airways) and these are all pretty valid points. If the crew aren't carrying out their basic functions, such
45 Vfw614: Now folks, look at this gentleman. He is a regular pilot for an Austrian airline and this his uniform: http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,368715,00.jpg
46 Asiaflyer: I highly appreciate when both crew and passengers are well dressed. That said, I would love to be flown by Niki Lauda any day, even if he has jeans o
47 RussianJet: I really don't understand responses like this. TG992 explained precisely what it was that was not so good about that particular US flight. Competitio
48 Smi0006: That’s okay I'll do the thinking for you then Qantas (soon to be Jetstar) and yes they operate a number of domestic services within New Zealand, th
49 PRAirbus: Take a look at AA FAs, I think they portray the worst image of US Majors by far. A mismatched uniform of poor quality, those hideous "clog" type shoes
50 Isitsafenow: Sweatshirts at the ticket counter, ehhh? In the winter, you see that daily at FNT while checking in for DL or NW...still two separate counters, by the
51 413x3: what is this obsession with looks? I think some people grew up with too much tv and not enough parenting. A persons attitude is what makes them profes
52 Smi0006: Forgive me but I feel very strongly about this topic so I apologise if I come off as over the top; I feel we are different pages I am not judging the
53 Ikramerica: I thought it was obvious too. Sorry, but it is your POV that is out of line with the society of the world, not ours. Throughout times, how someone dr
54 LVHGEL: Well he is the founder of Lauda Air and owner/founder of the Austrian Airline Niki, and who still flies as captain in some of his airline regular fli
55 Vfw614: He has, by the way, given an explanation why he does not wear an uniform. Apparently, he often serves as stand-by crew and fills in for scheduled cre
56 TZFALAX: As a former ATA FA, I have to admit that our "Palm Tree" uniforms were the most hideous FA uniforms in history. The uniforms that followed ATA to the
57 Contrails15: And there ramp doesn't have to wear steel toe shoes. They wear sneakers, something I'm still trying to figure out since steel toe is required on the
58 HOOB747: As many of you know, America is a country that embraces the casual lifestyle, so it shouldn't be a shock that many professions have adapted to this ex
59 TG992: Except when you show one nipple on prime-time TV, then it's the End Of The World!
60 M11Stephen: I think the BA uniform from 1992-2005 has got you guys beat. Isn't this why airlines require F/As to take off the heels for takeoff and landing? I kn
61 Aviatortj: Maybe she wears wings and id when the seatbelt sign is turned off and you are allowed to be about the cabin. What difference does the uniform make in
62 PRAirbus: Casual looks unprofessional in most cases...if you want respect you should play the part. Sorry, but most US Majors FAs do not look professional. Comp
63 Ryanair!!!: SQ Girls don't wear high heels, they wear the sandals with kebaya motifs.These sandals do not have a back strap which was why they flew off when the
64 Malaysia: I think US copied a bit of the Independence Air styling for the new uniforms, taking the royal blue stuff. but DH on the other hand had some interesti
65 Wn676: It's not only WN. US ditched the policy about a year and a half ago, and from what I've heard we were one of the last to be required to wear steel-to
66 SkyGirl: So a lot has been said here, and I just want to go ahead and add my 2 cents on the ideas of image... A - First impressions are vital. Before you ever
68 Ryanair!!!: Copyright Vivek Prakash/Reuters This controversial flying sandals to be worn outside of the aircraft, how the "original" Singapore Girl is supposed t
69 GFFgold: One would hope that the airline employees in question aren't called upon to evacuate via slide on a regular basis. However, each and every day they a
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