Saw this in the news today. Anyone wearing a size larger than 18 should not be allowed to work as a flight attendant:

Northwest flight attendants want Delta to offer bigger sizes of signature red dress uniform

By Harry R. Weber, AP Airlines Writer
On Friday July 10, 2009, 7:05 pm EDT
ATLANTA (AP) -- The union that represents flight attendants who worked for Northwest Airlines before it was bought by Delta Air Lines is crying foul over Delta's failure to offer bigger sizes for its signature red dress uniform designed by Richard Tyler.

When he was hired to create his uniform collection, Tyler said he wanted them to "look sexy and great."

The Northwest chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA has filed a grievance with the world's largest airline operator, asking it to offer the red dress up to size 28. The union hopes the grievance will go to mediation in August.

The red dress currently is only offered up to size 18, though a Delta spokeswoman said the airline offers a range of outfits in other colors and styles up to size 28 that flight attendants can wear.

Patricia Reller, who handles grievances for the union's executive committee, said Friday that even if there was only one flight attendant who wore a size over 18, that person should be able to wear the stylish red dress.

"I think red is an eye-popping color and it's not subtle, and to me by not offering it in a size over 18, Delta is saying, 'We don't want you wearing that if you are over size 18,'" Reller said. "But the job isn't about being sexy. It's about safety."

Reller said she did not know how many pre-merger Northwest flight attendants want to wear the red dress but need a size bigger than 18.

"If the dress wasn't a tiny size 18, there would be less," Reller said. "It's a very small size 18, so that makes the numbers a lot larger."

Delta spokeswoman Gina Laughlin could not immediately say why the red dress is not available in bigger sizes while other uniform options are. But she said there have been few complaints.

"The majority of pre-merger Northwest flight attendants have given us very positive feedback about the Richard Tyler Collection," Laughlin said.

Delta hired Tyler in 2004 to do a makeover of its gray employee uniforms. Tyler, whose dresses have been worn by stars such as Julia Roberts, Heather Locklear and Jamie Lee Curtis, promised a classier -- and in some cases, sexier -- look for flight attendants, airport agents and other workers.

"I want them to look sexy and great, but you have to keep that classic look as well," Tyler told The Associated Press at the time.

The uniforms -- including white blouses and navy dresses besides the red dress -- debuted in 2006. Atlanta-based Delta acquired Northwest in October 2008. Pre-merger Northwest employees began wearing the Delta uniforms on March 30.

Delta said at the time it announced its plans for the new uniforms that the decision was a "wise investment" that would boost morale among employees and increase the airline's bottom line in the long run.

According to Delta, flight attendants must be able to perform the safety and security functions of their job, including being able to reach and close overhead bins, reach and close any of the aircraft doors and be able to sit on the aircraft jumpseat and fasten the flight attendants seatbelt.

Reller said a flight attendant who wears above a size 18 can do all of those functions well.

"The sizing of our red dress has not been an issue with Delta flight attendants since the program's inception three years ago. This is AFA hype leading up to the election," Laughlin said.

There are roughly 21,000 flight attendants at the combined airline, 14,000 from pre-merger Delta and 7,000 from pre-merger Northwest.

The Northwest workers are represented by a union, while the Delta workers are not. At some point there will be a representation election at which the combined workforce will decide whether it wants to be represented by a union or not. The two groups also must decide on how to integrate their seniority lists.

"A range of outfits up to size 28"??? Jesus fucking Christ at that size they are going to have to get the weight and load balance sheets out.

That's why the seats are so narrow. They had to widen the aisles to enable those size 28's to follow a drink cart.

If it were about safety they would not hire huge immobile waitresses in the first place.

Total BS.

You discriminating pigs.

Some guys like larger sizes.

Obviously, you guys do not like those ladies that have MORE to offer.

MM

We can thank the EEOC for the current selection of flight attendants. Early to mid eighties began the decline into ugliness and ball-bearing flt attendants. Bwana, you certainly remember PSA and those wonderful girls setting the standard with the hot pants and looks. The whole industry was keenly aware, in fact the "Fly me' slogans for a rival airline [National] began in the mid seventies, with hot stews of course. The commercials were certainly suggestive at the time. Hot looking girl in uniform seductively says "Hi, I'm Heather, fly me"....Every mans subconscious heard 'try me'....lol

CFK

But some give you more to fly with.

MM

Flight attendants are nasty enough - and I am not talking from a looks perspective. Those fucking AA flight attendants on my flight today were just plain cranky...now lets add nasty, fat, and old flight attendants. How nice!

The American flight from ORD to NRT often has the old fat stew that I have nicknamed the fuck you stewardess. She refuses to do anything for anyone or help anyone in anyway. When novices who don't know better ask for anything she goes "Oh shit" or some other such thing. I just keep my mouth shut and dream of my LBFMs.

These days, I'm floored when I see a flight attendant on a US carrier who isn't a hog. Most of them are ugly, overweight and abusive. And that's in the first class cabin.

There was a time when it really was different, but that seems so long ago. In a 30-year period, flying went from fun to an aversive experience.

Gurock, I fly united and they have a bunch of your "oh shit" ladies on their international flights.

I have a hard and fast policy of writing letters to United's Chief Customer Officer for all good and bad service. I give them detailed report of the good and bad service.

I've received bonus miles, SWU's and $400 credits for the letters and that is for good and bad service letters.

BTW, there have been more letters about good service than bad.

The competition OTOH

http://www.evaair.com/html/b2c/english/eva/News/2004/deals_7.htm

"Female, single and under 24 years of age"
"At least 160cm in height, weight in proportion to height"
"Pleasant personality and appearance with clear complexion"
"Please send your employment application form with two recent full-length color photos"

I love the flight attendents on Singapore Airlines. I think they also have strict age and looks policy too.

Love those Singapore gals, but they do have a bit more "meat" on them than the waif-like EVA, ChinaAir, Korean FA.


THE Hottest (Consistently, and Overall) IMO are the AirAsia stewardesses where they don't care about no TOFL or College Degrees

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah-p-qL8Xj0

Volaris has some good looking stewardesses, the one on my flight from TIJ to TLC was HOT!!

Down side are the way pilots fly the final approach into TIJ