Travel

Cabin crew secrets: Flight attendant reveals surprising effect uniform has on pilots


Cabin crew were once synonymous with the glamour of the skies and the job was much sought after in the golden age of travel. Why flying itself may have become less alluring over the decades, flight attendants still hold a certain appeal. Thanks to their chic uniforms, cabin crew are easily identifiable by passengers.

“My uniform quickly began to embarrass me. It was like being a freshman nerd surrounded by cool senior cheerleaders.

“Forget the silver wings – gold wings at my airline are only worn by flight attendants with at least five years seniority – one glance at my dress and everyone knew I was on probation.”

Poole elaborated that her longer hemline also “had an effect on pilots, too.”

She said: “One look and they knew they could ask for food items they’d never in a million years get from a more seasoned flight attendant.

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“When I told one such pilot we only had enough mixed nuts for first class passengers, he suggested I take one or two nuts, whatever I felt comfortable with, from each passenger’s bowl. ‘It’ll be our little secret,’ he added.”

Sometimes pilots would go one step further when they identified a new cabin crew member.

“Even worse were pilots known to prey on flight attendants right out of training,” wrote Poole.

“Because we were young and dumb and unaware of the reputation some of these guys had, most of us found it flattering to be at the receiving end of their attention.

“In fact, one of my roommates, a ‘Cockpit Connie,’ enjoyed it so much that when she finally got off probation she didn’t run straight to a tailor like the majority of us did.

“She left her hemline as long as possible so she could entice even more pilots into her layover hotel room late at night.”

Not all pilots were keen to start up something saucy with flight attendants, though. Some took on a more paternal role.

“On the flip side, there were the pilots who would see our long skirts and immediately go into father mode, trying to protect us from anything that could possibly go wrong in flight,” said Poole.

“‘If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask, and if the passengers give you a hard time, let me know and I’ll have them taken off the flight. I don’t care what the company says, I don’t put up with that kind of bull,’ one told me.

“Those pilots were, and still are, my favourite kind, and I’d like to thank each every once of them for giving us the support we don’t always get.”

Many airlines list strict guidelines for their staff to follow, including policies surrounding appropriate shoes, the appearance of tattoos and ways to style their hair.

Policies vary depending on the carrier. easyJet states that all staff must cover up any tattoos or piercings while British Airways permits “a single ear piercing…no more than 10mm in diameter, only one set of round shaped ear-rings must be worn.” No other piercings or tattoos are allowed to be visible.



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