Here's one for the flight attendants...

[Paddles_up]

Taking into consideration you company's history, describe your company's first flight attendant uniform.

I don't work for SWA but their first flight attendant uniform was bright colored hot pants with a wide belt and knee high go-go boots. Today thier uniforms are casual but trendy.

If you had YOUR choice, what would your uniform be? (Now be serious...keeping in mind we NEED to have clothes ON for this question!) :wink_2: :plane:

At QX our FA's have a choice of casual or formal...most wear the casual outfits for comfort especially when they have to fly the "baby dash" to Timbuctu outstations!

[nwacrew]

Northwest's first stewardesses, Dorothy Stump and Virginia Johnson, were hired on the same day in 1939. They worked aboard the company's newly delivered DC3 and according to Ms. Stump, "Our uniforms were dark brown worsted wool, with a pointed cap to match." They were purchased "at Field & Schlick in St. Paul, and they wore like iron. In fact, we kept hoping they'd wear out a little sooner than they did."

In September, 1974, I became the first male ever hired as a flight attendant by The Flying Tiger Line. I saw a 'Help Wanted' ad in The San Francisco Chronicle titled "STEWARDESSES" and called Flying Tigers to ask if any "stewards" were being hired as well. The woman on the other end of the line said "Gee, I don't know. No one's ever asked." She put me on hold a moment and came back on the line to invite me to an interview. After I was hired, two other guys applied and were also accepted for an October training class. (Starting salary was $485 a month!) Prior to graduation, the Director of Inflight Services drove the three of us to a local Macy's to help us put together a winter "uniform". We selected a navy wool blazer, charcoal wool slacks, white shirts, and a rep tie with red, white and navy stripes that closely matched the silver, red, white and navy livery of Flying Tigers' DC8's!

I'm very much a traditionalist and having served in the Navy, I'm partial to military-inspired clothing. Given a choice, I'd choose to wear a dark navy, double-breasted airline uniform with gold buttons and a single gold stripe on the cuff. Worn with a solid navy tie and a visored cap, it's a classic look that never goes out of style. (Which is why similar uniforms worn by airline pilots and military officers never look dated.)

[bridget74]

I think I'll take the hotpants back. :grin: :wink_2:

Okay, seriously...
There's a navy blazer that some of the SWA F/As wear...it's a really nice optional piece to the uniform, but a lot of our F/As have it. They put it over a white shirt and khaki slacks, or a white shirt and navy slacks. And then the female F/As usually tie a little SWA scarf at their necks. Very tailored, yet feminine. That's always been my favorite uniform piece.

[Paddles_up]

In reply to:<hr />
I became the first male ever hired as a flight attendant by The Flying Tiger Line



nwacrew....wow that's impressive! Have you been with NWA that long? Tell us more!!! :shocked:

[nwacrew]

I've only been with Northwest since March of '96. A virtual new-hire!

My boss at Flying Tigers (she was Director Of Inflight Services) once told me over cocktails at a party in the late 70's, that I was hired because I'd mentioned during my interviews that in the Navy I'd been a passenger on several Flying Tiger MAC flights to and from Japan. She thought I'd be able to relate well to the needs of Tigers' military passengers.

After a few more cocktails however, she admitted there was a SECOND reason she'd hired me...

At a management meeting in the summer of 1974, someone had brought up the possibility of hiring MALES in addition to females, during the upcoming flight attendant recruitment. But a top officer nixed the idea, saying "We don't want any homosexuals in the company..."

Well my boss was a BIG 'OLE (closet) lesbian and she took offense and decided she WOULD hire a male - and preferably a gay one. The moment I walked in the door for my initial interview she took one look at me and said to herself "Yep! He'll do just fine..." (Gee...and I thought I was butching-it up!)

And THAT'S how I became the first male flight attendant at The Flying Tiger Line.

[Paddles_up]

In reply to:<hr />
(Gee...and I thought I was butching-it up!)



***winks*** Well I have to say, she definately had her "gay-dar" on that day! Good for you!

I LOVE hearing about other airline's history. One of my favorite books was "The Golden Years of Flying". It was written by a former Frontier Airlines Captain. (I'm talking the "original" Frontier.) It was one of the most informative and funny books I have read. It gave the history of the company not only from a pilots perspective but some from the "stews" as well! I loved it...definately written from the heart!

[Wizguy]

I was wondering why we call flight attendants instead of Stewardnesses, Stewards, air hostess and air host?

[flymeaway]

In reply to:<hr />
One of my favorite books was "The Golden Years of Flying".



Ooh I love these kinds of books...I'll have to try and find that one. One of my favorites is _Airline Identity, Design, and Culture_ by Kieth Lovegrove. The writing is a bit dry, but an interesting history on the uniforms, service standards, etc...but the photos are awesome. Big full-color pics of old aircraft tails, memorabilia, and of course lots and lots of old uniforms!

[traveler]

Hey there Wiz,

It hasn’t been that long actually.
(Well, everything is relative .. especially when one gets older).
In Europe the term stewardess is still used.
We also use “Cabin Crew” a lot.

I believe it has to do with public perception.
I believe they felt (in the US) the term focussed on the serving part too much.
And the priority of the task is the flight safety aspect.

But you’ll see that everywhere if you wait long enough.
My Chief Pilot is now called Vice-president of Flight Operations.
Do you know the difference between a Co-Pilot and a First Officer ?
Or a Purser and a Lead-Flight-Attendant ?
Or a Mechanic and an Aircraft Maintenance Technician ?

I sure don't !

:pilot:

[EXASaab]

In reply to:<hr />
My Chief Pilot is now called Vice-president of Flight Operations.




Mine is called "Director of Flying" and then he has a guy over him that has the title of VP of Flight Operations which is a "non-flying" management position.
:crazy:

[traveler]

I see, well that guy in my outfit is called "Executive Vice president of Flight Operations.
(Previously Director of Operations).
It was a non-flying position here for a long time.
But now a pilot actually landed that job.
Clearly he doesn't fly very often.

What's in a name ?! :crazy:

[Eagle Eye]

nwacrew....
I LOVE IT!!
Tell us more! :grin: