On the sexiness of flight attendants: Discrimination?

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This thread is a crack up.

Yes, the profession has lost it's luster among young, sexy Americans. I grew up in the days when young girls still dreamed of being flight attendants, hard to figure out why looking back. Maybe because we had less choices to start with? It beat being a typist. But face it, the job isn't all that great, and somewhere between when I was 10 and I was 18 I became well aware that a stewardess was nothing but a glorified waitress, and that there were other jobs that would let one see the world, to boot.

This has nothing at all to do with discrimination becoming a dirty word.

Yes, there were lawsuits about the weigh in's, etc., because they made no sense in relation to what the job actually was: acting as a waitress, and keeping the passengers safe in an emergency. Those rules were forcing seasoned, experienced, valuable flight attendants to retire, in favor of someone younger and less able to do the job. Nothing in the current law stops the airline from hiring the youngest, prettiest, most personable applicant in the interview. It just stops them from firing her 3 years later for doing nothing worse than gaining 10 pounds or getting older. Oh, and moving up the pay scale: that was the kicker , it probably always had more to do with cheap labor, when the pool of new applicants was plentiful, than customer service. As other posters have pointed out, other changes were happening that made it all old, stale and irrelevant from a business standpoint.

I would much rather know that my flight attendant had the experience to handle a difficult passenger, assist with a medical emergency, or spot a terrorist than have him or her be handsome or pretty.

Not that I don't enjoy a handsome young man attending to me in any situation, of course. Just, it matters more that he can do his job than that I have eye candy.

One of our neighbors has made a very long career of being a flight attendant. She joined back in the day when the job held luster, and still enjoys it. She's got a level head, a ready smile, and a very comforting aura ... but she is no longer young, single or super skinny. Why should she have to move on?

It's not like airlines here ever started hiring older women at entries levels (or that older women ever started applying); it's just that they started to keep the ones they already had.

Perhaps you aren't the only one yearning for the "good ol' days." ABC has a new on it's schedule that should be just up your alley. About young, pretty flight attendants. From back in the days women thought that was the thing to be.

People are allowed to be shallow, as long as it is kept in it's time and place - that, there, is the key. IMHO.

Maybe I won't visit America next year afterall. Sheesh... do you have to tip the flight attendants as well?!

I'm an unattractive woman. Sometimes attractive women date/marry 52 year old men - never unattractive women. [/jealous}

No, you don't have to tip the stewardesses, yet, but let's not give the airline industry any ideas, shall we?

There was actually a time when flying domestically in the USA was something of a treat. Pretty stewardesses serving drinks and meals, and doing their best to make you feel pampered and comfortable. Free music/entertainment.

I think that back in those days there may have been price controls on airline tickets, which forced airlines to compete based on service.

Back then, relatively few people flew.

Now, lots of people fly. And, lots of people use the internet to buy tickets. So, airlines are now competing based on price alone, and cutting all the fluff. Which now makes flying less appealing than a bus trip. At least an aging bus isn't going to fall out of the sky.

Unless you're flying to Asia. The "good old days" revisited, and more.

If I'm ever stuck sitting next to you on a ten hour flight, I would rather you not be turned on by anyone, thank you.

I recall a book that came out a long time ago, called Coffee, Tea or Me?

http://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Uninhibite ... 0142003514

I haven't read it. But, probably back in those days, stewardesses might have been expected to be available for sexual flings with the passengers who were businessmen. Firing stewardesses once they became married would make it impossible for the male passengers unwittingly to commit adultery. Many of them may have signed up as stewardesses in the hopes of marrying a wealthy passenger. Once married, they should safely be removed from the herd, to make room for a new woman seeking a wealthy mate.

I remember talk of a "Mile High Club"--folks who scored in flight with a stewardess. Richard Branson claimed to have joined the club at age 19.

If we're flying across the continental US, no worries there, my dear.

You may have your illusions shattered. The "back of the bus" is the back of the bus, regardless of the carrier you are on.

I flew economy (the back of the plane), and remain illusioned.

Fair enough--experiences are individual, after all.

Here are some typical Korean Airlines stewardesses



And, from Singapore Airlines

This idea that any stewardess over 30 should be fired. Even Hollywood movie stars get more respect than that. Reminds me of that movie Logans Run where anyone over 30 was executed in order to create an eternal youthful utopia.

Singapore Airlines seems to have taken the drastic measure of banning sex on its flights.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7071620.stm

Shoot. Such sexy stewardesses, too. What a waste.

Such a non-story. But it provided good promotion for their new Suites product. (Which is an extraordinarily good "hard" product, but commands a premium over first class fares that is difficult to justify).

While it is true that the partitions between the two center suites can be lowered, it is still not practical for two people to use the resulting bed for that purpose.

Well, those Singaporean stewardesses are so little and petite that I am sure they would fit.