Flight attendants first appeared on flights at the beginning of the 20th century, and at that time they were exclusively men.
The first female flight attendant was a 25-year-old nurse in 1930, and by 1936 women had almost completely replaced men in this field.
The requirements for women became stricter every year, and they concerned not only physical fitness and competence, but also appearance.
The strict standards of the last century
Nelly Diner — the first flight attendant, 1934.
Fifty to sixty years ago, the requirements for flight attendants were even stricter: they had to control their weight and figure and adhere to a strict dress code, which in the 1960s and 1970s required them to wear short, tight-fitting skirts.
A flight attendant who worked during those years said that flight attendants used to be forced to wear a special belt under their clothes to give their figure the right look.
If a flight attendant gained weight, reached the age of 32–35, or got married, she was simply fired.
In our tolerant age, airlines do not control the personal lives of their employees and do not impose unreasonable requirements,
but flight attendants still have to look the part.
Here are the basic requirements for the appearance of modern flight attendants.
Top models are not needed
Contrary to popular belief, flight attendants are not required to have a model’s physique.
The minimum height is 160 cm, and when reaching up, a woman must be able to touch a mark 210–212 cm above her head.
This is necessary so that she can put things on the luggage racks on the plane and get them down.
The weight of a flight attendant is calculated based on their body mass index, which must be between 18.5 and 24.9.
Requirements may vary between airlines.
Age is important, but grandmothers can fly too
The minimum age for working in the sky is 18 to 21 years old.
The maximum age is not usually mentioned, as this would be discrimination, but after 30–32 years old, women usually find work on the ground.
However, this is not always the case and does not apply to all airlines. For example, the photo shows American flight attendant Betty Nash in 2017.
She was 81 at the time and continued to fly and work actively.
Only clean and beautiful skin
A flight attendant is the face of the company. Therefore, it is desirable for her not to have unsightly scars on her face or parts of her body that are not covered by clothing.
The same applies to acne, birthmarks and tattoos. Having a tattoo on your back or thigh is acceptable at most airlines,
but even a small design on your ankle, wrist or neck will guarantee that you will not be hired as a flight attendant.
Eagle eyesight is a must
Flight attendants must have 100% vision. Otherwise, they must wear contact lenses.
As a rule, airlines allow employees to wear glasses that meet the company’s image criteria.
However, some still prefer contact lenses and will only allow glasses to be worn if the employee has medical contraindications to wearing lenses.
This medical exemption from wearing lenses is valid for no longer than 3 months.
A smile like a Hollywood star
Flight attendants always smile at passengers, and their smiles must be beautiful.
White, even teeth are ideal. Braces are allowed on some airlines, while others are less tolerant of them.
But what is not welcome anywhere is severely crooked teeth or missing teeth.
Even if a tooth is missing temporarily, a flight attendant will probably not be allowed to work in this condition.
Bright hair — only after retirement
A flight attendant’s hair should not touch the collar, but there are also requirements for hair colour.
Only natural shades are allowed, and regrown roots must be touched up in a timely manner.
Some flight attendants still decide to dye their hair in an ombre style, but then they have to get creative and style their hair in a clever way
so that the light hair is not visible and the bun does not differ in colour from the roots.
No trendy mint-coloured nail polish
Manicures are mandatory for flight attendants.
The length and colour of nails are determined by the rules of each airline.
Usually, this is a classic manicure: short red or nude nails, French manicures are also acceptable.
Makeup like Goar Avetisyan
Makeup is also necessary; it should look natural, but false eyelashes and bright lipstick are allowed.
Some airlines only allow red lipstick, and only certain shades.
Other companies require their employees to use foundation, eyeliner, eyeshadow and blush in addition to lipstick and mascara.
Only heels are allowed in the airport
Airline policies may vary, but most require flight attendants to wear high heels when arriving at the airport.
This looks beautiful and presentable, although not entirely comfortable. During the flight, the girls change into more practical and stable shoes.
No jewellery, but a watch is mandatory
Only the bare minimum: one pair of small earrings without coloured stones and no more than two rings, including a wedding ring.
But the most important thing is a watch. A flight attendant will not be allowed to work if she forgets to wear this accessory.
Every member of the crew has a watch so that in an emergency they can keep track of time, as evacuation should not take more than 90 seconds.
