[Bad Hussar]

OK. As anyone who has traveled on North American, and some European, airlines in the last 20 odd years knows: The stewardesses are not what they once were. The reason, also as everyone (at least everyone who is being honest) knows, is that many of these airlines have had hiring freezes and the older stewardesses did not leave the skies once getting married or having children, or they just didn't get married or have children and continued working. Also, due to union "seniority" agreements older women were advantaged over younger more capable women. I say more capable because there is only so much experience that a woman would need to be a good stewardess. Maybe a few years and she's at the top of her game.

Frankly being a air stewardess is a young woman's game. The union agreement may suggest that the more years experience a stewardess has the better she is, but the traveling takes it's toll on older women and as anyone who has flown knows the result is that from a certain point they become progressively WORSE at their jobs as the years pile up. I'm not really trying to be hostile, though I realise it sounds that way. The airlines really should look to move the older women into positions on the ground, such as check-in agents. I think it would be better for the women concerned (honestly), the airline and the travelling public Win Win Win.

The reason for the post title is that I have heard that some American Airlines, such as AA have ended hiring freezes and are hiring new, and almost certainly young, stewardesses in numbers for the first time in decades. My question to the American travelling public is whether they have noticed any improvement in recent times? Probably will take a few years for things to improve, but I haven't flown in NA in some time, so I am curious to hear how things are right now.

Also, has anyone ever chosen an airline based on the likely looks and attitude of the stewardesses? Most non US airlines, with the obvious exception of Canadian and some European ones, have a much better business environment and can hire and re-assign staff based on reality rather than fantasy. So any Mid-East or Asian carrier is gong to have much younger cabin staff on average. Anyone ever chosen these specifically for this reason? Or is price and connection time everything?

To give this post a visual jolt.

Stewardesses then:

Stewardesses Now:


Closing a post that is longer than I intended:
There's a great right-up on this issue in the Atlantic from last year which completely nails it. Author was a woman, which at first I found astonishing, until I remembered that the two people I know who complained most bitterly to me about older stewardesses and the effects of age on service in the air were women in the very same age group as these women. One was near hysterical in condemnation after two particularly unpleasant back to back 8+ hour flights. When I mentioned about the "seniority" principle and all the rest they were not in the least bit sympathetic. Basically agreed that stewardesses really shouldn't be flying after 30, or with husband and/or children.

OK, finally, here's the Atlantic article:

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/arch...ts/246610/

Quote:

You could probably still get a large group of young, hot women to take a job that involves free flights all around the world. But those jobs are no longer open, because airlines stopped firing all the old, fat parents. Thanks to a combination of feminist shaming, union demands, and anti-discrimination laws.

PS: I think the author could qualify to be an honorary female member of RooshV.

[Virtus]

https://www.google.com/search?q=vietname...nes+bikini

[Orson]

For those curious about the title, "Coffee, Tea, or Me," it refers to a 1967 memoir by two hot stews - when they had to be young, single, attractive, and sex and romance were fun games people were supposed to enjoy playing. Even while working on an airplane.


YES, "the swinging 60s" were not named that for nothing. Too bad we missed it.

[Bad Hussar]

(10-30-2013 01:44 AM)Orson Wrote:  

For those curious about the title, "Coffee, Tea, or Me," it refers to a 1967 memoir by two hot stews - when they had to be young, single, attractive, and sex and romance were fun games people were supposed to enjoy playing. Even while working on an airplane.


YES, "the swinging 60s" were not named that for nothing. Too bad we missed it.

Ja, definitely. Late 60's/early 70's must have been a great time to be a young man (or woman) on the prowl. Puritanism was somewhat held in check by the political left then, unlike today when both the right and left are nothing if raging Puritans. At least they can agree on that.

I accept that air travel was more exclusive then, but really even if you consider other less exclusive means of travel, like trains, the female staff were just so much classier than today. We need another revolution to free young people from the shackles of Puritinism, even if they will be astonished to hear that they are under it's thumb.