It's funny you mention 'public perception' and 'attitude.' Why does this hit close to home?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeBIhm-x564

Did you know that the substantial majority of the current flight attendant corps in the US couldn't get hired overseas as flight attendants primarily because of those two reasons you mention?

Ever wonder why some of the highest-rated airlines by Skytrax have things like mandatory retirement age (42 is the lowest I've seen so far) for flight attendants? Why some require you to fit into a single size uniform? Why a number of airlines are expecting their flight attendants to be a symbol of grace and style to the point that the flight attendant makeup shades are regulated by their manual; how they present a drink or a tray to a passenger; how they bend as opposed to slouching? Stray from the standards, and you'd be gone so fast your head would spin. Mouth off to a passenger, you're gone. They have people for that - you don't stray from presenting grace and style. Put on a few lbs, and you will be given a timeframe to lose the weight. If you don't... you're gone. You might be able to work in a different role, but definitely not as a flight attendant.

I recall once sitting in LHR and I recall seeing a US legacy crew walk by. It was about what you'd expect. They were followed by a Singapore crew and a Thai Airways crew. Then another US crew. You know how we're all proud to be Americans? This was a big exception... I felt embarrassed. Talk about an in-your-face display of where we stand and rank.