FangsF15

<sigh> maybe go back and reread my post in context. You are extrapolating things I did not say. But whatever, I don’t care enough to keep beating my brain bloody.

jaxsurf

I’m not intentionally misunderstanding what you’re saying, and I went back and reread all of your posts. You’re in favor of a soft shell jacket and getting rid of the DB coat and the hat, okay, got it; me too.

Then you say we should look different than FAs and be easily identifiable to pax, ala how only doctors wear the long white coat, and how you didn’t realize you were speaking with a doctor because they weren’t wearing a white coat. You say appearances matter and that we’re paid a premium and should look the part.

But WHEN we are forced to wear the jacket (off of the plane, inside the terminal), we are not interacting with pax in a professional capacity. When a passenger asks us how to get to gate B69, that interaction is not akin to a doctor speaking to one of their patients, because we’re just a random pilot. When we are interacting with our passengers in a professional capacity, we are never wearing the jacket or the hat. When we’re on the plane and acting in our professional capacity to the pax on that plane, we are all still clearly uniform in our Dilbert costume (except for our tattooed coworkers), and we look nothing like the FAs. Therefore, why does our jacket matter whatsoever?

Anyway, if you still think I don’t understand your point, I guess I don’t. We seem to disagree on the importance of looking formal (as far as I can tell). Not trying to frustrate you or keep you banging your head against the wall, so no sweat if you don’t feel like responding.

jaxsurf

Of course there is a big difference between something safety related and something uniform related. That’s exactly why I’m saying it doesn’t matter if uniform rules get blown off by people because those uniform rules don’t affect safety, and are outdated and based upon a faulty premise (that pax care whether we look like steamboat captains or not). We even proved that the uniform doesn’t matter a single iota to the operation, when people stopped wearing the hat during contract negotiations. Are you refuting that?

I’m not bent out of shape about anything. Those who choose to wear the hat and DB coat, fine. Those who do not, fine. Both options are just as easy to do as the other. My jimmies remain unruffled.

2StgTurbine

It was a warm January afternoon in ATL during a turn. I left my blazer in the cockpit for the walk around. When I got back, the cleaners were busy and were blocking my access to the cockpit. I wanted some food and went into the terminal without a hat or blazer. I couldn't believe that the cashier still gave me the crew discount. How could she recognize I was pilot?

Don't worry, I filled out an ASAP

Hotel Kilo

I vote we send the 4th floor to MSP for a winter. Oh yeah 6 day trips too. Let them slog around in the "uniform". The horse blanket offers no protection from the elements. So ok, you wear a trench coat over it, so that's 2 jackets now. Cool. Then we get to laugh when they land at the warmer climate lay over, as they schlep around that over coat, dropping it behind or trying to stuff it into an already stuffed bag.

How hard is it to offer options for a decent shell or dare I say a well made leather jacket, you know something functional that works to protect one when outside in the elements. The NWA leather jackets were nice, looked sharp and dare I say functional.

I'm with Jax on this whole issue.

MeteorA113

I will forever be a supporter of a leather jacket. I gave them my .02 on the survey for that option and it's silly that we don't have one.

Hotel Kilo

Rats, beat me to it 😉

notEnuf

I will be bidding the Caribbean for the remainder of my career NOV - FEB. No NF or DB for me. #rerouteshappen

180ToAJ

Everyone in the terminal probably assumed you were an American pilot at first glance. They knew you weren’t United because passengers saw the black pants. Upon further scrutiny they saw the widget on your chest and wondered why they were paying a premium for some hatless slob walking around with forearms fully exposed. The cashier was just being nice and probably in too much of a hurry to correct you. She probably called you Capt after looking at your stripes. She knows the difference. She was just being ironic or respectful depending on your number of stripes.
An ASAP won’t undo the damage you’ve done to the brand.

180ToAJ

Nobody is saying we should wear jeans and a widget t-shirt. Button up shirt, slacks, and wings will be plenty.

The point is that the only people who care about the Delta uniform are Delta pilots. If we all went SB and no hat tomorrow, most people wouldn’t notice and even fewer would care.
The proof was hats off to a new contract. Only people at Delta cared. Things were business as usual for everyone else at the airport.