The people who are claiming that somehow beards and facial hair will depreciate the appearance of the average airline pilot clearly hasn’t paid attention to half of the pilots walking around the terminal. How many overweight guys you see? Top-button undone guys? Loose tie? Messy hair? Wrinkled uniform? Just general sloppy appearance and posture?

A clean face doesn’t make a professional. If that’s your only argument, it’s weak and outdated. This isn’t the 1950’s anymore where tattoos are taboo and beards are for hippies. You can look professional with a beard, and tattoos for that matter. Or are you implying all those Canadians pilots look unprofessional? Shaving is a outdated, and honestly pretty dang annoying for a lot of people. theres no need projecting what you think is professional on issues that are really quite subjective

I'm telling you what airlines think, not what I think.

I don't like shaving, and don't on my days off... up to a point. A full beard is itchy, so I'd need to go Don Johnson. But apparently that's *not* considered professional, even by companies that allow beards.

I know of one company (in a technical customer service industry) which allows beards and goatees by exception... basically you apply for permission, you sign a statement of the rules, and they can revoke the authorization at any time for any reason. That way the onus is on the beard-wearer to keep it trimmed within spec and not push the boundaries... as others have said, airlines don't want to have to play whack-a-mole with those who get an inch and take a mile.

I don't disapprove of beards, but I do disapprove of slobs in uniform.

By no means did I have anyone in mind, was just reading through the post and saw a couple of comments that seem to point to the idea that seemed to project their opinion of what standards should be.

That seems like the best idea; individuals apply for exemption. It kind of adds weight to the importance of it, rather than pilots just thinking “oh I don’t have to shave today, blah blah”

Or, grammar.

People haven't. Person hasn't.

Maybe a beard can fix that. Passengers will be so entranced by Grizzly Adams that they might miss the fifth-grade verbiage. Win-win, or simply an unanticipated benefit?

It surprises no one that a beard nazi is also a grammar nazi.

I am a "beard nazi," am I? It's correctly said that when someone introduces hitler or naziism into the conversation, it's over, as it's reached the point of absurdity and that poster has introduced the limit of his or her intellect, so perhaps we're there now. Frequently those referred to as "uniform nazi's" are those who report others or berate others for their uniform wear, non-compliance, or other means; which I have not done. Thus, apparently any disagreement with you in a thread is unacceptable, and makes one a "nazi."

You cited issues that may detract from a crew member's professional appearance; wrinkled uniform, unkempt hair, etc. Certainly one's language will do the same. Is your kettle black, or it is the pot? That's a reference to ironic hypocrisy, so you understand, as your language skills have come up short. Do you comb your hair, or are you the one with facial tattoos and a neck beard?

Clean-shaven for a professional airline pilot is antiquated, is it? By all means grow a thick bush-man-of-borneo special operator tough guy beard for the world to see, and wear it with your uniform. Doubtless, no one will mind.

If I choose not to wear a beard with a uniform, I'm a "beard nazi," then? Not so long ago, a first officer showed up on a flight wearing boat shoes, no socks, no epaulets under his sailboat windbreaker, and he wore an ascot, which might have been an effort to supplant a mask. I didn't say a word. Also present, however, was the third highest on the seniority list on the captain side, who also didn't say a word...but snapped a picture. The picture said a thousand words, and made it's way, among others, to pro standards. If you're immature enough to dress like you need short pants with your uniform and still think you're in high school; if you think your appearance is more important than your career; if you're more concerned with taking selfies and saying look-at-me online and in person and in manner and deed, and if you're so self-obsessed that lookin' good is your priority over all else (career included), then give in to the vanity. It may suit you. You will need to understand that in so doing, you wear your priorities on your sleeve, and it shows.

Because core components of the profession are leadership (management) & attention to detail. Advising a crewmember THIER chin curtain has to go isn't worth the billable hours of a grievance hearing or court filing. So why not personal expression ink or staples then? Johnny Weir bouffant perhaps? Keep pushing boundaries, be creative. Look & act like drone operators, FARs don't address that either though parallels are getting bigger in the window all the time. Somebody pls tell me the split tongue isn't what I think it's for.

There is a dominant demographic which spends money on air travel, particularly premium travel. It's very roughly 45+ and moderately conservative. Airlines cater to that demographic in many ways.

If you pay attention you'll note that airlines, or at least some of them, will do marketing outreach to younger generations. But they will not disregard or offend the real money group in the process.

That will of course change over the next several decades.

No, and I never said this had anything to do with whether or not you have a beard. Your post is filled with false accusations.

No, it's a reference to a joke that apparently went over your head. Search youtube for "Soup nazi" on Seinfeld.

No, I referred to you as a beard nazi not because we disagree but because you go off on people who simply point out that some airlines allow pilots to have facial hair and maybe other airlines should too.

No, I never said that.

Again, you are confusing me with someone else. Also, this is a thread about beards not facial tattoos.

No, I never said that.

So you allowed someone to violate appearance standards, then you ratted him out? A true leader would have pulled the guy aside and checked on his condition. He might have had mental health issues, or been robbed of his uniform items, or overslept and needed some counseling.

But your decision to let it slide and then stab him in the back tells a lot about your character, or lack thereof.

Again, never said that.

Never said any of that.

The very contentiousness of this issue on this thread shows why the airlines don’t want to deal with it. Like MAGA, BLM, and LETS GO BRANDON, masks, offending someone either by permitting them or prohibiting them is going to be almost certain. Little wonder most managements don’t want to deal with them.