paxhauler85

You're not the only one.

Without starting the same dog and pony show we've been through before, I still cant understand why people can justify looking like garbage at work or elsewhere for that matter. I guess have too much self-respect.

You never know who you'll meet on your commute or while working. I'm seeing a F/A I met on my commute, and was hired by an ANG unit via a guy I met on my jumpseat.

I'm sure that both of them would have been just as impressed by me if I was:

-unshaven
-wearing a wrinkled, yellow shirt
-wearing a short and unbuttoned tie
-wearing scuffed, un-polished shoes

with uncombed hair. (Sarcasm).

I'm a cheerleader for "always looking your best." Two good first impressions have had a profound effect on my life. We'll, one first impression, no bets on the F/A.

P.S. Spare me the "they don't pay me to look like a professional" argument. Do you or have you ever gotten paid to look nice when you go to dinner, weddings, funerals, college parties (when in college), bars, etc.?

HercDriver130

how about a nice company blue polo shirt with black pants. lol.... Yes I jest I know how the hard core airline guys love their jackets, hats and ties.

ERJF15

All I said was that the couple guys I saw look sharp. Come on fellas...no need to bash.

bleedairpacks

Ding ding ding, we have a winner!

They don't give us hats at my airline.

CRFguy

At JB, the company polo would turn into any blue polo, and the black pants would include black jeans. All topped off with a classy JB windbreaker with, "JFK", "BOS", "LGB", or "FLL" on the sleeve.

fly2002

its mostly an american thing. Not AA but america itself. Go over seas and you'll see how nice they look. The only airlines I can think of that are good are Delta. Dressed to the hilt. American, a lot of those guys still have pride and wear their hats. And some UsAirways guys are still all decked out.

If you wanna be paid like trash....keep dressing like it.

fly

Logger

JetBlue does not have hats. There is a suit jacket, but most wear a company leather A-2 jacket when weather requires. I wear my tie the whole day, but many guys I fly with wear clip on ties and regularly take them off on the flightdeck. I doubt we are "hard core" guys.

I can't think of any slobs with which I have operated. One guy was borderline wearing hiking boots.

Tinpusher007

We discuss all things aviation here...even uniforms. The important stuff gets hammered to death, believe me. Sometimes, its actually somewhat of a relief to talk about uniforms rather than the fact that airline execs need to pay bonuses to "retain top talent" rather than decent wages to retain "experience" up in the front offices.

Tinpusher007

I agree with you about the AA and DL guys. They look really sharp in my opinion. But I do take issue with your last statement. Im all about dressing the part of a professional but we are not up there to model uniforms, we're there to hopefully pull off a "Sully" when the brown stuff gets thrown at the fan. By and large, we have held up our end of the deal time and again. The same cannot be said for many at the top who have seen there pay increase year over year...right along with incredible losses!

Fugawe

Dress how you want based on your personal professional pride. Shine your shoes, press the shirt, trim the nose hairs, etc......but not because of the airline.

Don't for a second think that your uniform wear matters one whit to mgmt when debating compensation for you. They will get rid of you tomorrow if it'd save a dime and if they could (if you're non-union, you may be gone tomorrow).

If you're fairly new to the industry and think looking spiffy matters to the public or to mgmt.....think again. The public buys the cheapest tickets on the 'net. Mgmt squeezes every penny out of labor that's possible. They may not like it if you look grubby, but the passenger will still fly, and mgmt will still treat you like a truck driver.

Talk to the old guys/gals who've been around the pole a couple decades or more. You'll find that those that bother to look good always have and always will. Those content to come to work looking sloppy always have and always will (except when they interviewed and were on probation).

Once my fellow pilot is stapped in the cockpit with me, I could give a rat's how he/she looks. Competence is certainly not directly related to the GQ look.