Passengers these days fly in nothing more than sleeveless shirts and sweatpants with $2 gas store flip flops. They're paying the lowest cost for airfare in the history of airfare (inflation) and still want it cheaper with a free 4 course meal during their 2 hour flight.

If passengers want their travel cheap and they dress like slobs, do not expect me to press an arm crease on my shirt.

Passengers want filet mignon but want to pay ground beef pricing. Ground beef prices get you a poorly paid pilot who will fly you safe to your destination and nothing more. If they want pilots to act like the glory days of old they are going to have to pay for more than ground beef.

 

Don't tell it to the consumer - tell it to the people setting the prices. the consumer WILL pay more if asked to pay more; but give me a lower price and I'm likely to see if it fits my needs.

USMCFLYR

 

AMEN! I can't imagine how long it takes to do your hair like that. Those guys must get up early. LOL, I'll take the extra sleep. Hats are great for guys like me who don't feel like "styling" my hair to go to work.

 

Nope, I've noticed no correlation between flying skills and how a pilot wears his/her uniform. The vast majority of pilots at my airline are skilled professionals, and the majority of them do not show up looking like slobs. Hats are entirely optional, but a sizable percentage still wear hats. The very few questionable sticks I've flown with...I had no idea how wrinkled their uniform was, or whether they wore a hat...

 

Unless you are at Delta or Comair, then yes they will write you up for not wearing your hat.

 

I'm just a lowly private pilot, and so naturally my opinion doesn't hold much weight on here. But the more I read threads just like this, it appalls me at how many pilots seem to think that their pay grade and living conditions somehow negate their responsibility to be professional. Do we really think that professionalism just means a safe flight? What kind of excuse is it to say you can dress like a slob because you can fly ok? Give me a break.

I'm just a ramper/CSA at the airport here. On days I'm loading bags, sure I'll just wear the issue t-shirt, un-tucked, and issue pants. Maybe even a non-issue sweatshirt if its cold. I get the job done, and I do it in a professional timely way.

But if I'm dealing with passengers, checking in or at the boarding gate; I have a responsibility to sharpen up, tuck in my shirt, wear the issue jacket and be polite and professional when in view of the people who fund my pay check. Why can't pilots have the same view? Sure if you were just stuck in the locked cockpit all day, wear hawaii shorts and a wife beater for all I care. But those doors open eventually and you will be in the spotlight. Are pax supposed to think that you care about them when you obviously dont care about presenting yourself? Even when I take people on rides in a C-172 I'll try to look decent, as it conveys a sense of confidence to people before they ever see you operate.

Of course, personally I think this issue is a much larger part of pilots being defiant towards something. (management, or otherwise). Most of which I understand, and some I agree with. And as stated above, all of this is just the view of an outsider. My father is a 20 year FO with a major airline, and so I when I say I understand certain aspects of a pilot's life, or working conditions, I can honestly say I do. Still it would be hell froze over if I ever saw my Dad go to work in a dirty uniform, or un trimmed hair.

Just an observation.

EDIT: To be clear, I don't think anyone is gonna point a finger at someone stepping out from a 15 hour duty day or similar situation. Only those people who seem to not care.

 

Because pilot morale is at an all time low. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out.

 

That I can completely understand, from seeing it first hand. And I'm sure as heck not going to argue about morale. But there must be some pride left?

 

Sure it does. You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

 

Professionalism comes from the inside. You could pay a person next to nothing and he might still act in a professional manner, conversely some Wall Street brokers might make millions and are the furthest things from professional in their dealing.

USMCFLYR