just do not get it do you?????
I think it looks great when Captain Fonzzie shows up at the gate. Most of the business travelers just snicker though.
I started this threat with the intentions of just this......to bring out the idiots who think there is a relationship between our pay and what we wear to work. The business industry goes in cycles of dressing "up" and dressing "down". In some industries its more pronounced than others. But the fact that remains pay does not equate to dress and vice versa. Doctors (surgons)who are the highest paid of Doctors, when at work wear scrubs, not suits. So by snow jobs standards, where wearing suits should get you higher pay, does not apply there either. And bankers and attornys wear clothing which are suitable to their environment and activities, office work. Now if you look at our uniform and its history, its a military history, not a banker or attorney, or doctor. The hat is from early 20's and 30's army airforce and the polyester blazer, tie, and matching pants are like the class A uniform of the old air corp and airforce uniform. which if i am not mistaken, their flight deck is not too different from ours....in comfort. So we should be changing into our new flight suits and leather jackets like they have now......made of nomex no doubt!
The base idea here is professionalism. Some here equate that with money earned. A lot of society does as well. But tell me if you have ever seen a man or woman carry themselves with a professional manner and they did not make a lot of money? I would also like to argue that you are not more professional when you fly a bigger airplane, just more senior and sometimes a bit more lucky at timing. I seem to remember stories to NWA hiring those with under a 1000 hours because they were so desperate for pilots. Some are still around flying the whale......look it up, ia m not making it up.....and they were not like super pilots, better back in the day.....like i said, better timing and lucky.
I mention this because it seems that you at the majors still want your cake and eat it too. You want a line drawn between you and us. Yes everyone used to want to have your job, but now, because of a number of factors, you are not the only gig in town, nor are you the best paid (this makes you mad huh?). the highest paid are southwest, fedex and big brown......all who wear leather right? Yes i still want to go to a major, but no do i want to have a 70's mustache, hair from the 70's, or no hair ( i might go with that route very soon), nor do i want a polyester cheaply made uniform with a coat i am not warm or dry in! (the point of this entire thread!) But i do want the beach condo, cabin on a lake, 15 days off, a nice house, and a few nice cars.
I like that i can see the ones who disagree with my line of thought will be gone in a short few years, for the industry will be a better place without your line of thought....snow job! Oh and by the way, i have talked with a couple of NWA guys who have that jacket.......they are down to earth good guys, thats a good batting average when striking up cold conversations.....i hope to meet more.
Wearing a leather jacket or a designer suit will not give us better pay or worse pay, what will get us better pay and work rules will be better union leadership from alpa membership. undercuting pay, allowing laws to empower companies in the courts, and greedy pilots who will sacrifice others for thier own gain is what will stop us from getting what we professionals deserve.
Oh, and the flying public , even the business class ones, do not judge our clothing standards and base our skill by the material of our coat. What they do look at is how we present oursleves. Looking like we are tired or cannot afford new pants because of holes in our uniform is what bothers them. They are concerned that we are not being paid enough because they understand our responsibility level should equat to a higher professional pay.
This is coming right from passangers and my friends who are professional business passangers.
Oh, i am done for now, hope everyone got the point!
