Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

Some NWA F/As Want To Wear Red Dress

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web

CaptJax

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 3, 2006
Posts
310
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...ORMS?SITE=AZMES&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Jul 10, 7:05 PM EDT

Some NWA flight attendants want to wear red dress

By HARRY R. WEBER
AP Airlines Writer

ATLANTA (AP) -- The union that represents flight attendants who worked for Northwest Airlines before it was bought by Delta Air Lines is crying foul over Delta's failure to offer bigger sizes for its signature red dress uniform designed by Richard Tyler.

When he was hired to create his uniform collection, Tyler said he wanted them to "look sexy and great."

The Northwest chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA has filed a grievance with the world's largest airline operator, asking it to offer the red dress up to size 28. The union hopes the grievance will go to mediation in August.

The red dress currently is only offered up to size 18, though a Delta spokeswoman said the airline offers a range of outfits in other colors and styles up to size 28 that flight attendants can wear.

Patricia Reller, who handles grievances for the union's executive committee, said Friday that even if there was only one flight attendant who wore a size over 18, that person should be able to wear the stylish red dress.

"I think red is an eye-popping color and it's not subtle, and to me by not offering it in a size over 18, Delta is saying, 'We don't want you wearing that if you are over size 18,'" Reller said. "But the job isn't about being sexy. It's about safety."

Reller said she did not know how many pre-merger Northwest flight attendants want to wear the red dress but need a size bigger than 18.

"If the dress wasn't a tiny size 18, there would be less," Reller said. "It's a very small size 18, so that makes the numbers a lot larger."

Delta spokeswoman Gina Laughlin could not immediately say why the red dress is not available in bigger sizes while other uniform options are. But she said there have been few complaints.

"The majority of pre-merger Northwest flight attendants have given us very positive feedback about the Richard Tyler Collection," Laughlin said.

Delta hired Tyler in 2004 to do a makeover of its gray employee uniforms. Tyler, whose dresses have been worn by stars such as Julia Roberts, Heather Locklear and Jamie Lee Curtis, promised a classier - and in some cases, sexier - look for flight attendants, airport agents and other workers.

"I want them to look sexy and great, but you have to keep that classic look as well," Tyler told The Associated Press at the time.

The uniforms - including white blouses and navy dresses besides the red dress - debuted in 2006. Atlanta-based Delta acquired Northwest in October 2008. Pre-merger Northwest employees began wearing the Delta uniforms on March 30.

Delta said at the time it announced its plans for the new uniforms that the decision was a "wise investment" that would boost morale among employees and increase the airline's bottom line in the long run.

According to Delta, flight attendants must be able to perform the safety and security functions of their job, including being able to reach and close overhead bins, reach and close any of the aircraft doors and be able to sit on the aircraft jumpseat and fasten the flight attendants seatbelt.

Reller said a flight attendant who wears above a size 18 can do all of those functions well.

"The sizing of our red dress has not been an issue with Delta flight attendants since the program's inception three years ago. This is AFA hype leading up to the election," Laughlin said.

There are roughly 21,000 flight attendants at the combined airline, 14,000 from pre-merger Delta and 7,000 from pre-merger Northwest.

The Northwest workers are represented by a union, while the Delta workers are not. At some point there will be a representation election at which the combined workforce will decide whether it wants to be represented by a union or not. The two groups also must decide on how to integrate their seniority lists.
 
...can anything in a size 28 get down the aisle?


Down the aisle??? How bout through the door. If'n you are a size 28 doesn't your sense of dignity and self-respect sort of preclude being picky about the style of your mumu?
 
...can anything in a size 28 get down the aisle?

I was wondering the same thing. While I'm no "thong model" myself, I don't see how a size 28 person can perform her duties being that large.
 
"I think red is an eye-popping color and it's not subtle, and to me by not offering it in a size over 18, Delta is saying, 'We don't want you wearing that if you are over size 18,'" Reller said. "But the job isn't about being sexy. It's about safety."

Anything above a size 18 is a safety issue, especially in an RJ.
 
While we're at it. Lets stop giving out seat belt extenders and expecting people who are fat to only fit in one seat. Buy the extra seat..buy a seat belt extender!!

I don't pay for parent's to have a baby seat, so take the purchase price of that seat belt extender off my ticket too. Maybe, if a few fat people got kicked off airliners it might actually send a message!
 
Anything above a size 18 is a safety issue, especially in an RJ.

I've seen some chunky pilots flying RJ's.....that's a safety issue too.
 
I've seen some chunky pilots flying RJ's.....that's a safety issue too.
The pilots aren't the ones who are blocking the aisle with their fat butts.
 

Latest resources

Back
Top