Air hostesses told to shed weight
Bellwether&cloudbuster
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Air hostesses told to shed weight
An Indian court has ruled against a group of female flight attendants who were grounded from the national airline for being overweight.
The court said that state-owned Indian Airlines had the right to take the step in the interest of flight safety and in the face of growing competition.
The flight attendants had argued that the move was demeaning. The airline began a system of measuring air hostesses based on their height and weight last year. The Delhi High Court has ruled in favour of the airline, saying that with aircraft flying at higher altitudes, the safety of the passengers depended on the crew's ability to perform.
"No airline can afford to remain lax in any department whatsoever, be it the personality of the crew members of their physical fitness," Justice Rekha Sharma said.
"If by perseverance, the snail could reach the Ark, why can't these worthy ladies stand on and turn the scale."
Growing debate
The female judge also dismissed the flight attendants' contention that the airline policy towards their weight was an "insult to their womanhood".
"I do not understand how it is any way unfair, unreasonable and insulting to their womanhood if they are asked to control their growth."
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says this is a part of a debate that is being carried out across Indian society, from the entertainment industry to now, the airline business - are Indians discarding traditionally-held ideals of beauty and appearance in favour of a more Westernised skinny look?
The state carrier introduced the weight limits last year
A year ago, Indian Airlines introduced strict weight guidelines for its flight crew, saying they were doing it in the interest of safety and growing competition. The Indian airline industry has grown rapidly over the past decade and new private airlines have introduced an element of glamour, hiring young slim air hostesses, often dressed in short skirts and high heels. In contrast, Indian Airlines flight crew are dressed in the traditional sari and are allowed to fly until they are 58 years old.
The group of air hostesses who had challenged the airline had argued that it was an attempt to replace them with younger crew. One of them was grounded after flying for 25 years, despite being only two kilos over the prescribed limit.
The court said that state-owned Indian Airlines had the right to take the step in the interest of flight safety and in the face of growing competition.
The flight attendants had argued that the move was demeaning. The airline began a system of measuring air hostesses based on their height and weight last year. The Delhi High Court has ruled in favour of the airline, saying that with aircraft flying at higher altitudes, the safety of the passengers depended on the crew's ability to perform.
"No airline can afford to remain lax in any department whatsoever, be it the personality of the crew members of their physical fitness," Justice Rekha Sharma said.
"If by perseverance, the snail could reach the Ark, why can't these worthy ladies stand on and turn the scale."
Growing debate
The female judge also dismissed the flight attendants' contention that the airline policy towards their weight was an "insult to their womanhood".
"I do not understand how it is any way unfair, unreasonable and insulting to their womanhood if they are asked to control their growth."
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says this is a part of a debate that is being carried out across Indian society, from the entertainment industry to now, the airline business - are Indians discarding traditionally-held ideals of beauty and appearance in favour of a more Westernised skinny look?
The state carrier introduced the weight limits last year A year ago, Indian Airlines introduced strict weight guidelines for its flight crew, saying they were doing it in the interest of safety and growing competition. The Indian airline industry has grown rapidly over the past decade and new private airlines have introduced an element of glamour, hiring young slim air hostesses, often dressed in short skirts and high heels. In contrast, Indian Airlines flight crew are dressed in the traditional sari and are allowed to fly until they are 58 years old.
The group of air hostesses who had challenged the airline had argued that it was an attempt to replace them with younger crew. One of them was grounded after flying for 25 years, despite being only two kilos over the prescribed limit.
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Well I'd be f*cked!
I'm a right fat cow, lol.
Then again might make me shift my fat bum and lose weight....
Suppose if they hade a years notice it's not particularly unfair.
I'm a right fat cow, lol.
Then again might make me shift my fat bum and lose weight....
Suppose if they hade a years notice it's not particularly unfair.
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Eight Gun Fighter
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During the last fuel crisis we had a fairly significant campaign to reduce weight from all our fleets. There were substantial prizes for best ideas.
At the same time we had one FA who was so large her hips bashed against every set of pax's arms as she walked down the aisles. She also had pink spiky hair and seem to relish in not giving a damn.
At the same time we had one FA who was so large her hips bashed against every set of pax's arms as she walked down the aisles. She also had pink spiky hair and seem to relish in not giving a damn.
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Overweight Cabin Crew
Hi to all !!! 
I simply don't understand what all the fuss is about!!! BA accepted me as CC and i'm slightly overweight. I am thankfully working for the best airline in the world, where there is no discrimination.
I can be just as good if not better at my job than a skinny person, it's not in the "fat" more like it's in the "brain" and your "attitude". If you respect yourself and like yourself you can give an excellent service to any customer no matter what you look like.
I really despise those who think otherwise !!
I simply don't understand what all the fuss is about!!! BA accepted me as CC and i'm slightly overweight. I am thankfully working for the best airline in the world, where there is no discrimination.I can be just as good if not better at my job than a skinny person, it's not in the "fat" more like it's in the "brain" and your "attitude". If you respect yourself and like yourself you can give an excellent service to any customer no matter what you look like.
I really despise those who think otherwise !!
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I am told at source Uniform Stores (BA) that the largest CC (F) has a special order to fit her ample size '28' waist. She is agreat asset but she is beaten to first place by a check-in agent (M) that clocks in with a size '46' waist. His trousers have to be replaced every 6-8 weeks as he wears holes in the area between his thighs. Just a bit of info for us all.
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i'm slightly overweight. I am thankfully working for the best airline in the world, where there is no discrimination.
Anyway who cares - wouldn't you rather fly with the airline with the best looking birds in the world?
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Hey Scotty Doo
Scotty Doo says Quote : "Discrimination is a natural concept. We all discriminate in various ways every day of our lives whether you know it/like it or not. People avoid fat folk.
Anyway who cares - wouldn't you rather fly with the airline with the best looking birds in the world? " Unquote.
THE QUESTION IS SHOULD I COMMENT ABOUT SUCH A ST
ID STATEMENT? It takes a bird to recognise another... with that wonderfull "bird" mind of yours Hope your life is as great as you think 
If you are still wondering if I've been offended .... well... NO COMMENT...
Anyway who cares - wouldn't you rather fly with the airline with the best looking birds in the world? " Unquote.
THE QUESTION IS SHOULD I COMMENT ABOUT SUCH A STID STATEMENT? It takes a bird to recognise another... with that wonderfull "bird" mind of yours Hope your life is as great as you think If you are still wondering if I've been offended .... well... NO COMMENT...
PPRuNe Handmaiden
I think they mean size 28 as opposed to 28". Big difference! 
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ryanair air stewardess
my brother recently flew on the flight and is going to write a letter of complaint because the hostess was so fat she could hardly fit through the aisle!
It's not fat CC the concern me..... indeed curvaceous women are generally more pleasing on the eye and imagination
Not so for fat male CC The greatest concern surely has to be "fat" flight crew. I would rather have my shoulder brushed be a curvaceous (female) CC member as she moves down the aisle, than have one pilot flying a complex aeroplane because the other has had a heart attack.
Yes, I know slim people can have heart attacks too
Not so for fat male CC The greatest concern surely has to be "fat" flight crew. I would rather have my shoulder brushed be a curvaceous (female) CC member as she moves down the aisle, than have one pilot flying a complex aeroplane because the other has had a heart attack.Yes, I know slim people can have heart attacks too
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Big Flyers
Hey guys I worked for an airline that grounded a female cabin services manager/flight attendant for being over weight. The airline based their actions on safety factors as the crew member involved in the incident stacked on some weight and was no longer able to fit her crew harness safely on the A320. Although she couldn't fit into the 320 harness, she was able to safely secure her harness on the 737 and the company decided to only have her operate the 737 until she reached a safe working weight.
In general, if you can work safely up there, weight should NOT be a consideration.
In general, if you can work safely up there, weight should NOT be a consideration.
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Well I am a plus size female cabin crew for Ba and have been for bmi too . and i can do everything that my fellow crew members do . sometimes i do believe i shock people when they see me walking though but when they work with me it changes. I work just as hard as everyone else, i can walk down an else and i can fasten my harness with out any problems. I pass my sep and avmed every year and deal with situations as they happen.
