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Discrimination on the runway: Delta's uniform sizing
Delta is under fire from its new partner Northwest Airlines due to what they claim is weight discrimination. Delta's signature bright red dress, which debuted on the NY runways in 2005 and hit the airways in 2006, only comes in up to size 18."Red is a color that attracts attention and someone, somewhere has made a decision that they don't want to attract attention to someone in a dress that's larger than a size 18," says Patricia Reller, vice chair of the Northwest flight attendants' union's grievance committee. "I'm very offended by it," she adds.
The committee also filed complaints in regards to Delta's "requirement that flight attendants who wear orthopedic shoes must wear slacks and not a skirt or dress. Those that wear the orthopedic shoes must obtain a doctor's note," according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Designer of the red dress, Richard Tyler (pictured), was reportedly envisioning the flights of yore, when everyone dressed up to fly, and well ... apparently when flight attendants wore heels and were under size 18. Delta, whose flight attendants have no union, claims that there are plenty of options for fuller figured employees, including slacks, skirts, and other dresses.
Because Northwest's flight attendants have a union, this merger may mean a lot of changes for Delta.
Check out this video of Delta giving the Northwest Airlines employees their fittings:
"We rolled out the red carpet in Minneapolis / St. Paul to celebrate the completion of our style clinics for our Northwest flight attendants. The clinics gave attendants a first hand look and feel of Delta's uniforms: The Richard Tyler Collection. Celebrity designer, Richard Tyler, was on-hand to provide custom style consultations to the flight attendants." -- the YouTube caption, via DeltaAirLines.
Style clinics?? What do you think?
Further reading: Our resident flight attendant Heather Poole has "a thing for airline uniforms." Read here!
Gallery: 10 things that will mess up your vacation
[via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
Filed under: Airlines, News, Women's Travel
Reader Comments (Page 10 of 10)
HELLO! Jul 11th 2009 2:42PM
Just do away with flight attendants altogether. The airlines can show a movie at the beginning of the flight to show everyone where the exits are. If you need oxygen during the flight, it drops down from an overhead compartment, so snacks can be delivered in the same manner. If you crash, you're on your own anyway, did you really think someone could SAVE your life if you plummet from 10,000 feet of sky?
K Jul 13th 2009 11:06PM
OK. Not everyone is even allowed to wear Delta's red dress. The FAs that are have superior customer service skills, safety skills and are all around wounderful flight attendants and representatives of the company. They are RDQ or Red Dress Qualified. So not everyone has the oppertunity to wear it in the first place. Men can't wear it. Why don't we hear from NWs male flight attendants? Also, Southwest has a size restriction on who can be employed with them (size18) because their FAs have to fit the uniform. Where is the news story on that? Delta FAs have been very happy with out a union and with their size 18 dress.
John Wayne Jul 12th 2009 12:21AM
A size 18 is huge. If you can't fit your fat butt in anything size 18 or smaller you shouldn't be allowed on an airline, much less work for one. You would be charged for 2 seats on some airlines if you were a customer. Who wants to try and navigate an aisle with a size 18+ blocking the way??
Hottie Jul 12th 2009 1:15AM
Wow, there's a huge amount of hatred and stupidity on here. Not only are you not taking into account people can wear that size at ALL different shapes and heights, you obviously have no concept of what this actual size is like. For your information, I'm a size 20, and recently flew to NY and back with no problem. I didn't have to turn sideways in the aisle, nor did I need a belt extender. Learn some physics about aircraft.
Oh, and if it did crash? Yeah, I'd just swim away from all you hateful people too. Drown in your prejudice.
Rainbowthespian Jul 12th 2009 2:51PM
cloud their thinking?????????? WTF?
Maybe the skinny ones are focused on missed meals. that's just as biased and flawed
Rainbowthespian Jul 12th 2009 3:44PM
Isn't anyone READING before they post?
I made myself read all the comments (though I couldn't resist commenting directly to certain folks) before saying:
Whether you thing fat people are lazy or whatever preconceived stereotypes you have, didn't you see what the FAs wrote?
The FA that wears a size 14 uniform is a size 6 in regular clothes. If you think an american size 6 is overweight, I will send YOU the bills for my sister's resident treatments at an eating disorders specialty unit in Connecticut.
Yes, marilyn Monroe was a size 14.
Yes, there are fat athletes and fat unhealthy folks.
Are there size MNIIMUMS on airplanes? Could an anorexic FA (which I can certainly understand, given the pressure within the field and the sample representation in this thread) save a life? Could they even handle pressure shifts and turbulence?
I'm not hatiin' on thin women. But undersized women come with their own health risks.
It sounds like the red dress just SUCKS. can it and make a special scarf that people of all sizes and genders can earn.
I must now tear my own fat ass away from the computer. I've got a garden to weed, house to clean, Prospect Park, a bike and a lovely day.
masanddjs Jul 12th 2009 3:49PM
I saw some Delta crew get off a flight in Brussels. I was embarassed for them..their butts looked like huge tomatoes....it's not made for anyone over a size 6..UNFLATTERING
masanddjs Jul 12th 2009 3:50PM
A size 18 passenger would be forced to buy TWO SEATS
Mark Aug 3rd 2009 11:07AM
SIZE 18 OR BIGGER....Why don't they just paint the number 767 on the back of the dress.
I am not saying they need to discriminate against weight but the plane needs to takeoff at some point.
We may want to sprinkle in a salad or two every now and again for the former Northwest Flight Attendants.