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Galley Gossip: IndiGo flight attendants forced to cut their hair - or wear a wig
Meet the flight attendants from IndiGo Airlines. They're young, chic, and might be wearing a wig. Well that is if they refuse to cut their hair. According to Anindita Ghose in the article A Curious Case of Stewardess Hair, the airline's new uniform includes a grey tunic with an indigo corsage and a hat to be worn with a uniform bob. The new look was launched on August 15th. IndiGo Airlines is a private domestic low cost carrier based in Gurgayon Haryana, India. It's main base is Delhi's Indira Gandhi's International Airport. In 2008 the airline won the title "Best Domestic Low Cost Carrier." I wonder if the airline is trying to reclaim that title by having their flight attendants sport what the airline reports is a more sophisticated and international look? According to the stylist for IndiGo airlines in an interesting article, long hair or hair buns do not go with IndiGo's new image, a look the airline believes makes their flight attendants appear younger and smarter and, in my opinion, quite French and very vavavavoom! But in a vintage way.
No doubt about it the IndiGo girls look great! But the new short do apparently has them preoccupied with their hair. Passengers have noticed them either constantly messing with the lock that curls midcheeck or adjusting the wig to keep it in place. All I can say is I'm glad the airline I work for doesn't make us wear the exact same hairstyle, or worse, wear someone else's hair! Imagine serving hot coffee and PLOP! There's a wig in a lap and a flight attendant sprinting into the galley to hide. It's only a matter of time, ya know. Let's just hope no one gets burned in the process. As for the spill left behind, passengers can just mop it up with that sharp looking wig! But don't ring the call light to ask the flight attendant to dispose of it as she'll be passing through the aisle shortly with a pick-up cart - that is as soon as she figures out what to do with her hair! Priorities, people.
While it was initially mandatory for the flight attendants of IndiGo Airlines to wear the bob after the airline launched its new image, they now also have the option of wearing their own hair in a "French roll or tie bun." This after they put on what was reported as "a brave front in the face of severe scrutiny by curious passengers" known to love long hair. Thankfully things have changed. If it were me, I'd go with the French twist. It's just as sexy and a lot more practical.
Photo courtesy of LiveMint.com
While it was initially mandatory for the flight attendants of IndiGo Airlines to wear the bob after the airline launched its new image, they now also have the option of wearing their own hair in a "French roll or tie bun." This after they put on what was reported as "a brave front in the face of severe scrutiny by curious passengers" known to love long hair. Thankfully things have changed. If it were me, I'd go with the French twist. It's just as sexy and a lot more practical.
Photo courtesy of LiveMint.com
Filed under: India, Airlines, Transportation, Budget Travel, Galley Gossip, Women's Travel
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DaveA Sep 25th 2010 2:09PM
You need to PROOF READ your article
flat top Sep 25th 2010 2:25PM
Yeah, Heather sounds like she had a gallon or two of coffee before she sat down to write. Don't like my criticism? Too bad.
David S. Sep 25th 2010 3:59PM
The purpose of making them all look the same would be what? Pointless.
Nunyo Sep 25th 2010 4:18PM
They might as well give them the same name too. No need to be individuals. Heck, let's call them "Barbie."
juli Sep 25th 2010 4:53PM
the writer was bashing wigs, saying if someone bends over who's wearing a wig, the wig could end up in someone's coffee cup. This is absurd.Many of us have worn wigs successfully due to chemo hair loss .
And my aunt wore a wig for years, b/c she had baby-fine hair and couldn't do anything with it.
Dave Sep 25th 2010 5:00PM
As a 70 year old I can speak from experience that that's how stewardesses use to look years ago when Pan Am..TWA and other great American Airlines existed. Flying was a real joy. Stewardesses were HOT...NICE..COURTEOUS and Pampered us to death. Anyone remember United's "Fly ME....I'm Jackie...". Today we have a bunch of FAT..OBESE..RUDE Broads that think people OWE them everything.
Tim Sep 25th 2010 5:36PM
Dave, the "Fly me , I'm Jackie" was an ad for National Airlines.
Christine Sep 25th 2010 5:45PM
I was one of those privileged to fly the Friendly Skies from 1968-72. There was a strict uniform dress code, makeup and hair had to be perfect, not to mention we had to be at a certain weight based on our height. It was a way of life back then. You either liked it or you left or was asked to leave. As a frequent flier today, I'm appalled at how many overweight and unkempt flight attendants I see. Some look like they just rolled out of bed and had no time to run a comb through their hair. Call me old fashioned, but somewhere through the years the airlines have relaxed their rules and have allowed their flight attendants to don a very dowdy, I could care less look. It comes down to self-respect for how one looks. With also being trained to meet any and all emergency situations, an overweight flight attendant can pose an even larger threat if she can't maneuver quickly and efficiently - you have 90 sec to get a full psgr load off an aircraft should there be fire or potential for explosion, etc. It's time that airline management retrieve a bit of their history and start enforcing tighter rules for appeanace and weight. We were proud to wear our wings and uphold the standard of the airline industry. Sad that those times are gone.
jim Sep 25th 2010 6:22PM
I remember those times too, Dave, although I was a teenager. My sisters would talk about wanting to be STEWARDESSES. When you flew anywhere, the crew was always well groomed, and we were, indeed, pampered. What we have flying now looks (and ACTS) more like Aeroflot. Too often now I find myself wondering how the 'flight attendant' is going to squeeze down the aisle, and the largest percentage are roughly the age of my parents. At one time there was a standard for the appearance of 'flight attendants'. If one wants to call them 'Barbie clones', fine. So be it. At least they knew how to take care of themselves and always looked cool, calm and tailored. An attempt to return to those standards would be a great thing (case in point, Korean Air). BTW, I work for US Airways.
Daisy Sep 25th 2010 5:01PM
I think they look great! These flight attendants agreed to wear a uniform when they were hired and the wig is part of the uniform. Check out some of the flight attendants nowadays. They look absolutely horrible. Unkept hair, the uniforms don't seem freshly laundered and pressed, everyone has different shoes, awful glasses, and no make-up. It is obvious there is no effort made to make themselves look any better. The standard is so low nowadays, that the airlines need to do something. Some airlines like Delta give them different options of uniforms to mix and match and it ends up appearing as though there is no cohesiveness. Hard to tell they're even wearing mandated clothing. Every employer that has employees dealing with the public is concerned about appearance, as well they should be. Kudos to this airline! Let the hate replies begin!
MMM Sep 25th 2010 5:06PM
The new looko makes them "look younger and smarter?" So intelligence is measured by your looks. Now if they mean the other definition of smarter i.e. put together nicely, uniformily, then I guess they have a point. Why is that everyone thinks that only young people are smart? Amazing!
Mrs. Parker Sep 25th 2010 5:26PM
Sounds like Hooter's. Lots of clones of the same woman walking around. They are sky-waitresses. They need to get over it and put on the whole uniform.
Lisa Sep 25th 2010 5:47PM
It's a unifom people. If you don't want to wear the uniform then don't apply for the job. And if you're a passenger then don't buy a ticket if you don't like the way the do business. I 've flown many a times and the attendents look like they just rolled out of bed or could care less. Back in the day they used to be respectful to the passengers. I think respect is earned, if they aren't respectul to me why would I want to be respectful to them. I think these attendent look professional and respectful. Hopefully they act it as well.
Carolyn Sep 25th 2010 5:55PM
I too was lucky enough to make the 'cut' and was a Flight Attendant from 84 to 91. I had to adhere to pretty strict rules too but they really got lax after the first year which quite frankly, I didn't like. We had some Flight Attendants that looked like they'd partied all night and SLEPT in their uniform when they showed up for the briefing before the flight. If anyone said anything to them they'd 'sick the union on them'. Union can really be the downfall of so many b'nesses. For safety purposes, yes, we needed them, but for appearances, they need to keep their nose out. Consequently we had some HAGS flying and people would mention that. I'm all for having to keep a certain appearance.
otherside Sep 25th 2010 7:41PM
The reason they look like they do is the airlines are tired of being sued over not letting these people work. Everything is about discrimination these days instead of accountability, people need to have boundries it is sad that the workforce has to put up with such nonsence. You apply for a job they have conditions, meet those conditions or find something else to do. If you are getting a job working with the public better put your smile on and be ready for it because a lot of people have no respect they feel they are owed something and be prepared to show respect in order to get it, I get tired of rude costomer service these days.
FLIGHT TIME BARBIE Sep 25th 2010 7:22PM
INDIGO F/A'S LOOK GREAT ... A FLIGHT ATTENDANT'S UNIFORM SHOULD INCLUDE THE WAY THE HAIR AND MAKE UP LOOK .. THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED A UNIFORM ...I BELEIVE THE BIG 3 SHOULD GET THEIR F/A'S LOOKING MORE UNIFORM AGAIN, AS FAR AS SHOES-HAIR-MAKEUP-LUGGAGE ARE CONCERNED .. NOT WEIGHT AS THERE ARE TOO MANY FACTORS THAT AFFECT PEOPLE'S WEIGHT .. MEDS ETC ... KUDOS TO INDIGO !!!
carolyn Sep 25th 2010 5:57PM
Christine, I'm with you. Being a former flight attendant myself I was appalled at how some of them looked. You talked about safety and evacuating an aircraft. They also are s upposed to be able to fit through one of those windows in a pinch. I rememebr always having to do that during recurrant training.
mike Sep 25th 2010 5:59PM
{ quote Mrs. Parker
Sep 25th 2010 5:26PM
Sounds like Hooter's. Lots of clones of the same woman walking around. They are sky-waitresses. They need to get over it and put on the whole uniform}
How right you are, except most of them couldnt cut it in a nice restaurant, that and they have a i have a lot of power dont make me attitude or i'll have the plane diverted and you taken off it, rude unkempt and on a ego/power trip
Carolyn Sep 25th 2010 5:59PM
Um, this is for 'Mrs. Parker' who wrote 'they are sky waitresses and need to get over it'. First of all can you say 'bitter'? It's obvious you wanted to be one at some time in your life and couldn't cut it. Next, if you're ever on a plane and it goes down and has to be evacuated, why don't you call a WAITRESS to come and help you out of your seat! Think about it toots.
DJ Oct 25th 2010 5:40PM
Most of us can easily find our way out of a seat, down the aisle, and out the exit doors. Otherwise, why don't they put F/A's in the exit rows for the entire trip instead of passengers? I'm all for vending machines in lieu of F/A's!