Female Uniform Updates

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Issue:   Female Flight Attendants who prefer to wear the dress have indicated there is a need for a long sleeve dress.
Response:  Management has told us there is no plan for a long sleeve dress.  Flight Attendants can wear the blazer with the dress both domestically and internationally.  Domestically, Flight Attendants also have the option of wearing the sweater for all phases of flight.

Management advised AFA of their plan to develop a blue, long sleeve jacket that is targeted to be available the first quarter of 2014.  Once introduced, this jacket will be mandatory.  The blazer will continue to be an option domestically post-introduction.  However, when wearing the dress internationally, the blue long sleeve jacket will be a requirement.

Issue:  Explain the rationale behind the prohibition on wearing the sweater for all phases of the flight internationally.
Response:  The sweater can be worn for all phases domestically and for Phases II & III internationally.  Management has stated the sweater is not appropriate for international flights, especially while on the concourse. The cardigan presents a more casual style, which is not in keeping with the more formal look "we" want to present in our international markets.

Issue:  Female Flight Attendants report that the skirts ride up and that there is a need for loops and a belt for the skirt.
Response:  Management reports they have received no reports from Flight Attendants on this issue and indicated that shirts were lengthened two (2) inches to accommodate problems with the shirts coming loose from the waistband of the pants/skirt.  Addressing the issue further, if this is happening, management expressed concern that perhaps the uniform wasn't properly sized/altered properly from the start. 

Issue:  Female Flight Attendants continue to report struggles with the location of the zipper on the back of the dress and are requesting future dresses be designed with the zippers  relocated to the side of the dress.
Response:  Management has indicated there is no plan to change the location (from back to side) of the zipper on the uniform dress citing increased cost in alterations if the zipper were to be relocated on future garment designs.

Issue:  Citing concerns about the safety implications of wearing High Heel shoes during Phase I & IV where the risk of emergency evacuation is greater, AFA raised the issue with Inflight management.  In response, Inflight management indicated that there was no plan to revise the policy.  Following the incident involving the Asiana aircraft in SFO, there was heighted concern.  We appealed the initial determination directly to Sam Risoli and recommended the company review the policy or requiring "concourse" shoes be worn during Phases I & IV.  Sam referred the issue to Inflight Safety.  In response to our appeal, AFA was advised that there is no data, FAA guidance or FAR that would support or require such a change to the appearance standard and reiterated that there would be no change to the appearance regulation.  The heel height is being driven by the brand image and appearance standards.
Resolution:  AFA was able to clarify that the minimum heel height for a concourse shoe (worn with the dress or skirt) is one (1) inch.  Given this information, provided that the Inflight shoe worn has a heel height of 1" and meets other appearance regulations, Flight Attendants would be within regulations if electing to remain in the Inflight shoe (with a minimum heel height of 1") for take-off and landing. In addition, black flat heeled shoes with a minimum heel height of ¼" are acceptable with the uniform pants.

Issue:  AFA identified concerns with the requirement to wear the scarf around the neck as far back as March 22, 2013 to Sam Risoli.   We raised the issue that male Flight Attendants have a clip on tie option which provides the 'break-away' feature whereas women don't have that same option.   In addition to AFA advocacy on the issue, there was a grass roots effort that took on a life of its own with individual Flight Attendants writing to Sam about this issue requesting that the scarf be considered option with all uniform pieces.  In response, management distributed the following response:
Response:  "The scarf completes the look and adds a bit of flair.  For those individuals who do not wish to wear the scarf, they may wear one of the two dresses or the short sleeve black jacket."

Issue:  The issue of religious bracelets made of precious or semi-precious stones became a topic of discussion when the significance of these bracelets was identified to management. 
Response:  Following discussions with management, appearance standards were revised to allow the wearing of conservative (projecting a professional appearance) bracelets of gold, silver, precious and semi-precious stones.

Issue:  AFA asked when an Aviator shirt option for women would be available.
Response:  Management has told us the Aviator shirt was designed as the counterpart of the female short blazer.  In the female uniform, there are several short sleeve options available.  Despite the fact that the Aviator shirt creates a perception of authority for male Flight Attendants, the company has no plans to implement an Aviator shirt option for women.  This has been designed by management strictly as a male short sleeve option.

Issue:   Female V-Neck Dress lacks belt option.
Response:    While the V-neck dress does not come with the belt (the belt is only issued with the trim dress), there is no regulation which states the belt cannot be worn with the V-neck dress.

Issue:   Concerns about the purse – CA Proposition 65 and Members describe purse as "ugly and impractical."
Response:  Management has reiterated that the uniform purse is not required. If Flight Attendants are concerned about CA Prop 65 or don't like the size or appearance of the purse, they may carry their own purse provided it is "packed away" in the suitcase or tote.

Issue:   No pockets on many uniform items for women. 
Response:  This is an issue that was identified early on and was appealed to Sam Risoli on July 6, 2012 for reconsideration.   In response to AFA advocacy, pockets were added to one of the uniform dresses but not both. 

Issue:  We are receiving significant feedback from all over the system that the fabric is too hot, does not breathe and is very uncomfortable to wear.  In addition, we're receiving reports that seams have come undone on a number of uniform items as a result of reported "shoddy workmanship" on the uniform pieces.
Response: Management responded that the new fabric is "lighter and more breathable with the aero cool liner." The new fabric is a wool, polyester, lycra blend.    Management reports these are not wide spread issues and that they've not heard of any problems despite repeated social media reports of buttons falling off and seams failing.  Management also acknowledged that there are some problems and the company has made a commitment to replace these defective items. Flight Attendants with defective items should follow-up with their supervisor at the domicile.

Issue:  Items shrinking - AFA reported to the company a number of instances where, after laundering, uniform items have shrunk and no longer fit.   Management indicated their belief that these instances are occurring because Flight Attendants aren't following garment care instructions.  AFA identified that Care Instructions weren't included in all garments and contacted Cintas for a list of Care Instructions for each garment.
Response:  The requested Care Instructions were provide to management who forwarded these to AFA.  These are posted in the Uniform Section of the AFA website.

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