United Airlines to introduce more inclusive hair and makeup rules for cabin crew

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(CNN) – United Airlines is rewriting some of its rules for the appearance of flight attendants, relaxing regulations on hair, makeup and tattoos to be more inclusive.

Cabin crew uniforms are known to be strict and gender normative. Most airlines have specific uniform requirements for men and women, and many carriers provide hair and make-up for staff.

The American airline United has made a small but important change in this area by revising some of these regulations.

From September 15, United employees in contact with customers will be allowed to have visible tattoos, while employees in contact with customers of all genders will be able to wear makeup and nail polish. ‘they wish.

Employees of all genders will also be allowed to style their hair.

The goal, according to United, is to make employees “feel welcome to be themselves authentic at work and celebrate their individuality, while also serving as ambassadors of our global United brand.”

Small but big change

United employees in contact with customers will soon be allowed to have visible tattoos.

Courtesy United

These uniform modifications are always limited – all visible tattoos must be smaller than an employee’s job badge and if employees choose to wear their hair, it must be shorter than the shoulders.

For the aviation industry, however, these changes are significant.

Virgin Atlantic, for example, only allowed female flight attendants to swap skirts for pants and go without makeup until 2019.

Meanwhile, British Airways still states that men’s hair “should be in a conventional style that suits a professional environment; shaved or sculpted styles and long hair are not allowed ”.

United Airlines employees also relaxed hair rules for employees of all genders.

United Airlines employees also relaxed the rules regarding hair for employees of all genders.

Courtesy United

Ken Diaz, president of the United Airlines branch of the Association of Flight Attendants, said the AFA applauds United’s new rules.

“This policy change will make the work more inclusive so that each flight attendant is themselves and 100% focus on our work as aviation first responders,” Diaz said in a statement.

United Airlines told employees the airline plans to expand these relaxed rules to apply to other United employees, including pilots, later this year.

United were in the process of launching a new uniform ahead of the pandemic – a development which is being postponed for now.

In the meantime, United has “evaluated every aspect of our uniform and appearance standards to align with our brand values of seeking inclusion opportunities.”

Employees of all genders will also be allowed to wear nail polish.

Courtesy United

Industry conversation

In June 2021, the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to Alaska Airlines asking the airline to stop enforcing a uniform policy based on gender. The letter was sent on behalf of Alaska Airlines flight attendant Justin Wetherell, who is not binary.

“I don’t want to be forced into a binary uniform that excludes me and leads me to be badly sexist at work,” Wetherell said in a statement in June.

“The uniform policy places a particularly heavy burden on non-binary employees, but the uniform policy also hurts any flight attendant who does not fit Alaska Airlines’ preferred image of a male or female,” said Joshua Block, senior lawyer for the ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Project.

Alaska Airlines responded in a statement stating that “As of early 2020, all flight attendants can order any style of pants or parka and can select any uniform kit they want, regardless of their gender identity. “.

The airline is also committed to implementing new gender-neutral hair policies and added that it “is committed to continuing to explore uniform and grooming standards for our flight attendants.”

New generation of uniforms

As older airlines reconsider their uniform policies, some newer airlines have opted for gender-neutral crew uniforms from the start, including Aero K, a recently launched national carrier in South Korea.

In an Instagram post, Aero K said the uniforms were designed “with consideration and respect” with the aim of enabling flight attendants “to better perform various tasks regardless of age and gender.”

Meanwhile, startup airline PLAY has also created gender-neutral uniforms. The Icelandic carrier said the red and gray color options make comfort and practicality a priority.

“Forget about running in high heels – comfortable sneakers are the way to go. Hair, makeup, tattoos and nail polish instructions are gone,” the PLAY press release reads. .

“Uniforms are not gender specific, and our team can choose what suits them from a diverse selection of outfits.”

Top image courtesy of United Airlines

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