In a fresh crackdown on crew members who disobey some of the Dallas Fort Worth-based airline’s strict appearance requirements, American Airlines has warned its own flight attendants to polish up their acts.
A recent message from a flight service manager, who is in charge of overseeing the behavior of some of American Airlines’ 20,000 flight attendants, warned the crew that uniform flouters would soon face enforcement action in an effort to achieve “100% compliance.”
According to the memo, flight service supervisors will be posted all throughout airports to look for anybody who break the rules and warn that “follow-up” action may also be taken.
“Uniform non-compliance is sometimes an elemental goes unnoticed and isn’t addressed,” the memo admits before warning: “Effective immediately, American Airlines has a goal of achieving an environment of 100% uniform compliance through 2023”.
The memo continues: “If you happen to be observed non-compliant in uniform, we will approach you with follow-up to include the reason for concern and a non-compliant uniform report”.
According to View from the Wing, parts of American Airlines’ uniforms prohibit flight attendants from wearing green, orange, or yellow nail polish. Furthermore forbidden are nail art, glitter, and nails with several colors.
While the “all season coat” is now only permitted to be worn by flight attendants outside the terminal building during “severe cold or inclement weather,” dress wearers must not wear their uniform more than one inch above or below the knee.
Southwest Airlines loosened its dress code earlier this week in response to flight attendant complaints about a previous crackdown that aimed to forbid nose piercings and tiny tattoos.
Due to concerns from flight attendants that Southwest was falling behind in adopting industry-wide uniform standards, the airline made a U-turn and now permits nose piercings as well as modest, “discreet,” and unobtrusive tattoos.
Although the company was struggling to keep up with a rebound in travel demand last summer, flight attendants at United Airlines responded with shock to management spot checks on flight attendants who might be violating appearance requirements.
