Summary
- Cabin crew must always be punctual or risk being sent home or put on standby. Being late more than three times can result in job loss.
- Visible tattoos and piercings are generally not allowed, although some airlines have recently relaxed this rule.
- Cabin crew are only allowed to wear limited jewelry, including one ring and one set of earrings. Watches are required for timekeeping and emergency purposes.
It is well known that cabin crew must follow strict rules and regulations to comply with things such as airline safety, uniform standards, and much more. Some of these are expected, but some are more unusual and quite surprising.
1 Cabin crew can not be late
Airline timings are stringent, and delays cost a lot of money. Cabin crew not at their briefing before the flight will either be sent home or kept on 'standby.' The aircraft and its team will not wait for a late crew member. Some delays are inevitable; occasionally, a crew member may be delayed in traffic due to an accident, for example. A replacement crew member will be taken from those on standby. Being late more than three times can cost you your job, and airlines won't accept it.
2 Tattoos and piercings
As a general rule, most airlines do not allow visible tattoos while in uniform, although some airlines have recently changed this requirement. Some allow for tattoos that are not visible when in uniform, and others will not allow any tattoos at all.
Piercings are also not allowed apart from one set of earrings for ladies. Tongue or facial piercings are not accepted by most airlines.
3 Jewelry
As part of the uniform, jewelry is very restricted. This is partly for uniform standards and sometimes for safety reasons. Only one ring and one set of earrings (usually pearl or diamond-style studs) are allowed. No bracelets, necklaces, or any other jewelry is permitted.
4 Watches
All cabin crew must wear a watch, and while there are rules about the size and design, it has to be very classic. This is not only so they arrive on time but also is used in medical emergencies, accident reports, and flight reports if an event occurs; therefore, it is a rule to wear one.
5 Weight
Cabin crew are not allowed to gain too much weight. Once the specially fitted uniform is handed to the crew member, they will not receive another uniform due to weight gain. If the airline has a new uniform, this would be an exception to the rule as it must be fitted again. Some airlines in the Middle East and Asia have strict rules on weight gain and have even fired crew who gain weight.
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6 General rules when in uniform
Whilst wearing the airline uniform, cabin crew are not allowed to smoke, eat or drink in public. This includes outside crew accommodation, at the airport, hotel, or even on the crew bus.
This is strictly enforced in the Middle East, and you will lose your job over it. It is not as strict in Europe and the UK, but there are still guidelines to be followed.
7 Staying single
Some airlines still only offer contracts to single people, mainly in the Middle East and Asia. This means that, for the duration of the contract, a crew member cannot get married or have children, or they will have to leave. It does not matter your nationality; the rules are the same.
8 Confidential
As part of the contract, crew often have to sign confidentiality agreements. This means that we cannot talk specifically about the airline we work for, have photos in uniform (unless approved), or talk about any events that occur. With social media, some of these rules have been relaxed, but sometimes, you still have to get permission from the airline.