The changing face of VA cabin crew

[smit0847]

I can't help but notice over the last 12 - 24 months how much the appearance of the 'average' VA cabin crew member has changed. When Virgin Blue began they were the embodiment of the Virgin global brand - young, slim, energetic, attractive, blonde, sexy, flirtatious, cheeky etc. Sort of like the people you might find on the beach in the Gold Coast. I still remember how they would turn heads in their sleek black overcoats as they walked through the terminal together.

Since then (and especially since the changeover to Virgin Australia), with every flight I take the crew seem to get older and more like the QF crew in appearance. One of the cabin crew on my flight on the weekend I estimate would have been mid-late 50s and she looked uncomfortable and self-conscious wearing such a tight dress.

This is not a criticism of the current crew - I know the level of service they give is far more important than their appearance - it's just an observation of how much they now look like QF crew rather than being aligned to the Virgin global brand. In contrast, I think the VA ground crew have remained the same over the years.

I assume this was done on purpose as VA moved upmarket as the current cabin crew do look more professional and I guess are preferred by high status business passengers. I know the old 'ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls' announcements on DJ used to drive some people here crazy. It's a shame that VA can't have cabin crew that are both professional and well presented but also young, fresh and very much 'Virgin style'.

Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[docjames]

Haven't noticed this at all - almost all staff at VA i've seen remain in the Virgin mould. Of course, you cant (legally) use age or "looks" a discriminator so if a 50yo meets the "Virgin job requirements" then no reason not to employ them.

I do think the passengers in the Virgin lounge are better dressed than those in the QP (overall).

Edit: scratch "better", replace with "more stylishly" ie. more up with current fashion trends..

 

[simongr]

Virgin Blue was founded in 2000, assuming crew in their early 20s at that point most of them are going to be into their 40's already...

 

[777]

Virgin Blue was founded in 2000, assuming crew in their early 20s at that point most of them are going to be into their 40's already...

That's what i was going to say.

* Apart from the slightly confusing maths.

 

[simongr]

* Apart from the slightly confusing maths.

As an Auditor I would say that it wasn't materially mis-stated

 

[grubbidok]

That's what i was going to say.

* Apart from the slightly confusing maths.

Ditto. The crew would grow up just like the airline has. Personally I don't really care what they look like as long as they're offering genuinely good service. With the expanded routes and growth of VA and industrial issues at QF I wouldn't be surprised if there are now a significant number of QF refugees working at VA.

 

[smit0847]

I dont think there would be many cabin crew still working for VA that were there in the early days (I know several from the early days and they've all moved onto other things). They said while they initially enjoyed it for the first year or two and it's a relatively well-paid and easy job (apart from the horrid hours), it became very monotonous and boring after a while.

I've noticed a dramatic rise in the average age over the past 1 - 2 years, not a gradual, natural rise over the life of the airline (I've flown DJ/VA every single year its been in existence).

 

[casanovawa]

Yes, not sure about the 12 years = 20 years arithmetic, but some would be carry overs and many would be newer than the first bunch who joined up...

Perhaps this lady of the seemingly more advanced vintage is actually somewhat younger but dealing with all these DYKWIA types has just prematurely aged her???

And yes, while job performance and attitude are ultimately what its all about, having the complete package never hurts...

I have only ever flown Virgin once i think, so i guess its not high on my list for which airlines to choose...

 

[drewbles]

Yes, not sure about the 12 years = 20 years arithmetic, but some would be carry overs and many would be newer than the first bunch who joined up...

How old would a 29yo FA in 2000 be today? That's what is being eluded to

 

[yohy?!]

thinking back to travelling DJ through the 2000s I would have put FAs in the age range of 26-36 - relatively young and energetic but not certainly not children. seems reasonable after 13 years that people would be pushing middle age but as long as they still have the same attitudes to service that should really be a good thing. the whole heads-turning in the airport is just marketing-schtick i think

 

[medhead]

How old would a 29yo FA in 2000 be today? That's what is being eluded to

Sorry but 29 is not "early 20s" no matter which way you swing it.

Have I missed a decade somewhere?

 

[casanovawa]

How old would a 29yo FA in 2000 be today? That's what is being eluded to

Well that would be correct, but the 2nd post alluded to early 20s, which including 29 would be a stretch...

Virgin Blue was founded in 2000, assuming crew in their early 20s at that point most of them are going to be into their 40's already...​

 

[jetlagger]

Sorry but 29 is not "early 20s" no matter which way you swing it.

Have I missed a decade somewhere?

' 20 ish" could be perhaps an alternate.

 

[medhead]

' 20 ish" could be perhaps an alternate.

Still 29 is not 20-ish. It's 30-ish.

 

[markis10]

How old would a 29yo FA in 2000 be today? That's what is being eluded to

Does early 20s equal 29??? I am early 40s in that case LOL

 

[grubbidok]

Sorry but 29 is not "early 20s" no matter which way you swing it.

Have I missed a decade somewhere?

I always tried to swing 29 as early 20s. Few people believed me though.

 

[drewbles]

Sorry but 29 is not "early 20s" no matter which way you swing it.

Have I missed a decade somewhere?

Make-up is an amazing thing

When combined with favourable genetics, it's been known to get many a man into hot water

 

[medhead]

I always tried to swing 29 as early 20s. Few people believed me though.

Sounds like the same people who don't believe I'm 21 each year.

 

[tuppaware]

I dunno the FA's still seem as gay and boyish as they ever were. And the ladies look as real as Gold Coast fake tan with too much red lip stick when I have flown them, at least in business class.

To be honest I don't care as long as they are happy and I'm happy with the service. Now someone hotlink an image of Pam Ann doing Virgin Atlantic !!!

 

[Noob]

One of the most professional & debonair CSMs I have ever met on a VA flight was probably 50-60. She was the epitome of enthusiasm & absolutely focussed on making pax feel 'special'.

I talked to her after the flight & she was an ex-Ansett CSM.

That being said, I've had the same great service from people who were probably 18-25 - IMO age isn't an important factor, a willingness to learn & an interest in what one does is.