The changing face of VA cabin crew

[drewbles]

Now someone hotlink an image of Pam Ann doing Virgin Atlantic !!!

As requested
[video=youtube;mzFXBjBzVtE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzFXBjBzVtE[/video]

 

[drewbles]

Now someone hotlink an image of Pam Ann doing Virgin Atlantic !!!

Or of course, Gloria
[video=youtube;hnkIWEJ3e54]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnkIWEJ3e54[/video]

(RIP the old QF Safety Demo that went the way of JQ)

 

[simongr]

Jeepers - who would have thought some woolly maths would caused such debate. Early 20's was an abbreviation for "a combination of FAs who joined as new FAs in their early 20s, transferred to DJ as experienced FAs some of whom would now be in the upper age groups"

 

[jetlagger]

As requested
[video=youtube;mzFXBjBzVtE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzFXBjBzVtE[/video]

Well done.. & the Pam Ann show is even better live

 

[Warks]

Meanwhile however the QF FAs have aged even more!

On QF I sometimes wonder about the number of male FAs around 50 or so. I can recall 20 years ago hardly ever seeing male FAs on QF (or Australian going back further) but have these guys been doing it since their 20s or come to the role at a later age?

Back on topic I still see quite a few younger FAs but there are certainly more mature ones now among the women. The guys seems to be getting younger and of a broader ethnic background which is nice to see.

 

[hydrabyss]

Both flights a few weeks ago had a few FAs who had been with them for 10+ years.Did notice they seemed to have the younger FAs down the back.

 

[simongr]

On QF I sometimes wonder about the number of male FAs around 50 or so. I can recall 20 years ago hardly ever seeing male FAs on QF (or Australian going back further) but have these guys been doing it since their 20s or come to the role at a later age?

I understood that a number of FAs are ex-wait staff who moved into FA work later in their career.

 

[Dee Thom]

I understood that a number of FAs are ex-wait staff who moved into FA work later in their career.

Ahh, Simongr, these young VA lady's attitude, that this thread pertains to,are what I need on a flight, Beats the hell out of trying to get the attention of some 20's "aged bird"; that are to cabin service, what a sumo wrestler is to ballet?

cheers,
Dee.

 

[Bolthead]

As requested
[video=youtube;mzFXBjBzVtE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzFXBjBzVtE[/video]

My wife, daughter and mother in law are flying upper class next month. I better get my wife to take some notes..

 

[Justchecking]

And yet this thread proves that despite the OP couching their prejudices in the warm fuzzy blanket of 'the service is what matters', the major concern really is the age of the flight attendants and how attractive they appear to be. It seems evolution is a very slow process.

 

[mella2007]

I know quite a few VA FA's. The ones I know are in their mid to late 30's and while have the necessary experience, none of them fit the VA brand from days gone by (or even the ads you see now).

QF in their latest hiring drive for FA's (and one of my ex staff members got a job) are hiring all 18-22 year old's. They are looking for flexibility across a 7 day roster (people with no commitment) and they are all very attractive.
A friend of mine who has been a QF FA for 25 years admits there is no chance QF would hire her these days and there will come a time she'll be relegated to doing training rather than being in the air, as they want them younger and fresher.

 

[jazza1971]

Had a cracking 'older' FA look after me on the A330....she worked in another field before joining VA a few years back...some of the best service I've had with the airline....

 

[samh004]

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...

Along those lines was my thinking, and you can't just fire the old crew and hire new, younger-looking ones. Think the unions would shut you down over that

It makes me think of average fleet age, where a cashed up airline can buy newer planes and retire old ones. Same can't be done for staff... average crew age?

 

[casanovawa]

And yet this thread proves that despite the OP couching their prejudices in the warm fuzzy blanket of 'the service is what matters', the major concern really is the age of the flight attendants and how attractive they appear to be. It seems evolution is a very slow process.

Calm down, do we have to have the PC police pounce on everything...

As i said a good experience will trump most things, but is there any harm in saying there are a range of things that can be pleasing or noticeable???

Nothing gratuitous or vulgar, i'm sure everyone would haul over the coals some pretty, young thing that was totally inept at what he/she was doing...

Sorry we haven't all evolved as quickly and as highly as you have, have patience with us....

 

[medhead]

I'm sorry but pulling up covert sexism and ageism is not being PC. I'd love the PC bashers to stop saying everything is PC madness when clearly it isn't.

 

[ReLoad]

I'm sorry but pulling up covert sexism and ageism is not being PC. I'd love the PC bashers to stop saying everything is PC madness when clearly it isn't.

I think what has been raised is a fair discussion point as unquestionably the average age of the VA crew demographic has changed.

It's far from a discriminatory discussion about how once you turn 29 you may as well be compulsorily euthanased.

No matter the age of VA crew I think they are a very classy bunch and they are always very well presented. To me the best trait a FA can have is that all my interactions with them have them smiling and be happy to be there.

Slightly OT; coming back from HBA on Sunday we had a QF flight attendant who was very large to the point of being worried if she could perform her appropriate safety duties.

I think it was highlighted by that the norm is for FAs to be the skinny slender type.

Her service like the rest of the QF crew was excellent (including the flight deck crew who opened their windows to wave at our kids as we crossed the tarmac waving at them and let them hop in the coughpit before take off)

No matter the size, shape, age or colour it all comes down to how well they do their job and experience like most things in life counts, having an older crew in my opinion is a good thing.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Moot thread. They'll all be replaced with AirBots in the next decade.

 

[medhead]

I think what has been raised is a fair discussion point as unquestionably the average age of the VA crew demographic has changed.

It's far from a discriminatory discussion about how once you turn 29 you may as well be compulsorily euthanased.

Trouble is this discussion is devoid of facts and is based on "I think they've into old people", with a side order of young and attractive thrown in. The fact remains it is not political correctness to point out the problems with the basis of this discussion.

You are the only person who has used the D word. There is no claim in my post of discrimination.

 

[ReLoad]

You are the only person who has used the D word. There is no claim in my post of discrimination.

Likewise I'm also the only person to mention compulsory euthanasia at 29 years of age.

I'm so glad we hang out on a place where only facts get discussed and there is no room for personal opinion or subjective observations.

 

[medhead]

I'm so glad we hang out on a place where only facts get discussed and there is no room for personal opinion or subjective observations.

No need to put words in my mouth. I didn't make that claim either. The fact is that this discussion, valid or otherwise, is not based on facts. Therefore there is no need to jump up and down with a rant about PCness over someone's subjective opinion.