I can’t say we have all done it, but I know many men have. That is: to judge an airline on the attractiveness of its cabin crew rather than their efficiency.
One contributor to an online forum has taken exception to this, and her arguments are worth paying attention to.
On Flyertalk.com, Amanda Pleva notes that it’s been more than 50 years “since the ‘Coffee, Tea or Me?’ days of flying, when businessmen were openly invited to ogle the lithe, young, unattached stewardesses bedecked in hot pants and go-go boots”.
She is commenting on a post on another airline discussion website that asked which carrier had the most attractive crew. And she noted, quite rightly, that the question itself is “creepy”.
All frequent flyers have their favourite airlines, and given that the offering between carriers in the same category is generally very similar, it is natural that service would be seen as a point of difference.
But does it matter whether a crew member is young and pretty (or handsome), or that they are very competent, care about their job and make the extra effort to look after their passengers?
I think the latter is the case. But, at the same time, I note that almost every airline features beautiful young women in their advertising and promotional material.
It would seem that there is some way to go before we break the implied connection between beauty and ability.
Looks should count for nothing but youth and ability do count in an emergency or when passengers become violent.
I have my doubts about some very senior overweight cabin staff I see in my travels.
And on that subject, how seriously do airlines follow their own rules about physical ability when seating people in exit rows?
I suspect not very, especially now they charge mightily to sit there.
I take you point re. the exit rows. When I’ve been sat there, they’ve asked: “Are you prepared to help out in the event of an emergency.” You’d be a mug to say “no”. Whether I would be the most useful person in that circumstance is another question entirely. But if I’m paying more, perhaps I have a right to get out of the aircraft before those in the cheap seats — especially if the plane is on fire.