A 55 year old pilot was dismissed by A&F, according to the pilot because he was too old and has been replaced by a younger man. In support of his case, he has released a copy of the A&F "Aircraft Standards" manual, which includes such items as:
- Uniform standards - A&F boxers, A&F flip-flops and A&F aftershave
- Required music selections - Phil Collins "Take Me Home" on return flights
- Detailed seating plan for the CEOs dogs
- Bathroom standards for washcloths and toilet paper
- When to serve specific teas
- Cleaning routine - like wiping seatbelts of fingerprints
Abercrombie & Fitch boss's high-flown demands for jet
Sensational story to start, but then when you break it down, is it really that different than any airline - you have to wear your uniform a certain way, keep the loo and seating areas clean, what to serve at what times and hat to play before take-off.
Strikes me, after reading it, that it doesn't really support the prime age discrimination case - that the pilot was fired for being too old. Rather, its just an opportunity for the complainant (is that the right word) to bring sling some mud in the media to position A&F as having unreasonable demands.
