FA Uniform Standards
 

Earlier this month I flew JFK-LAX-PVR-ATL-LGA. The flight crews on all my flights were excellent but an interesting observation. It's my understanding that Delta, and all airlines, are pretty stringent on all of their FA uniform guidelines. On my LAX-PVR flight the flight attendant in my section had an odd uniform combination on that didn't look current (and it wasn't the new one either). What was most noticeably not right was her wings. It was definitely the prior-era wings with the old logo on it. Then on my PVR-ATL flight a few days later, another very nice flight attendant wearing what was supposed to be her wings but it was as if the entire front fell off. There was no logo, no name, just the metal outline of what was supposed to be her wings. Quite surprising as I thought these were a mandatory uniform item?

The AA forum has a useful thread that consolidates this type of stuff:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ain-about.html

Delta has the original thread on that AA copied this forum. But I don't believe this post belongs in there. It's legit. I seen some bummy looking FAs both men and women

But the OP didn't say they looked 'bummy'.

Maybe off topic but I am impressed the OP has same May 2006 join day as you but just a few less comments over 12 years ;-)

I heard an FA this with b!*ching about her new uniform check (I guess her new supervisor was doing the check?). In any case, her old check was a simple look up/down. Apparently this new check included making sure the wings were correct, the watch was working, they had their flashlight and pencil. She was really bent out of shape about this as the complaining lasted for a good 20-30 minutes in the forward galley.

These items aren't unreasonable requirements for a working FA.

You hit the nail on the head. I actually think all of them are FAA requirements for an FA to have on their person at all times.

If that's true, it's better that a supervisor checks for the items versus the FA being fined by the FAA.

To me, the flashlight is essential emergency equipment. The wings identify the person as a FA. Plus, AFAIK DL requires customer facing employees to wear some sort of a name tag as part of their uniform, although it may contain only the first name, a nickname, or only a title and last name. The watch helps FAs to know how much time remains in the flight so as to anticipate service needs and to know when to begin thinking about preparation for landing. Finally, a pen or pencil is common sense for taking meal orders, recording seat problems to be reported later, communicating with passengers who may be deaf, etc. (Some but not all of this is superseded by ipads; the pen or pencil is for when the ipad fails too.)

I'm a current airline pilot so here's my two cents: The watch, wings, pencils, and flashlights are actually not FAA requirements. Are they good ideas? Most definitely. They could be DL specific company requirements, but I'm not sure as I'm not employed by DL. There are certain FAA certificates one must have, but these other items are just mere tools and accessories.

Not trying to disagree with OP at all about the FA. I have seen some "sloppy" DL flight attendants over the last few years myself.

On a side note about flashlights: Almost every FA and pilot that I know (myself included) carry at least one spare flashlight. However, they are not a legal substitute for the flashlights that must be operative and stowed on board the aircraft. If one breaks that's a no-go item regardless if one has a personal spare.

The flight attendants at Delta tend to the sloppy side. Sometimes very sloppy. The purser or flight leader is supposed to insure flight attendants are properly attired but in practice that never happens. I have heard when the new uniforms roll out they are going to be more active in enforcement.

I have good luck with Delta FAs domestically, but just popped down to South America and good lord the flight attendants were unprofessional... This is the tough part about the airline industry -- no management on the plane.

The only thing that matters on FT is if you can complain to DL and they give you some miles for it.