Aug 24, 2017, 1:19 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Fit for the Runway - United Airlines Brings Fashion, Function and Comfort to the Friendly Skies
Airline partners with Brooks Brothers, Tracy Reese and Carhartt to reimagine next generation of uniforms
Employees are integral part in every step of the new uniform creation
United partners with TUMI as official luggage provider for flight attendants
August 24, 2017
CHICAGO, Aug. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines announced today that it has partnered with three world-class design and apparel companies – Brooks Brothers, Tracy Reese and Carhartt – to inspire and create a new line of uniforms for the carrier's more than 70,000 front-line employees. Additionally, United will partner with TUMI, the leading international brand of premium travel, business and lifestyle accessories, to be the official luggage provider for all 24,000 flight attendants.
"The partners we've selected uniquely match what our employees asked for in a uniforms program – style, comfort and durability," said Kate Gebo, senior vice president of global customer service delivery and chief customer officer of United. "We recognized early on that this would not be a 'one size fits all' solution – front-line employees perform vastly different roles and deserve a uniform that meets their specific needs, created by leaders in the apparel business. Our United family is excited to see how these trusted and innovative brands will deliver world-class uniforms in close collaboration with our employees."
Committed to a best-in-class uniforms program, earlier this year the airline started what will be a multi-year process to ensure the proper amount of time for collaboration among employees, labor leadership and the partner brands as well as ample time to test uniforms before finalizing designs and materials. Working closely with labor leadership for all front-line teams, employee feedback will be used to inform every aspect of the design process, which will be followed by multiple thorough wear tests with employees to ensure optimal comfort and functionality of designs and materials. The process is structured to deliver comfortable, durable and fashionable uniforms that United's talented aviation professionals will feel proud to wear while performing their varied roles.
Based on employee feedback from focus groups, open houses and surveys, United identified a variety of distinct brands to meet the needs of employees and help deliver the company's next-generation uniform program. Over the last several months, Tracy Reese and representatives from Brooks Brothers and Carhartt met with employees at all of United's U.S. domestic hub locations. United anticipates rolling out new uniforms in 2020.
Airline partners with Brooks Brothers, Tracy Reese and Carhartt to reimagine next generation of uniforms
Employees are integral part in every step of the new uniform creation
United partners with TUMI as official luggage provider for flight attendants
August 24, 2017
CHICAGO, Aug. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines announced today that it has partnered with three world-class design and apparel companies – Brooks Brothers, Tracy Reese and Carhartt – to inspire and create a new line of uniforms for the carrier's more than 70,000 front-line employees. Additionally, United will partner with TUMI, the leading international brand of premium travel, business and lifestyle accessories, to be the official luggage provider for all 24,000 flight attendants.
"The partners we've selected uniquely match what our employees asked for in a uniforms program – style, comfort and durability," said Kate Gebo, senior vice president of global customer service delivery and chief customer officer of United. "We recognized early on that this would not be a 'one size fits all' solution – front-line employees perform vastly different roles and deserve a uniform that meets their specific needs, created by leaders in the apparel business. Our United family is excited to see how these trusted and innovative brands will deliver world-class uniforms in close collaboration with our employees."
Committed to a best-in-class uniforms program, earlier this year the airline started what will be a multi-year process to ensure the proper amount of time for collaboration among employees, labor leadership and the partner brands as well as ample time to test uniforms before finalizing designs and materials. Working closely with labor leadership for all front-line teams, employee feedback will be used to inform every aspect of the design process, which will be followed by multiple thorough wear tests with employees to ensure optimal comfort and functionality of designs and materials. The process is structured to deliver comfortable, durable and fashionable uniforms that United's talented aviation professionals will feel proud to wear while performing their varied roles.
Based on employee feedback from focus groups, open houses and surveys, United identified a variety of distinct brands to meet the needs of employees and help deliver the company's next-generation uniform program. Over the last several months, Tracy Reese and representatives from Brooks Brothers and Carhartt met with employees at all of United's U.S. domestic hub locations. United anticipates rolling out new uniforms in 2020.
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Fit for the Runway - UA FA's to new uniforms & TUMI to be official luggage provider
May 9, 2017, 3:37 pm
#46
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May 9, 2017, 3:51 pm
#47
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My point was it's more about how you wear the uniform than the uniform itself. If you're smiling and enthusiastic with good posture and a good attitude, just about anything can look great. If you're sour, with poor posture, a bad attitude and 30 extra pounds, no uniform is going to make you look good. It's a waste of money. The United photo up-thread sums it up.
May 9, 2017, 4:09 pm
#48
Join Date: May 2013
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My point was it's more about how you wear the uniform than the uniform itself. If you're smiling and enthusiastic with good posture and a good attitude, just about anything can look great. If you're sour, with poor posture, a bad attitude and 30 extra pounds, no uniform is going to make you look good. It's a waste of money. The United photo up-thread sums it up.
May 9, 2017, 4:31 pm
#49
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No. Blue without a pattern can look great:
My point was it's more about how you wear the uniform than the uniform itself. If you're smiling and enthusiastic with good posture and a good attitude, just about anything can look great. If you're sour, with poor posture, a bad attitude and 30 extra pounds, no uniform is going to make you look good. It's a waste of money. The United photo up-thread sums it up.
My point was it's more about how you wear the uniform than the uniform itself. If you're smiling and enthusiastic with good posture and a good attitude, just about anything can look great. If you're sour, with poor posture, a bad attitude and 30 extra pounds, no uniform is going to make you look good. It's a waste of money. The United photo up-thread sums it up.
So are you suggesting re-instituting weigh-in's prior to each work shift?
May 9, 2017, 4:38 pm
#50
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Out of the photos on the recent pages, which crews do you think would be most able to sprint down the aisle and get an AED in 3 seconds? Or jump from a life raft and rescue a drowning infant?
Last edited by porciuscato; May 9, 2017 at 4:53 pm
May 9, 2017, 6:15 pm
#52
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Ah, and that's the basic challenge all US carriers suffer. We hope to improve morale and hope improved morale results in better service. That is the wrong cycle, and a broken process.
Yes, morale comes into play, but essentially, we need tools, training, procedures and enforcement of basic service standards - so regardless of who woke up on the right or wrong side of the bed that morning, every employee delivers the very same essential baseline service to every customer, and those who don't, are asked to leave.
Yes, morale comes into play, but essentially, we need tools, training, procedures and enforcement of basic service standards - so regardless of who woke up on the right or wrong side of the bed that morning, every employee delivers the very same essential baseline service to every customer, and those who don't, are asked to leave.
Just because they're providing new uniforms doesn't mean they aren't doing anything else, or that they don't have anything else planned.
I also think you've stated something as an absolute that isn't necessarily. You state airlines hope to improve morale and hope improved morale results in better service. The two are NOT necessarily related. Companies in all lines of business spend money to improve morale, even when customer service is not highly valued. In fact, the military spends a lot of time working on employee morale, and it's almost completely about improving operations, not service.
Bottom line, there are lots of reasons for UA to roll out new uniforms. That doesn't mean the service you desire is being ignored, or that there isn't money set aside in someone else's budget for that too.
May 9, 2017, 6:31 pm
#53
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May 9, 2017, 7:33 pm
#54
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I think this thread has taken a unpleasant turn with the thinly-veiled disparaging remarks about UA employees (who have no idea their appearances are being criticized by anonymous posters on an internet message board).
Probably the crewmember who has undergone the most frequent, highest-quality training. The tasks you describe do not exactly require Olympic-level physical fitness. The near-universal response one hears from crewmembers recalling successful evacuations, emergency responses, etc. is, "my training just kicked in." That doesn't have much to do with uniforms.
Silly argument.
Silly argument.
May 9, 2017, 7:44 pm
#55
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Investing in and supporting employees contributes to this.
May 9, 2017, 8:02 pm
#56
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I still want UA to procure proper ice cream sundae bowls before they buy new uniforms.
May 9, 2017, 9:20 pm
#57
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And yes, I would stake my safety on a Lufthansa FA, who has to pass a 200 meter swim test, versus the UA FAs, who often have to turn sideways to make it down the aisle. All rhetoric aside, wouldn't you?
Last edited by porciuscato; May 9, 2017 at 9:35 pm
May 9, 2017, 10:49 pm
#58
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The ologopolistic legacy airlines and their unions have foisted really crappy service on us for years. I never intended to "veil" my criticism. They are indolent rent-seekers. They deserve it. Putting new uniforms on FAs won't change that. Here's a novel idea: keep the uniforms and replace all the Flight Attendants. That's a change that would actually make a difference.
And yes, I would stake my safety on a Lufthansa FA, who has to pass a 200 meter swim test, versus the UA FAs, who often have to turn sideways to make it down the aisle. All rhetoric aside, wouldn't you?
And yes, I would stake my safety on a Lufthansa FA, who has to pass a 200 meter swim test, versus the UA FAs, who often have to turn sideways to make it down the aisle. All rhetoric aside, wouldn't you?
May 9, 2017, 10:58 pm
#59
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Reading this thread reminds me of the itchy polyester shirt I had to wear the one summer I worked at a Burger King. In that context, I just hope that the new uniforms are comfortable to wear over a 14-hour flight. The rest is less important to me than, say, an on-time arrival, cheerful or at least non-resentful service, food and beverages, in-seat power, WiFi, and please please please have the middle seat stay open.
May 9, 2017, 11:03 pm
#60
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Agree with you completely. I think the new uniforms will be great and a first step in rebuilding front line employee morale.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 9, 2017 at 11:51 pm Reason: Discuss the issues, not the poster(s)