Thai Airways Objects To Steamy Thai Soap Opera About Flight Attendants

[Thai at Heart]

Thai Airways objects to steamy Thai soap opera about flight attendants

A popular new Thai soap opera about love and infidelity in the high skies has angered Thai Airways flight attendants who demanded Monday that the show be canceled for casting their profession in an unrealistic and immoral light.

"The Air Hostess War," which broadcast its first three episodes last week, has captivated viewers with a story line about a dashing married pilot having an affair with one of his tall, slim flight attendants. There are love triangles that lead to fighting in the aisles and steamy sex scenes at stopover cities.

The Thai Airways International union issued a letter Monday urging the Culture Ministry to order the show to be pulled from the air.

"This soap opera is insulting and damaging to the reputation of flight attendants," said Noppadol Thaungthong, a Thai Airways flight attendant leading the union's action. "It's all about sex and air hostesses beating each other up in the cabin because of love and jealousy. This kind of thing never happens."

The letter says that young Thais aspiring to become flight attendants might be turned off from the profession after seeing the show.

"We are demanding that the station and the producers immediately stop airing this ugly soap opera," Noppadol said.

A Culture Ministry spokesman said officials could not comment until seeing the letter, which was to be formally delivered by flight attendants later in the day.

Thailand's Channel 5, which broadcasts the show, says it has no plan to pull the soap opera but will consider suggesting that scenes found to be offensive be edited out, said spokeswoman Thawinan Kongkran.

"The producer says the soap opera reflects all sides of the profession," Thawinan said. "If some scenes are inappropriate, as the labor union says, we will ask the producer to change that."

Source: AP - 21 January 2008

What???? IT IS FICTION

[PattayaParent]

The layout of the cabin in the TV series clearly represented the inside of a Thai Airways plane, therefore the producers could not argue that it was a mere fictional airline, the union leader said.

All aricraft look the same to me on the inside.

[Supaporn]

The layout of the cabin in the TV series clearly represented the inside of a Thai Airways plane, therefore the producers could not argue that it was a mere fictional airline, the union leader said.

All aricraft look the same to me on the inside.

Not so strange - most people check their brains with their bags and have trouble finding their seats! The interior of the plane is in fact a 737 - and one of Nok Air's (I believe) - of which the first used were former Thai Airways.

[TAWP]

/../ Poor, poor me.

Great post with much humor, thanks.

[wpcoe]

Interesting that the pilot's union is not in an uproar for the program depicting its members as philandering, cheating romeos. Or, is that considered an accurate depiction?

[thaigene2]

Interesting that the pilot's union is not in an uproar for the program depicting its members as philandering, cheating romeos. Or, is that considered an accurate depiction?

Nice one. Only the flowers of Thailand from the pale faced segment of 'ying' society can work as "air hostesses" - none has ever experienced an orgasm prior to marriage - or so their scheming mother's believe!

Edited January 22, 2008 by thaigene2

[sonnyJ]

Interesting that the pilot's union is not in an uproar for the program depicting its members as philandering, cheating romeos. Or, is that considered an accurate depiction?

Nice one. Only the flowers of Thailand from the pale faced segment of 'ying' society can work as "air hostesses" - none has ever experienced an orgasm prior to marriage - or so their scheming mother's believe!

Here here.

Well, I missed the show. But by knowing a few air hostesses and according what I have read here this one might have hit a bit too close to reality.

[yorkman]

they just can't buy new airplanes, they are going to lease some when competitors are buying like crazy

What? If you know anything about the airline industry.... most aircraft are leased. Even the major airlines do not buy them.

[yorkman]

Interesting that the pilot's union is not in an uproar for the program depicting its members as philandering, cheating romeos. Or, is that considered an accurate depiction?

I wish.......

[Payboy]

show about british FA shenanigans

that's a horrible, scary image.....

[steffi]

Was that Khun Ning?

Khun Ning is a pursor for Thai Air Asia. You can notice her from her Patek 24. It's true a lot of Thai Airways staff are Hi-So's in so far as they have usually used sen sai to get their jobs which end up being jobs for life.

Khun Ning is probably one of the few exceptions as far as true Hi-So's being flight attendants. The really cushy jobs are at the airport and in the ticket offices.

Yeah, well you know why they REALLY don't like it?

It's because they all come from 'respectable' families - many hi-so (or mid-so at least). The last episode had some gay hi-so attendant being belittled by a snobby man-wife couple (passengers) for letting his family down by becoming a flight attendant.

So don't get fooled by this bull-shit about 'questioning the morals of the Thai flight attendants' - it's REALLY about questioning their 'status' within the all important "face" of Thailand's mid and hi-so society. Remember it wasn't that long ago (here anyway) when only 'connected' girls got jobs as flight attendants...but that's changing (like everywhere else finally).

My wife and I were on an Air Asia flight to/from Phuket not so long ago, and one of the attendants was an actress from Thai TV soaps. She bitched at me for bringing food on board.

I was half-pissed and wanted to ask her if she wasn't also moonlighting as "sideline" number 37 at Long Legs Massage, but my wife has a pincer-like set of pinchers..

[Jai Dee]

Longer skirts, fewer fights for Thai airline soap

A Thai Airway staffer shows photographs of scenes from the offending soap opera.

The producer of a sexy Thai soap opera about young air hostesses promised longer skirts and fewer catfights today after real flight attendants complained the show was sexist and should be yanked from the airwaves.

The makers of The War of Angels, which portrays stewardesses fighting for the attention of male pilots at a fictional airline, apologised to staff at national carrier Thai Airways who said the show was demeaning.

"There won't be any more catfight scenes between flight attendants while they are on duty or in uniform in public," Takonkiet Viravan, managing director of production house Exact, told a packed news conference.

"The skirts our actresses wear are not shorter than those worn by hostesses at other international airlines. But we will make our skirts longer," he said.

Airline staffers had complained that the fictional flight attendants wore a too-revealing skirt cut above the knee with a front slit.

The airline's union complained to the Culture Ministry today that the prime time show, which has a PG-13 rating, insulted its members and demanded the show be dropped from an army-run television channel.

"Such distortions could mislead society, especially youths, to misunderstand or hate people in this profession in every airline, including Thai Airways," acting union president Somsak Srinual said in a statement.

Ministry officials said they had no authority to force the producer or the television channel to scrap the show, but would bring all sides to a Friday meeting to resolve the dispute.

Exact said it was willing to talk to the union, but pulling the show would violate "the rights of television producers".

"This soap opera does not encourage people to have an affair. Our message is - faithfulness to your partner will help the family survive," director Nipon Pewnane told reporters.

Source: Reuters - 23 January 2008

[nothingleftbutfaith]

Longer skirts, fewer fights for Thai airline soap

A Thai Airway staffer shows photographs of scenes from the offending soap opera.

The producer of a sexy Thai soap opera about young air hostesses promised longer skirts and fewer catfights today after real flight attendants complained the show was sexist and should be yanked from the airwaves.

The makers of The War of Angels, which portrays stewardesses fighting for the attention of male pilots at a fictional airline, apologised to staff at national carrier Thai Airways who said the show was demeaning.

"There won't be any more catfight scenes between flight attendants while they are on duty or in uniform in public," Takonkiet Viravan, managing director of production house Exact, told a packed news conference.

"The skirts our actresses wear are not shorter than those worn by hostesses at other international airlines. But we will make our skirts longer," he said.

Airline staffers had complained that the fictional flight attendants wore a too-revealing skirt cut above the knee with a front slit.

The airline's union complained to the Culture Ministry today that the prime time show, which has a PG-13 rating, insulted its members and demanded the show be dropped from an army-run television channel.

"Such distortions could mislead society, especially youths, to misunderstand or hate people in this profession in every airline, including Thai Airways," acting union president Somsak Srinual said in a statement.

Ministry officials said they had no authority to force the producer or the television channel to scrap the show, but would bring all sides to a Friday meeting to resolve the dispute.

Exact said it was willing to talk to the union, but pulling the show would violate "the rights of television producers".

"This soap opera does not encourage people to have an affair. Our message is - faithfulness to your partner will help the family survive," director Nipon Pewnane told reporters.

Source: Reuters - 23 January 2008

Thailand, the land of hypocrisy.

[meadish_sweetball]

This soap opera is insulting and damaging to the reputation of flight attendants," said Noppadol Thaungthong, a Thai Airways flight attendant leading the union's action. "It's all about sex and air hostesses beating each other up in the cabin because of love and jealousy. This kind of thing never happens.

Since when did soaps start to attempt to depict realistic situations? I haven't seen a single soap or movie, especially produced in Thailand, that had anything much to do with reality.

[Thai at Heart]

Was that Khun Ning?

Khun Ning is a pursor for Thai Air Asia. You can notice her from her Patek 24. It's true a lot of Thai Airways staff are Hi-So's in so far as they have usually used sen sai to get their jobs which end up being jobs for life.

Khun Ning is probably one of the few exceptions as far as true Hi-So's being flight attendants. The really cushy jobs are at the airport and in the ticket offices.

Yeah, well you know why they REALLY don't like it?

It's because they all come from 'respectable' families - many hi-so (or mid-so at least). The last episode had some gay hi-so attendant being belittled by a snobby man-wife couple (passengers) for letting his family down by becoming a flight attendant.

So don't get fooled by this bull-shit about 'questioning the morals of the Thai flight attendants' - it's REALLY about questioning their 'status' within the all important "face" of Thailand's mid and hi-so society. Remember it wasn't that long ago (here anyway) when only 'connected' girls got jobs as flight attendants...but that's changing (like everywhere else finally).

My wife and I were on an Air Asia flight to/from Phuket not so long ago, and one of the attendants was an actress from Thai TV soaps. She bitched at me for bringing food on board.

I was half-pissed and wanted to ask her if she wasn't also moonlighting as "sideline" number 37 at Long Legs Massage, but my wife has a pincer-like set of pinchers..

The strange thing is that they have perpetuated this myth that this job deserves some kind of raised professional respect.

[dekka007]

Don't see the Nokair / Air Asia girls complaining..... Those girls know how to party and are not afraid of showing a bit of leg.

Poor Thai Staffer above holding the photos, Trousers and a face for Cargo flying.

Jealousy...TG girls are not known for their beauty if u ask me.

Edited January 23, 2008 by dekka007

[Stephen Cleary]

1. "The skirts our actresses wear are not shorter than those worn by hostesses at other international airlines. But we will make our skirts longer," he said.

2. The airline's union complained to the Culture Ministry today that the prime time show, which has a PG-13 rating, insulted its members and demanded the show be dropped from an army-run television channel.

3. "Such distortions could mislead society, especially youths, to misunderstand or hate people

4. Exact said it was willing to talk to the union, but pulling the show would violate "the rights of television producers".

5. "This soap opera does not encourage people to have an affair. Our message is - faithfulness to your partner will help the family survive," director Nipon Pewnane told reporters.

Source: Reuters - 23 January 2008

1. So, now the program is gonna pull a bluffer and pretend that air-hostesses don't wear short skirts?

2 & 3. Thai soap operas constantly insult plenty of segments of of Thai society. What the <deleted> air-hostesses think they are above everyone else?

4. The producers of this show ought to intentionally pull it off the air..ie..if they can't potray fictitious characters the way they want like every other darned soap opera production, then scrap it.

5. Fry me bleedin hat, every <deleted> Thai soap opera involves charcters having affairs and stealing boyfriends etc...

What hypocrisy!

Edited January 23, 2008 by Stephen Cleary

[hammered]

Funny how there has never been any outrage over the decades I ve been here for the soap opera stereotyping of all the dark skinned ones as of far far lower intellect, ability or desirability than the superior light skinned ones, the worse cases being mere maids who are all positively brain dead cackling morons on the programs, which seems far from the truth. We could also get into the lack of outcry over the depicting of all gay men on the soap operas as what can only be described as prancing fairies, which seems more to d with negative labelling than anything close to reality.

There a lot worse and probably far more inacurate stereotypes reinforced every day on these poorly made entertainments than any stereotype of a hostess of the flying variety

[Stephen Cleary]

Funny how there has never been any outrage over the decades I ve been here for the soap opera stereotyping of all the dark skinned ones as of far far lower intellect, ability or desirability than the superior light skinned ones, the worse cases being mere maids who are all positively brain dead cackling morons on the programs, which seems far from the truth. We could also get into the lack of outcry over the depicting of all gay men on the soap operas as what can only be described as prancing fairies, which seems more to d with negative labelling than anything close to reality.

There a lot worse and probably far more inacurate stereotypes reinforced every day on these poorly made entertainments than any stereotype of a hostess of the flying variety

Absolutely. You took the words right out of my mouth.

[sriracha john]

Longer skirts for Thai airline soap

Newly approved dress for Thai soap opera

The producer of a sexy Thai soap opera about young air hostesses promised much longer skirts and not much else after real flight attendants complained the show was sexist and should be yanked from the airwaves.

The makers of The War of Angels, which portrays stewardesses fighting for the attention of male pilots at a fictional airline, apologised to staff at national carrier Thai Airways who said the show was demeaning.

"The skirts our actresses wear are not shorter than those worn by hostesses at other international airlines. But we will make our skirts longer, way frickin' longer," he said.

Airline staffers had complained that the fictional flight attendants wore a too-revealing skirt cut above the knee with a front slit.

The airline's union complained to the Culture Ministry today that the prime time show, which has a PG-13 rating, insulted its members and demanded the show be dropped from an army-run television channel.

"Such distortions could mislead society, especially youths, to misunderstand or hate people in this profession in every airline, including Thai Airways," acting union president Somsak Srinual said in a statement.

Ministry officials said they had no authority to force the producer or the television channel to scrap the show, but would bring all sides to a Friday meeting to resolve the dispute.

Exact said it was willing to talk to the union, but pulling the show would violate "the rights of television producers".

"This soap opera does not encourage people to have an affair. Our message is - faithfulness to your partner will help the family survive," director Nipon Pewnane told reporters.

Source: Bangkok Herald-Examiner - 23 January 2008

* Disclaimer: The real dresses are a slightly different shade of blue than this fictional representation.*

Edited January 23, 2008 by sriracha john

[nothingleftbutfaith]

2 & 3. Thai soap operas constantly insult plenty of segments of of Thai society. What the <deleted> air-hostesses think they are above everyone else?

The answer to your above question is : yes indeed.

They forget that they are only waitresses .

[dekka007]

They forget that they are only waitresses

Oh really... Actually they are trained to save lives. Which they do often and serve you your coffee as an extra bonus.

Edited January 23, 2008 by dekka007

[Jai Dee]

Thai Soap Opera Too Sexy For Airline

A proper length for hemlines

A sexy Thai soap opera has agreed to lower its skirts and raise its morals, after complaints the show was demeaning the airline industry.

Staff at national carrier Thai Airways have complained "The War of Angels" is sexist and should be yanked from the airwaves.

The soap - featuring young air hostesses vying for the attention of male pilots - will now be cat-fight-free if characters are on duty or in uniform in public.

Airline staffers have also complained the fictional flight attendants wore a too-revealing skirt cut above the knee - and had a front slit.

Managing Director of production house Exact, Takonkiet Viravan, said they will address the issue.

Source: Sky News - 23 January 2008

[dekka007]

<snip>

Edited January 23, 2008 by Jai Dee
inappropriate comment deleted

[Thai at Heart]

Thai Soap Opera Too Sexy For Airline

A proper length for hemlines

A sexy Thai soap opera has agreed to lower its skirts and raise its morals, after complaints the show was demeaning the airline industry.

Staff at national carrier Thai Airways have complained "The War of Angels" is sexist and should be yanked from the airwaves.

The soap - featuring young air hostesses vying for the attention of male pilots - will now be cat-fight-free if characters are on duty or in uniform in public.

Airline staffers have also complained the fictional flight attendants wore a too-revealing skirt cut above the knee - and had a front slit.

Managing Director of production house Exact, Takonkiet Viravan, said they will address the issue.

Source: Sky News - 23 January 2008

Now if the dressed them like Singaporean Airlines that would be infinitely sexier.

[Jai Dee]

Battle scenes cut

Producer Exact agreed on Tuesday to edit out some of the more violent and steamy scenes from its TV soap opera Songkhram Nang Fah (Air Hostess War), but warned protesting flight attendants who demanded that it be pulled off the air not to ask for too much, because producers have the right to continue the show.

From now on, the producer said, none of the air hostesses would be seen fighting in their uniform or in the aircraft cabin.

Exact managing director Takonkiet Viravan told a press conference he regretted the negative feelings of people who may have found the show insulting and damaging to the reputation of flight attendants. It was not the intention to portray them in that light.

More from the Bangkok Post here.

[Stephen Cleary]

Thai Soap Opera Script To Be Re-written To Show The True Nature of Air-hostesses

Sun Morning Special - 23 January

One of the script-writers for the controversial soap opera 'War of Angels' has admitted today in a confidential interview that the program's contents, in comparison to hostesses in real, are complete exaggeration.

He apologies for the awful way the air-hostesses have been portrayed and has promised to re-write the script. In the knew script based on the true life of hostesses, they will all be polite virgins, interested in only keeping their innocence for the night of their marriage day.

The script-writer went on to say "It is disgusting of us to have shown air-hostesses behaving in such a way. We all know that air-hostesses would never interfere in the life of a married man, in fact they never even think about it"

A ladyboy make-up artist working on the set commented "It's such a shame this show. We all know that air-hostesses are all so pure and innocent, especially those from well-to-do families. I mean if they weren’t so lovely at the beginning, their well connected daddies would never have got them the job in the first place"

Our on the scene reporter Jim Trifle in another exclusive interview, this time with a committee member of Channel 5, had this to say

"I asked the well ranked Channel 5 guy whether soap operas in general had a policy of ridiculing people from different areas of society, such as gays, transsexuals, rural people, dark-skinned people, Africans or old people etc".

He retorted

"That is absolutely untrue, soap opera productions are vehemently opposed to demeaning any sector of society, they only portray society how it really is - and that is what will be done with this show".

**Unfortunately, i have been unable to find the link to the soure - please accept my apologies.

Edited January 23, 2008 by Stephen Cleary

[Payboy]

They forget that they are only waitresses

Oh really... Actually they are trained to save lives. Which they do often and serve you your coffee as an extra bonus.

i once knew a waitress who could administer a mean heimlich manoeuvre - was a real life saver she was....

[toptuan]

Funny how there has never been any outrage over the decades I ve been here for the soap opera stereotyping of all the dark skinned ones as of far far lower intellect, ability or desirability than the superior light skinned ones, the worse cases being mere maids who are all positively brain dead cackling morons on the programs, which seems far from the truth. We could also get into the lack of outcry over the depicting of all gay men on the soap operas as what can only be described as prancing fairies, which seems more to d with negative labelling than anything close to reality.

There a lot worse and probably far more inacurate stereotypes reinforced every day on these poorly made entertainments than any stereotype of a hostess of the flying variety

Absolutely. You took the words right out of my mouth.

...not to mention that Thai soaps are banned from showing kissing (even between wives and husbands); however, the husband can slap his wife around like a low-life bitch, if he so desires.

[Thai at Heart]

Funny how there has never been any outrage over the decades I ve been here for the soap opera stereotyping of all the dark skinned ones as of far far lower intellect, ability or desirability than the superior light skinned ones, the worse cases being mere maids who are all positively brain dead cackling morons on the programs, which seems far from the truth. We could also get into the lack of outcry over the depicting of all gay men on the soap operas as what can only be described as prancing fairies, which seems more to d with negative labelling than anything close to reality.

There a lot worse and probably far more inacurate stereotypes reinforced every day on these poorly made entertainments than any stereotype of a hostess of the flying variety

Absolutely. You took the words right out of my mouth.

...not to mention that Thai soaps are banned from showing kissing (even between wives and husbands); however, the husband can slap his wife around like a low-life bitch, if he so desires.

If there is any bearing in reality, it should contain 40 year old sour faced birds who hate their job. If that is anything to go by on Thai long haul these days.