Thai Airways Enforce Waistline Rules On Their Flight Attendants

[webfact]

Thai Airways enforce waistline rules on their flight attendants

BANGKOK, 28 February 2011 (NNT)-Director-General of Department of Labor Protection and Welfare of the Ministry of Labor Mrs. Amporn Nitisiri encouraged Thai Airways flight attendants to speak openly with their employer over rules regarding their waistlines.

According to Mrs. Amporn, Thai Airways cabin crews have lodged a complaint against the airlines last week for enforcing waistline restrictions on them. Both male and female hostesses are obligated to maintain their waistline at no more than 35 and 32 inches respectively.

Mrs. Amporn notified Thai Airways of the issue and advised both the executives and employees to discuss with each other, saying it was the best solution to the problem as was the similar case in the past where a female caddy was expelled from her job because she was too old and too large.

Meanwhile, the new regulations on body image have discriminated around 40 employees but Mrs. Amporn said although it was not against the law, executives could have been more sensitive towards their employees whose frame do not meet the requirements. However, she added that the airlines’ recent imposition on the body size could also be seen as a move to encourage employees to stay healthy.

-- NNT 2011-02-28

[transam]

They've got some front, give them that.

[Jimmy2004]

Wish the passengers sitting next to me had width restrictions.

[jdinasia]

A perfect example of when NOT being PC is a very good thing!

[mstribling]

Exactly.

[AZBill]

A perfect example of when NOT being PC is a very good thing!

I agree! The female flight attendants always look so good. If Thai is going to charge such high air fares compared to many competitors they can at least keep the hot FAs. Nothing wrong with standards, and a woman with a 32 waist is large even by US standards so its not like they are asking their ladies to stay ultra skinny..IWish the US airlines would do the same. The days of attractive and friendly FAs there are long gone.

Edited February 28, 2011 by AZBill

[jdinasia]

A perfect example of when NOT being PC is a very good thing!

I agree! The female flight attendants always look so good. If Thai is going to charge such high air fares compared to many competitors they can at least keep the hot FAs. Nothing wrong with standards, and a woman with a 32 waist is large even by US standards so its not like they are asking their ladies to stay ultra skinny..IWish the US airlines would do the same. The days of attractive and friendly FAs there are long gone.

Sorry ---- I was thinking about the male trolly dollies!

[kuffki]

In my opinion, while i think the rule is extremely discriminatory it is ALSO very necessary.

Say male flight attendant with 40 or so inch would have real trouble getting through the isles not to mention with such waist line the stomach will go along to match.

There is also the food preparation area so if everyone is larger then "usual" they may have trouble to fit in.

I think there are some airlines now who charge "oversized" passengers double for 2 seats and give them 2 seats instead of one.

I know one of my ex employees years ago always had to pay for 2 seats or buy business class ticket, but he was 6.11 tall and around 200kg(Samoan)

[toenail]

In America (my country) companies like to say they do not discriminate against gender, age, physical looks and... and ... when hiring. -But a good looking 25 year old will get a job over a aging 40 year old for a position -- not only because of age, but because the other person is cheaper to hire. Look at Fox News, do you ever see a member of their news team that is ugly and over 40??? Yet, this particular news (?) agency will accuse various companies or government organizations for discrimination (by the way, I am not a Fox fan.

I like the thai way of just saying what they really want for job qualifications than lying and acting like they are open to all applicants.

[jdinasia]

In America (my country) companies like to say they do not discriminate against gender, age, physical looks and... and ... when hiring. -But a good looking 25 year old will get a job over a aging 40 year old for a position -- not only because of age, but because the other person is cheaper to hire. Look at Fox News, do you ever see a member of their news team that is ugly and over 40??? Yet, this particular news (?) agency will accuse various companies or government organizations for discrimination (by the way, I am not a Fox fan.

I like the thai way of just saying what they really want for job qualifications than lying and acting like they are open to all applicants.

Absolutely! I have almost always been "the boss" when it comes to hiring. I have ALWAYS chosen my staff based upon what I thought I needed to make things work. While I would like to see more equal opportunity laws in Thailand I would chose the way it is now over a nanny state that makes an employer make unwise choices.

[Nisa]

If this has to do with safety or movement on the plane then why is their a size difference between a female and a male?

[Spoonman]

A decent Boss would not expect something of their employees that they would/could not do themselves........................ time the fat cats to trim their waist lines as well !!!

[bangon04]

If this has to do with safety or movement on the plane then why is their a size difference between a female and a male?

Well spotted. Of course it is about attractive appearance. It would be hypocritical to claim otherwise.

When THAI starts to employ Katoey attendants like another airline has announced - will the male or female rules apply? (hopefully the female measurements...)

Maybe the gay members of TV forum could advise on the most appropriate measurements to judge male cabin staff.

As it is, the attendants in Economy class on THAI are usually very nice to look at, and compensate a bit for the hopelessly inadequate AV entertainment on board. Presumably a young attendant is cheaper than a new aircraft seat...

In Business Class, however, it seems that older, more experienced but not usually more attractive attendants get to choose there. So maybe THAI believes that the AV system in Business is all the passengers need to look at. Or maybe it is just the people with "connections" to THAI executives who get to work in Business and First, regardless of looks.

[jdinasia]

If this has to do with safety or movement on the plane then why is their a size difference between a female and a male?

Basic biology and maintaining the same rules on a proportional basis?

However, I do not ascribe to the safety/movement argument. I think it is aesthetics.

In a hospital I want a nurse that can perform the physical duties required (flipping a patient that cannot move so that bedsores and other things can be addressed!) I don't need or even desire beauty. (I don't want "Nurse Ratchet" personality-wise though! On a plane I want pretty (men and women) that can maintain some grace and a smile. The air-marshals can deal with the miscreants

Note --- a bit of this is certainly tongue-in-cheek .... but there is a psychological advantage to having attractive service staff when in cramped quarters for extended periods of time

[jdinasia]

A decent Boss would not expect something of their employees that they would/could not do themselves........................ time the fat cats to trim their waist lines as well !!!

Wrong ---- I hire staff for jobs I am not well suited for all the time! (example -- I am not a teacher, but I am the final word on hiring all foreign staff in my company (including teachers!) I am a decent administrator (imho) but I am not a good teacher (although I am qualified to teach.) My title is Foreign Affairs Director (for a Thai company) and I do business development but my Thai counterparts leave it to me to make those snap judgements about other foreigners, just as I leave it to them to make the final determination about Thai nationals working for us

edit --- however, I would expect that the senior FA on any flight meet the minimum requirements of the job physically

Edited February 28, 2011 by jdinasia

[stkyricesf]

They've got some front, give them that.

You and me both!!!

[DP25]

If this has to do with safety or movement on the plane then why is their a size difference between a female and a male?

Being attractive is a job requirement for being a flight attendant on Asian airlines. They also only want young people.

[ginjag]

If this has to do with safety or movement on the plane then why is their a size difference between a female and a male?

Being attractive is a job requirement for being a flight attendant on Asian airlines. They also only want young people.

Maybe Thai Int are trying to keep up with the one of the best in the business, Sing/Airlines...attendants--and aircraft. That is a smart company. Brill image...... The airport in my opinion is lovely.

Edited February 28, 2011 by ginjag

[siddv]

Stay away from those Krispy Cream counters honey!!!! soon all TGs will start looking like Western honeys...

[webfact]

THAI insists body mass index control needed for flight attendants

BANGKOK: -- The national carrier Thai Airways International (THAI) insisted today that it must improve the personality of its cabin crew members to meet its criteria on the limit of body mass index and waistline, so only one per cent of them fail to meet the criteria, the company’s senior executives said on Monday.

Acting Executive Vice President of Product Development and Customer Services Teerapol Chotichanapibal and Chatchawal Senawong, director of THAI's Inflight Services Cabin Attendants Administration Department told a news conference after some flight attendants filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour that the company’s policy infringes on their civil rights by limiting cabin crew to those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 and waistline of 32 inches maximum for a female flight attendant and a BMI of 27.5 and a 35-inch waistline for male flight attendants.

The announcement of the new regulation was issued on May 11 last year and THAI employees were given six months and some additional time to adjust their weight to meet the requirement. After that, less than one per cent of about 6,000 flight attendants or 60 persons failed to meet the criteria.

Mr Teerapol said the company needed to issue such a regulation because it is one of the world’s leading airlines. THAI is also targeting becoming Asia’s third ranked airline, and already ranks among the world’s top five, so the regulation on the physical characteristics of its employees falls under the competitive profile of the company. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-03-1

[Spoonman]

A decent Boss would not expect something of their employees that they would/could not do themselves........................ time the fat cats to trim their waist lines as well !!!

Wrong ---- I hire staff for jobs I am not well suited for all the time! (example -- I am not a teacher, but I am the final word on hiring all foreign staff in my company (including teachers!) I am a decent administrator (imho) but I am not a good teacher (although I am qualified to teach.) My title is Foreign Affairs Director (for a Thai company) and I do business development but my Thai counterparts leave it to me to make those snap judgements about other foreigners, just as I leave it to them to make the final determination about Thai nationals working for us

edit --- however, I would expect that the senior FA on any flight meet the minimum requirements of the job physically

Good for you, would you like a lollipop ?

[tonititan]

In a hospital I want a nurse that can perform the physical duties required (flipping a patient that cannot move so that bedsores and other things can be addressed!) I don't need or even desire beauty. (I don't want "Nurse Ratchet" personality-wise though! On a plane I want pretty (men and women) that can maintain some grace and a smile. The air-marshals can deal with the miscreants

Not me. On a plane, I want flight attendants that are polite and helpful (regardless of looks), and who are physically strong.....for opening doors in case of an emergency landing, helping to restrain unruly passengers, helping with overhead baggage, etc.

[tomyummer]

For safety sake I think the restriction is warranted. Last thing we need is some oversized flight attendant trying to get through the aisles. Although the bigger size might help when taking down unruly passengers? Hmm.....

At least the female attendants should wear those tight and short Thai university-inspired uniforms. You know, for branding sake.

[bkkjames]

This is purely a fuel saving green initiative that should be applauded

[elshaheen]

I guess the ideal figure is the Karen Carpenter look, singer from the 1970's. Though if they get to thin, if there is a crack in the plane, they might just slip through the cracks.

[Payboy]

Does this mean they are not allowed anymore to take home those tins of caviar from 1st class ?

[ginjag]

I guess the ideal figure is the Karen Carpenter look, singer from the 1970's. Though if they get to thin, if there is a crack in the plane, they might just slip through the cracks.

This is a re--SHAPE for Thai Inter.,...................My idea is, it's an excuse to shed some mishapen bodies, cause some Hi So's daughters are wanting to get work on one of the worlds most prestigious airlines (cough).

[ginjag]

I guess the ideal figure is the Karen Carpenter look, singer from the 1970's. Though if they get to thin, if there is a crack in the plane, they might just slip through the cracks.

This is a re--SHAPE for Thai Inter.,...................My idea is, it's an excuse to shed some mishapen bodies, cause some Hi So's daughters are wanting to get work on one of the worlds most prestigious airlines (cough).

To add they could select some nice young friendly bar girls to promote the tourist industry, most speak reasonable English, overhead lockers no problem in their short skirts, no-one would fool with them on the plane unless the wanted a black eye. They would be more than willing to acept your visa card for payments. You would have a good choice as the age group for these girls start from 15 ish-55 ish. Think of the party climate that they would create on the journey.

[bonobo]

Thai has height restrictions as well, not only in the aircraft, which makes some sense with regards to overhead bins and such, but also at check-in. I am at a loss as to how a short woman cannot check in passengers.

I would be curious to know if in their physical requirements if they check on how well they can open emergency doors and the like, or is it merely a beauty contest.

[ginjag]

Thai has height restrictions as well, not only in the aircraft, which makes some sense with regards to overhead bins and such, but also at check-in. I am at a loss as to how a short woman cannot check in passengers.

I would be curious to know if in their physical requirements if they check on how well they can open emergency doors and the like, or is it merely a beauty contest.

They are wanting females to be the same as the hi so's in the Thai soap operas--without the nasty attitude. white skin-t.v. advertisers type persons.