American Airlines in Trouble Over 'Beauty Contest'

Virgin Atlantic Flight Attendants

Oh, my. Will they never learn?

American Airlines flight attendants are upset over a company-wide competition to find the best-looking female and male air stewards at each crew base. A campaign called "The Face of Your Base" was launched this week and is the talk of the airline. The winners would pose in the airline's newest uniforms for marketing purposes.

"This campaign just transported us back 50 years to the days of girdles, weight-checks and single, female-only stewardesses having to quit when they were married, pregnant or reached the ripe old age of 30," said Laura Gladling, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.

On NWA, we were allowed to work until the age of 32, Lady Skywriter says, and adds that NWA had several male cabin attendants 50 years ago, one of whom - Bob Reardon - is still flying, and over 80 years old. Back then, male flight attendants were exempt from age restrictions. However girdles, weight-checks and having to quit when we were married or pregnant, were sadly the case at NWA too.

Gladling is calling for an end to the beauty contest because it undermines the flight attendant's primary duty: in-flight safety.

So my friends, what do you think about "The Face of Your Base?"