6 Ridiculous Things Flight Attendants Were Made To Do

A Spanish airline was fined for making its potential flight attendants take pregnancy tests prior to hiring them. They ultimately overturned the rule, the New York Times reported Tuesday, but that was not the first time an airline has enforced ridiculous policies for its stewardesses. Here are six more outrageous things they were made to do:

1. Adhere to weight requirements

A 1936 New York Times article described the ideal flight attendant as: “petite; weight 100 to 118 pounds; height 5 feet to 5 feet 4 inches; age 20 to 26 years.” It later said that flight attendants had to pass a “rigid physical examination” four times a year.

This was the norm until the 1970s, when flight attendants claimed the weight requirement was gender discrimination. Most airlines weighed their flight attendants regularly and could suspend them without pay for not being within the parameters. USAir dropped its weight requirements in 1994 after a 1992 lawsuit. By then, most airlines had relaxed or dropped their weight requirements.

“A lot of women went through indescribable psychological agony knowing that if they gained a pound, they could lose their jobs. It caused a lot of eating disorders and a lot of grief,” Nancy Segal, lawyer with the Association of Flight Attendants said, as reported by the New York Times in 1994.

Nowadays, a flight attendant’s weight must be proportional to their height. Flight attendants regularly have their Body Mass Index (BMI) tested to ensure this. Czech Airlines said they believe a healthy BMI is between 19 and 24.9.

Read: How Airline Flight Attendants And Passengers Should Treat Each Other

2. Take pregnancy tests

A Spanish airline was fined 25,000 euros ($28,000) for discrimination because it required women to take pregnancy tests before hiring them as flight attendants. Iberia Airlines made its applicants pass tests before being hired. For women, a pregnancy test was one of them.

“Given the controversy, arising from the current protocol in place to protect pregnant women, we will no longer include a pregnancy test in the medical examination for new hires,” said Maria Teresa Garcia Menéndez, the health and safety officer for International Airlines Group — the parent company of Iberia Airlines.

Iberia Airlines claimed the test was to protect the safety of pregnant potential employees, as pregnant women are usually warned not to fly, but government and union groups disputed these claims as sexist.

3. Freshen their makeup — but not in front of the passengers

AmericanAirlines released an updated “Flight Attendant Image Standards” in September 2011. In the 19 page document, they addressed “Professional Image,” “Female Uniform,” “Male Uniform” and “Miscellaneous Male/Female.”

Under the section titled “Female Uniform,” there is a subheading explaining the airline’s makeup policies for its flight attendants. The airline stated that when flight attendants wore makeup, it should help them maintain a “fresh appearance.” The airline also said that “makeup should be freshened as necessary, but never in view of the customer.”

4. Have perfect hair

According to JetBlue Airlines, when flight attendants lean forward, “restrained hair should remain neat and off the face. A single ponytail may be secured behind the ears and centered on the back of the head. The ponytail should be no higher than the tops of the ears and no longer than the tops of the shoulders.”

Hawaiian Airlines listed its unacceptable hairstyles as “extreme or unnatural colors (pink, purple), top-knots, dreadlocks, cornrows and Mohawks.”

Online forums are filled with suggestions for flight attendants who need hair inspiration.

Read: Delta Flight Attendant Breaks Wine Bottle Over Rowdy Passenger's Head During Altercation

5. Maintain flawless skin

Jet Airways made it clear they base a part of their hiring process on a potential flight attendant’s physical features. In their job description, the second largest airline in India said that applicants should meet the following physical requirements:

“Pleasing personality, clear complexion (scars, pimples and blemishes not acceptable) and good eyesight.”

6. Be unmarried

Jet Airways listed its requirements for inexperienced cabin crew members, or freshers, as being between 18 and 27 years old, having a weight in proportion to height and being unmarried.

However, experienced crew are allowed to be married.