Beauty Pageant for Flight Attendants...

I read today an article in the LA Times about the booming air travel industry in China which is starting to take off with rising income in middle class. Well, the ecomonic side of the topic is very interesting, especially for those who want to invest in airline sector in China, but there was another side of the article that seemed very unsual and intriguing to me, the kind of stuff u would typically not believe.

OK, here it comes, it seems that airlines in China are handpicking flight attendants based on strict outer appearance rules. Yes, as unbelievably discriminating, as it may sound, it is true. They r hiring only based on looks and age. These female flight attendants have to be under 25 years old, beautiful, taller than the average chinese girl but not too tall, u know the drill. Basically, you've got yourself hand picked Chinese girls serving you aboard the plane. It doesn't only stop here, what's even more striking, is the fact that one airline has financed a TV reality show for female applicants to compete for a job opportunity as a flight attendant. In these shows, the girls are made to carry heavy luggage, trays with food, change clothes, put makeup, and other obstacles they have to pass without tripping or falling to be chosen. I don't know if they r also graded for a swimsuit competetion. A lot of these participants are dying to get the job. They think it's an opportunity of a lifetime to get to travel to places they've never been!!! They mentioned one girl who was 20 years old and who got rejected for some reason. She was crying while being interviewed and stating that she'll never give up and that she still has 4 more years to keep trying!!!

Well i don't know what u think, but i think it's quite disturbing, that people think that a good airline is one that has hot pretty young flight attendants. It seems many Chinese people judge airlines based on that. I wonder if it occured to them that this was quite discriminating against many hard working and experienced flight attendants, who do not fit the superficial profile. I mean this is not a beauty pageant, there are other professional qualifications. Flight attendants r not there just for their looks, they're supposed to serve and help passengers on board.

What about that thing called equal opportunity? U know that thing which americans claim to follow but never do? At least, it's a good place to start with, I'd rather have good service from an average looking, warm, friendly flight attendant, rather than bad service from a young top model flight attendant who's only good for looking at, though i seem to get none of the two options in american airlines :P

I mean come on people, i'm going travelling, i'm not going dating. When i'm on the plane, i'm usually thinking of food that is edible, comfortable spacious seats, the annoying guy sitting next to me, the kid behind me with the panic tantrum, my luggage i'm about to lose and the time i finally get to land in one piece.

It is truly a strange world we live. Apparently, it gets even stranger in remote corners of it... Next time i fly back home, i'm flying on Chinese Airlines, even if i'm not going to China. I hope they make a stop in Lebanon. Like any other airline, i'll most likely lose my luggage, eat crappy airline food, and my feet, neck and back will feel sore, but at least i'll enjoy the view, and i don't mean looking out the window :)