Uniformity

Posted in A Day in the Life of a Flight Attendant | 23 comments

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I’m about the expose one of the dirtiest secrets about being a Flight Attendant. No, we don’t put our finger in cola to help the fizz settle faster, we just wear our uniforms for days on end.

Most of the time, domestic flight attendants work trips that range from 2-4 days, and that can make packing your luggage a challenge. So, in an effort to free up space most flight attendants wear their uniforms for at least two days before changing them out. This allows a little extra room to pack clothes for your layover, work out clothes, pajamas, shoes, etc.

Another reason why we wear the same uniform for a few days is because we might not have enough uniform pieces to change them out everyday. Most airlines require you to purchase a set allotment of uniform pieces after training; and some, issue them to you free of charge. My airline, for example, issued us, 2 pairs of pants, 4 shirts, a sweater and a coat. No mater what way you look at it, I’m wearing my pants for at least 2 days a piece since I only have two of them.

In the beginning of this month I was interviewed by the New York Times in reference to packing, and we just talked about it on episode 19 of “The Crew Lounge.” The article didn’t reference wearing our uniform for days on end but did mention “re-purposing” them. The writer made reference to the fact that my uniform, because it’s black, can be “re-used” on my layovers to go out to dinner in or to a club. Though true, I’ve never done it. I can’t imagine wearing pants that I’ve been wearing for 12 hours for another 4 to go out to dinner.. and then, put them on the next morning.

This concept of wearing the same uniform for a few days was new to me when I started this job. But, it makes sense. For me, two days is the limit for my shirts (on day two my shirt and I get a spritz of cologne) and sometimes, four days is the limit for my pants.. but if I had done laundry, sometimes 3.

So, to those FAs out there, fess up! How long do you wear your uniforms for?

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  • http://ararity.wordpess.com Thomas

    I have pretty oily skin so I have to change my shirts everyday, unless I have a short duty day (say two legs, six hours). My pants go for days on end. I try to limit their ussage to four days, but depending on my schedule, I’ve worn the same pants for six consecutive days. I know it’s disgusting, but I’m lazy and don’t always have time to do laundry.

  • Churba

    I used to get cunning, and pre-dose the fabric with a touch of cologne, and I’d manage to get three days out of my uniforms.

    Though, I must admit, I also had a bit of a cheat – I had a uniform tailored on a Singapore turn more than once, well fitted, everything almost identical(I had extra pockets put in, and had them use nicer(and more fire resistant) fabrics) but for one reversible jacket that I kept for deadheading. Uniform one side, generic suit coat on the other. Cost me next to nothing, too.

  • http://blog.psjoneswrites.com P.S. Jones

    I’m not a flight attendant, but as someone who worked in the service industries (for much longer than I ever wanted to!) I know that most uniformed employees do this for the exact reasons that you stated. I also agree with the wearing of the uniforms after work. Because you spend so much time in them, you can’t go around wearing them off work too. By taking them off as soon as you get home, you can make it stretch longer too.

  • John in MRY

    At the airline I used to work for…one that recently merged with another …the most senior F/A at the company is notorious for changing his uniform shirt in the middle of a flight to NRT. He frequently requests others to do it as well. Everyone who has ever flown with him can confirm that.

    • Bobby

      John, That’s nuts! Changing uniforms inflight?! Sounds like he has a bit of OCD about something!

  • http://skyhighboy.blogspot.com/ SkyHighBoy

    I change my shirts everyday but the pants every two days! I have like 16 pairs of shirts so I can just go through them…its just ironing them is a pain!

  • Kim

    Shirts – no more than 2
    Pants – up to 3
    and I would never “re-purpose” any part of my uniform…they’re ugly.

    • Bobby

      Kim! LOL I couldn’t believe they said I “do” re-purpose my uniform! Never have I!

  • Atlflytguy

    Pants maybe 3-4 days. Shirts never more than 1 (unless I’m commuting home and get stuck wearing it longer).

    • Bobby

      Atlflytguy, when I’m commuting home.. I can end up in the same clothes for almost 20 hours.. its kind of gross. Yesterday for example I woke up at 3:30am PST, lobbied at 5am PST, worked until 3:15pm PST.. commuted home and was home at 8:45pm.

  • DAnny Jack

    1 shirt 2 days 1 pair of pants every 2 days sometimes 4 if i can keep the crease in them.

    • Bobby

      Danny – I can’t even MAKE the crease in mine.. so needless to say — that doesn’t factor into how long I wear them.

  • http://www.jetsetbetty.com Tara

    I don’t want to even repurpose my shoes on an overnight much less my uniform! Of course I could pop the collar and tie it up Daisy Duke style…..

  • Danny Jack

    Lol I have to have a crease in my pants or else I’ll go crazy!!!!

  • Brad

    I may be gross but I will wear that shit forever. Have worn my pants for as long as eight days and my shirts for up up to six days. I’m a commuter and I only have one uniform pant so if I go somewhere between trips and can’t get to a dry cleaner the pants will get a good steam ironing and are back on for my next four day. Kind of gross? Yes, but so is most of the job.

  • Jeannie

    I wear mine for 2-3 days. I always carry the new Purex sheets that have detergent & fabric softener in them so I can do laundry if I’m on the road for 6 days.

    I don’t re-purpose my uniforms. I know we weren’t allowed to wear any part of our uniform into a bar when I started. I don’t know if that changed when we removed our logo from most pieces. Still, I wouldn’t want to.

    I hate wearing them home when commuting, especially 20 hours that day or more. I miss the days when we commuted in regular clothes, and could enjoy a drink on our way home. Damn liquid ban!

  • Noah

    I change my shirt everyday, and my pants usually last two days. I forgot to pack an extra pair of pants once though and made a single pair last 5 days. If you hang them up as soon as you get to the hotel they have a chance to air out and are fine the next day.

    I found Woolite in those little packs awhile back, now I carry one or two of those with me, “just in case”. I can wash anything that is spilled on, or worse.

    I’ve never re-purposed a uniform item either. I assumed that was a pilot-only trick. Just kidding, I’ve never seen any crewmember do that before, but our uniforms are navy blue. They are also pleated pants and double-breasted jackets, not what anyone wants to wear unless they have to.

  • http://flyingbachelorette.blogspot.com Flying Bachelorette

    I only work 2-3 day trips and pack only 1 extra white shirt. I always wear a fresh white v-neck tee underneath each day. My favorite is my dress (which I Dryel between trips for a month…sometimes 2 months before taking it to the cleaners) because I wear a v-neck shirt of any color or kind under it-so i don’t sweat in the dress….and then the v-neck shirt can be worn out to dinner :)

    as for “repurposing” No. Never. Ok once. I was in Milwaukee and forgot to bring my fleece jacket, so I work my cardigan to the hotel restaurant since it was freezing everywhere in that hotel. But it was more out of survival than fashion.

  • http://flythefriendlyskies.blogspot.com Megan

    I have 2 different types of shirts. My white blouse I can only stand for 2 days in a row. But we have these black short sleeve v-neck sweater things that dont show stains or wrinkle. They were my commuting uniform and they can last a few days before getting real bad.

    I wear a skirt a lot so I will wear that for up to 2 weeks if I have to but I change my hose everyday so I feel like it makes it ok.

    As for wearing my uniform to go out- NEVER! Change is the first thing I do after I get in the hotel or my apartment. I hate the “plane” feel you have after a long day!

  • Kim

    Sure Bobby…Surrrrre. ;) Haha! Kidding!

  • Johan

    I’m still on my first shirt/pants since I started. I don’t care what anyone else says.. My sweat smells like potpourri.

    Just kidding… I usually change mine out every 2-3 days. no… really.

  • http://traytables-travels.blogspot.com Traytable

    One airline I worked for required us to carry a spare shirt at all times (yes even on turns) so I had one in a ziploc bag permanently at the bottom of my crew bag. The other 3 got used one per day, at that company the longest trip was a 4 day so on the first day you washed one shirt at the hotel and left it to dry (we came back to the same hotel) and you were good. The dress could be worn for about 2 days before it needed a wash, just as well, as it was wool and couldn’t be cleaned “in room”.

    My current uniform I hate the shirt and I think the skirt is vile (makes me legs look huge) so I only wear the dress really. I have 2 so I just change them and if I’m on more than a 2 day I wash one in the sink, hang it up while I sleep and if it’s not totally dry I use the hair dryer or iron to finish it. Of course I carry washing powder and/or softener sheets for this purpose. I used to buy travel size Febreeze but they don’t make it here anymore. Hotel shampoo usually makes it smell ok though! :)

  • JerseyGirl

    This is a great subject! I feel better now…I thought I was the only lazy f/a. I wear my pants for three days, shirts for one or two, depends on how hard I work! I have had to wash a shirt in room when I hadn’t packed properly. Never have I repurposed any items from my uniform for layovers, so uncomfortable and ugly. However, I have seen it done, and it is so obvious. You gotta do what you gotta do I guess.