She has appeared in television news segments for CBS, FOX and NBC. "They wanted you to be smooth, because, well, some people can ripple a little bit," Waterman noted, then laughingly added, "Me, I ripple all over the place now!". Oct. 12, 2011 —. This is insane. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Look, the headline is indeed over the top but interesting that so many commenters feel the need to question and be sceptical about the success of China to control Covid yet have no such attacks ready to go for places like New Zealand and Australia which have done the same thing. Am I the only one who finds it absolutely horrifying that a flight attendant would be using disposable diapers on an ultra long haul flight, without the ability to change them (after all, the whole point is to avoid visiting the lavatory altogether)? Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. They do still have to meet the appearance standard that the airline they work for has for the look/size/color of the watch. 7. Lucky, gives a different perspective to your Bottom Line. These go beyond the rules passengers need to follow when they fly. On international flights, everything is different. And even the "outbreaks" are orders of magnitude less than the numbers elsewhere. She's the author of two books, co-host of the Self Help Obsession podcast and also does freelance editing and ghostwriting. von Hayeks The Fatal Conceit. No. "We have flights attendants from 18 to 70 years of age and a great variety of body typeswe need more than a three-piece suit with a white shirt or a skirt or dress option to wear," says a. "Avoid using restrooms unless under special circumstances to decrease risk of infection." Studies in recent months have suggested that plane cabins are lower-risk coronavirus environments than previously thought when passengers wear masks. The best we can do as flight attendants is to provide you with trash bags for the dirty clothes. If youre applying to become a flight attendant for the first time, you might be wondering if youll be allowed to wear a watch while on the job. appreciated. Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Just like when we are wearing V-neck clothes, we need to wear a necklace. A British Airways stewardess has been suspended over a video which shows her in uniform peeling off her tights - and sniffing them. A section on PPE advises cabin crew on flights to and from high-risk countries to wear medical masks, double-layer disposable medical gloves, goggles, disposable hats, disposable protective clothing, and disposable shoe covers., The next sentence reads: It is recommended that cabin crew members wear disposable diapers and avoid using the lavatories barring special circumstances to avoid infection risks.. Today, Qantas flight attendants wear belted navy-blue dresses with ruby-red and fuchsia stripes. At Southwest, this includes not wearing custom-made uniforms and being able to sit in jump seats without using seat belt extenders. Flight attendants are also in charge of your safety, and most airlines dont allow them to accept tips from passengers. I would strongly recommend you wear a watch to your interview for a flight attendant job. Flight attendants will wear the new uniforms, created by two well-known Ukrainian fashion brands, as of this autumn. Yes, indeed, says Valerie Waterman, only let's use the era's proper title: They were stewardesses, not flight attendants. They do still have to meet the appearance standard that the airline they work for has for the look/size/color of the watch. As long as were passing around blame are COVID-related effects in the US (e.g., deaths, unemployment, recession, human suffering, etc.) Some, such as Southwest and American Airlines, require weight to be in proportion with height. This sounds harsh, but its an airplane safety rule. FAs do buckle up once the turbulence reaches a certain level. The idea that flight attendants should wear diapers should be placed directly in the diaper bin with all the other refuse. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Everyone in China is watching the news from overseas like watching a disaster film. Flight attendants usually cant show off a cartilage piercing, and many need to stick with the classic: one earring in each lobe. iStock. On November 25, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) released new guidelines for the countrys airline industry, which it oversees. In my experience, flight attendants are only allowed to take time to eat when the food/drink service is done. The saddest part is that people now think this is normal and it has to be that way (while my day to day life for the last two months proves that it doesn't). According to a CNN report, guidelines issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China recommended that "cabin crew members wear disposable diapers and avoid using the . This isn't Ebola folksthis is a freaking bad flu. Flight Attendants in China Asked to Wear Diapers for COVID Safety Airlines & Airports Rich Thomaselli December 13, 2020 PHOTO: Adult diapers (David Shankbone/Flickr) The Civil Aviation Administration of China is going to all-new lengths to try to protect workers from the coronavirus. Times sure have changed. All Rights Reserved. USSR, NK, China before instead pivoting to exploiting the wests naivete, Cuba, Venezuela, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc etc etc. I do agree though that every person, including FAs, should have access to a lavatory at all times. Another passenger of note was a wealthy Hawaiian woman who often traveled to and from the mainland with her pet Gibbon. Any romantic escapades with pilots in Tahiti or elsewhere? By law, all major flights need to carry a medical kit with equipment such as resuscitation devices, syringes and IV tubes, but the flight attendants cant necessarily use them because they arent medically trained. Conversations (32) Get it together, folks. The image of a flight attendant is of high importance to airlines so there are usually requirements as to what the watch looks like. Waterman visited the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Sydney Opera House, Mount Kilimanjaro and the Acropolis all before her 24th birthday. I agree with your last paragraph. So I no longer need to use the loo, so to speak, except to empty the bag that is now attached to my stomach. In late March, a passenger aboard a flight from Milan, Italy, to Seoul, South Korea, picked up the bug despite wearing an N95 mask everywhere on the plane except the bathroom. Great table manners, too." He really wanted us to shine." That said, the policy is slowly changing. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has issued some unusual advice for flight attendants looking for ways to avoid contracting coronavirus while working: It suggested they wear diapers to reduce their need to use airplane lavatories. Yes, that happens. Eastland Women's Newbury Penny Loafer 4. Guys They already wear full body gear anyway and people in China are deathly afraid of the virus. That stopgap policy, however, is going to come to an end on March 1, 2020 when the latest iteration in American's flight attendant uniform is rolled out. If you arent used to wearing a watch (or dont have one) make sure to ask the specific requirements for the airline youll be working for. I feel like this is just a language translation error after all, China is a bit known for that. One of the harshest realities of being a flight attendant is that theyre not paid for time spent waiting in the airport, boarding or helping passengers load luggageor for anything else that happens pre- or post-flight. In this photo, airline workers wearing. Suddenly the astronaut woman who wore a diaper to drive all night to confront her lover seems so normal. I am again reminded that many choices in life come with risk, but running a cost-benefit analysis is far more important than avoiding risk. Lucky, I saw an article that said European airlines recommend to keep valves for air closed while us airlines strongly recommend keeping them open. Please dont call it a diaper! The document, titled Technical Guidelines for Epidemic Prevention and Control for Airlines, Sixth Edition, contains advice about the best hygiene practices to carry out on aircraft and in airports. We have a generation of lemmings that have been brainwashed to think its a novel new idea, despite history being littered with only failed states that tried it. For example back in March when a wave of people (departing from US & Europe) returning to China, HK and Taiwan many of the passengers covered themselves with PPE and wore diapers to prevent themselves from using the lavatory. Disgusting, The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles, @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i, Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! Wearing a watch helps with this. Two women wear Qantas' modern uniforms in November 2013. Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. So Im guessing that if my current employer needed to furlough cabin crew in the future, I would be snapped up in an instant with some Chinese airline? "I was 5 feet 3, and weighed 100 pounds soaking wet," she says. Libertarianism is the natural order of things without heavy handed government intervention. From hairstyles to the number of rings on their fingers to their Instagram accounts, practically everything is regulated. She left Pan Am soon afterward to enroll in nursing school herself and spent the rest of her professional life as an RN. This is insane. Airlines are particular about how their flight attendants look, and while most dont require female flight attendants to wear makeup, some do. Do it anyway, experts say. There are some rare instances when you actually have to put on diaper for a. Everything is open. Or have a look at photos of what life is like in China's great cities now. A section on PPE advises cabin crew on flights to and from high-risk countries to wear "medical masks, double-layer disposable medical gloves, goggles, disposable hats, disposable protective clothing, and disposable shoe covers." The next sentence reads: "It is recommended that cabin crew members wear disposable diapers and avoid using the . 2023 Cable News Network. The actual diaper bit is more appropriately translated as In extortionary circumstances, cabin crew may utilize single use sanitary pads to reduce the risk of transmission.. Also, a flight attendant wearing a smart watch is responsible for making sure that the watch is charged and ready to be used for flights. High-risk countries are defined as those with infections exceeding 500 per million people. Apollo astronauts and Shuttle astronauts all wore diapers. CNNs Hannah Zhang contributed reporting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwuaGFIJmFM Because crew members need to help passengers with their bags and reach medical kits, most airlines have height requirements for their flight attendants. . Also, please do not hand us soiled diapers. Not sure how its disgusting when babies and elderly use diapers. And I say that as an American living in Australia. In 2021, United Airlineswhich previously had flight attendant rules preventing men from wearing makeuprelaxed its restrictions. Southwest allows their male flight attendants to wear bronzer or concealer, as long as it looks professional, conservative and complements the uniform and the employees complexion. Trendy styles, on the other hand, are not allowed. How flight attendants are handling travel during COVID-19. Next time youre talking to a flight attendant, you can ask about these rules and other flight attendant secrets. Prevention measures for special (charter) flights to high risk countries/regions which is further defined as Any country/region experiencing a case rate of >500 per million population. Im not sure if Im reading too much into the charter flight language and why region remains undefined, but it doesnt seem like the recommendation is meant across the board. While the data doesn't show if transmission of the virus occurred from surfaces, the CDC's March report recommended exploring thatpossibility further. They can't take your tip. Once anyone thinks about it for a moment, its completely ridiculous. Without that basic philosophical grounding, there can be no rights. The Understated Elegance of the Airline Scarf. Waterman's career, which spanned 1970-1976, was actually a bridge of sorts between the good old days of flying and today's grim realities. So, many flight attendants bring flat, comfortable shoes for working . Heck the crazy lady astronaut driving 18 hrs nonstop to catch her boyfriend astronaut cheating with another lady astronaut also wore diapers so she wouldnt have to stop for toilet breaks. But the reality is, far too many Americans have spent the better part of the last year complaining about freedom and whining about how "sick and tired" they are of Covid when in reality they've done virtually nothing in comparison to what we've done in places like China, Australia and New Zealand to beat this thing. Just imagine if there is no silk scarf decoration and the neck is exposed, is there anything lacking in the matching that you don't seem to think? "He stood up and grabbed me," remembers Waterman, "then bent me back and kissed me right on the lips.". Along with maintaining a regulation height and weight, flight attendants must be able to fit into their equipment, uniforms and seats without adjustment. Chinese flight attendants to wear diapers to avoid COVID-19 692 views Dec 19, 2020 5 Dislike Share The Epicenter Show #China #Covid19 #Diapers Flight attendants in China are being. Total chaos! Yes, indeed, says Valerie . Matthew, I appreciate the thoughtful reply, but all rights stem from individual rights of self-ownership, from which all others flow. It is recommended that cabin crew members wear disposable diapers and avoid using the lavatories barring special circumstances to avoid infection risks, says the guidelines from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which oversees the countrys airlines. For example back in March when a wave of people (departing from US & Europe) returning to China, HK and Taiwan many of the passengers covered themselves with PPE and wore diapers to prevent themselves from using the lavatory. Looking for more airplane info? Flight attendants are quite used to minor turbulence. So what are the chances a doctor is on your flight? The notion that rights and responsibilities are only framed in individual terms seems quite foolish to me, especially with a historical lens on. I guarantee that lots of those old ladies working international on AA, UA and DL wear Depends already. SHARES. Are diapers really necessary? It wasn't quite as exciting as the ABC-TV show "Pan Am" (Waterman will talk about "romance" shortly), but it had its moments. One time, Waterman carefully stowed some paintings for actor Robert Mitchum who was very grateful. Stay connected with the latest travel, aviation, and credit card news. Oct. 12, 2011 —. If they wear contacts, they must be a natural color. Before Chinese airlines start forcing flight attendants to wear diapers, they should simply mark off one lavatory for crew use only and have it disinfected between each use. While such advice may seem dramatic, its no secret that lavatories can be the germiest place on an airplane. These dolls were believed to bring the finder good luck. For those of you used to wearing a watch, this is good news. Exact rules regarding which watches a flight attendant can wear can vary slightly based on the airline you work for and where they are based out of. The good news is that the air in the lavatory does not seem to pose a major risk. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Freedom isn't free, remember? In fact, we know so little about what they do for a . China flight attendants advised to wear diapers for COVID-19 protection Lilit Marcus CNN Digital Contact Published Thursday, December 10, 2020 8:57AM EST China's Civil Aviation Administration has. That is, until the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Ryan was grounded for months, and when she came back, it was to a whole handbook of new flight attendant COVID-19 rules about face masks, social distancing and sanitation. His website, FareCompare.com, offers consumers free, new-generation software, combined with expert insider tips to find the best airline ticket deals. Looking for more information about air travel? Waterman quit in 1976, a decision that was not made lightly but for her, the fun was fading. Yes, avoiding socialising with people outside my household is tough on mental health, but it's so much better than this madness around the world. Apparently, theres an MD on about 11 of every 12 flights. I needed to have emergency bowel surgery a year ago that resulted in surgeons having to create an ileostomy. But the reality is, far too many Americans have spent the better part of the last year complaining about Are diapers really necessary? I just have a lot of logistical questions. -- Did flight attendants really have to wear girdles back in the day? Airplane bathroom design was already a hot topic before Covid-19, but the pandemic has focused efforts to come up with new solutions. Flight attendants are advised to wear diapers," the CAAC states. It is indeed quite funny for flight attendant to wear diapers. Agents have a signature color block dress with Cruising Cardinal accents. Meanwhile, Boeing successfully applied for a patent on a self-cleaning lavatory that would use UV light to clean 99.9% of bathroom germs after every use. Heres what to do if youre dealing with a delayed or canceled flight. 2. "We were told to keep an eye out for bombs.". The CAAC is recommending that flight attendants on charter flights to high risk destinations wear disposable diapers to avoid using lavatories. @Quo Vadis - All airplane lavs can be locked (and unlocked) from the outside One just has to know how. At my own airline, flight attendants are required to wear 2-inch heels through the airport. Additional reporting by Marissa Laliberte. Smiling is part of a flight attendant's job, of course, and many female cabin crew members are required to wear lipstick as part of their uniform. They don't want people to feel like they have to tip, because it's our job," McCord says. For most airlines, everyone needs to be between 4 foot, 11 inches and 6 foot, 4 inches tall, and be able to reach items 6 feet, 7 inches off the ground. China is certainly not under control. maybe a blanket flight ban Sometimes the chimes hold greater significance, alerting flight attendants to an emergency or change in route. Most of the time, were probably just reacting too slow to the limited information thats available. But while you might think people on their feet all day deserve comfortable footwear, most airlines also say no to athletic shoes. The CAAC also recommends that airlines divide cabins into four zones, including the clean area, the buffer zone, the passenger sitting area, and the quarantine area, which each section separated by disposable curtains. This work is the opinion of the columnist and does not reflect the opinion of ABC News. Since March 2017, flight attendants have been allowed to either wear their old pre-2016 uniform or even buy off-the-rack alternatives instead of wearing the company-issued uniform. Her class had its wings pinned on by fabled Pan Am founder Juan Trippe. You will notice than on descent and the seatbelt signs are on, the lavs are all unavailable; ie locked, so "please return to your seat for landing ma'am!" In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E, Nearly five years ago, I took a break from I, United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv. These are called briefs or incontinence pads. The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered. United Airlines. Her favorite route was probably the Tahiti run. My first flight was in 2019, and it was magical, she says. Some job descriptions just ask that flight attendants be confident swimmers, but companies like British Airways only hire crew members who can swim 55 yards, then tread water for three minutes and prove they can help other people in the water. But one of those suggestions -- that personnel like flight attendants wear disposable diapers so they don't need to use the bathroom -- has raised some eyebrows. To American eyes, it's like looking at an alien world: Check out these budget airlines that get great reviews. Double-layer disposable medical rubber gloves. The policy is a recommendation, not an edict, and includes other personal protective equipment suggestions including: Only masks and goggles are actually required. I have never flown on a Chinese airline but clearly this is no incentive to even consider it. As a general rule, you should plan on wearing a watch that has visible hour, minute, and second hands. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. While many airlines stipulate that women must wear makeup, they often restrict men from doing the same. Why dont they just lock one lavatory and use it for crew only? "Most of the pilots were about 20 years older than we were." Alaska Airlines Business Card Review: 70K Miles & Lufthansas Boeing 787 Business Class: Exactly As Expected. Now, in fairness, these are just recommendations crews are only required to wear masks and goggles, while the diapers are optional, at least on the CAAC level (individual airlines can also set stricter policies, of course). "We were always tired, always in another time zone," laughed Waterman. indiewire.com. 02/6/2023 - 6:00 am | View Link; A new COVID landscape in China Although female flight attendants are encouraged to wear makeup, male flight attendants are not allowed to wear any. Agree with Claus, they should be able to reserve/lock one bathroom for crew members only. what you have been watching, caused by 2 people get infected by oversee returnees. Instead, they need to wait for directions from an onboard doctor. I am happy to add that communism dramatically failed everywhere it was tried and where it has somewhat worked (China) it is more market-based totalitarianism that robs people of precious universal rights. Emirates, for instance, is all about high-maintenance beauty and requires that female flight attendants wear red lipstick and lip liner during every shift. (Although I've never seen an airplane lavatory that can be locked from the outside.). Where is the old spirit of Nasa? Supplement your airplane know-how by learning how to get reimbursed for lost luggage. Since airlines operate day and night and year-round, flight attendants must have a flexible schedule. If the information isnt immediately apparent, I would ask your manager to clarify. Flight attendants can wear perfume or cologne only if applied sparingly.. 8. If flight attendant rules prevent you from tipping a crew member who went above and beyond, you might be able to give flight attendant gifts instead. But she loved being a stewardess, and watches the episodes of Pan Am with great fondness. And some of these flight attendant rules come as quite a surprise, says Emilia Ryan, a flight attendant for a major U.S. airline. Customers were told that masks were not necessary and anyone wearing one was welcome to. Thanks for contacting us. Farah Naz Khan, 34, says she, her husband, and their daughter, who is under two, were flying from Kalispell, Mont., to. Its one of the few places where youre forced to be that close to a strangers nether-regions (well, at least involuntarily Im not judging). The consequences can be severe: One Delta flight attendant was recently fired for posting a political cartoon on Facebook. Along with vaccines, innovations in aircraft bathroomsare on the way: Japan Air Lines is working on a touchlessbathroom door. They also cant drink within eight hours of flying. "Then later on, we got a new assignment while walking the aisles during final cabin-checks," said Waterman. It makes sense that if you have a fear of flying, you probably wouldnt choose to be a flight attendant for a career, but British Airways also specifies that prospective flight attendants cant have a fear of heights either. Do you have any evidence whatsoever that China doesn't in fact have the virus under control? Find out whether you can leave the airport during a layover. This story has been shared 173,814 times. "It reminds me of so many good times." She added he was certainly easier to deal with than some of the screaming kids on her flights. I loved everything about it: free travel to exotic locations, fun coworkers, interesting work, meeting new people. World is #$%^& crazy. Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -, One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure, Next stop ARN! If they had done the proper thing to stop international travel out of China before shutting down Wuhan, the world would be in a lot different place than it is in today. Other airlines specify that any accessories, including hair barrettes, tie tacks and necklaces, be a specific colorusually limited to silver, gold or black. The agency, which is China's counterpart to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, offered that suggestion in a new document called "Technical Guidelines for Epidemic Prevention and Control for Airlines" that was published in late November,according to reports from CNN and Fox News. Data point: China's recent response to a small outbreak in Qingdao was to test all nine million people in the city in less than a week. The year was 1970, and 20-year-old Waterman had just received her letter of acceptance to Pan Am's stewardess training program. It's a foolish idea disproportionate to the risk, especially when there are less intrusive solutions available such as assigning one lavatory exclusively for crew use. In late December 1973, Pan Am flight 110 was swarmed by several armed men while awaiting departure in Rome. oh, wait . We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. On both sets of flights, announcements were made during boarding and after take-off regarding the masks. ", The next sentence reads: "It is recommended that cabin crew members wear disposable diapers and avoid using the lavatories barring special circumstances to avoid infection risks.". That smells like fake news? study of the coronavirus outbreak of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, air in the lavatory does not seem to pose a major risk, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I was terrified of making a mistake.. Most people don't do that because there are washrooms in the aircraft so you can use it when you need to (except the time when the "seatbelt" sign is on of course). We legally must take a sleep break, which we do in a special compartment of the plane located above economy seats. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. "There's some people lately who just wear their mask to get by the gate agent and get down the jet bridge," says Mitra Amirzadeh, 38, a flight attendant and AFA-CWA member based in Orlando, FL . And they're required to wear full PPE during the flight. It's all over a dirty diaper that was placed in the airplane's trash. In August, a woman traveling from Italy to South Korea contracted coronavirus during her trip, and a visit to the bathroom the only place where she didnt wear an N95 mask was named as the possible source of her infection. Ready to hit the air? That part isn't too eyebrow-raising, but the next line is. There's almost no cases. You are quite right that central planning is a recipe for disaster but you contradict your own statement that we somehow require coordination in decision making. See more about our ethics policies here. Best of all were the airline's signature "around the world" flights lasting 10 or 11 days with layovers in the great cities of the world. How soon before Plugs has us doing that in the US? A stellar smile. A look at both the glamorous and the grim sides of life as a Pan Am stewardess. When aviation was just starting to take off, pilots flew in open cockpits, so wore scarves to protect their neck from the cold and chaffing. As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, transportation officials around the world have been looking for ways to keep passengers and crew safe on board planes. Although it may seem glamorous, being on the cabin crew of an airplane comes with a lot of guidelines. Best use of Astronaut training. In addition to having clear view of the second hand, flight attendants also have to consider the overall look of the watch. "It is recommended that cabin crew members wear disposable diapers and avoid using the lavatories barring special circumstances to avoid infection risks," the manual says. Best Shoes for Flight Attendants 2022 1. If youre considering a career as a flight attendant, one, A question that people often ask is if there is, Flight Attendant Watches (Rules, Requirements, and more), If a flight attendant has to administer CPR, they can use their watch to time the pumps they are giving the passenger, Synchronize watches during an emergency situation and perform emergency procedures at specific times, Keep track of time during the difference phases of the flight (boarding, preparing for take off or landing, etc. Updated what's that? Dubai-based Emirates, another award-winning airline, also closely controls hairstyles (either a French twist or a bun), requires female flight attendants wear an "Emirates red" lipstick with.