Fresh Faces In The Sky (What It Takes To Become A Chinese Airline Flight Attendant Alert)

Los Angeles Times ^ | 11/20/2007 | Ching-Ching Ni

[goldstategop]

Fly on a Chinese airline and you will be pampered by flight attendants who look eerily alike. They are young, beautiful and practically the same height.

This is not a coffee-tea-or-me stereotype but the result of a rigorous selection process that is much more old-fashioned beauty pageant than equal-opportunity job interview.

Vying to be flight attendants Photo Gallery Vying to be flight attendants

If you're older than 24, don't bother applying.

If you aren't at least a couple of inches taller than the average Chinese woman, go home.

And if your legs are even remotely similar to tree trunks, don't call us, we'll call you.

Sound like a throwback to the dark ages of workplace discrimination? Here, in the world's fastest-growing aviation market, prohibitive entry barriers are not only tolerated, they're flaunted as symbols of excellence.

"A lot of Chinese passengers judge the quality of airlines based on the quality of their flight attendants, meaning are they pretty or not pretty," said Luo Man, a media director at China Southern, the country's largest carrier.

Good looks are such a commodity these days, China Southern has put its annual recruitment drive on TV. Although men are not excluded from the jobs, only women are featured in the on-television selection process. The show, funded in part by the airline, follows a six-month audition -- complete with swimsuit competition and a race involving luggage, makeup brushes and drink trays -- through several major Chinese cities. Thousands of young women lined up for the chance to compete for 180 openings.

[goldstategop]

China has a fast growing private airline industy. And thousands of young women want the job. They do it on television. Only the beautiful need apply. Let's hope the feminazi NOW NAGS don't get wind of the sexist selection process. ;-)

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[llevrok]

Confucius say - Chinese woman who fly upside down has.......

[kenavi]

“...good view of the stars!”

[Greg F]

My apologies to any Chinese FReepers, but I think the Florida girls have them beat.

[untenured]

I once heard an economist argue that back when fares were regulated by the US government airlines were forced to compete on margins they could control, like the attractiveness of the flight attendants and the quality of the food. That went by the boards in exchange for cheap but unpleasant travel with airline deregulation.

[Squawk 8888]

Give me an ugly Air France hostie any day. As one of them pointed out after the crash in Toronto from which everybody walked away, they’re there to save my ass, not kiss it.

[rineaux]

I’ve flown on a just about all the american commercial airlines including the the big fella’s like American, Continental, NWA, and Delta.

I also have flown Cathay, Dragon Air (based in HK) and Singapore Airlines.

WOW, no comparison of the service you get on asian airlines over the american carriers. Business class (first class by some definitions) or economy.

Yes, the flight attendant’s of the asian carriers are very cute and carry big smiles and when going down the aisle do not bump into your seat, knock drinks out of your hand and are more than happy to get you something to eat or drink while traveling. JMHO

[longtermmemmory]

This LAtimes reporter writes as if these are bad things...

[in hoc signo vinces]

Google “All Look Same”

and see what you come up with... :-)

[rineaux]

Appears you have to sign up for “All Look Same”. Me no likely to sign up.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

Sounds like many of the US airlines back in the day...

[ghostrider]

:)

[sticker]

And how many of them will be swallows?

[Holicheese]

There was an airline in Tiawan that fired these girls when they hit 25. Only really attractive girls work for the airline. I LOVED flying that airline!

[in hoc signo vinces]

Ahhhh...one use to not have too...

[rineaux]

“There was an airline in Tiawan that fired these girls when they hit 25. Only really attractive girls work for the airline. I LOVED flying that airline!”

LOL.

[rineaux]

Thanks for the link anyway. I’m just to lazy to fill out forms. LOL

[13foxtrot]

Whenever possible I choose the vendor with the prettiest girls.

Mexican airlines also have hot stewardesses. I appreciated them putting their high heels on after we reached cruising altitude.

[Our man in washington]

It’s not fai!. These pretty women get money from the Chinese just on their looks? How are ugly woman supposed to get money from the Chinese? Not everyone can run for United States president...

[Freedom4US]

Another requirement to be a stewardess “back in the day” was RN certification.

People used to dress up when they travelled, whether by air, train, or cruise ship. Now it’s sweat pants, B.O.; maybe a tee-shirt. Train travel, waaaaaay back in the day, was way too expensive except for the very well to do.