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Home  >  Virgin Atlantic  >  Virgin Atlantic Embraces Tattoos On Flight Attendants
Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Embraces Tattoos On Flight Attendants

Matthew Klint Posted onJune 3, 2022June 3, 2022 42 Comments

Virgin Atlantic will join a small number of airlines in allowing members of their cabin crew to display tattoos while in uniform. Does anyone care whether their flight attendants have visible tattoos?

Virgin Atlantic Now Allows Flight Attendants To Display Tattoos

As part of its push to “champion individuality” and hire talent, Virgin Atlantic will no longer require flight attendants to cover up tattoos on their arms or legs.

“At Virgin Atlantic, we want everyone to be themselves and know that they belong. Many people use tattoos to express their unique identities and our customer-facing and uniformed colleagues should not be excluded from doing so if they choose.”

The move comes after similar moves at Air New Zealand, Air Canada, and United Airlines.

Certainly, there are off-limits tattoos. Those includes tattoos which include:

  • profanity
  • nudity
  • violence
  • “otherwise deemed offensive”

Face and neck tattoos will remain prohibited for now.

It will be interesting to see where the line falls in gray areas like advocacy tattoos (perhaps a tattoo that appears violent but is meant to condemn violence). Will deeming offense be as arbitrary as a Southwest Airlines gate agent telling some young women but not others they are improperly dressed?

That aside, I’m genuinely curious if any of you actually care about whether your flight attendant has a tattoo on. Historically, it seems to me that tattoos were restricted for the same reason they were in the military – so that crews would look uniform. In more conservative circles, tattoos are also viewed as low-class or even sinful. 

I’ve never been a tattoo fan (you certainly won’t find one carved into my body) and urge all of you to think twice about getting a tattoo considering its permanence and its the fact that it generally does not age well, especially if you go out in the sun.

At the same time, I’m not offended by a tattoo and understand that many consider it a mark of personality like a hairstyle or wardrobe choice. I still insist that there is benefit taking the eye off the individual and promoting a uniform look at an airline, but the ubiquity of tattoos in 2022 makes it increasingly harder to simply cover them up as if they are not there.

Bottom line, I’m pretty indifferent when it comes to tattoos. But the fact that only four major airlines have loosened tattoo guidelines (and a court forced Air Canada to do so) suggests that this remains an unsettled issue.

CONCLUSION

Virgin Atlantic is embracing tattoos on flight attendants, heralding individuality and taking a much more permissive stance. While some tattoos will remain off-limits, you can expect to see more visible tattoos on cabin crew going forward.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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42 Comments

  1. Geoff Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 10:09 am

    Cover up. These employees are working and I would wager most of the flying public doesn’t need/want to see “individuality”.
    Unless every FA has the exact same tattoo then there is nothing “uniform”. And please don’t compare a tat to hair.

    • DMNYC Reply
      June 3, 2022 at 5:28 pm

      Well VS takes a different wager than you, and likely don’t care what you think. They’ve wagered that if there are people like you who wouldn’t fly them because employees are allowed to show tattoos, the number is few enough that they can afford to not give a sh*t.

    • Mrlasssen Reply
      June 4, 2022 at 12:29 pm

      Thank you, I feel the same. Only more disgusting is neck and facial tattoos. Then come piercing, what is next.

  2. Random gawande Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 10:15 am

    Tattoos are disgusting if it’s not part of your culture. Why not topless flight air hostesses? Why stop at tattoos? I would love topless flight attendants.

    • David M Hoffman Reply
      June 5, 2022 at 4:34 pm

      55 year old female flight attendants topless?
      A good blouse and bra keep the mysterious allure going for females that age.

  3. Stuart Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 10:20 am

    Herb Kelleher pioneered the idea of individuals having the opportunity to express themselves, but only as it fit within the culture of WN’s “coloring outside the lines.” He made it work and built an amazing legacy. Southwest is still attached to the roots of his philosophy. However, it takes a special culture and unique leadership to keep it from going off kilt. Few can do it. With UA, as an example, I don’t see it fitting within the culture and the result could end up being, “one thing leads to another.” What will come next? FA’s demanding that if there are tattoos allowed there should be plugs and face piercings? However, with Virgin Atlantic, it works. They have a bit of a rebel culture and edgy brand…so it has context. I think they can keep things in check as a result. It’s all about balance. For some it will work, with others it is a recipe for disaster and probably does not fit the image that the brand tries to convey.

  4. William Robert Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 10:25 am

    I think this is fantastic. I don’t personally have any tattoos nor do I have any desire to get any. But this will certainly anger all the hypocrites that scream for personal freedom only when it applies to themselves, but are quick to try to tell everyone else what to do. Who the hell cares if the person serving me a drink in the sky has a sleeve tattoo? Is the ink going to seep into my drink? Is the tattoo going to burn my eyes by looking at it? No? Then live and let live

    • Ron Johnson Reply
      June 3, 2022 at 12:37 pm

      Excellent post William. I totally agree with your insight on this. I don’t have any tats and certainly don’t plan on getting any. I love this move byVirgin Atlantic. Maybe it is about individuality and fully support that or maybe keeping up with our worldwide culture. The naysayers will always be out there pushing what they think the world should be in their eyes but thankfully there are many who like me say who the hell cares if they have the tats.
      Previously Virgin Atlantic releeased a video showing FA with colored hair, etc. Great!

  5. Dan Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 10:35 am

    Love all the gnashing from rightwingers. They’re tattoos. Stop being a snowflake and suck it up.

    • DavidM Reply
      June 3, 2022 at 2:47 pm

      So anyone who dislikes tats is a right-winger? Even if they voted democratic in the last election? No hesitancy in your case to slap a label on whoever you disagree. Sad!

      • Maugrim Reply
        June 3, 2022 at 7:44 pm

        Agree. It’s almost like some sort of perverse radar

    • Robert Reply
      June 4, 2022 at 9:46 pm

      Who gives a sh*t .. as long as the service is good. It’s not unsanitary you’re just prejudiced. I flew them last week from LHR->LAX and they were great. If you don’t like it don’t fly with them and stop moaning… ever thought you may not fit the demographic of the customers they want to fly with them … go figure …

  6. Dave Edwards Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 10:36 am

    Tattoos are another perfect example of people being stupid with their money. How many degenerates complaining they can’t pay their student loans have tattoos? So sick of people wanting others to pay for their poor life choices.

    • Aaron Reply
      June 4, 2022 at 1:58 am

      What an utterly asinine comment. a

  7. Random gawande Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 11:34 am

    The anti thesis of showing tattoos is not ignoring them, It’s telling people how disgusting they are. You cover your tattoos and we won’t talk about them.

    If you shove them in my face, we will talk about how disgusting they look. No one would tolerate a person who smells bad. No one should tolerate tattoos. One is an assault on olfactory senses and the other on visual senses.

    Tattoos are disgusting.

  8. Kyle Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 12:01 pm

    “You will not make cuttings in your flesh, for the dead, nor print marks on you” (Leviticus 19:28)

    Next thing you know the non binaries will be wanting to shove their genitals in your face and the “woke” airlines will force it down our throats.

    • Sco Reply
      June 3, 2022 at 1:53 pm

      It will probably be even worse. They may start eating bacon!

      “And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.” (Leviticus 11:7-8)

    • Mr. Marcus Reply
      June 3, 2022 at 2:06 pm

      I do like your vision for the future of commercial air travel. Will choosing to fly still be a voluntary activity?

      Some of us keeping score at home are trying to figure out if compulsory air travel on a new age sex show plane is part of the QAnon agenda or the Woke culture.

    • Aaron Reply
      June 4, 2022 at 2:01 am

      Your use of the word “woke” as a pejorative term says more about you than the people you are trying to insult. And none of it good.

  9. Madge Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 12:18 pm

    All these right-wing bigoted racist snowflakes. Tough, get over it. Biden is YOUR president.
    Maybe establish your own airline,

  10. Scott Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 12:44 pm

    “Does anyone care?” I don’t. Sure, it looks tacky as hell, but I know I’m going to get the same crappy service whether they’re tattooed or not.

  11. PolishKnight Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 12:55 pm

    Someone’s asking for my opinion? I feel like I should provide it…

    One may view this as progress, or de-evolution in a profession that was about service and making people feel comfortable and special while in a high tech transportation device. As we often hear, “FA’s primary duty is to enforce rules and safety” but this very blog is about people enjoying flying for the sake of it. When I fly with my wife and child, it’s a special event and I do my best to be presentable and cordial throughout the process. I think if this attitude was common, it would go a long way to making the skies “friendlier” and with fewer air rage outbreaks. One of the reasons why many of us travel is to experience different cultures which, as a side effect, require people to conform to social standards.

    In the photo above, I wouldn’t mind the two FA’s one bit. They’re both pleasant looking, fit, with smiles and their tattoos are, well, quite expensive looking. Face piercings, however, never look attractive and I get the impression that those who get them do so deliberately to send a message of rebellion which doesn’t suit a service profession.

    And that’s the bottom line, isn’t it? Will FA’s continue to be a “service profession” or sky wardens and enforcers? The uniform standards can either obfuscate the direction that role is progressing or lead it.

    So, all that long winded diatribe aside, I perceive that open ink will probably result in a degradation of appearance and service standards in the profession. But that’s just a guess.

  12. Jan Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 12:59 pm

    The comments are the boomerest puritan boomers.
    Tattoos are everywhere now. Short of. Crip/blood or face tattoo, who really cares

  13. Sean Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 1:55 pm

    My uncle is as liberal as the day is long and he hates tattoos. Lots of Trumpers have tattoos but I guess I’m not surprised for this debate to be politicized like everything else.

    For the record, I’m a moderate, will never get a tattoo, but don’t care if FA’s are allowed to show them.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 3, 2022 at 2:03 pm

      Yes, it’s not an easy left-right divide.

  14. Jerry Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 2:07 pm

    I just don’t understand how a FA having a tattoo could bother anybody in the slightest. I can’t think of many things in the world that impact me less than someone else’s decision to put some ink on their skin,

  15. Pete Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 2:37 pm

    Body graffiti like regular graffiti. Some of the art is amazing, Not my style. But, live and let live. Won’t bother me if the service is good. But please don’t tell me I have to like it or accept it. I will just deal with it and move on.
    For those who struggle with this, I fully understand. Just remember, don’t let others’ life decisions effect you. They have chosen their route and you will quickly part ways at flight’s end. If you were blind, it would only be the service that would effect you.

  16. Gammyjill Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 2:40 pm

    I don’t have a tattoo or any interest in getting one. The only time I don’t like them is in a restaurant where the server’s arms are covered with them. I used to live in Santa Fe where, for some strange Fe-ish reason, lots of servers had them.

  17. PlaneSailing Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 3:23 pm

    I find tattoos on display to be kind of strange (like green hair, mismatched shoes, body piercing’s etc) reflection of the person…… so tattoos should be covered up for a work situation. Not surprised Virgin Atlantic is allowing them, I have flown Virgin in SLC (Self Loading Cattle) class across the pond a few times – generally a miserable experience…..

  18. DEE Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 6:03 pm

    Not a FAN of tattoos!! Some are especially horrid!! cover the up please!!

  19. Retired Navy Flight Surgeon / Emergency Medicine Reply
    June 3, 2022 at 10:26 pm

    United State Navy Aviation Medicine (Flight Surgeon) psychiatry training theory circa 1985.
    Tattoo sign:
    1 tattoo, medium risk for personality disorder (if not a more significant psychiatric diagnosis)
    2 tattoos, high risk for personality disorder
    3 tattoos, no doubt a personality disorder
    1 disturbing tattoo (“Kill ‘em All”, skull with imbedded knife), no doubt a personality disorder

    Theory often validated during subsequent 35 years of Aviation Medicine and Emergency Medicine.

    • Aaron Reply
      June 4, 2022 at 2:26 am

      Such nonsense.

  20. Maugrim Reply
    June 4, 2022 at 3:35 am

    Let’s see how such a policy works with Japanese customers, who equate tattoos with the Yakuza, or say a Maori customer angry at cultural appropriation when a Pakeha (non Maori) wears culturally significant tattoos.

  21. Sean M. Reply
    June 4, 2022 at 11:36 am

    I wonder if their continued restrictions on facial and neck tattoos will be challenged now they have opened the door to permit some tattoo types.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 4, 2022 at 1:37 pm

      I suspect so…this is just an intermediate step.

  22. Jim Reply
    June 4, 2022 at 8:21 pm

    I think the type of people to care about tattoos are also not the type of people to choose Virgin if given a choice.

  23. anonymous Reply
    June 5, 2022 at 9:12 am

    I don’t mind tattoos on flight attendants or service personnel, as long as they’re not promoting offensive subjects, although I don’t like to see facial tattoos.

    I do think nose piercings are especially disgusting, on anyone, and especially on food servers.

    But then my opinion is not going to make a huge dent on society. 😉

    P.S. When did we English speakers decide that the word “tattoo” was so long and cumbersome that it had to be abbreviated? Lol!

  24. David M Hoffman Reply
    June 5, 2022 at 4:23 pm

    Nope, no visible tattoos.
    No visible piercings, except for small ear studs.
    It’s an international airline, not a dive bar for criminals and gang members.

  25. Jack Reply
    June 5, 2022 at 5:44 pm

    I’d prefer cheery, attentive, in-flight service from someone with tattoos than surly, rude service from someone with none.

  26. James Harper Reply
    June 6, 2022 at 1:34 pm

    There are a lot of these ads on TV in the UK at the moment and they are utterly tedious. I don’t want to know that airline staff are ‘individuals’, I want to know they will deliver the service I have paid for. More Virgin hype, they must be failing in the publicity rankings at the moment and old beardy is keen to get them back up somehow.

  27. Tony N Reply
    July 12, 2022 at 4:17 pm

    ABSOLUTELY NOT GOOD. According to the research, “tattooed individuals reported significantly higher levels of verbal aggression, anger, and reactive rebelliousness compared with non-tattooed adults.” And this study was done in the UK. Ibid. Google.

    • Tony N Reply
      July 12, 2022 at 4:23 pm

      Maybe this is to show an equal amount of aggression to the aggressive, drunk passenger? Interested to know why they allowed that.

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