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Home » Law In Travel » Airline Faces Government Fine For Telling Female Flight Attendants To Wear Makeup
Law In TravelVueling

Airline Faces Government Fine For Telling Female Flight Attendants To Wear Makeup

Matthew Klint Posted onMarch 25, 2023November 13, 2023 19 Comments

two women in uniform standing in a plane

Spanish budget carrier Vueling, part of the parent company that owns British Airways and Iberia, faces a regulatory fine in Spain for its dress and appearance standards for female flight attendants.

Vueling Faces Fine For Its Dress And Appearance Standards For Female Flight Attendants

Spanish media reports that requirements for female flight attendants at Vueling include:

  • foundation that closely matches skin tone
  • black eyeliner and mascara
  • heals between 2-3 inches in height

Further, the following is banned:

  • “artificial-looking or excessively long” eyelash extensions
  • eyeshadow that is not light gray or light brown
  • lipstick that is not “discreet”

Contrast this with men, who are simply told  to maintain a”clean and neat appearance.”

Vueling now faces a fine of EUR30,000 from Catalonian authorities for gender discrimination and says it is studying its options, though it notes that current dress and appearance standards were made with input from the union representing flight attendants:

“We always consider the concerns of our stakeholders and together analyze their implementation. The company’s aim is to ensure their comfort and safety in any environment. In fact, the style guide was drafted with the approval of the representatives of the crew members.”

Is the aim to ensure comfort and safety or to sell plane tickets?

The fine is significant because it is the first time in Spain a government agency has attempted to regulate the aesthetic expectations of airline employees.

Should Flight Attendants Be Asked To “Look Nice?”

The question above implicates gender norms, equality under the new Zeitgeist that blurs distinctions between genders, and also calls us to consider what the purpose of a flight attendant is.

I’m not fully convinced of where I fall on this issue. On the one hand, I appreciate the grooming standards that give flight attendants in the Middle East and East Asia such a professional and uniform appearance (both are distinct from beauty, yet crucially important). On the other hand, I do note that the added expense of these items does put women at a disadvantage to men. Furthermore, there has been a history of sexism when it comes to female flight attendants that is intolerable today, no matter how an airline decides to require its female flight attendants to appear for the job.

I’d welcome your thoughts on this below.

CONCLUSION

Vueling faces a €30,000 discrimination fine for its dress and appearance standards that seemingly place a much higher and costlier burden on women than men. The fine is still being worked out and may be removed if Vueling updates it policy, which the Spanish carrier says it is exploring.

image: Vueling

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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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19 Comments

  1. Lukas Reply
    March 25, 2023 at 4:03 pm

    Um, they can do both. Look pretty AND be there primarily for our safety. Bring on the Middle Eastern and southeast Asian FAs!

  2. Santastico Reply
    March 25, 2023 at 4:19 pm

    Yes, women using makeup is not nice. I prefer the ones that tattoo their faces and have piercings all over. They look much nicer.

  3. PolishKnight Reply
    March 25, 2023 at 4:26 pm

    I prefer to raise unequal standards rather than lower them. Add more specific requirements for men in “maintain a neat and groomed appearance” including standards on shaving, hair, manicured nails and so on.

    And heck, ban “artificial-looking” eyelashes and “indiscreet” lipstick for men too, while at it. That’s at least equal. 🙂

  4. staradmiral Reply
    March 25, 2023 at 4:34 pm

    It’s a race to the bottom for the west. Take me back to the East where women look like women.

    • Jack Reply
      March 29, 2023 at 8:58 am

      You’re free to go at any time. I’m sure the women of the west will get over your loss.

  5. Maryland Reply
    March 25, 2023 at 5:09 pm

    Move over guys, cosmetics are not a one size fits all. Dictating black eyeliner, lipstick color, etc, I find laughable. While an airline may have a type within that type there’s a huge variation. Hopefully the goal would be a somewhat natural face, not a paint job. Applying make-up is an art. Natural and artificial lighting, surrounding colors all play into the choices. Yes, it’s expensive. My replacement Chanel foundation is about $160 for the two shades I mix to get a proper match. But with my very fair skin, I’d look ridiculous having to wear black eyeliner.

    Fortunately with healthy skin it does not take much so I don’t see the extra cost as discriminatory. (Most cosmetics can function as moisturizer and sunscreen). That said, let the bare face become mainstream!

    • Maryland Reply
      March 25, 2023 at 8:50 pm

      I forgot, we do not use “fair” anymore for skin. My bad. What I suppose I should have said I am between fish belly and cream

  6. Al LeFeusch Reply
    March 25, 2023 at 8:46 pm

    I am not a fan of makeup. Never have been, never will be. Women are more beautiful without it.

    • Maryland Reply
      March 25, 2023 at 8:51 pm

      Thank you

  7. JorgeGeorge Paez Reply
    March 26, 2023 at 12:03 am

    Women, please don’t wear eye liner and mascara. It makes you look like a raccoon and raccoon aren’t attractive! And for the love of children everywhere
    (who will think of the children?) please don’t extend your eyelashes halfway to your ears! They will not help you take flight……

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      March 26, 2023 at 12:12 am

      I think when eye liner and mascara are done right, they make a women even more beautiful.

      • Penny Reply
        March 26, 2023 at 4:55 am

        Help what? Look artificial? OMG, the sexism in these replies is stunning. I don’t even own any makeup, but I’m old and retired. 50 years ago I wore eyeshadow, eyeshadow, and mascara. It is certainly possible to look professional without spending a dime on makeup!

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          March 26, 2023 at 5:03 am

          There’s no need to take offense. My wife doesn’t wear makeup and I like it that way. But I do stand by what I wrote.

        • Maryland Reply
          March 26, 2023 at 8:58 pm

          Hey Penny. It’s not exactly sexism, but in often fun take on the post
          . The majority of the men who chime in this blog are representative of the the population. They are good folk, and I enjoy hearing their take and views. and Matthew opens a free space for opinions. Please hang on here! Your take will be appreciated too!

  8. RB Reply
    March 26, 2023 at 12:50 am

    Maybe they can change the rules so that people can select their gender and appearance rules. Women could choose the makeup choice or the necktie choice. So could men but if they chose the makeup selection, they would have to we a r heels.

  9. Jerry Reply
    March 27, 2023 at 10:23 am

    It seems that most people aren’t disagreeing that the policy was sexist, judging by the comments, people just seem to think sexist policies are acceptable. They may be acceptable to you personally, but Spanish law doesn’t see it that way, and that’s the issue at hand here. Regardless of what Vueling (or their customers) may “want,” they have to operate in a way that is permissible under Spanish law.

  10. Jack Reply
    March 29, 2023 at 9:01 am

    I’m no fan of makeup on anyone but honestly this feels heavy handed on all sides. Let them wear a lot of makeup, let them not wear makeup. I just appreciate smiling, friendly service no matter how their face is done up.

  11. John Reply
    March 30, 2023 at 10:43 am

    Oh, the humanity!

  12. Elena Reply
    March 30, 2023 at 9:41 pm

    Vueling home base is Barcelona so, of course, its government had to step in and show who’s boss. Why do they fixate on a makeup fine while they ignore the TOTALLY unsafe conditions in which their pilots fly? That’s the Spanish airline with the WORST conditions in its cockpit. Talk about hypocrisy.

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