Cabin Jumpseat Safety Policy

[PHLFlyer]

It's good to see that flight attendants are reporting these issues.

I may be a bit off topic here but I think for too long now too many flight attendants have gotten away with looking and acting however they want to. This includes being mean and nasty to fellow employees and passengers. And they have gotten away with these things because nobody says anything. We talk about how we as a flight attendant group rarely write eachother up, which I think is good -- to a point. Maybe those days are over.

For example: I wonder how many flight attendants don't have their names on their aprons simply because they know they are nasty to passengers? I saw a flight attendant who wears his wings upside down because he hates the company. I hate to say it but write these up!

I know my friend who flies for Delta often thinks twice before being rude to a passenger because she knows her name is underneath her wings -- which they are always required to wear.

I'm not claiming to be Miss Perfect Flight Attendant but I do always try to act and look like I take pride in myself and my job. It all comes down to professionalism and how we are viewed as a company and a work group. Sorry, but I think that's important. It helps me stay happy in my life and career.

If we start bringing more issues like this to the company and AFA them maybe more will be done about them.

 

[Career Reserve]

It can be a little bit more than that.

Take for instance an underactive or non-fuctioning thyroid. It can almost impossible to loose weight. Or loosing weight takes a long time. And the company wants to put people on the street until they loose the weight?

I think a more reasonable action from the company would be to give those with overweight issues a time limit to loose it before they put them out of work.

Medication is available for those individuals.
It may also mean wiser choices of food & the proportions ordered.
The f/a's mentioned here have let the weight get out of proportion to the seats they sit on.
I think what you are asking is for the Company to give them time to take a proactive approach to their health and well being.
No time like the present, right?

 

[flybynite]

Yes, there is thyroid replacement medication but it doesn't promote weight loss. And when your metabolism has come to a screeching halt, maintaining and loosing weight can be a real battle.

It sounds as if you are making the assumption that those with weight issues have "just let themselves go". When in fact, that may not be true.

What I'm saying is, for those who can't meet the "new" requirement , they should be allowed a certain amount of time to meet those requirements before the company puts them on unpaid medical leave.

These folks have bills to pay.

 

[Career Reserve]

Yes, there is thyroid replacement medication but it doesn't promote weight loss. And when your metabolism has come to a screeching halt, maintaining and loosing weight can be a real battle.

It sounds as if you are making the assumption that those with weight issues have "just let themselves go". When in fact, that may not be true.

What I'm saying is, for those who can't meet the "new" requirement , they should be allowed a certain amount of time to meet those requirements before the company puts them on unpaid medical leave.

These folks have bills to pay.

And I am saying everyone should take responsibility for their own life.

I am not making any assumptions.
Ask any medical professional or dietitian about that.

Not eating (so much) promotes weight loss.
Choosing low fat proteins and eating more veggies promotes weight loss.
Drinking water instead of soda, beer, wine (whatever) helps flush the system and contains
zero calories.
Exercising promotes weight loss and actually helps keep it off.
Exercise helps with depression, anxiety and heart disease to name a few reasons why everyone should exercise.

It's not a "new" requirement. It has always been there, it just wasn't enforced.

 

[flybynite]

Hmm, well, yes it is a new policy.

Because f/a's questioned (I assume ours)the safety of seat belt extension use on the jumpseat, the company investigated the risks and concluded they may put f/a's in jeopardy.
I have no issue with that.

But because it is a new policy, I think there should be a grace period for those on active status to meet the new requirement.

Oh, and by the way, I don't need a lesson on how to lead a healthy lifestyle.

 

[Career Reserve]

Oh the seatbelt extension issue has been around for more than a few years now and that's because FAA deemed the integrity of the J/S was altered when an extension was applied, therefore it couldn't be used.
Maybe you think it's new to because the company is now taking action against it's use,
however last year the Company took a CLT f/a off a flight for that very issue. She was going to use
an extension; the lead said she couldn't, a supervisor and the union was called and the f/a was taken off the trip.
So in a year the situation is still the same.

 

[ganesha]

this is one way to thin the heard...I need to lose some myself...but I must say I have no problem with J/S belts BUT some of the 75 'A' belts are x-tra small...I think they have the wrong size on some, not all but some ...the company should make sure all belts are the same on all a/c or I smell a BIG no pun intended lawsuite

Wrong. Each Jumpseat on each aircraft is designed to withstand a certain amount of force, hence the different sizes of seatbelts on different J/S, just something a know from a boeing engineer.......

 

[ganesha]

Yes, there is thyroid replacement medication but it doesn't promote weight loss. And when your metabolism has come to a screeching halt, maintaining and loosing weight can be a real battle.

It sounds as if you are making the assumption that those with weight issues have "just let themselves go". When in fact, that may not be true.

What I'm saying is, for those who can't meet the "new" requirement , they should be allowed a certain amount of time to meet those requirements before the company puts them on unpaid medical leave.

These folks have bills to pay.

I'm not a big gal, most would say average to slim, and in the last few years I put on about 10 pounds. It is very, very hard to stay a "normal" weight, that means, no doughnuts, no bagels and carbs at the free hotel breakfast, exercise at the gym at LEAST 3 days a week, no butter, no cake, no late night eatings, no after dinner drinks, no fatty foods. I am only trying to lose 10 lbs! I can't imagine trying to lose 75 or 100.

Genetics plays a role in determining what size I will be. I hate those skinny minnie's who can eat everything and anything! What I will say is that our job requires us to be a certain size, just like an astronaut has a size requirement, or a horse jockey has a height requirement. I don't feel safe if there is a 300 LB fellow f/a on the j/s next to me and it will lesson my chances of survial in a crash. Thank goodness for this! Amen.

 

[ganesha]

One more thing, I guess the UNION will be getting calls on this non-stop, great, just when we are trying to focus on negotiations....just another thing to bother the union with, btw, the union, in PHL, any size requirements for our PHL UNION OFFICIALS to fit in the j/s?
Does anyone know if they have to stay current and fit in the j/s? 😱

 

[Zarah]

And when they do finally fit into that jumpseat again, without an extension, they will get the added prize of buying a new uniform unless the company is going to be generous and replace them.

I do feel bad for anybody that will be impacted by the enforcement of this policy. The loss of income can be devastating to a family. However, I do not think this policy will impact that many people as I have never seen anybody use an extension on the jumpseat. /shrug but what do I know.

 

[4merresrat]

And when they do finally fit into that jumpseat again, without an extension, they will get the added prize of buying a new uniform unless the company is going to be generous and replace them.

Most people, if they lose weight, must alter their wardrobe or purchase new clothing. Why on earth should the company "be generous" and buy you new clothing because you were outside the paramaters of your job??? Come on. Take responsibily for your life.

 

[songbirdstew]

To me it's about safety... if the person next to me is too large for me to safely get into my brace position then that's a huge problem for my safety and my ability to evacuate if needed.

Almost every hotel we stay at has a fitness center on the premises with at least a treadmill...or there's a gym located nearby.....my suggestion is that those who need to start using it.

 

[Travelpro72]

Yippppeeeeeee I'm gonna hold a block now.

 

[Dog Wonder]

The solution is young stewardesses.

The old ones are not cute or shapely enough.

We need young, dumb, and wanting some.

Those are the stewardesses Tempe can understand.

Anything smarter ask too much!

 

[Zarah]

Most people, if they lose weight, must alter their wardrobe or purchase new clothing. Why on earth should the company "be generous" and buy you new clothing because you were outside the paramaters of your job??? Come on. Take responsibily for your life.

humm, I read my post again and I do not see where I said or even implied that the company "should" absorb the cost of their new uniform/alterations. I simply noted that they may have to purchase a new uniform, because due to weight loss the new uniform the company just gave them might not fit.