'Wear Proper Undergarments': Delta Airlines' Memo for Flight Attendants Comes Crashing Down After Outrage

Delta Air Lines memo for flight attendants has taken off, and so has the backlash. The new bizarre memo titled “Flight attendant hiring appearance requirements” is essentially a fashion police handbook, outlining how flight attendants should look, from interviews to in-flight service. But the two-page memo’s most eyebrow-raising directives? A requirement to “wear undergarments” and ensure they “aren’t visible”.

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The airline headquartered in the United States further shared a long list of “grooming, hair, jewellery, and clothing”, adding that it is “inclusive of, but not limited to the oldest operating US airline’s appearance requirements”.

“Delta Flight Attendants spend the most time with our customers and are the face of our airline. They must be passionate about enhancing each customer’s experience while embodying the Delta brand. A Delta Flight Attendant is expected to deliver a Welcoming, Elevated and Caring experience while creating moments that matter to our customers. The customer service experience begins the moment a Flight Attendant puts on their uniform. The Delta uniform represents always putting safety first, pride in the Delta culture and demonstrates a genuine graciousness that will be remembered by our customers,” the introductory paragraph of the bizarre memo read.

The memo further added, “We will work with you to accommodate a specific manner of dress or physical appearance in keeping with religious beliefs or practices unless it causes a safety hazard or other undue burden on the company.”

Delta Air Lines shared specific guidelines for the “interview process, training and throughout the career as a flight attendant for one of the oldest operating airlines in the world”. We have listed some of them below:

1- Aftershave, cologne and perfume are permitted if applied lightly.

2- Eyelashes should look natural.

3- Facial hair must be neatly trimmed and well-maintained.

4- Nails should be properly trimmed. If polished, a single, subtle colour is permitted with no adornments, glitter, or hand-painted designs.

5- Tattoos should not be visible.

6- Hair should be pulled back and secured above the shoulders if they are long. It should be styled in a natural-looking hue.

7- Jewellery should be limited to gold, silver, white pearl, or clear diamond or diamond-like studs. Only one side-nose piercing and up to two earrings per ear are permitted. No other visible body piercings are allowed.

8- Proper undergarments must be worn and should remain completely invisible.

9- Dresses and skirts should be at or below the knee, and button-collared dress shirts must be paired with a tie.

10- Footwear should consist of closed-toe flats, heels, or sling-backs.

The aviation company also said that on the interview day, profanity, chewing gum and the use of phones or earbuds are not permitted.

“In the interest of transparency and clarity for all prospective candidates we are encouraging people to ‘dress for success’ and give a great first impression as they aspire to join the flight attendant ranks,” a Delta Air Lines spokesperson told the Daily Mail.