Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has become the latest airline to update its employee appearance standards. While I’m sure some people won’t be a fan of this change, personally I’m all for letting people be comfortable and express themselves.
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SAS updates employee appearance standards
As of July 1, 2024, SAS has updated its employee appearance standards, with the new policies applying to all frontline staff, including flight attendants. The most significant changes are that staff can now proudly display their tattoos and wear sneakers while in uniform.
The airline describes this change as part of a commitment to a modern, inclusive, and welcoming environment. The company shares the below pictures of some flight attendants taking advantage of the updated policies. Now, I’d assume that there are some limitations, and that sneakers have to be an appropriate color, and that tattoos can’t be offensive.
This is an area where we’ve seen several airlines liberalize their policies in recent years. Air New Zealand was one of the first global airlines to start allowing visible tattoos, which the airline justified by wanting to allow staff “to express individuality or cultural heritage.”
Since then, we’ve seen several other airlines follow Air New Zealand’s lead. In Europe, Virgin Atlantic made some sweeping changes in 2022, not just regarding tattoos and makeups, but also regarding the ability to express gender identity.
There are also plenty of airlines that allow sneakers nowadays, including full service airlines in Europe. For example, KLM similarly updated its policies several weeks ago.
I’m in favor of people expressing themselves
I commend SAS for making these updates, and giving employees the ability to express themselves.
While I don’t personally have any tattoos (and have no interest in getting any), I have no issues with people who do. I don’t think anyone should be prevented from getting a job, or should have to cover up, because of their tattoos (assuming they’re not offensive). At the end of the day, people are happier if they can express themselves, and this is an extension of that.
When it comes to sneakers, I’m also a fan of that change. Airline employees spend a lot of time on their feet, whether they’re flight attendants or ground agents, and they should be able to spend their time feeling comfortable.
I think it’s also important to acknowledge that these policies largely reflect the cultures of the home countries that airlines operate out of. For example, I don’t expect Japan Airlines or Qatar Airways or Singapore Airlines will start allowing flight attendants to have tattoos anytime soon, since that’s either frowned down upon in those societies, or the role of a flight attendant is still very much to “look the part.”
That’s not the case at most western airlines. If you go to Northern Europe, you’ll see a lot of tattoos, and flight attendants aren’t there to provide Singapore Airlines levels of service. So it’s fair enough that appearance standards also reflect that aspect of the culture.
Bottom line
Scandinavian Airlines is the latest airline to update its appearance standards for employees, including allowing visible tattoos, and also permitting sneakers to be worn. The airline is hardly the first to make such a policy change. I think this is a totally fair development, especially when you consider the culture in Northern Europe.
What do you make of these policy changes at SAS?
There are those who believe that a tattoo is a form of disfigurement practiced by weak willed individuals who need to belong to a certain group. Few people believe that it is an art form to be admired.
Most people who have disfigured themselves in their youth grow up to regret having done so. One is yet to see an admirable old tattoo on aged or wrinkled skin.
Clearly you aren't hanging out with the right old people if you haven't seen cool tattoos on them. Maybe it's time to lighten up a bit?
Backwards approach IMHO. Staff is not there to express their identity, but to express the identity of the employer - the airline. I am not sure how biz class pax, especially the more mature ones, will react to such display of 'body art'? Maybe take their $ to a more 'professional' airline? Regardless, will be interesting to see how carriers control the extent to how much is too much and what constitutes 'offensive'. There may be some legal controversies brewing...
Those more mature customers very likely have children with ink all over their arms.
I like tattoos, on hookers. For the hospitality business in general, they may be ok for certain bars, and are probably required attire for bouncers and other people who need to look a little rough to convey an "it's my way or the highway attitude". So it seems like something AA may want to introduce. I prefer to fly with airlines where staff makes better life choices.
Tattoos are 'body art'? LOL, that was funny.... and tattoos are for 'expressing yourself', so If you don't have a tattoo, you cannot express yourself, really?
Not having a tattoo is a form of expression.
Everything one chooses to wear or say or do (or chooses not to wear or say or do) is a statement, irrespective of whether you like it or even understand it.
As for the below moronic attempted analogy of alcoholism being a form of expression…we’ll leave that one be, because it’s so ridiculous that it defies any further comment.
Tattoos are 'body art'? LOL, that was funny
I'm not for allowing tattoos, even though I have no problem with tattoos. I think there is a level of professionalism that should be maintained (I'm not a fan of WN allowing shorts, for example).
But the reality is that given that passengers show up in pajamas and house slippers or showing their bare midriff, I don't know that we can really be blaming the airlines for the trashifying of the cabin.
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UncleRonnie Diamond
July 1, 2024, 4:37 pm
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3 more repliesYou’re not wrong Dave. Ties have been replaced by neck tats in the office, so you can’t really disallow it in the air anymore.
Yeah UncleRonnie, I'm with you. My former CCO looks like Post Malone, not even kidding. Neck and face tats. One of the most celebrated guys in the advertising industry, too. And when we had to call the police because of a bat in our apartment a couple summers ago (fun times), the two NYPD officers who showed up had full colorful sleeve tats.
So I think this horse has bolted from the stable, societally. No logical reason why we shouldn't be seeing it in the air.
On the shorts thing I get it for WN. They fly to many destinations where wearing pants would be very hot during the summer. I think COVID has also changed things in a lot of ways. I’m an AGC at a F100 company in TX and we have a hybrid schedule. I still sometimes come into the office on our remote days from time to time and all bets are off regarding dress code rules...
On the shorts thing I get it for WN. They fly to many destinations where wearing pants would be very hot during the summer. I think COVID has also changed things in a lot of ways. I’m an AGC at a F100 company in TX and we have a hybrid schedule. I still sometimes come into the office on our remote days from time to time and all bets are off regarding dress code rules in the summer on those days at least on the legal floor. My boss has come in sometimes in shorts and a company t-shirt, for example.
Equating the appearance of professional airline staff with the vagaries of the customer base is confusing. There's SUPPOSED to be a stark differentiation to convey who is in charge and controls the flying environment. Let the inmates run the asylum?? Really?? (Would be good IFE though lol).
It’s a shame they didn’t follow Finnair (https://www.finnair.com/dk-en/bluewings/world-of-finnair/a-shoe-for-the-skies--finnair-and-karhu-create-a-special-sneaker-for-our-crew-2977628) or KLM (https://news.klm.com/launching-sneakers-under-klm-uniform/) in having a custom sneaker designed for them, which would have been incredibly cool.
I dont care about tattoes or sneakers.If theyre happy with it then good for them.
What i care about is cleanliness.Just flew SAS from Reyjkavik to Oslo and the seats and floor was filthy.They obviously didnt clean the aircraft after the incoming flight.Seats had crumbs on it and floor had dirty plastic wrappers.
Staffs were great and food was not to bad.
Ben I'm kind of disappointed you weren't planning on getting a drawing of the old Lufthansa first class seat tattooed on your shoulder
We need to stop the excessive use of all these new vocabulary.
Having body arts has nothing to do with inclusive.
It's a life choice.
Just like being an alcoholic is not inclusive. It's a life choice.
You wouldn't support inclusive by allowing day time binge drinking on the job do you?
While I support self expression and fashion in work place. I think some industry and positions shouldn't. Just like how everyone is...
We need to stop the excessive use of all these new vocabulary.
Having body arts has nothing to do with inclusive.
It's a life choice.
Just like being an alcoholic is not inclusive. It's a life choice.
You wouldn't support inclusive by allowing day time binge drinking on the job do you?
While I support self expression and fashion in work place. I think some industry and positions shouldn't. Just like how everyone is aware that people take this differently, customer facing roles probably should be more conservative. If it's not visible, I don't think anyone would care.
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James Guest
July 1, 2024, 11:18 am
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Eskimo Guest
July 1, 2024, 11:50 am
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Timtamtrak Diamond
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10 more repliesWho said being an alcoholic is “inclusive”? And why are you comparing tattoos with alcoholism?
It's a life choice.
Just like not learning to read is a life choice.
As a note, alcoholism, like any addiction, is medically considered a disease, a brain disorder specifically. It isn’t a life choice in its fully formed state.
Ben specifically cited Air NZ in his post for a reason, facial tattoos are a part of indigenous culture there.
As a note, alcoholism, like any addiction, is medically considered a disease, a brain disorder specifically. It isn’t a life choice in its fully formed state.
That's when deciding to get you act together to get help and quit drinking becomes the life choice, followed by the life choice to stay abstinent.
resident idiot of omaat comes through with another barnstorm of a conclusion
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying addiction isn't a disease or a mental problem. Those people do need help and support.
But just like all addictions, you weren't born drinking alcohol or doing meth either. But like some people here, you can be born dumb.
Now I suggest all of you narcissist who can't handle the truth try drinking on the job and claim inclusive.
Reading, learning, and having a more informed, constructive opinion on addiction issues, including alcoholism, is a choice. Reading more and understanding the function of alcohol in certain cultures and societies is also a choice. Also, understanding the accepted definition of narcissism and free will is, I guess, also a choice.
I only understand these are choices because I see Eskimo not fully utilizing his personal agency and making these choices.
Drinking on the job is a hazard to anyone you work with. Tattoos are not a hazard to anyone but the wearer, and ‘hazard’ is a gigantic stretch of the word in that case.
No one is showing up to work drunk and claiming the workplace isn’t “inclusive” of their “lifestyle” because most companies, especially in the travel industry have strict zero-tolerance drug and alcohol rules. That’s because D&A affect workplace performance, and tattoos do...
Drinking on the job is a hazard to anyone you work with. Tattoos are not a hazard to anyone but the wearer, and ‘hazard’ is a gigantic stretch of the word in that case.
No one is showing up to work drunk and claiming the workplace isn’t “inclusive” of their “lifestyle” because most companies, especially in the travel industry have strict zero-tolerance drug and alcohol rules. That’s because D&A affect workplace performance, and tattoos do not.
Eskimo, your comment just plain doesn’t make sense.
How does having a tattoo affect job performance? Sure it’s a life choice but it doesn’t affect others or your job performance the way drinking on the job does.
Not my preference, but yes important to know there are guidelines with it... it is not a free-for-all. I'm not sure I want my food served by someone like the man next to me on Allegiant yesterday who had "PONY RIDE" spelled out on his knuckles. I hope that neck/face tattoos never become acceptable.
Even at Spirit, we prohibited visible tattoos. I used to buy dollar store concealer to stock in the break room...
Not my preference, but yes important to know there are guidelines with it... it is not a free-for-all. I'm not sure I want my food served by someone like the man next to me on Allegiant yesterday who had "PONY RIDE" spelled out on his knuckles. I hope that neck/face tattoos never become acceptable.
Even at Spirit, we prohibited visible tattoos. I used to buy dollar store concealer to stock in the break room next to our mirror.
Sneakers, with some guidelines so that they look appropriate with uniform, I think are a great idea. I always have been very liberal in accepting "doctor notes" for wearing sneakers as long as they were patent leather or black and had no design (used to actually tell agents how to get an exemption) because even with fatigue mats nothing beats a sneaker. I speak this as someone whose feet bottoms are like granite ruined from years of clacking along airport terrazzo in Cole Haans or similar.
How far the travel industry has come. I recall the days of weekly employee weigh-ins, physically measuring men’s sideburns, and daily inspection of polished footwear/uniform to ensure compliance. Tattoos, jewelry (other than wedding rings), cologne, facial hair, and hair length below the collar was strictly forbidden for men.
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DT Guest
July 1, 2024, 3:28 pm
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ted poco Guest
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6 more repliesPerhaps that was a good thing? This is a free for all. Professionalism at work is highly underrated. And inclusiveness and expression etc can be done off the clock - do we have to bring it to work? I do t think so
While I understand that some yearn for the romance that was part of airline culture in generations past, I can't see how this evolution is a bad thing. As plenty of pointed out here, there will be cultures/airlines that don't move in this direction, which is fine. However, I think that most in the western world have determined (particularly over the past few years) that appearance doesn't always equate to skill/professionalism/intelligence. As a small personal...
While I understand that some yearn for the romance that was part of airline culture in generations past, I can't see how this evolution is a bad thing. As plenty of pointed out here, there will be cultures/airlines that don't move in this direction, which is fine. However, I think that most in the western world have determined (particularly over the past few years) that appearance doesn't always equate to skill/professionalism/intelligence. As a small personal example, I spent a short time working for an airline that was proud of their strict "business/business casual" dress code in the office. This translated as people wearing tattered polo shirts and decades old khakis with house paint stains on them, but hey, they had a collar on! Immediately after that, I transitioned into the tech world where I worked with some of the smartest and most efficient people I could ever dream of, even though some wore sweatpants or pajamas to work. Moral of the story is that professionalism and customer service are about an attitude and desire, rather than a dress code. Just my opinion.
Explain how visible ink makes someone "less professional."
It just is. How many CEO’s walk around tatted with piercings? Doctors? Surgeons? Pilots? It’s not inclusiveness, it’s just stupidity. Off the clock do as you please and expose every piercing and tattoo and anything else you want to. Why does it have to be part of your at work persona? It’s a JOB , not a walk in a park.
Ahhh yes, the good ole crowd that responds to questions of "why?" with, "that's the way we've always done it" and "because". Change is scary, but everything in the physical world we occupy evolves. Being resistant to change when there's no logical reason to do so is how companies like Blockbuster, Sears, and MySpace ended up where they are now. If making this change allows the company to have better access to potential employees AND...
Ahhh yes, the good ole crowd that responds to questions of "why?" with, "that's the way we've always done it" and "because". Change is scary, but everything in the physical world we occupy evolves. Being resistant to change when there's no logical reason to do so is how companies like Blockbuster, Sears, and MySpace ended up where they are now. If making this change allows the company to have better access to potential employees AND keep said employees happy, then they'd be silly not to try.
Please explain how it makes them anything like professional looking?
You must long for the days of hot pants and miniskirts.
They have limits to where the tattoo can be placed (below neck) and size of tattoo if visible (ie on arms) and Cannot be offensive. Also rules on sneaker designs allowed.
most of the world is not ready for tattoos on the face. DO you know the rules regarding size of tattoo?
Body art is a western-world phenomena and it is not just northern Europe.
It will separate, at least in appearance, western airlines from Asian airlines and likely the Middle East airlines.
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P Ton Guest
July 1, 2024, 9:42 am
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Tim Dunn Diamond
July 1, 2024, 10:19 am
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July 1, 2024, 12:29 pm
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Tim Dunn Diamond
July 1, 2024, 4:32 pm
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3 more repliesForget the rich cultures of Polynesia and the pacific-islands, right?
with all due respect, the size of Polynesia and their airlines is very small compared to the Americas and Europe on the one side and Asia/Pacific airlines on the other side.
This is the worst take.
Facial tattoos are a part of indigenous Māori culture, which is why Ben's post cites Air NZ.
and, as I ACCURATELY noted, most of the world isn't ready for facial tattoos regardless of what cultures or relatively minor airlines have them. The largest airlines that allow tattoos do not allow facial tattoos. The majority of large global airlines do not allow visible tattoos on their customer contact staff.
Hey Ben
Just a heads up. You have a typo:
While I don’t personally have any tattoos (and have no interesting in getting any),