American Airlines has updated its policy for flight attendants wearing gloves (and no, we’re not talking about white gloves, like in Emirates first class). Admittedly this is totally minor, but I’m writing about this because I have some opinions I need to share. 😉
In this post:
American updates flight attendant glove policy
On American, it’s not uncommon to see flight attendants wearing nitrile gloves (the blue, rubbery ones). Some flight attendants wear them throughout the flight, some wear them only during trash pickup, and some don’t wear them at all.
JonNYC flags how American has updated its policy for flight attendants wearing gloves. Effective immediately, flight attendants are only allowed to wear service gloves during trash pickup.
This policy comes at the same time that American is reducing the number of gloves that it provisions per flight, moves where in the cabin the gloves are stored (from the supply drawers to the coffee drawers), and changes glove suppliers.
I’m happy to see this policy change from American
I’d consider myself to be a mild, selective germaphobe — I wash my hands way more often than the average person, and I definitely notice the practices that I find to be sort of gross, but those things don’t impact my ability to function.
That brings me to a post I’ve been meaning to write for a long time (but I always pushed it off, because it seemed so minor), about my utter confusion at the glove use of some flight attendants.
I can understand why flight attendants might want to wear gloves during trash pick-up, because maybe they’re sometimes handling gross things.
But I find it confusing that some flight attendants wear gloves throughout service, and often don’t change them for extended periods of time. I’ve seen American flight attendants use the same gloves for service, closing the aircraft door, making announcements over the PA, eating their own meal, picking up trash, etc.
Admittedly science was never my strongest subject in school, but I don’t get it? Like, if you’re putting on gloves at the start of service when you’re pouring drinks and serving meals, what exactly is that supposed to accomplish?
I would hope that flight attendants are periodically washing their hands or sanitizing their hands between various activities, so that their hands are as clean as possible. Meanwhile just constantly wearing the same pair of gloves that get progressively dirtier as the service goes on seems… not great?
So anyway, the reduction in the number of gloves provisioned on American is a cost cutting exercise that I support, personally. 😉
Bottom line
American has told its flight attendants to stop wearing gloves so often, and to limit use of gloves to the trash pick-up service. This comes as American is switching glove suppliers, and reducing provisioning of gloves.
I’m a fan of this policy change, as I’ve never understood why some flight attendants wear gloves throughout the flight, seemingly often not actually changing them.
Am I the only one who notices the unusual glove use of some flight attendants?
My questions are how does the author know that f/a’s dont change their gloves often? Did they shadow them for 9-16hrs? And, how many f/as did they shadow to arrive at this assessment so confidently.
Nitrile gloves are either blue or white. If they wore a blue colored one all day does that mean they have not changed them? Or does it mean that they have changed them many times but an observer cant...
My questions are how does the author know that f/a’s dont change their gloves often? Did they shadow them for 9-16hrs? And, how many f/as did they shadow to arrive at this assessment so confidently.
Nitrile gloves are either blue or white. If they wore a blue colored one all day does that mean they have not changed them? Or does it mean that they have changed them many times but an observer cant tell because they are the same color blue or white?
The flag and other airlines should assess their sick calls before and after wearing gloves? Will they really save money in the end?
Very disappointed in this post.
You make a comment that AA wants to reduce the number of gloves being used which is purely a cost cutting exercise and “optics” and not anything to do with work health and safety. You also mention that ‘some’ crew don’t change their gloves. Plenty of crew change their gloves regularly as they should.
What you also don’t mention is that on most aircraft there are no handwashing...
Very disappointed in this post.
You make a comment that AA wants to reduce the number of gloves being used which is purely a cost cutting exercise and “optics” and not anything to do with work health and safety. You also mention that ‘some’ crew don’t change their gloves. Plenty of crew change their gloves regularly as they should.
What you also don’t mention is that on most aircraft there are no handwashing sinks easily accessible in the galleys. There are barely enough toilets and crew are not able to easily access them for the amount of hand washing that is necessary in any other food handling role. Even if you do manage to get into a toilet- the more times you wash your hands on the aircraft, the more your skin dries and cracks, allowing germs to enter through cuts in your skin. Hand sanitiser does the same.
You would be astonished at what passengers hand to crew during service: used Kleenex, dirty diapers and any number of unpleasant items - even mid meal service.
If airlines don’t want crew to use PPE like gloves whenever necessary, then they need to put better mitigators in place.
Aircraft are disgustingly dirty places. It’s impossible to clean them adequately in the turnarounds and humans are very lax with their own hygiene practices. We all got better at it and now people have forgotten how to cover their mouths when they cough, or wash their hands after going to the toilet.
Airlines reducing the number of gloves on board will increase the likelihood that crew won’t be able to change gloves often enough.
Bare hands don’t mean clean hands.
The focus should be on correct hand hygiene and PPE whenever needed, not removing protections in a workplace.
They should also ban masks.
@DJT:
FFS. What does someone wearing a mask has to do with you. Dude, you do you and let them do themselves. You people are so weird.
Justin:
How often did you or anyone you know wear a mask before 2020? You’re the one who needs to admit this was a seed planted in you during the panic of the COVID era, which you have not accepted is now (and long since) over.
+1.
A person wearing gloves never washes their hands, or their gloves. I want to be served by clean hands. Gloves are disgusting.
A majority of workers at fast food outlets don't wash their hands after using the restroom. Even after #2. Hope your kids enjoy their happy meal.
I worked fast food when I was a teenager. My coworkers and I were pretty good about handwashing. The thing fast food workers slack on is washing their hands after handling cash. But that’s less of an issue now because so many customers use plastic to pay.
Ben - we are so disappointed in you! Missed a perfectly good opportunity to write about OLIVES!
This has been far too long in coming. When the pandemic began, it brought a ridiculous wave of incorrectly used PPE, which has seemed to linger in people with mental illness and/or a lack of understanding how germs work. When an employee is wearing gloves to pass out food, type on a computer, or when an employee is wearing a cloth mask (ever) it makes the company look bad. Protocols should limit PPE use to...
This has been far too long in coming. When the pandemic began, it brought a ridiculous wave of incorrectly used PPE, which has seemed to linger in people with mental illness and/or a lack of understanding how germs work. When an employee is wearing gloves to pass out food, type on a computer, or when an employee is wearing a cloth mask (ever) it makes the company look bad. Protocols should limit PPE use to appropriate times and circumstances and require it to be used correctly.
I still see people driving w/ a mask on in a car w/ the windows up
@Tim Dunn
So what? What does this have to do with you. Let them do themselves and you do you.
I would bet that the majority of AA FAs - just like the rest of the population - doesn't follow good handwashing techniques. Continuously wearing gloves may help minimize disease risk for them but probably makes it worse for customers than if they wore no gloves except for during trash pickup.
There is no need to wear gloves when serving food and beverages. Unlike in medical situations, there is no need to eliminate any...
I would bet that the majority of AA FAs - just like the rest of the population - doesn't follow good handwashing techniques. Continuously wearing gloves may help minimize disease risk for them but probably makes it worse for customers than if they wore no gloves except for during trash pickup.
There is no need to wear gloves when serving food and beverages. Unlike in medical situations, there is no need to eliminate any chance of passing any healthy germs.
if an FA has a cold or other disease that could pass germs to a degree greater than any other healthy human, they shouldn't be at work.
Good for AA for dealing w/ this issue which is part of how customers are viewed.
Doesn't AA have better things to do? This is so trivial.
99% of people do not know how to properly use disposable gloves and should not be wearing them.
Good on AA, as their FAs definitely don't know how to use them.