Spirit Airlines Sexist Ads
Spirit Airlines flight attendants seek end to ‘sexist and shameful’ advertising
The hubbub last week by Spirit Airlines flight attendants over what they have termed as demeaning and demoralizing advertising campaigns by the airline’s management has continued on to this week.
Represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), Spirit Airlines flight attendants last week demanded an immediate end to the advertising campaigns that Spirit Airlines management continues to run.
"For Spirit flight attendants, the sexist and shameful advertising that management continues to associate our carrier with is embarrassing and diminishes our role as safety professionals," said Deborah Crowley, AFA-CWA Spirit president. "As the face of the airline to many passengers, it is embarrassing for Spirit flight attendants to work for a management team with such little regard for so many outstanding employees."
"Flight attendants across the world have fought for the respect and dignity we hold dear today. We will not go backwards! We will stand firm in our right for dignity and respect," added Crowley.
According to AFA-CWA, it has fought for equality and has made significant advancements in women's and worker's rights for over 60 years. After working to end age, weight, marital status, gender, race or pregnancy discrimination against flight attendants, AFA-CWA claims it has redefined the flight attendant profession from "sky girl" to crucial safety professionals.
Last week, Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson told the Associated Press that the union was consulted last year when the carrier began the discussion on selling apron ad space, and it raised no concerns. According to her, some of the ads in question have been used for more than a year, with no customer complaints.
"Actually we've had great response from passengers that love the fares we offer through those promotions," Pinson was quoted as saying.
Comments
Journalism 101:It would be nice if you included in these stories specific ads and comments from the flight attendants and their reps as to what they object. Otherwise, the average reader who has not been following this issue closely (and/or is coming to this issue for the first time) has no idea specifically what you are talking about.
I see the FAs' point, as they want to be viewed as the professionals that they are trained to be and this sort of thing obviously cheapens their image and perceived authority with passengers. But maybe I'm a bit hypersensitive, since I live in NYC where flight attendants recently did an excellent job of keeping passengers safe with the ditching of an airliner in the river. That said, the industry is under extreme pressure in the US and needs all the revenue it can generate. While not quite Ryanair, Spirit Airlines is known for being very cost-conscious (see "infamous" Ben Baldanza customer letter of some time ago), so this should be expected.
I think the crucial safety professionals are being a tad hypersensitive to this issue of publicity on their aprons. The whole travel industry is going through a financial nightmare, airlines in particular. The very least they could do is to have a bit of solidarity with their employer. Nobody is disrespecting them or taking their dignity away from them. They seriously need to get over themselves and provide good service in dificult times, instead of whining and being overly feministic about something that isn't really such a big deal. I hate to go on a rant like this, but there are layoffs left right and center in our industry these days... these "crucial safety proffesionals" need to be grateful for their job instead of soapboxing this nonsense.
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