Flight attendants generally must have natural-looking hair colors (brown, black, blonde, red, auburn), avoiding vibrant or "fashion" colors like pink, blue, or green, to maintain a professional appearance, though specific rules vary by airline; highlights are often allowed if subtle and within two shades of natural, and hair must be kept neat and styled away from the face.
Acceptable colors: Traditional carriers usually restrict hair to natural shades (blonde, brown, black, gray, auburn). Many legacy and regional airlines explicitly prohibit vivid, unnatural colors (blue, green, pink, purple) for front-line crew.
Colored Hair Not Approved by Airline: Stick to natural shades unless otherwise allowed. Ignoring Hair Health: Dry, brittle hair won't hold a style well.
Hair dye contains peroxide, which is a prohibited chemical in carry-on luggage. The reason that it's restricted is because it falls under the Chemicals and Toxic Substances category. In fact, any organic peroxides and oxidizers, including bleach, are banned from planes.
It's safest to stick to your natural colour, although a natural looking all over tint is acceptable (as long as it's kept touched up). Some airlines allow you to have highlights or lowlights, though these should be within a shade of your natural hair colour either way.
PERMANENT DISQUALIFYING CRIMINAL OFFENSES
Treason or conspiracy to commit treason. A federal crime of terrorism as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2332b(g), or comparable State law, or conspiracy to commit such crime. A crime involving a TSI (transportation security incident).
The 35/7 rule for flight attendants limits Reserve Flight Attendants to a maximum of 35 flight hours in any seven consecutive days, primarily for scheduling purposes to manage fatigue and ensure safety, although actual operations can sometimes exceed this if waivers are used and regulations are met. While Lineholders often work to a 30/7 (30 hours in 7 days) limit, they can also complete trips exceeding 35 hours if they waive the rule. This rule, alongside recent FAA mandates for longer rest periods (like 10 hours after 14-hour shifts), aims to provide adequate recovery for cabin crews.
Mascara is considered a liquid; makeup wipes are not a liquid in TSA's rulebook. Cream Blush – Cream blush is a liquid to TSA. Liquid Concealer – Liquid concealer is a liquid and must follow the 311 liquid rule. Lip Balm/Gloss/Lipstick – Lip balm/gloss/lipstick is not considered liquid.
— While hair color is not regulated, most airlines and corporate flight departments (and some flight schools) have grooming standards or uniform codes that might address hair color. For example, some operators may require a “natural” hair color (black, brown, blonde, or natural red) for professional appearance.
Flammability Class: Aerosols category 1 (GHS) - extremely flammable aerosol.
(13) Each certificate holder conducting domestic, flag, or supplemental operations must relieve each flight attendant engaged in air transportation and each commercial operator must relieve each flight attendant engaged in air commerce from all further duty for at least 24 consecutive hours during any 7 consecutive ...
Medical & Fitness Issues
Airlines require good eyesight (with or without correction) and normal hearing. Must have stable blood pressure and no major health issues. Ability to handle long flights, jet lag, and irregular schedules. Conditions like severe asthma, skin allergies, or heart issues can be disqualifying.
Red lipstick was once a standard for flight attendants because it helped passengers read lips during emergencies, improving communication inside cabins.
The airline doesn't publicly publish specific height or weight requirements, but they have published information on uniform sizes and generally look for candidates whose height and weight is proportionate.
According to Poole, flight attendants wear red lipstick “so passengers can read your lips during an emergency.” That's … intense.
HAIR: Color must be a natural-looking hue. No stark highlights or unnatural shades. Hair touching or longer than the shoulder must be pulled completely back and secured away from the eyes, such as in a ponytail, bun, braid, etc.
Pilots making $200k+ annually are typically captains at major airlines, especially on long-haul/widebody aircraft, or experienced cargo/corporate pilots, with earnings increasing significantly with seniority, flying larger jets, and potentially including substantial bonuses, profit-sharing, and allowances. For example, a first-year captain at a major US airline might hit $200k, while senior widebody captains can exceed $400k-$500k+ with experience, benefits, and bidding strategies.
The 3:1 rule in aviation is a rule of thumb for descent planning: for every 1,000 feet of altitude to lose, you need 3 nautical miles (NM) of horizontal distance, assuming a standard 3-degree glide path, making it easy to calculate when to start descending. For example, to descend 6,000 feet, a pilot starts descending 18 NM out (6 x 3 = 18). It helps maintain a consistent descent rate, critical for passenger comfort in older planes and for fuel efficiency in modern jets, and aligns with standard approach systems like ILS/VASI.
Our uniform standards require a groomed look where hair and makeup should meet a professional standard. Long hair must be tied back, so that it is not higher than the top of the head, or longer than the base of the collar. Dyed hair must be of a natural colour.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) doesn't ask you to keep your medicines in their original prescription bottles. But each state may have its own rules. If you aren't bringing your medicine in its original bottle, bring a copy of the prescription or a letter from your doctor.
What is a liquid? Lipsticks, lip balms and stick deodorants are not classed as liquids. Always check in any liquid over 100ml and if you're unsure whether an item will be allowed through, please always check it in with your hold luggage.
The study looked at economy class across nine carriers and found a difference of more than five inches between the most and least generous seat pitch.
The last words of 9/11 flight attendants revealed incredible bravery, with Betty Ann Ong of American Airlines Flight 11 telling ground control, "Pray for us," after relaying vital information about the hijacking. On the same flight, Madeline Amy Sweeney's final words were, "I see water. I see buildings. We're flying low, we're flying way too low," moments before crashing into the World Trade Center. These courageous acts provided crucial details that helped ground personnel understand the attacks.
That's why flight instructors teach a timeless checklist known as the “Five C's” — a set of actions to help pilots remain calm, regain situational awareness, and navigate back to safety. The 5 C's are: Climb, Conserve, Call, Confess, and Comply.
With experience, senior flight attendants may make around $80,287 annually, and some can earn as much as $115,000 or more per year. Pay is typically hourly and starts when the aircraft door closes, meaning preflight work (like boarding and prep) is often unpaid.