Air India fires fat flight attendants; Is this discrimination?

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Air India fires fat flight attendants; Is this discrimination?

by HonkyTonkWoman Posted June 10, 2008 23:30:19

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+18 raves

An Indian court has ruled that Air India has the right to prevent overweight air hostesses from flying. The court judges ruled that the overweight crew present a safety and health hazard, and that in a highly competitive airline industry, physical condition and appearance play an important role in hostess’s overall “personality.” Air India believes that thinner employees are more agile and better equipped to tackle terrorist incidents and other emergencies.

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+3 raves Fae June 12, 2008 05:26:11

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
It's NOT morally correct, but understandable. The small size of the airplane's aisle's would suggest a smaller hostess.
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spacehawk November 28, 2008 15:43:55

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
Nothing beats safety.
kevracer October 15, 2008 21:52:49

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
every extra pound means more fuel used to fly their planes
Striker419 July 23, 2008 01:06:19 (edited)

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
Aside from safety benefits the airline is saving essential money it might needs now with rising fuel prices. Every one pound less saves another $14,000 per year in fuel costs. Its sad its come to this, but someday soon tickets may be sold in weight classes, with penalties for going over. Or perhaps they would just charge per pound.
cruekat July 21, 2008 14:53:46

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
weight should not hinder the job performance, but who wants too look at a 300lb person for a long flight? as small as the aisles are, you need to be slim to go down them. don't hate, just loose some weight!
Kristal(aka-patsbiggestfan!) July 11, 2008 01:25:18

Answered: Yes, Air India is guilty of discrimination. Weight does not hinder job performance.
that is really mean! they can atleast put her job to somewhere else!
sd July 02, 2008 14:00:23

Answered: I'm undecided whether Air India is discriminating because...
Agree with Fae.
Jess June 17, 2008 21:09:49

Answered: Yes, Air India is guilty of discrimination. Weight does not hinder job performance.
They are guilty, but alas, they can do it.
Because of hazzards on airplanes, it is better to have smaller workers who can easily get themselves out of situations of hazzard & help the passengers.
Guilty, yes; wrong, of course; correct in the ruling, yes.
Air India may not be morally right, but the fact is that smaller hostess are just less risky.

-Jess
Gummybear June 17, 2008 19:38:24

Answered: I'm undecided whether Air India is discriminating because...
I'm undecided cause obese people can have health issues but then again what does it matter if they work on a freakin airplane? I aint sure if it's discremination or not.
Icedragon1969 June 17, 2008 17:12:29

Answered: Yes, Air India is guilty of discrimination. Weight does not hinder job performance.
I agree that Air India is guilty of discrimination. However, I believe it is their right to do so. Such things may not be fair, but since when is anything in life fair?

Also do keep in mind that this is not an American company. Different cultures have different ideas from Americans about what is "right" and "fair." It's just as wrong and unfair for us to apply and attempt to coerce compliance with our ideals as if they are somehow the absolute truth of the universe.
fortuenti June 17, 2008 15:18:52

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
Also, aside from being able to navigate aisle with cart and assist in an evacuation if need be, with fuel cost skyrocketing to the point of some airlines charging for baggage (even 1 piece) they need to keep weight down to conserve fuel
egambino June 17, 2008 04:46:40

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
Who wants to look at fat flight attendants? Now if we're talking about "not rail thin", that's one thing, but fat is another.
mavericky ~ In Godot We Trust June 16, 2008 18:28:17

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
Airlines have always had height restrictions on "air hostesses" so it would follow that weight and width would be issues also. The only problem I see is where the line is drawn, a hard and fast rule should be set and I think that would take care of any discrimination.
Jerry June 16, 2008 15:45:26

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
Large attendants would make it impossible to move around on the plane.
meowomon June 16, 2008 11:11:28

Answered: I'm undecided whether Air India is discriminating because...
I agree they should be fit, but how fit is fit? How overweight is overweight?
jay June 16, 2008 09:56:39

Answered: Yes, Air India is guilty of discrimination. Weight does not hinder job performance.
why shouldn't a fatty work on a plain, that sooo mean.
jenni June 16, 2008 07:52:15

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
It's always been known that a flight attendant has to maintain a certain weight to keep their job just like how they're required to pass safety tests perodically.
cowgirl June 16, 2008 05:31:36

Answered: I'm undecided whether Air India is discriminating because...
?
Nicole June 16, 2008 04:18:04

Answered: I'm undecided whether Air India is discriminating because...
ive never been on a plane before but i think thats just mean and disrespectful. i mean just cuz their a bit over weight they have to be fired. WRONG! only someone with no heart would do that.
+2 / -1 raves
ann June 15, 2008 14:42:13

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
It would fly faster.
isabel June 15, 2008 14:23:36

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
im indian and im from india so if you'r trying to say something bad about india i wouldnt.
+2 raves
Jessi June 15, 2008 03:25:42

Answered: I'm undecided whether Air India is discriminating because...
On one hand, it is discrimination because your weight shouldn't have anything to do with your job (unless your into the sports careers), but on the other hand, i can see it as a sort of safety hazard what with the cluttered trays and small isles.
tomjone... to Jessi June 15, 2008 15:27:42

Also dancing careers
+1 raves
Kd June 15, 2008 00:40:49

Answered: Yes, Air India is guilty of discrimination. Weight does not hinder job performance.
Thats silly and stupid...
mac - S... to Kd June 15, 2008 09:49:47

Ever seen a fat man wiggle through airplane seats?

Now imagine if he was the one who was supposed to help you in the event of an emergency.
+1 raves
Nicole to mac - S... June 16, 2008 04:20:18

lol :D
mac - S... to Nicole June 16, 2008 04:23:27

Even more fitting that you have an image of Family Guy on your profile.

I could see a flashback of Peter doing some daring mid-flight rescue now....

LOL
Nicole to mac - S... August 02, 2008 09:37:18

LOLZ! he probly would do that, and end up getting stuck. if they made one like that i sooooo want to see it.
+1 raves
PandaRuns June 14, 2008 22:59:42

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
moderated...
+1 raves
parigino June 14, 2008 21:09:03 (edited)

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
She had to be slim when they hired her,so how did she become overweight?I don't think it was the Airline food!They should have given her a desk job instead.
Mazzaroth Sufferer †Rom. 9:13† June 14, 2008 18:04:59

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
I'm fat and I agree. It's the boss's right to do what's good for the company overall. Though I don't think it's moral, it is something that could prove a good investment. However, there are ways to try to get the bosses to change their minds, if someone feels it wrong.
trader to Mazzaro... June 15, 2008 03:36:17

Think about it like this. How many smokers do they employee? It would be a good investment to terminate them before they drain the company health plan. I am overweight and was denied long term and short term disability insurance because of this. The hypocrites insure smokers.
Mazzaro... to trader June 15, 2008 04:08:57

Thing is that smoking isn't always something people notice. It's still their company, so it's their decision on who they hire and fire.
Nicole to trader June 16, 2008 04:25:23

i know. if i worked there and they fired me just because i was over weight i would just be myself and cuss those peopl out. as for the smoker thing. my dad smokes and his boss doesnt really care. but still both are wrong and you shouldnt fire them for it. (well the whole smoking thing you should, but not for the whole over weight thing it's not nice)
Sweetness found Perfection June 14, 2008 11:35:30

Answered: Yes, Air India is guilty of discrimination. Weight does not hinder job performance.
although weight might hinder job performance a very little its not like the hostesses would have been morbidly obese!!
i mean if they were that heavy that might have been different but... just being a little chubby isn't going to make them unable to work...
Rose(The End Of Heartache) June 14, 2008 09:20:13

Answered: I'm undecided whether Air India is discriminating because...
lmao
Nicole to Rose(Th... June 16, 2008 04:26:02

wtf does that mean?
Rose(Th... to Nicole June 16, 2008 09:41:50

idk i just thought it was kinda funny mb if i offended anyone
+1 raves
meKrystle June 14, 2008 07:54:27

Answered: Yes, Air India is guilty of discrimination. Weight does not hinder job performance.
Yes, this is discrimination. Firing someone based on physical appearance is wrong. As long as they're still able to perform the duties of their position, they should still have a job. And to even say that they can't handle a terrorist incident? That's complete crap, they're probably better tacklers and can put up more of a fight.
+1 raves
hot2ULike123 June 14, 2008 04:42:16

Answered: Yes, Air India is guilty of discrimination. Weight does not hinder job performance.
OMG if they let pleaseantly plump people fly on thir planes then they can let the work too. Humpf!
+1 / -1 raves
Nate June 14, 2008 04:04:18

Answered: No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
I'm not truely worried about the safety and health issues, there are enough health issues in being overweight in the first place, but rather i'm more worried about the marketing and money making potential of the company. and no matter how bad this sounds, men prefer to have cute and attractive attendants. just like you are more inclined to tip attractive waitresses at a restaurant, you are more inclined to appreciate the services of an attractive flight attendant. Plus those ailes on planes are pretty small.

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Air India fires fat flight attendants; Is this discrimination?

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		Yes, Air India is guilty of discrimination. Weight does not hinder job performance.
		No, Air India is correct. Weight can present safety and health issues.
		I'm undecided whether Air India is discriminating because...