serhito

Don't know if I am the recipient for this remark. I do wear this kind of looking shoes. Are they comfortable ? Yes. Professional looking ? Maybe not. It always makes me smile at the fashion police trying to establish that this is the way to be a professional pilot. Not a word about somebody who is up to date with current procedures, who has opened the books a little more often than 2 weeks prior to upgrade, or 2 days prior to a PC.
This kind of professionalism is what you owe your passenger, your family and yourself.

BTW, If I am indeed the recipient, either tell me my shoes don't look professional (when we fly) or don't even mention it on a public forum. That's also professionalism.

bubi352

I am totally with you regarding being current and knowing your airplane. But in all fairness, if you admit this is not professional wearing these type of shoes, why do you do it? Why be a professional in one area and not in another? Come on. You can do better than that, no?

gonyon

I am pretty sure they are out of dress code, which is in our manuals somewhere as well. Yes, studying your manuals is part of being a professional. It isn't either/or. As for being the fashion police, I think that is the cp's job. Not mine. I have flown with guys who don't shave or even bother to wear a tie. I think its a bad reflection on the company for sure but I don't run this place and its slack ass attitude toward customer service and appearance.

The only things I think I would ever say anything about would be bad personal hygiene, like smell, or safety issues. In fact the only guy i've ever called out was at my last airline. He didn't fancy washing his hair, which is fine with me until it got to the point where the flight deck door would close and I would literally start gagging. I had to tell him something.

I think unprofessional would be calling out someone by name. I didn't/wouldn't do that. Also, I don't know if it is you that i flew with (there have been more that one reebokers) or not but I did mention that it was a pleasure to fly with that guy and he was a great pilot. That is the meat for me. But this conversation started about public perception and how we earn our crappy reputation by how we act and dress in the public eye. They pretty much judge us by what they see. (an smell in the case of our disgusting lavs)

If we were a cargo operator or any other type of operator that didn't operate in front of paying passengers, i wouldn't care at all what was worn as it has no bearing on piloting whatsoever.

ManFlex

I'm not the uniform police. This is a major airline, wear the correct uniform. We have a negotiated uniform allotment, so more money should be available to purchase a decent pair of shoes. Delta, for example, doesn't give their pilots any allotment or reimbursement and they don't show up wearing sneakers or a North Face.

Sailor

http://www.sportys.com/PilotShop/product/10952

RonnyK320

Deer Stags Times - Zappos.com Free Shipping BOTH Ways

AirbusRetard

Clarks.com

No excuse that sneakers are more comfertable!

Jett i son

Maybe I have not flown with as many folks as you all have, but my experience is nothing like that.
Not that I am looking that closely, or checking.
The occasional "5pm shadow" maybe.
More important than the uniform, is the impression we as pilots make during our customer service interaction with the flying public.
A friendly attitude, a smile and the willingness to help, goes a long way in making a positive impression when it comes to the pax.
That is where most judgement is passed, not on what we wear.
FA's overall do a good job, there should be absolutely no room for attitude in that profession.

I like my stags, never had to take them off for TSA.

gonyon

true. Its just my little thing, but i decided to try to engage with one passenger per day. I have found that they are generally courteous and pleasant though I have seen them get nasty with FA's and GA's. Must be the uniform

The Juice

Come on man, such a weak reasoning on your part. Dont conflate "knowing the books" with "proper uniform," it just comes across as rationalization.

My dress shoes are super comfortable and in compliance. Something tells me this may be more about you not wanting to drop the bucks on a quality pair of comfortable shoes and would rather just rock the sneakers.

I have zero idea who you are and it doesn't concern me. As others have said, as an FO, it isnt my job to enforce uniform standards unless the CA shows with boxers on and nothing else. Why do you need to place your FO in the awkward position of pointing out your shoes are not professional, when you already know they arent. I am not going to show up unprepared or improperly dressed, forcing my CA to have a talk with me, that isnt fair to them.

But if you know the shoes are not allowed, but rationalize it by saying "Well, at least I know the books," or "Ohhh, the fashion police," it doesnt speak as well to the professionalism that you touted earlier.

Our uniform standards are super flexible with that we can wear. It isnt that hard to comply, it really isnt.