Posted on 05/28/2013 10:34:16 AM PDT by rickmichaels
With only weeks to go before Air Canadas new leisure airline Rouge takes off on Canada Day, officials are putting the finishing touches on the new carrier.
The airline unveiled its new uniforms for its first group of 150 flight attendants at a Distillery District event in Toronto on Monday.
A half dozen trainees walked down a makeshift catwalk that usually serves as the sales counter at John Fluevog designer shoes to show off their outfits, which include fitted burgundy vests and sweaters and grey trousers, topped off with a gray pin-striped trilby hat.
Theyll also wear dark gray funky Fluevog shoes, complete with red laces and red buckles, that retail for $299.
VF Imagewear Canadas Milene Vaknin, who led the uniform project, turned to her son Jonathan and his friends for advice on what Rouges young staff, whose average age is 28, would wear.
Every time they put a component on, they would say, Yes, Id wear that. No, I absolutely wouldnt wear that, she said.
The first pair of pants I brought to him, he said, Seriously? Mom, Im 20. It was too old, she said, adding the result is what calls a trendy, urban look.
However, the uniform got mixed reactions on the Stars website and on Twitter; some people noted the colour scheme as the same as whats worn by TTC staff, while others said the look was reminiscent of a glee club.
Others loved the hat but some hated it. In 2006, Porter Airlines introduced the 1960s pillbox hat for its flight attendants, a deliberate throwback to a time when flying was more glamorous.
Rouge also formally announced a partnership with Disney to train and prepare all of Rouges flight attendants on how to deliver customer service; the training will take place on-site at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., next month.
Ive always wanted to fly, and I was so excited to learn about Disney. Ive never been, said Sasha Langdon, 23, who previously worked in restaurants.
Michael Friisdahl, who heads Air Canadas leisure group, said Disney matched the type of customers Rouge expects to attract, especially families with children.
We knew we wanted something very different to generate an onboard experience that really needs to be next to none, he said, noting managers as well as staff with Air Canada Vacations will also take the Disney training. We have a unique opportunity to start with a blank sheet of paper and try to do it right.
In an unusual agreement, Rouge will charge the flight attendants for a portion of the training costs. The airline will deduct $49 a month for three years from the flight attendants gross wages, and if they leave before that time, the flight attendants must pay back what is owed.
But trainees like Tyler Miedema, 26, said they didnt mind sharing in the costs, arguing it was good investment for the future.
Rouges wages start at $22.99 an hour, which is less than what Air Canada pays. They are guaranteed a minimum of 75 hours a month of flying, though flight attendants are only paid for time spent in the air.
Despite the lower pay, the trainees said they were attracted to the chance to fly immediately overseas, to locations including Venice and Athens as well as sun destinations like Cuba and the Caribbean.
Flying makes up for a lot, said Diala Canelo, 38. It makes for a lot of happiness.
Flights begin on July 1 with return trips between Toronto and Kingston, Jamaica, and Toronto and Liberia, Costa Rica.
Officials say they are pleased with the bookings to date. On some routes that we have assumed (from Air Canada), obviously we have a track record, said Friisdahl. In those cases, we are well ahead of bookings than on prior years.
The airline is launching with just four airplanes, but will gradually increase its fleet as Air Canada acquires new planes including 777s and 787s in the years ahead, transferring older planes to Rouge.
Rouge expects to add another six Airbus 319s by years end, with 32 in all by end of 2014.
Air Canada has said creating a discount airline, with lower labour costs, is critical to compete with leisure carriers like Transat, Sunwing and WestJet Airlines.
Yes, we know you’re gay but the uniforms just flaunts it. Bad for marketing, even if people don’t say so.
Slacks, unless a girl has nice legs, just makes them look fat.
Bring back the days when women were feminine.
That was the first thing I noticed. A bit to narrow in the hips on a couple of the gals.
They all look like Rachael Maddow.
I looked at this post and kept seeing clothing that was in poor taste in the 1960's ... even in Albania.
Tight Wedgie pants? Visible panty lines? Bunched crotches?
Looks like they bought the costumes left over from "The Spy Who Shagged Me."
Or, they must have absolutely ravaged every Thrift Shoppe in Manitoba.PERFECT !!!
Those outfits make me think of these two wild and crazy guys.
http://www.retronaut.com/2013/01/pacific-southwest-airlines/
Why the hats?
LOL.
you win........
Oh, Oh. That one looks ‘Kind’a’ like me. Sorta. Almost.
Winner winner chicken dinner!
http://www.thedistillerydistrict.com/
An old distillery that was converted into restaurants shops and studios and offices. Been there a few times. Nothing to rave about.
I just liked the idea of a number of distilleries located in a district. ;)
Singapore Air.
Simply the best.
I bet the pilot didn’t make a dead stick landing.
Ugh. They must expect their clientele to be gay men.
To all- please ping me to Canadian topics.
Canada Ping!
call me sexist but i used to do this
work for 3 different airlines and,
as long as you could wear flats during
the in-flight service, I preferred
dresses or skirts.
men, and women, like to see and respond
well to attractive people dressed professionally:
tailored pants for men, tailored suites/
dresses for women.
kg
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