Why are flight attendants so attractive?

Is it because they’re in a uniform, or is it Britney Spears’ “Toxic” music video to blame? Whatever it is, there’s something about flight attendants that just makes them inexplicably attractive.

But don’t worry, you’re not alone; even celebrities are vulnerable to the air hostess attraction law. A great example is Clint Eastwood, who married air hostess Jacelyn Reeves in the late Eighties after briefly meeting her in the line of duty. Harry Styles also fell under the sexy cabin crew spell, enjoying a brief fling with flight with Megan Smith, the air hostess from One Direction’s private jet. And let’s not forget fellow actor Kelsey Grammer, who eventually got married to British flight attendant Kayte Walsh after she served him on a trip.

So this poses the question, why are flight attendants so hot? Or more like, why do men find them so attractive?

Judi James, a psychologist and body language expert, tried to answer the question of why are flight attendants attractive, and unravel the real reason why men fall in love at 40,000 feet above sea level.

According to her, the love and attraction that male passengers feel towards air hostesses is a reminiscence of the love they have for their mothers. Yes, I know what you’re thinking right now. But as crazy and Freudian as it may sound, it actually makes sense. Think about it: on a plane, flight attendants make you sit down, make you wait for your food and for that extra blanket, and then bring it to you. So in a sense, men feel like little boys.

James argues that when people fly, they’re in a state of vulnerability – their ability to control is left at check-in, which makes them helpless and dependent. Then, air hostess comes in the form of support and reassurance, taking control of their life.

“Passengers might also be anxious or scared of flying, and the flight attendant takes that role of carer. You just have to sit back and let them take care of you. Since you’re helpless and they’re taking control of your life, this creates a feeling of love and dependency, almost a parental feeling”. This is the very same reason why some patients fall in love with doctors and psychiatrists, who also carry that same carer title. It’s known as vulnerability-infused attraction.

Business men are particularly prone to falling for the mid-flight charm because, as James puts it, they usually have lots of power and control in their lives, so what they crave is a break from that to relinquish responsibility, and they find the chance to do so aboard.

However, there’s another school of thought on why everyone finds flight attendants attractive and appealing. According to experienced flight attendant Susan Brown, who posted about the topic on Quora, we see most cabin crew as good-looking because airlines have created this illusion.

“During the cabin crew training, all participants go through some sort of grooming/image/uniform training. They are trained in skin care, how to behave and even how to walk and talk. They are taught about how their hair should look, what kind of makeup to use, what to wear, etc. So why are flight attendants hot? Simply because airlines turn them into what they want them to look like.”

Susan explains that flight attendants are like the PR product of the airline, and that’s why their image is so important. The airline believes that if people get a good impression of the cabin crew, they will also think good of the airline. And let’s remember that the attire air hostesses wear is a type of uniform, which has traditionally been associated with attractiveness. For some reason, people in uniforms tend to lure others in (maybe is the authority element in it).

At the end of the day, whether it’s vulnerability-induced or because of the well-groomed facade, it’s not hard to understand why flight attendants are beautiful in the eyes of most men. They would obviously find well-dressed, polite and neat ladies attractive. Moreover, the job of the flight attendant, just like other similar jobs such as nurses or secretaries, requires women to have a smart outlook and good interpersonal relationships, which is always appealing.

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