Turbulent times:
The flying public welcomed the early jets as they roared into service at United in the late 1950s. Smoky, smelly and noisy, the first DC-8 jets inspired awe, curiosity and some apprehension. But for passengers and stewardesses, the jetliners' speed and quiet interiors signaled an exciting new era in travel.
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The cabin attendants at United voted to stay with a restructured Stewards & Stewardesses Division (S & S Division) of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and set about negotiating work rules for the jet airplanes. Flying under the unamended agreement negotiated for propeller-driven aircraft the flight attendants needed relief. During that difficult time, United management, still under the leadership of President William A. Patterson, offered all stewards and stewardesses an interest-free loan from the credit union.
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The pace of change picked up in 1962 when United merged with Capital Airlines. One day United stewardesses would fly on slow, propeller-driven planes and the next they would work the same routes on jets that carried them at twice the speed with double the number of passengers. To complicate the fleet mix, Viscount turbo-prop planes from the Capital merger were cruising at speeds somewhere between that of pure jets and propeller planes.
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Winds of social change:
While jets signaled changes in air travel, society was changing in the United States as well. Cabin attendants at United entered into separate-but-equal status under the aegis of the pilots' union. But the stewards' and stewardesses' union leaders soon chafed under the new separate arrangement. At the ALPA policy making conventions the cabin attendants, who represented the S & S Division, were secluded in the back of the hall.
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The separate-but-equal status remained problematic. Although the pilots' union went to great length in the early 1960s to keep the stewards and stewardesses under their union umbrella, by the end of the decade they were ready to take drastic measures to release them. The pilots were among the first to notice that the women sharing their union were becoming empowered with the renewed concept of feminism.
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Many stewardesses at United, encouraged by the Civil Rights legislation of 1964, sought to challenge no-marriage rules, pregnancy disability, forced retirement and gender restrictions. They began to develop a career path for stewardesses. The pilots' union leadership supported their efforts.
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Military operations and domestic transitions:
United stewardesses went to war again in the 1960s. Many volunteered to fly the South Pacific Military Airlift Command operations that carried soldiers, personnel, and supplies into and out of Vietnam. In addition, some stewardesses took leaves of absence to volunteer with the philanthropic Dr. Thomas Dooley Foundation in Laos.
Jumbo jets were on the designing boards by the 1960s, and veteran Stewardess Iris Peterson participated in safety plans for the aircraft. She worked with aircraft engineers through 1968 and was instrumental in gaining acceptance for 17 safety items. One of her achievements was to add the evacuation alarm on large aircraft, which has since become standard equipment worldwide.
United introduced innovations for its customers, including spacious lounges onboard the fleet of jumbo jets and wider choices of entrees and drinks. Stewardesses were taught teamwork skills so they could coordinate higher levels of onboard service.
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Girdles, spike-heeled shoes, and gloves were phased out by the late 1960s. New, loosely fitted dresses replaced the tailored look. Stewardesses liked the less restrictive, colorful uniforms created by celebrity designer Jean Louis. They now could work rushed meal services and walk the long concourses in ever-expanding airline terminals in comfortable shoes and clothing.
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Dynamic era emerges for stewardesses:
United added stewardesses to staff the company's new jumbo jets, but due to the no-marriage rule, attrition remained high. Stewardess recruitment advertising during the 1960s was often in curious conflict with shifting social norms of "women's roles."
Forces of change converged and a way to address gender-based inequality emerged in the form of the enactment of Title VII of 1965 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The gender, age, weight, pregnancy and martial status restrictions on female cabin attendants would be addressed. Union and company legal departments presented their cases and waited for the U.S. courts to rule. Independent class action suits were filed in some cases. The end of the decade found United stewardesses at a turning point.
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