Former flight attendant Yachika Chopra’s favourite joke was once, “I’m walking to LA, not flying,” when she had a trip scheduled to the US. “Wearing high heels for long hours can be exhausting and causes immense discomfort,” says Goa-based Chopra, who worked with a Middle Eastern airline for 10 years, before quitting in 2020 to start a home-run food business. But a foot ailment is a carry over from her years as flight hostess. “I have a dead muscle in my foot. It happened because when you wear heels for long, the full weight of the body sits on the toes.”

It is not surprising that there has been much pushback recently against restricting uniforms and footwear options for cabin crew. In a refreshing move, a Ukrainian airline recently announced its decision to adopt a more comfortable dress code. Founded in 2016, SkyUp, a Ukrainian budget carrier, said, after surveying its staff, it found that high heels, pencil skirts and body hugging blouses were top irritants. The wardrobe modifications were drafted after taking staff choices into account. The airline now offers them the option to wear sneakers and pant suits while on duty.