United’s brand-new Brooks Brothers uniforms hit airport concourses on Wednesday. Thousands of navy blazers, suiting pieces, and pilot epaulettes just became obsolete overnight. So why won’t those old threads pop up on eBay or in a thrift shop? It isn’t because a shirt or skirt unlocks the jet bridge by itself—but airlines, the marketplaces, and the TSA work to restrict crew uniforms from ending up in civilian closets.
Marketplaces like eBay, Poshmark, and Etsy don’t want liability and bar current airline uniforms from sale. Their lawyers lump “airline crew attire” in with police badges and TSA shirts. If it looks like something a bad actor could wear to bluff their way past a checkpoint, the listing gets removed. Even vintage pieces must be 10-plus years old and unmistakably retro before they’re allowed to stay up.
Your company laptop has to go back when you resign (or get fired); so does an airline uniform. Flight-attendant and pilot contracts spell it out: leave the job, turn in the kit, or get billed. With a new rollout—like United’s new frontline Brooks Brothers uniforms—crews typically must hand back their old ones.
To be sure, some get lost and damaged. And the airline sent out new uniforms before collecting the old ones (some crew even had to pack both because the changeover happened mid-trip).
An ID badge does the real door-opening, but a believable uniform helps with social engineering. Airlines figure it’s better to shred old jackets than to read about someone faking authority in the cabin.
Airlines have turned disposal into a sustainability play. Delta partnered with Looptworks to transform 350,000 pounds of Zac Posen uniforms into insulation and tote bags. Southwest sends uniforms through its “Repurpose with Purpose” pipeline. United and American lean on shredders and textile recyclers. Anything wearable gets the logos ripped off first.
FYI no employer has ever billed me for not returning their assets including maxed out MacBook Pros.
Never been asked for anything back, except cockpit key.
Who flies United if they have another choice? Give the people who done you wrong United FF Miles & Marriott Bonvoy points. Or Holiday Inn Express pts. if you really want to mistreat them…
Who flies United if they have another choice? Give the people who done you wrong United FF Miles & Marriott Bonvoy points. Or Holiday Inn Express pts. if you really want to mistreat them…
I wish I would get fired. I’ll take the 21 year severance package and “they” can bill me for this HP laptop.
Inquiring minds want to know if OnlyFans flight attendant Cierra Mistt received a new premium uniform from a premium airline.
Resigned from a ground ops job at AA more than twelve years ago, and no one ever asked for uniform pieces back. I still have the suit jacket, cardigan, and neckties hanging in my closet as keepsakes. The only thing collected on my last day was my airport SIDA badge. I still even have my company ID.
I had to return my ID and iPad. And have never had to return uniform items when they were replaced or updated (from any airline). Not sure where you got this info about returning items to the company, but I have confirmed it’s incorrect about UA.
I don’t think that article was very well researched. I don’t think any crew member had to pack two uniforms either. They usually finish their trips in one uniform and then take the new uniform once they start the next trip.
@Ken A — Ah, a man of culture, I see. Excellent VFTW callback.
@Bill Reim — “well researched”?? Sir, this is a Wendy’s…
While Gary’s talking up uniforms, TPG (and others) already posted about the United/jetBlue partnership details… including United’s return to JFK… c’mon Gary! Catch up!
The outfit on the guy in the middle wearing glasses looks like it should be on Star Trek!
(and if it was red instead of blue, he probably wouldn’t survive the episode)
I already sold mine in eBay under an anonymous name