Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants have always been great ambassadors of our Company and our Brand. One of my other duties besides managing this blog is serving as our “archivist.” In the latter roll, I have received a lot of recent requests for photos from the 1970s of our Flight Attendants.
These requests have come from publications as different as The Wall Street Journal and Glamour UK. So, I thought I would share some of these photos from our archives with you. The one below really is the iconic image of Southwest Airlines’ early days. Back then, some airlines called their flight attendants, “stewardesses,” but we used the term “Hostess” for our Flight Attendants. This picture contains a large group of our Flight Attendant staffing at the time.
About a year ago, I uncovered a group of negatives that had pictures of our one-year anniversary celebration, and I am including this black and white photo here because it defines our Fun-LUVing Attitude that our Original Employees created.
Our inflight magazine at the time, Southwest Airlines Magazine, had a monthly feature called “Hostess of the Month,” and our Flight Attendants were photographed in a variety of scenic spots all across Texas. The layout included a Playboy-style interview (but not Playboy-style photos!) with similar questions. We really have come a long way since then.
Our Flight Attendants were also used for promotions in the cities we served. This photo would appear to date from the late 1970s, and it revolves around some kind of “Love” promotion with candy.
The last photo reflects our tenth anniversary in 1981, and the Flight Attendants have swapped skirts for hot pants. However, take a look at those faces, and having fun hadn’t changed. And it still hasn’t changed.
Comments
A couple of years ago, I was flying SWA from New Orleans to Nashville, with a stop in Birmingham. As we took off from New Orleans, I began to feel really sick, and by the time got to Birmingham, I had to be taken off the plane in a wheelchair. Paramedics were called, and the SWA gate attendants looked after me, offered to get me water, call people for me. One gal was even off-duty and she sat with me until the plane took off for Nashville, since I was deemed well enough to fly home. I cannot say enough good about SWA employees. The best.
Yo, Anna. Check out the post I just put on my Facebook page. Dedicated to you and to SW. Have a great day and weekend. Tick tock, clock.. Countdown to SD underway? Love ya, hon.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHY ARE THERE NO BLACK WOMEN FLIGHT ATTENDANT WORKING FOR SOUTHWEST??? I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY!
Do they hire older mature women?
Wow that's amazing to see how much times have changed through the years!
Do I see a Star Trek theme here? Those poor gals, short-shorts and boots to melt your legs...who designed these wasn't thinking about comfort or function for sure.
I am lovin' the go-go boots. Don't you think we should bring them back?!! Seriously, you guys and gals are the BEST in the industry. I fly several times a week and the flight attendants usually help the flight to be much more enjoyable when I'm not looking forward to leaving my family behind for yet another business trip. Thank you all.
lovin the boots..........
The word you are looking for in the 1st paragraph is "role"
One of the main reasons I fly exclusively with Southwest is because the flight attendants are so kind and courteous. It makes flying a pleasure. Looking forward to my trip August 16 - 23 Pgh - Oakland - Pgh to visit my daughter who goes to Berkeley!
Post new comment