Old Flight Attendants Win Discrimination Lawsuit

(Brisbane, Queensland) In a previous report, eight flight attendants sued Virgin Blue Air Lines on the basis that they were discriminated against because of their ages and the air line only hired younger and more-shapely women. The older attendants contended that they didn't have a fair chance for a job during the application process. They filed a formal complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal in Brisbane.

The ruling of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal favored the flight attendants, finding today that they were discriminated against on the basis of age. The tribunal awarded $5,000 to the initial claimant, Alma Frank. Claims for monetary remuneration have been filed by the other seven oldsters.

My take is that there are circumstances where an employer wants youth, vigor, and attractiveness. As job qualifications for positions dealing with the public, those attributes shouldn't be considered unreasonable. Taken to the extreme, anti-discrimination rules would mandate that Hooters Restaurant hire 50-year-old waitresses. If so, the business would end up sagging, figuratively and literally.