Tattoos can be seen as unprofessional by airline companies. They can also be seen as a distraction and something that could negatively affect the customer experience. Airlines want their cabin crew to look professional and neat, and tattoos do not always reflect that image.
Per the airline's guidelines, visible tattoos aren't allowed while wearing the flight attendant uniform, even if covered by makeup, jewelry, or a bandage. The policy prohibits tattoos in areas visible while wearing the cabin crew uniform, such as the face, ears, hands, wrists, and neck.
They must be in good health and have the ability to see clearly. They must also have no visible tattoos.
Qatar Airlines' Rules
Qatar Airways does not allow Cabin Crew to have any tattoos. The State of Qatar follows a strict interpretation of Islam and tattoos are considered Haram – as such they're forbidden. As a state-owned company, Qatar Airways does not hire flight attendants with any tattoos.
Are Emirates Cabin Crew Allowed to have tattoos? The simple answer is yes, Emirates have the same policy as many international airlines and allow Cabin Crew to have tattoos as long as they are not visible when wearing the airline uniform.
Tattoo needles and ink in container 3.4 oz or less are good to go in carry-on bags.
The most important thing you need to consider when you're flying with a new tattoo is how dry the air in a plane is. You've probably noticed before that your skin dries out and you feel dehydrated more easily when you fly, and that's kryptonite to a tattoo.
Tattoos or body markings anywhere on the body that are obscene, commonly associated with gangs, extremist, and/or supremacist organizations, or that advocate sexual, racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination are prohibited in and out of uniform. The updated policy is here.
Getting a Tattoo as a Cabin Crew
Remember that you will be wearing a uniform for most of your working day and some areas may be more visible than others. Overall, as long as you are willing to cover up your tattoos while at work, you should have no problem becoming a cabin crew member with ink.
This involves a blood test being taken which checks for various illnesses, including HIV and Hepatitis B. A chest X-ray is also needed to check for any signs of tuberculosis. Any prior history of mental illness and antidepressant use is not accepted for cabin crew.
Most career and image counselors recommend that you cover up your tattoos if you can. Even if the person you're interviewing with turns out to be fine with ink, you can still distract yourself from the conversation by stressing over whether or not your tats are visible.
The best tattoo policy in the military easily belongs to the US Navy. In the Navy, you can get hand, finger, and neck tattoos with waivers. They also allow tattoos to extend past the collar line.
Both officers and enlisted can now tat themselves up as much as they want, as long as it's not on the face or neck. And hands may sport only one finger ring tattoo.
The Navy has the most accepting tattoo policy of any military branch. In fact, Sailors have a long history of getting tattoos to symbolize milestones within their Navy careers. Sailors can have full-sleeve tattoos on arms and legs. Sailors are permitted to have a single tattoo on their neck no larger than 1 inch.
(6) Tattoos: (a) Tattoos of any kind on the head, face, and exposed areas of the neck must be covered at all times and not visible to the general public. TSA issued and approved items such as turtlenecks or dickies may be used to cover tattoos on the lower neck.
2. Leave Enough Time to See How the Tattoo Takes. If you must hop a flight shortly after getting a tattoo at least try to allow a 24-36 hour window before claiming your window seat.
Tattoos are permitted on the arms, legs, wrist, and feet and must be no larger than a credit card. There are no tattoos permitted on the face, hands, or neck for United Airlines flight attendants.
Of course, this then leads many expatriates to ask are tattoos allowed in Dubai and the UAE. Having tattoos is perfectly fine and legal. And if you're asking can you show tattoos in Dubai? Yes you can.
A good rule of thumb is that if there isn't a uniform or a specific way employees have to look, they may also be tattoo-friendly. However, as always, be sure to check with the specific location and employer you want to work for since it is often left up to the employer's discretion.
Under the updated policy, hand, arm, leg, neck and ring tattoos may be visible while wearing any uniform combination. Chest and back body art, however, is not allowed to be visible through any uniform combination, including an open-collar uniform.
Neck tattoos must not exceed one inch in diameter, and visible parts of the face or head such as the ears or scalp cannot have any tattoos. Additionally, tattoos are not permitted on hands or other body parts while uniformed. Offensive language and symbols are forbidden at all times.
Navy Tattoo Policy and Regulations
New regulations allow for unlimited tattoos on the legs, arms, neck, and even on the hands and behind the ears. The only places on the body that are off limits are the head, face, and scalp. Tattoos on the torso are also allowed, but they must not be visible underneath whites.