40 Historical Pictures of Flight Attendants Throughout the Decades

Whether traveling by air for business, pleasure (girls trip, anyone?), or something in between, flight attendants always help you reach your destination safely and as comfortably as possible.

While their responsibilities haven’t changed much over the past century, their look has evolved — in more ways than one. In fact, the first flight attendants were male, usually the sons of airline financiers known as "cabin boys," according to Society Pages.

The shift to more female-friendly skies occurred in the 1930s. During this time, women came on board to serve as nurses tasked with keeping passengers safe and tending to those who became airsick.

World War II soon followed, causing men in aviation to enroll in the army, leaving flight attendant positions widely available to women. Soon, it became a female-dominated field, with women making up the majority of flight attendants.

During the 1950s and 1960s and what many consider the “Golden Age” of air travel, flight attendants became a coveted, well-respected, and glamorous profession. They were outfitted in eye-catching uniforms with sleek hairstyles to round out their prim and proper ensembles. While they looked polished, everything wasn’t as glamorous as it seemed. In actuality, many flight attendants faced sexism within the industry. In the past, some airlines would fire women if they gained weight (well into the 1990s) or became pregnant.

Thankfully, those negative and discriminatory standards and times have changed. What's more, many flight attendant uniforms are a bit more relaxed and casual, and their hairstyles aren't as restricted.

Take a fun trip (no luggage needed) down memory lane with this historic visual look at the illustrious profession.