Despite the growing acceptance of ink around the world, the aviation industry still has one of the harshest stances on tattooed people.
And, being one of the largest European airlines, Lufthansa is expected to have a pretty strict policy when it comes to their employees and tattoos.
Whether you have one small tattoo or are covered in ink, you should probably learn about the current tattoo policy at Lufthansa if you plan on working for them.
And that’s exactly what you gonna do below.
Lufthansa’s Tattoo Policy – All You Need to Know
Unfortunately, there isn’t good news coming your way – or the ways of people who love body art and see their future at the German carrier.
As things stand, Lufthansa’s tattoo regulations are harsh. The airline doesn’t allow its crew (whether flight attendants or pilots) to have any visible tattoos while on duty. While some airlines allow small tattoos to be covered with a band-aid or make-up, Lufthansa doesn’t.
Now, what exactly is considered a “visible tattoo”?
Well, anything that can be seen when wearing the company’s uniform is not allowed. This means that if you have a tattoo on your neck, hands, or any other exposed body part, you won’t be able to work for Lufthansa.
Naturally, Lufthansa’s uniforms are different for men and women. Hence, the airline’s tattoo policy is also gender-specific. Refer to the image below for a better understanding of what is considered visible for each gender.
As you can see, tattoos on the head, face, neck, lower arms and hands aren’t allowed for both genders. Additionally, women must not have any ink starting from their lower thighs down.
On a brighter note, there’s currently no limit on the number, type, or size of tattoos that can be hidden on non-exposed body parts. So, if you’re covered in ink but none of your tattoos are visible when wearing the uniform, you’re good to go.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that Lufthansa will never change its tattoo policy. The airline might re-evaluate its regulations in the future and become more lenient towards employees with body art.
Long-Sleeved Shirts an Option?
Lufthansa crew are offered either short-sleeved or long-sleeved uniforms. If you have tattoos on your arms, you might be wondering whether it’s better to choose the long-sleeved shirt option in order to hide them.
Well, it’s certainly worth a try if your heart is set on working for Lufthansa. It’s recommended to be open about your tattoos when applying for a job and mention that you’re willing to wear long-sleeved shirts in order to avoid any surprises during the application process.
While there’s no guarantee that this will work, it might increase your chances of getting hired. After all, Lufthansa is more likely to hire someone who’s willing to make a small concession (wearing long-sleeved shirts) than someone with visible tattoos.
Of course, you can always try to cover up your tattoos with make-up or clothing, but this isn’t likely to fool anybody. So, it’s probably not worth the effort.
Lufthansa Alternatives
So, which airline allows visible tattoos?
If Lufthansa’s tattoo policy made you think the German company is the only one with such regulations, think again.
Looking across Europe, most carriers share a similar stance on tattoos as Lufthansa. This means that, unless you’re willing to cover up your ink or have it removed, your options are pretty limited. Notable examples include British Airways, KLM, Ryanair, and Easyjet.
Perhaps the only exception worth mentioning is Virgin Atlantic. The UK carrier introduced what is hoped to be an industry-shaping change in 2022 when it lifted the ban on “tasteful” tattoos in visible places.
If you’re willing to relocate, US carriers Alaska Airlines and United Airlines allow for small visible tattoos using the “badge rule”, meaning they can’t be bigger than the size of the uniform’s badge. Skywest also allows for “tasteful, small” tattoos without defining what “small” is (it evaluates applicants on a case-by-case basis).
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