If you want to live the jet-set lifestyle working as cabin crew you’ll need to demonstrate hard work, dedication and professionalism, around the clock and the globe
Air cabin crew members provide excellent customer service to passengers while ensuring their comfort and safety throughout the flight. Crew are trained to deal with security and emergency situations which may arise and can administer first aid to passengers.
As a cabin crew member, you’ll ensure that all emergency equipment is in working order prior to take off and that there are enough supplies on board. You’ll help passengers board the plane and give a demonstration of safety procedures and equipment.
Air cabin crew strive to make the flying experience pleasant for passengers and will serve refreshments and meals and sell gifts and duty-free items. You may work on short or long-haul flights.
Airline cabin crew are responsible for the comfort, safety and welfare of passengers travelling on aircrafts during flights to and from international and internal destinations.
What does an airline cabin crew member do?
Working as a flight attendant for a major airline provides plenty of contact with people as well as opportunities to travel. The air cabin crew of a commercial airline are jointly responsible for the safety and comfort of its passengers. Duties include:
greeting passengers as they board and exit the plane
showing passengers to their seats and providing special attention to certain passengers, such as the elderly or disabled
serving meals and refreshments
checking the condition and provision of emergency equipment and information for passengers
demonstrating emergency equipment and safety procedures
administering first aid
dealing with emergencies
supplying passengers with newspapers, magazines and in-flight entertainment
selling duty-free commercial goods and pursuing sales targets
producing written flight reports after completing a journey.
The role can be physically and emotionally demanding and there is a high degree of responsibility involved. Cabin crew are expected to deal with all passengers diplomatically – even when feeling the effects of travelling through time zones and spending extended periods of time on their feet.
Many airlines require cabin staff to live within close proximity of a particular airport and crew members may have to go to work at short notice if on call. Working hours may involve long shifts and unsociable hours, and it may be necessary to work during public holidays. However, many cabin crew members enjoy the chance to interact with a wide range of people and the opportunities to explore and enjoy global destinations are almost unparalleled.
Responsibilities
Tasks may vary depending on the size of the team you’re working in and whether you’re working a short or long-haul flight. However, your duties will include:
attending a pre-flight briefing, during which air cabin crew are assigned their working positions for the upcoming flight. Crew are informed of flight details, the schedule, the number of infants on board and if there are passengers with any special requirements, such as diabetic passengers or passengers in wheelchairs
carrying out pre-flight duties, including checking the safety equipment and doing security checks, ensuring the aircraft is clean and tidy and that information in the seat pockets is up to date and all meals, drinks and stock are on board
welcoming passengers on board and directing them to their seats
informing passengers of the aircraft safety procedures and ensuring that all hand luggage is securely stored away
checking all seat belts and galleys are secure prior to take-off
making announcements on behalf of the pilot and answering questions during the flight
serving meals and refreshments
selling duty-free goods and advising passengers of any allowance restrictions in force at their destination
reassuring passengers and ensuring that they follow safety procedures correctly in emergency situations
giving first aid where necessary
ensuring passengers disembark safely at the end of a flight and checking that there is no luggage left in the overhead lockers and no stowaways or suspicious items on board
completing paperwork, including writing a flight report.
Salary
The base pay can vary greatly depending on the airline as some pay better than others but you can expect a starting salary of between £12,000 to £14,000. To this base rate, you can add an hourly payment you will receive while flying, as well as bonuses for performance and commission for inflight sales. This can boost your take-home salary to around £20,000 to £25,000 a year.
Air cabin crew with experience can expect to earn a base rate of £15,000 to £18,000 a year.
Base pay at senior cabin crew level, which can be reached after a few years of experience, is around £20,000.
Some airlines will offer additional allowances on top of base pay for the number of languages spoken. Most airlines also offer overnight payments for nights spent away from home.
The majority of airlines offer free flights to cabin crew on domestic flights and some offer free or heavily discounted international flights. There is usually a policy for discounted travel for immediate family and spouses.
Income figures are intended as a guide only.
Working hours
Cabin crew work shifts that usually involve irregular and unsocial hours. It can include working early mornings, through the night, at weekends and on public holidays. Short-haul flights may provide more regular hours than long haul.
You may also have to work or be flexible on your days off if your return journey is cancelled or delayed, but you’ll normally be compensated in these cases.
Part-time opportunities are available, still involving unsocial hours.
What to expect
Airlines catering for the package holiday market tend to recruit air cabin crew on a seasonal basis.
Some airlines require staff to live within a certain radius/easy travelling distance of the airport. Flexibility is vital as staff may need to be on stand-by for work at short notice. You might be based abroad.
The work can be demanding as cabin crew have to deal with, and often work through, tiredness and jet lag if crossing over different time zones.
The airline will provide you with a uniform, and you’ll be expected to dress smartly and be well groomed at all times. Many airlines do not allow visible tattoos or piercings.
Air cabin crew often work in confined spaces and have to spend a lot of time on their feet. The work is physically demanding, particularly on long-haul flights. Dealing with difficult passengers in an enclosed space, with an audience, can be stressful.
The amount of time spent away from home varies depending on the airline you work for, and whether you’re working on short or long-haul flights. Spending nights away from home is especially common with long-haul work.
You’ll work with a variety of people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Qualifications and training required
There are routes into this profession for both university graduates and school leavers.
A degree in any subject is acceptable, although a nursing, travel, tourism, leisure or languages qualifications may be helpful.
Personal qualities, appearance and good health and fitness are normally more important than academic qualifications, although many airlines do ask for at least five GCSEs (including English and Maths) at grade C or above. Work with the public, or experience gained within nursing, catering, the hotel, tourism or travel trades is usually necessary.
Most airlines require cabin staff to complete a training course covering such things as safety procedures, legal/immigration issues and customer service upon entry to the organisation. A range of preliminary training courses are also available, which introduce students to skills and recruitment processes. Such courses often have useful links to major recruiters and can be an advantage, but do not guarantee entry to the profession.
A degree or HND/foundation degree or postgraduate qualification is not required for entry into work as a cabin crew member. Instead, most airlines expect you to have a good secondary education, with some requiring grade C or above in English and maths.
Studying a degree, HND or foundation degree in one of the following subjects may be useful in showing the airline that you have an interest in the area:
hospitality management
languages
leisure and tourism management
travel.
Being able to speak other languages may be particularly useful and this could put you at an advantage against other candidates.
Vocational qualifications (NVQs and BTECs) are available at different levels in various cabin crew topics. They are awarded by bodies such as:
City & Guilds
Pearson
Northern Council for Further Education (NCFE)
One and two-day taster courses, which give an indication of what cabin crew work is like, and other introductory courses for people who are new to cabin crew work are also available.
Completion of these courses and qualifications will demonstrate your enthusiasm and interest in the career, but won’t guarantee you a job. They may give you an edge over other candidates, but most airlines do not require them before considering you for a vacancy.
The majority of airlines do have a list of requirements, however, which candidates must meet. This includes some or all of the following:
minimum age of 18, in some cases 21
good standard of health and fitness, with the ability to swim 25 metres unaided
minimum height requirement, which may differ between airlines and usually be in proportion to weight. In the UK, this is often measured as reach rather than height
good hearing and eyesight, although glasses and contact lenses are allowed
a completed Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
a medical examination, although some airlines may not require this.
Skills
You will need to show:
communication skills
exceptional customer service
confidence in dealing with a range of people
good co-operation skills as you’ll work with different teams day to day
compassion and the ability to support your colleagues
discretion when dealing with VIPs or royalty
competence in handling difficult situations and the ability to remain calm under pressure and in emergency situations
the gift of being tactful and diplomatic but also assertive where necessary
commercial awareness and sales skills
flexibility in working unsocial hours on any day of the year
the capability to work quickly and efficiently, often to tight time constraints
numeracy skills for handling cash, including foreign currency
the capacity to work in a confined space
the ability to diffuse situations calmly and quickly.
Employers often have physical requirements due to space restrictions within the galley; these may include minimum/maximum height requirements and proportionate bodyweight. Visible tattoos and piercings are strongly discouraged, and staff are required to look smart, often wearing a uniform.
Work experience
Airlines may wish to see evidence of relevant work experience rather than qualifications, as they’re keen to see that candidates have the required skills.
Part-time or temporary work in customer service roles will be particularly useful, as will any work that demonstrates teamwork and communication.
Employers
Airlines operate on a chartered or scheduled basis, with some operating a mixture of both. Chartered flights usually run during the summer and/or skiing seasons to the most popular tourist destinations, whereas scheduled flights operate at regular times all year round and go to a range of destinations.
Typical employers include large and medium-sized British airlines and international carriers. For a list of member, passenger and cargo airlines, consisting of around 260 airlines in over 117 countries see, International Air Transportation Association (IATA). Individual airports usually have a list of the airlines and tour operators operating from their airport on their website.
Temporary seasonal opportunities may be available through airlines and tour operators to cover the peak summer period (May to October).
Permanent contracts are rare and competition for them is fierce; it may take several years of seasonal work before you can apply for a permanent contract.
Business and corporate jet companies also hire cabin crew, sometimes for VVIP positions for their prestigious clients.
Look for job vacancies at:
Aviation Jobsearch
CabinCrew.com
Cabin Crew Wings Job Board
Flightglobal Jobs
You can also check individual airline websites. Recruitment agencies rarely handle vacancies.
This is a highly competitive profession. You’ll be applying against a variety of candidates, from school leavers to those with a significant amount of relevant experience.
Airlines recruit throughout the year so keep checking relevant websites regularly and make speculative applications. Research the airline you’re interested in thoroughly and target your application accordingly.
Professional development
Each airline provides its own structured training programme for new entrants, which can vary in length depending on the airline. It typically lasts between four and seven weeks.
The primary focus of the training is passenger safety, including the aircraft’s safety equipment and emergency procedures, security and first aid.
Training also involves a series of written and practical tests on specific areas such as:
assertiveness
cultural awareness
currency exchange
customs and immigration regulations
food preparation and service
galley management
passenger care and customer relations
personal grooming
product knowledge.
Following the basic training, the first three to six months are usually spent in a probationary period and are viewed as a continuation of the initial training, during which performance is monitored by trainers or senior crew.
In passing the probationary period, new recruits become full members of the cabin crew team.
Some airlines also enter their cabin crew onto professional qualification courses such as the NVQ in Aviation Operations in the Air, or the Certificate or Diploma in Cabin Crew. These courses are offered by:
City & Guilds
Northern Council for Further Education (NCFE)
When appointed to a new position, it’s usual for air cabin crew to attend a structured training programme tailored to that position. For example, air cabin crew who have previously worked on short-haul flights but have recently obtained a job working in long haul will attend a training programme tailored for long-haul positions.
Additionally, airlines that operate a range of different aircrafts will vary the training programme to suit the type of plane. Airlines also encourage on-going development through in-house specialist courses, in areas such as crew resource management.
Career prospects
Promotion for air cabin crew is based on experience and performance. From the role of cabin crew member, it is possible to progress to purser or chief purser.
Pursers have the same responsibilities as the general cabin crew but are also given the management responsibilities of a certain cabin, such as first class or business class.
As the purser, you would ensure that all crew within your cabin deliver the highest level of customer service. You would also give feedback on their performance and try to boost sales of duty-free items. Most airlines require between two to five years’ experience to become a purser.
From the role of purser you can progress to senior cabin crew. This position is also known at some airlines as cabin supervisors, cabin managers or cabin service directors.
The role is very similar to that of the purser except you’ll have responsibility for all cabin crew on board, not just in one particular cabin. All cabin crew and the purser and/or chief purser would report to you. You would usually be involved with training and supervising new recruits and would have to ensure all relevant paperwork was completed at the end of the flight.
Some air cabin crew may also wish to move on to become very important person (VVIP) cabin crew. This type of work is carried out with very important private clients usually on private aircraft. The clients are typically prestigious and may include government officials or royal families. The highest level of service is expected and employers usually require at the very least two years’ experience of working in premium (business or first) class. Many VVIP positions are based in wealth areas of the Middle East.
Some cabin crew members may decide that they want to move into ground-based operations such as cabin crew training or recruitment, passenger services or crew controller.
In larger airlines the cabin crew role opens doors to many other roles. Cabin crew members can progress to working in marketing, sales, HR and safety training.
If you want to live the jet-set lifestyle working as cabin crew you’ll need to demonstrate hard work, dedication and professionalism, around the clock and the globe
Air cabin crew members provide excellent customer service to passengers while ensuring their comfort and safety throughout the flight. Crew are trained to deal with security and emergency situations which may arise and can administer first aid to passengers.
As a cabin crew member, you’ll ensure that all emergency equipment is in working order prior to take off and that there are enough supplies on board. You’ll help passengers board the plane and give a demonstration of safety procedures and equipment.
Air cabin crew strive to make the flying experience pleasant for passengers and will serve refreshments and meals and sell gifts and duty-free items. You may work on short or long-haul flights.
Airline cabin crew are responsible for the comfort, safety and welfare of passengers travelling on aircrafts during flights to and from international and internal destinations.
What does an airline cabin crew member do?
Working as a flight attendant for a major airline provides plenty of contact with people as well as opportunities to travel. The air cabin crew of a commercial airline are jointly responsible for the safety and comfort of its passengers. Duties include:
The role can be physically and emotionally demanding and there is a high degree of responsibility involved. Cabin crew are expected to deal with all passengers diplomatically – even when feeling the effects of travelling through time zones and spending extended periods of time on their feet.
Many airlines require cabin staff to live within close proximity of a particular airport and crew members may have to go to work at short notice if on call. Working hours may involve long shifts and unsociable hours, and it may be necessary to work during public holidays. However, many cabin crew members enjoy the chance to interact with a wide range of people and the opportunities to explore and enjoy global destinations are almost unparalleled.
Responsibilities
Tasks may vary depending on the size of the team you’re working in and whether you’re working a short or long-haul flight. However, your duties will include:
Salary
Some airlines will offer additional allowances on top of base pay for the number of languages spoken. Most airlines also offer overnight payments for nights spent away from home.
The majority of airlines offer free flights to cabin crew on domestic flights and some offer free or heavily discounted international flights. There is usually a policy for discounted travel for immediate family and spouses.
Income figures are intended as a guide only.
Working hours
Cabin crew work shifts that usually involve irregular and unsocial hours. It can include working early mornings, through the night, at weekends and on public holidays. Short-haul flights may provide more regular hours than long haul.
You may also have to work or be flexible on your days off if your return journey is cancelled or delayed, but you’ll normally be compensated in these cases.
Part-time opportunities are available, still involving unsocial hours.
What to expect
Airlines catering for the package holiday market tend to recruit air cabin crew on a seasonal basis.
Some airlines require staff to live within a certain radius/easy travelling distance of the airport. Flexibility is vital as staff may need to be on stand-by for work at short notice. You might be based abroad.
The work can be demanding as cabin crew have to deal with, and often work through, tiredness and jet lag if crossing over different time zones.
The airline will provide you with a uniform, and you’ll be expected to dress smartly and be well groomed at all times. Many airlines do not allow visible tattoos or piercings.
Air cabin crew often work in confined spaces and have to spend a lot of time on their feet. The work is physically demanding, particularly on long-haul flights. Dealing with difficult passengers in an enclosed space, with an audience, can be stressful.
The amount of time spent away from home varies depending on the airline you work for, and whether you’re working on short or long-haul flights. Spending nights away from home is especially common with long-haul work.
You’ll work with a variety of people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Qualifications and training required
There are routes into this profession for both university graduates and school leavers.
A degree in any subject is acceptable, although a nursing, travel, tourism, leisure or languages qualifications may be helpful.
Personal qualities, appearance and good health and fitness are normally more important than academic qualifications, although many airlines do ask for at least five GCSEs (including English and Maths) at grade C or above. Work with the public, or experience gained within nursing, catering, the hotel, tourism or travel trades is usually necessary.
Most airlines require cabin staff to complete a training course covering such things as safety procedures, legal/immigration issues and customer service upon entry to the organisation. A range of preliminary training courses are also available, which introduce students to skills and recruitment processes. Such courses often have useful links to major recruiters and can be an advantage, but do not guarantee entry to the profession.
A degree or HND/foundation degree or postgraduate qualification is not required for entry into work as a cabin crew member. Instead, most airlines expect you to have a good secondary education, with some requiring grade C or above in English and maths.
Studying a degree, HND or foundation degree in one of the following subjects may be useful in showing the airline that you have an interest in the area:
Being able to speak other languages may be particularly useful and this could put you at an advantage against other candidates.
Vocational qualifications (NVQs and BTECs) are available at different levels in various cabin crew topics. They are awarded by bodies such as:
One and two-day taster courses, which give an indication of what cabin crew work is like, and other introductory courses for people who are new to cabin crew work are also available.
Completion of these courses and qualifications will demonstrate your enthusiasm and interest in the career, but won’t guarantee you a job. They may give you an edge over other candidates, but most airlines do not require them before considering you for a vacancy.
The majority of airlines do have a list of requirements, however, which candidates must meet. This includes some or all of the following:
Skills
You will need to show:
Employers often have physical requirements due to space restrictions within the galley; these may include minimum/maximum height requirements and proportionate bodyweight. Visible tattoos and piercings are strongly discouraged, and staff are required to look smart, often wearing a uniform.
Work experience
Airlines may wish to see evidence of relevant work experience rather than qualifications, as they’re keen to see that candidates have the required skills.
Part-time or temporary work in customer service roles will be particularly useful, as will any work that demonstrates teamwork and communication.
Employers
Airlines operate on a chartered or scheduled basis, with some operating a mixture of both. Chartered flights usually run during the summer and/or skiing seasons to the most popular tourist destinations, whereas scheduled flights operate at regular times all year round and go to a range of destinations.
Typical employers include large and medium-sized British airlines and international carriers. For a list of member, passenger and cargo airlines, consisting of around 260 airlines in over 117 countries see, International Air Transportation Association (IATA). Individual airports usually have a list of the airlines and tour operators operating from their airport on their website.
Temporary seasonal opportunities may be available through airlines and tour operators to cover the peak summer period (May to October).
Permanent contracts are rare and competition for them is fierce; it may take several years of seasonal work before you can apply for a permanent contract.
Business and corporate jet companies also hire cabin crew, sometimes for VVIP positions for their prestigious clients.
Look for job vacancies at:
You can also check individual airline websites. Recruitment agencies rarely handle vacancies.
This is a highly competitive profession. You’ll be applying against a variety of candidates, from school leavers to those with a significant amount of relevant experience.
Airlines recruit throughout the year so keep checking relevant websites regularly and make speculative applications. Research the airline you’re interested in thoroughly and target your application accordingly.
Professional development
Each airline provides its own structured training programme for new entrants, which can vary in length depending on the airline. It typically lasts between four and seven weeks.
The primary focus of the training is passenger safety, including the aircraft’s safety equipment and emergency procedures, security and first aid.
Training also involves a series of written and practical tests on specific areas such as:
Following the basic training, the first three to six months are usually spent in a probationary period and are viewed as a continuation of the initial training, during which performance is monitored by trainers or senior crew.
In passing the probationary period, new recruits become full members of the cabin crew team.
Some airlines also enter their cabin crew onto professional qualification courses such as the NVQ in Aviation Operations in the Air, or the Certificate or Diploma in Cabin Crew. These courses are offered by:
When appointed to a new position, it’s usual for air cabin crew to attend a structured training programme tailored to that position. For example, air cabin crew who have previously worked on short-haul flights but have recently obtained a job working in long haul will attend a training programme tailored for long-haul positions.
Additionally, airlines that operate a range of different aircrafts will vary the training programme to suit the type of plane. Airlines also encourage on-going development through in-house specialist courses, in areas such as crew resource management.
Career prospects
Promotion for air cabin crew is based on experience and performance. From the role of cabin crew member, it is possible to progress to purser or chief purser.
Pursers have the same responsibilities as the general cabin crew but are also given the management responsibilities of a certain cabin, such as first class or business class.
As the purser, you would ensure that all crew within your cabin deliver the highest level of customer service. You would also give feedback on their performance and try to boost sales of duty-free items. Most airlines require between two to five years’ experience to become a purser.
From the role of purser you can progress to senior cabin crew. This position is also known at some airlines as cabin supervisors, cabin managers or cabin service directors.
The role is very similar to that of the purser except you’ll have responsibility for all cabin crew on board, not just in one particular cabin. All cabin crew and the purser and/or chief purser would report to you. You would usually be involved with training and supervising new recruits and would have to ensure all relevant paperwork was completed at the end of the flight.
Some air cabin crew may also wish to move on to become very important person (VVIP) cabin crew. This type of work is carried out with very important private clients usually on private aircraft. The clients are typically prestigious and may include government officials or royal families. The highest level of service is expected and employers usually require at the very least two years’ experience of working in premium (business or first) class. Many VVIP positions are based in wealth areas of the Middle East.
Some cabin crew members may decide that they want to move into ground-based operations such as cabin crew training or recruitment, passenger services or crew controller.
In larger airlines the cabin crew role opens doors to many other roles. Cabin crew members can progress to working in marketing, sales, HR and safety training.
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