How to become an air hostess (flight attendant)

It’s clear that you’re finding working in an office pretty difficult and want to switch things up. Luckily, we’ve got a few tips for how to become an air hostess to help point you in the right direction and give you an idea of what you might expect. Important note: people of all genders can work as an air hostess (or flight attendant, as it’s also known).

By the way, you might also like to check out our article ‘I hate my job’ here, which offers some tips on how to make a job you dislike more bearable, in case being an air hostess isn’t for you.

Becoming an air hostess (flight attendant)

Becoming an air hostess is no walk in the park. It’s actually quite a competitive field to get into, so it’s great that you want to do some research first. The good news is there’s no shortage of airlines to apply to. From British Airways to Emirates, you can take your pick.

Inevitably, there are pros and cons to being part of the air cabin crew. For example, you have to be really flexible with your availability. This means that even when you’re not scheduled for a flight, you may end up being on stand-by. Also, depending on whether you want to work long-haul flights or short flights, you could be on your feet for hours at a time. Needless to say that can be extremely draining. For some advice on how to handle this, check out our article on surviving long haul flights here. But on a brighter note, you may be able to stay over in some of your destinations, and you’ll meet lots of new people.

What do air cabin crew do?

As air cabin crew you would need to demonstrate safety procedures to passengers on board, serve food and drinks, and be on hand in case of an emergency. On top of that, you would need to deal with any turbulence on board (both literally and metaphorically). This includes comforting people with phobias and checking whether people flying with you have special requirements. So it’s a huge help if you’ve previously worked in hospitality or customer services, and/or have prior training in first aid. Regardless, having excellent customer service skills is a must.

Air hostess entry requirements

The entry requirements may vary between airlines. Naturally you’ll need a valid passport, be at least 18 years old and hopefully you don’t have a criminal record since that’s an instant rejection. On top of that, most airlines ask for a physically fit person, who is able to swim 25 metres, with normal colour vision and good eyesight just to be prepared for any scenario. Plus, in order to reach the various compartments on an aircraft, most airlines also want air hostesses/flight attendants to be at least five foot three inches tall.

Training to become an air hostess (flight attendant)

All airlines require potential flight attendants to attend a training programme, which usually takes place in a training facility and lasts around six weeks. During your cabin crew training you’ll learn safety and emergency procedures as well as customer service skills. It might be worth taking a look at this information on learndirect outlining other qualifications you could take to help you seal the deal. 

Not to mention the Assessment Day. This is when you’ll be asked to take part in group exercises and complete various admin work such as registration and tattoo checks, before you get hired. To find out more about it, you can click here.

The National Careers Service also has advice on how to get a job as part of an air cabin crew. What’s more, you could reach out to the community on our discussion boards. Who knows? you may even find others who have experience in the field who can offer advice.