Flight Attendant

Connexions Library: WA - Air Transport Once landed, and after all the passengers have safely
left the plane, the attendants tidy the galley and check

Introduction
takings on duty-free goods and, food and drink.

Finally, they write a flight report, recording any unusual

Flight attendants are responsible for the safety, care
circumstances or problems. They may also have
and comfort of airline passengers. As well as looking
customs and immigration documents to fill in.
after passengers during a flight, they carry out pre- and
post-flight checks on the aircraft. Long haul flights require periods away from home
(possibly up to three weeks at a time). Domestic and
Also known as:
short haul flights to Europe often involve a rapid
Air Host/Hostess turnaround.
Airline Steward/Stewardess
Some airlines insist that staff live within a certain
Cabin Crew
travelling time of the airport to reduce the chance of
Host/Hostess, Airline
them arriving late. Working hours can be long and
Steward/Stewardess, Airline
may be altered at short notice due to unforeseen
Air Cabin Crew
circumstances, such as poor weather conditions.

Work Activities
Flight attendants look after airline passengers during
flights and are trained to deal with emergency
Flight attendants have to wear a uniform and follow
strict appearance regulations, such as pinning hair up
if it is a certain length.

Personal Qualities and

situations. Primarily, they are responsible for
passenger safety.

Attendants arrive at the airport at least one hour before

take-off to be allocated duties by the senior attendant.
They are informed about passengers, such as
unaccompanied children, who may need special
attention.
Before passengers board, all the flight attendants
(known as the air cabin crew) check emergency
equipment, ensure that the aircraft is clean and tidy,
and that all seat pockets contain the correct
information. They then greet passengers on board,
direct them to their seats, and help them store their
hand luggage.
Before take-off, attendants check that all passengers
are wearing seat belts. Some of the attendants
demonstrate the use of oxygen equipment, explain
emergency procedures, and point out emergency
exits. (Some airlines have replaced this duty and
show a video recording instead.)
During the flight, attendants may serve hot meals,
snacks and drinks. They might sell duty-free goods
such as alcohol, cigarettes and perfume. They
continuously check that passengers are following
regulations such as not smoking or using mobile
phones.
Skills
To do this job well, you'll need:
To have excellent people skills. This means
being understanding, friendly and polite to
everyone.
To be able to keep calm under pressure.
Teamworking skills.
The ability to work quickly and well in hot,
confined conditions.
It's also important to:
Have a good level of personal hygiene, as you'll
be working with food and drink.
Be physically fit and able to swim.
Have an interest in aviation.
Bring able to speak a foreign language can be useful,
as can knowledge of first-aid.
Some airlines insist that recruits have good eyesight.
You should have normal colour vision and your
hearing should allow you to communicate effectively in
a noisy environment. You will also have to pass a
criminal records check.
Most airlines specify a minimum and maximum height

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 Flight Attendant
for cabin staff, eg, 5 ft 2 inches and 6 ft 2 inches, and
weight must be in proportion to height (as specified by
individual companies).
A driving licence may be required for people wishing to
get into this job.
Some employers will expect you to live near the
airport. This usually means being within one-hour's
travel from the airport.
Pay and Opportunities
Pay
The pay rates given below are approximate.
Flight attendants earn in the range of £14,000 -
£16,000 a year, rising to around £25,000 a year.
Permanent staff normally benefit from low-cost air
travel.
Hours of work
Flight attendants usually work shifts, including
weekends, on a rota basis. They need to be available
to work at short notice and on any day of the year.
Demand
Demand is steady.
Contracts are normally offered on a 6-month, one year
or permanent basis. New entrants normally require a
CRB check.
There is strong competition for first posts as a flight
attendant, as there are always more applicants than
vacancies. Airlines receive a very large number of
enquiries about work.
Some airlines recruit seasonal staff who may later
have the opportunity to take up permanent duties.
There are opportunities for promotion and progression.
For example, cabin service directors have a
managerial role over the cabin crew.
Where could I work?
Employers include domestic and international airline
companies.
Flight attendants work from airports throughout the UK
Opportunities for UK trained flight attendants also
occur with foreign airlines.
Where are vacancies advertised?
Recruitment information can be found on airlines'
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websites.
Entry Routes and Training
Entry routes
Entrants to this career are usually educated to at least
GCSE, or equivalent, level. Useful subjects include:
Modern Foreign Languages
Travel and Tourism
Leisure and Tourism
Hospitality.
Some knowledge of first aid would be very useful.
Entrants with experience of customer contact work (for
example, reception, sales, catering), will be at an
advantage.
City & Guilds runs a level 2 Award in Air Cabin Crew
for new entrants. This covers health and safety,
teamwork, customer care and emergency equipment.
However, airlines will also provide this training to all
new recruits.
There are also various BTECs with relevant units for
people wishing to become flight attendants. Subject
titles include Preparation for Air Cabin Services, and
Airline and Airport operations.
Training
Flight attendants initially receive airport-based training
which can last up to 8 weeks. They may have to do
some study at home before starting the course. The
training usually covers subjects such as:
Safety and survival, especially the use of
emergency slides and chutes and of oxygen
equipment.
First aid techniques, such as handling heart
attacks.
How to serve food and use the galley.
Grooming and deportment, as airlines require
staff to be smart and tidy.
Customs and immigration regulations.
Currency exchange.
Customer service and conflict management.
This initial period is followed by further on-the-job
training, and usually a period of regular on-board
assessment.
NVQs are available in Aviation Operations in the Air -
Cabin Crew at levels 2 and 3.
Progression
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 Flight Attendant
Experienced attendants can go into senior cabin crew
positions. Some attendants become cabin crew
trainers.
Qualifications
Entry requirements vary between airlines. However,
most airlines usually ask for a minimum of 4 GCSEs
(or equivalent) at grade C or above, including English
and Maths, and a high standard of written and spoken
English.
Experience of working with the public is usually
required.
Adult Opportunities
It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for
entry to employment, education or training, unless they
can show there is a real need to have these limits.
However, entry after the age of 35 is unusual.
Applicants usually have at least one year's experience
in an activity that involves dealing with the public, for
example, travel agency, airport or catering work.
Other relevant experience can include customer
service, care work or retail sales.
The ability to converse in a foreign language relevant
to a particular airline may be required. The ability to
swim is usually necessary.
6% work on a temporary basis.
Further Information
Resources
ITT Careers Advice Brochure. Institute of Travel &
Tourism.
So You Want to be Cabin Crew? (2nd Edition) by
Andrew Porter. Mach III Publishing.
(ISBN:1898129584)
Contacts
Aer Lingus Employment Section, Personnel and
Catering Building, Employee Resourcing, 1st
Floor, Head Office, Dublin Airport, Co Dublin.
(Irish enquiries)
Email: recruit@aerlingus.com
Website: www.aerlingus.com
BMI, Donington Hall, Castle Donington, Derby
DE74 2SB.
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Website: www.flybmi.com
British Airways.
Email: BARecruitment@ba.com
Website: www.britishairwaysjobs.com
GoSkills. (Website only)
Email: info@goskills.org
Website: www.goskills.org/
Royal Aeronautical Society, 4 Hamilton Place,
London W1J 7BQ.
Telephone: 020 7670 4300
Email: raes@aerosociety.com
Website: www.aerosociety.com
Glossary of terms
General Certificate of Secondary Education
GCSEs are qualifications that are usually taken
over two years, by Year 10 and 11 school pupils.
They can also be taken at sixth forms and by
people of any age at college, where they are often
available as one-year courses.
GCSEs in vocational subjects are work-related
qualifications. They enable you to develop skills,
knowledge and understanding in a broad
occupational area, for example, engineering,
business, art and design, and science. These
GCSEs are equivalent in size and demand to two
academic GCSEs.
Equivalent
Something that has equal value.
National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)
NVQs are work-related qualifications based on
the skills and competencies required to do a
particular job.
There are different levels of NVQ, ranging from
level 1 to level 5. Level 1 is equivalent to 1 GCSE
(D-E) and level 5 is equivalent to a postgraduate
qualification.
NVQs can be studied at college or during full-time
employment.
Age limits
Some occupations are exempt from the Age
Discrimination Act, as they fall under Statutory
Acts, eg, age requirements to qualify for an LGV
licence.
In some circumstances, employers can apply age
limits as a Genuine Occupational Requirement
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 Flight Attendant

(GOR). In other circumstances, an

employer/training provider will have shown a need
to have age limits.

Flight attendants work for one of a variety of airlines. Before passengers board, emergency equipment is
checked.

Passengers are greeted as they board. Demonstrating the use of oxygen equipment.

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 Flight Attendant

The galley area is where food may be heated or drinks Consulting with the pilot.
prepared.

If anything unusual occurs during the flight, it is noted

afterwards in the flight report.

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