What Are the Main Types of Flight Attendants?

To become a flight attendant, also known as cabin crew, is an essential part of the crew on an aircraft who deliver in-flight services to passengers during the flight to ensure their safety and comfort. There are different types of flight attendants depending on the airline they work for, and they are responsible for various roles on board. Here are the main types of flight attendants.

• Cabin Crew: Domestic Flight Attendant Cabin crew who work on short-haul flights within one country. Work on shorter flights with shorter turnarounds, attend to the duty of care on board the aircraft, and deal with cabin services such as refreshments.
• International Flight Attendant: International flight attendants work on longer flights overseas spanning multiple countries and time zones, and sometimes they are away from home for several days, making them more culturally sensitive and better prepared to have a more patient and tolerant attitude toward passengers on long flights. Able to make travellers more comfortable by providing meals and ensuring they can deal with jet lag during long flights.
• Corporate Flight Attendant: On a private jet owned by a high-net-worth individual or a business, there is a need for a Corporate Flight Attendant. This individual provides a very high level of personal service, which may include preparing meals and being on alert to meet the comfort needs of the passengers.
• Charter Flight Attendant: Works on flights hired by groups, businesses, or individuals, can have a variety of passengers (sports teams, holidaymakers, etc.), and has a schedule that is based on the needs of the charter.
• Regional Flight Attendant: The regional flight attendant works for a smaller regional airline and is often used as a ‘feeder’ for larger carriers. Flights tend to be shorter, often with multiple stops. The job is all about speed and efficiency.
• Lead Flight Attendant (Purser): In charge of the entire cabin crew, the lead flight attendant—or purser—is responsible for passenger safety and in-flight services and is the liaison between the captain and the flight attendants.
• First Class or Business Class Flight Attendant: Flight attendants who work in first class or business class cabins serve premium passengers and provide high levels of service, serving gourmet meals, offering personal service, and attending to premium passengers.
• Cabin Manager: Cabin managers oversee all flight attendants, enforce airline policy and safety procedures, and help manage the overall passenger experience, including handling customer complaints and in-flight problems.
• Flight Attendant Instructor: Some flight attendants move into instructor positions, training recruits in emergency procedures, customer service, and in-flight operations. In this role, they typically work for an airline or training school focused on the aviation industry.
• Bilingual or Multilingual Flight Attendant: A flight attendant who speaks more than one language is highly sought after to cater to the requirements of an international route. Patron communicates with a flight attendant in his native language, and the flight attendant helps with translation.

What Does a Flight Attendant Do?

The flight attendant is the passenger’s first port of call on a flight. As the direct contact of the airline, she hands out drinks and food, ensures safety, deals with emergencies, and provides customer service. The job requires good communication skills, a close eye for detail, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. Below is an overview of what a flight attendant does.

• Ensure Passenger Safety: Flight attendants make sure that passengers are safe. They conduct safety briefings, ensure that passengers are familiar with emergency procedures, and check that safety equipment, such as seatbelts, oxygen masks, and life vests, is functioning. Flight attendants ensure passengers follow safety regulations, such as fastening seat belts during takeoff and landing.
• Perform Safety Demonstrations: Flight attendants go through the basic safety procedures before every flight, showing passengers how to use the seatbelts, oxygen masks, and life jackets, how to evacuate the plane in case of an emergency, and how to react to turbulence or in case of an emergency landing.
• First aid and medical emergencies: Basic first aid and medical emergencies can also be part of flight attendants’ job duties. They must assist sick passengers, manage injuries, and sometimes perform CPR. They are also trained to manage passengers with special medical needs.
• Serve food and beverages: In-flight catering is one of the most critical tasks of flight attendants. They act as waiters and serve beverages and meals on flights. They are expected to serve numerous meals on long-haul flights with special dietary requirements. They need to ensure that food is served safely and with good hygiene. They also take different kinds of special meal requests.
• Handle Passenger Requests and Complaints: Flight attendants must handle passenger inquiries or complaints throughout the flight. For instance, addressing passenger discomfort with the seat, solving disputes, or answering questions about the flight must be handled professionally, calmly, and emphatically.
• Help Passengers With Special Needs: Flight attendants help passengers with special needs that require assistance, such as passengers with a disability, elderly passengers, or unaccompanied minors, to board or disembark, find their seats, and ensure they are comfortable or through the flight.
• Monitor cabin condition: Flight attendants must monitor cabin condition whilst the plane is on flight, ensuring that passengers adhere to the set safety measures (in case of seatbelt signs or switching off electronic devices). They also need to ensure the cabin is well-maintained, especially on flights of longer duration.
• Handle In-Flight Emergencies: Flight attendants are trained to handle in-flight emergencies, including medical emergencies, fires, turbulence, or unruly passengers. They are trained to use fire extinguishers, defibrillators, and other emergency equipment and assist in evacuations.
• Perform Pre-Flight and Post-Flight Checks: Flight attendants do pre-flight checks before boarding to ensure that the cabin is clean, that all of the emergency equipment is functional, and that the supplies from catering are stocked. After the flight, they also do post-flight checks, such as ensuring that the cabin is tidy, that all passengers have retrieved their belongings, and that any issues are reported to the airline.
• Greet and provide outstanding customer service. As the face of the airline, flight attendants create a pleasurable experience for the customer by assisting with the inflight entertainment system, helping passengers with the overhead luggage bin, and guaranteeing that all passengers are comfortable and satisfied with the customer service.

Average Flight Attendant Salary

In the United Kingdom, flight attendants’ monthly salaries may vary depending on their company of employment, number of years working as a flight attendant, and length of flight (domestic or international flights). Salaries may likewise vary on the number of hours worked and the position in a cabin crew hierarchy. Here’s an overview of average flight attendants’ salaries.

• Jr. Flight Attendant: Junior flight attendants, also known as entry-level flight attendants, earn between £15,000 and £20,000 per year in their first couple of years on the job, usually working on short haul or domestic flights.
• Mid-Level Flight Attendant: With some years of experience, flight attendants can make between £20,000 and £30,000 a year. At this level, flight attendants will work on international routes and get more responsibility onboard.
• Senior Flight Attendant/Purser: Senior flight crew, including pursers or cabin managers, earn between £30,000 and £45,000 a year. They supervise the rest of the cabin crew. They are responsible for flight leadership duties onboard, coordinating all cabin service and passenger safety aspects.
• Corporate Flight Attendant: Those working on private or corporate jets can earn much more because their service is tailored and very high-end. Pay for corporate flight attendants is between £35,000 and £60,000, depending on the client and the level of service they require.
• Bonuses and perks: Most airlines have a bonus based on flight hours/overnights/doubles, free/discounted flights and upgrades for you and your family, travel allowances, and layover accommodation.

Flight Attendant Skills

Becoming a successful flight attendant demands interpersonal skills, physical fitness, and the ability to maintain grace under pressure, keeping a cool head when faced with difficult passengers and demanding situations. Flight attendants must multi-task, work long hours, and provide excellent customer service. Here are the skills a flight attendant needs to succeed:

• Customer Service Skills: The main objective is to make the passenger feel comfortable, respected, and well looked after during the flight. They should be attentive to passengers’ needs, politely handle complaints, and help make the flight enjoyable.
• Communication Skills: Flight attendants must communicate clearly and efficiently with passengers, the cockpit crew, and the ground staff. They must be able to explain safety procedures, respond to passenger requests, and communicate their responses. Speaking at least one other language is an asset, especially for international flights.
• Teamwork: The cabin crew collaborates to provide passenger services and keep the plane safe. Flight attendants must work with the cockpit crew, other cabin crew, and ground staff to respond quickly in emergencies. Strong teamwork skills are invaluable in getting the job done together.
• Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: Flight attendants may occasionally have to handle distracting challenges in-flight, such as a medical emergency, disagreement between passengers, or malfunctioning equipment. They typically need to take a moment to size up a situation, consider their options, and then judge the best course of action to solve the problem.
• Physical Fitness: An attractive female flight attendant must be able to withstand the physical demands of the job, which can include extended periods of standing, lifting heavy luggage, and dashing through the cabin. She must also be able to assist passengers in emergencies that involve evacuating the aircraft or providing first aid.
• Emotional resilience: Flight attendants frequently have to deal with difficult passengers, medical emergencies on board, jet lag, or other problems that can arise from long hours of work. Flight attendants have to be able to stay calm, professional, and friendly in difficult situations.
• Cultural sensitivity: Flight attendants must be sensitive to the different cultural backgrounds of passengers on board the plane. Employees should always be respectful to passengers from various backgrounds and provide service that makes them feel comfortable and welcome despite their cultural background, race, and nationality.
• Attention to detail: Attention to detail is essential in the job of a flight attendant, as they need to follow safety procedures and serve food and drinks to passengers. Missing out on steps while following safety procedures and dropping food and beverages can cause serious problems.
• First Aid Knowledge: Flight attendants are given first aid and emergency medical training. In the event of a medical emergency, they need to know how to do CPR and use an AED (automated external defibrillator) in addition to treating minor passenger injuries.
• Time Management: Time management is crucial for flight attendants as they must stick to the schedule, accomplish multiple tasks during a flight, and ensure timely service to all passengers.

Flight Attendant Tips

Here are some practical tips for aspiring flight attendants looking to build a successful career:

• Research Airlines Before Applying: Every airline is different, which means that every airline has a different culture, different expectations, and different hiring processes. Figure out which airline would be a good fit for you, your values, and your career goals. Some airlines are more customer service-oriented, some more safety-oriented, some more luxury travel-oriented, and some more mechanically focused.
• Stay Fit and Healthy: Flight attendants must be physically fit. Exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, and stay hydrated so that you can handle the job’s physical demands, such as moving luggage and helping people in emergencies.
• Learn a Second Language: Being bilingual or multilingual can increase your employability, especially if you want to work on international flights. Airlines prefer flight attendants to be multilingual so that they can communicate with passengers in more than one language.
• Build good customer service skills: Flight attendants are expected to be the best in customer service, so practising active listening, empathy, and patience in daily interactions is a good idea.
• Interview Functions: Airline recruitment often involves group, role-play, or one-on-one interviews. Get a friend to present you with some common interview questions and scenarios, such as what you would do if you had an injured passenger or if someone abused the flight crew.
• Training Program: Prepare to be trained. Upon hiring, you will undergo a training program covering safety procedures, first aid, and in-flight service topics. Begin your preparations by studying the basics of aviation safety, learning the airline’s operations, and keeping physically fit.
• Keep Cool Under Pressure: Candidates who apply to become pilots are tested for their ability to stay calm in stressful situations. So, it’s helpful to practise various stress-management techniques, such as deep breathing or mindfulness, before you go in for your interviews and there is an emergency in the air.

Flight Attendant Requirements

All airlines and regulatory authorities set specific requirements for applicants. Suppose you want to be a flight attendant in the UK. In that case, you should know that you need to meet these essential requirements: The skills are necessary because flight attendants must perform safety and customer service functions on a flight.

• Age Requirement: Most airlines require flight attendants to be at least 18 (or 21 in the US). Some airlines have age requirements as high as 25, depending on the nature of the routes or particular regulations.
• Education: To become a flight attendant, you should have at least five GCSEs, including English and maths. Some airlines require candidates to have higher education or customer service experience.
• Height and reach requirements: The cabin crew must be tall enough to access survival equipment in the overhead bins, and a minimum reach of 210 cm (82 inches) is standard.
• Physical Fitness and Health: To be considered, candidates must take and pass a medical exam. This exam tests for hearing, vision, and general health. Flight attendants must also maintain weight requirements to ensure they can freely move about the cabin.
• Ability to Swim: A flight attendant must help passengers in a water evacuation; hence should know how to swim. Most airline companies would require prospective flight attendants to pass a swimming test as part of the recruitment process.
• Language: All cabin crew in the UK must be fluent in English. A knowledge of other languages is sound, particularly for airlines operating international routes.
• Customer Service Experience: While only sometimes mandatory, working in customer service roles before applying to be a flight attendant can put you in good standing with airlines. Many travel companies prefer candidates who have experience in hospitality, retail, or other customer-facing industries.
• No visible tattoos or piercings: Many airlines have strict appearance standards. Visible tattoos, facial piercings, or extreme hairstyles are not allowed. Applicants should check the airline’s airline policy before applying.
• Criminal background check: Candidates must pass a criminal background check for employment. This requirement filters out those who have disqualifying convictions. Since airport employees require a security clearance, they cannot have any criminal convictions.

How to Become a Flight Attendant

To work as a flight attendant, a person should have a certain education, training, and personal attributes. As a result, two requirements apply before a person can become a flight attendant. Here is a brief guideline of what it takes to be a flight attendant:

• Meet the Minimum: Check that you are old enough, have the right level of education, are of the correct height, and are fit enough to withstand the rigours of the job. Make sure you can swim and that you meet any appearance requirements.
• Research Airlines and Apply: Research different airlines and how they recruit. Some airlines regularly hold open recruitment events, while others request online applications. Adapt your CV and application to emphasise customer service skills and experience.
• Prepare for Selection: The selection process involves interviews, groups, and practical tests. Practise standard interview questions, improve your communication and teamwork skills, and prepare for physical or swimming tests.
• Complete Training to Be a Flight Attendant: You must complete training once hired. This training includes learning about safety, first aid, customer service, and dealing with conflict. You must go through a flight attendant training program with the airline. It is usually 4–8 weeks before receiving a certificate.
• Get a Cabin Crew Attestation (CCA): Flight attendants in the UK need to hold a Cabin Crew Attestation (CCA), which is a form of certification that they’ve been trained in the safety and emergency procedures necessary for in-flight service. The CCA is issued following the training program and its associated exams.
• Now You Can Fly: After training is complete and you earn your certificate, you are ready to start your career as a flight attendant. Although routes and hours vary, you should expect a fluid schedule that includes extended hours, layovers, and overnight shifts, especially for international routes.
• Continue with on-the-job training: Stay abreast of new safety procedures, customer service trends, in-flight technology, and anything else that will help you excel. You can also become a specialist in first-class service or even a lead flight attendant (purser).

Get Qualified as a Flight Attendant

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should You Be a Flight Attendant?

Starting as a flight attendant with a prestigious airline is a great way to see the world and meet new people. It’s also an opportunity to provide first-class hospitality service to travellers.

I enjoy helping people and am not afraid of working in a fast-paced environment. It can be a gratifying career. It would also give you a chance to experience new cultures.

Is Being a Flight Attendant a Good Career Choice for You?

Are you a traveller at heart, have a strong sense of customer service, and can handle the demands of long hours and irregular shifts? If so, a flight attendant job might be right for you. It offers excellent flexibility and a chance to travel and grow personally.

Flight Attendant Salaries

In the UK, flight attendant salaries differ depending on experience and airline. Those just starting can expect between £15,000 and £20,000, while those with more experience can earn up to £45,000. Corporate flight attendants working on private jets are still likely to earn more.

Which Qualifications Can Help with a Career as a Flight Attendant?

You must have at least five GCSEs to become a flight attendant. Additional customer service, hospitality or tourism management qualifications can help you get hired. Being fluent in other languages is a bonus.

Do I Need to Be an Experienced Flight Attendant to Get Started?

Not really; since most airlines have a complete training program for newly recruited personnel, they welcome candidates with previous experience in customer service, but this is not essential. Airlines are mainly looking for candidates with the right attitude, good communication skills, and the ability to work as a team.

Flight Attendant Career Outlook

This area is also an ongoing need since there’s a high demand for flight attendants, especially as travel returns to normal after the pandemic. Airlines are always on the lookout for new candidates who are enthusiastic and have the right background, such as language skills or previous experience in premium service.

Flight Attendant Hierarchy and Progressing Within the Role

Flight attendants can progress to higher roles, such as lead flight attendant (purser) or cabin manager, who is responsible for overseeing the crew in the cabin during the flight. With experience, flight attendants can also move into training roles, corporate flight attendant jobs, or airline management.

Flight Attendant Exit Options and Opportunities

There’s an opportunity to become involved in customer service management or event planning. Some flight attendants go on to work as aviation safety trainers, in airport operations, or in luxury travel or corporate hospitality, where they can put their customer service skills to good use.