Flight Attendants - General Q & A
 

Hi cabin crew members!

I just want to find out how much catering experience we need to have to become a filight attendant. I worked in the hospitality industry for about 6years in my life with Hotel magmt diploma and changed my career into a beauty therapist.

Now I really want to challenge again to become a flight attendant as It's been my dream job of all time but failed a couple of times and never got an opportunity since then.

I've just been to the opening day for Qatar in Birmingham again (the 2nd time) but frustraingly to no avail.
I haven't got a clue as to why I failed. I dressed very smart and smiled all the time during the day. Now I feel that my CV must be not good enough and I wonder whether I need to work in the catering industry again to improve my CV for FA. Please give me advice as to what they look in our CV. I feel pretty depressed now.:sad:

Just keep trying. You don't even need Hospitality experience (although it is an advantage), you just need customer service experience which you obviously have. Its always a bit of a mystery as to why certain people get picked and others don't. When I read through the Emirates thread, it confused me that there were people who seemed to have almost identical experience, qualifications and were close to the same age, but some got through and others didn't.

Try a different airline, go to any and every OD you can (even if you dont want to work for the airline, its all experience and you can always say thanks but no thanks if you do get through). CC's first priority is px safety so you could look into night classes or courses your local college do to find something relevant but tbh I dont think you would need it.

And research, research, research. Read into everything you can find on CC - blogs, forums, websites, facebook groups, everything. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail!


edited because of shpelling mistook

Hi Jaye,

Thank you so much for your kind comment, which makes me feel slightly better. However, I've been impatient and worried about having not even got through the OD as I'm now getting on for 34.
I don't think I've got much chance to go for it. :ugh:

Very Sad...:{

aww hun don't say that! You've got every chance! You're almost 34, not 74! lol.
Try European and American / Australian airlines. They're your best bet because Middle Eastern airlines tend to prefer crew in their 20s. But I know you'll be fine if you try airlines like Virgin or BA, just look into them all and work out which ones are best suited to YOU rather than the other way round.

(and stay positive and look up The Law of Attraction, I swear it changed my life :ok:)

I am in my thirties and am in the Airline Industry after 2 years of being away from it.

Remember you have experience in hospitality and customer service dont give up - the airline industry and present is very hit and miss cause of the circumstances its not against you.

Certain Mid-East airlines will look at your experience give it a go.

Hi
I have worked in the Flight Operations Department for 3 years and am used to seeing flight attendants of various age, shape, color, race etc.

i reckon the best way to go about it is to apply to ALL the middle eastern airlines (dont wait for them to advertise Open days etc), Aussie/NZ airlines as well as European ones. You never know if there is someone out there waiting for an applicant just like you! :ok:

Remember, there is a recession in place and everyone is going through a tough time. The airlines might have raised their standard about hiring etc. Its a big pond with lots of fishes out there !

Wish you all the best and keep us posted .

Sam

I'm 17 and I would like some help and advice
 

Hello Cabin Crew!

I have always wanted to do this as a career, and now I will be able to apply soon. But I have a few questions:

1) I understand that in the current crisis not many airlines are recruiting, only Ryanair and Easyjet - I am leaning towards Ryanair. Anything I should do or get in preparation? I would prefer not to have any bad or sour comments in regard to Ryanair - out of the few that are recruiting, they actually seem decent. I would not like to work for a charter airline.

2) What about living accomodation? Where do I have to live? How close to the airport etc?

3) What about being on stand-by does this happen?

4) I have done A level French, German, Spanish - will this be any use to becoming cabin crew? Any other qualifications or experience required?

5) Could I become based in another country either my choice or the airlines?

Thank you for your help.

Just a minor correction, its a job not a career! It was a career in the 1970s.

EasyJet seems to be only issuing fixed term contracts at the minute lasting anywhere from 6-10 months.

You won't get a job with Ryanair, as your employed by an agency that is seconded to FR. You pay for your training re-location costs etc etc. You will be moved and relocated at your own cost at their beck and call.

Typically you need to live no further than 1hr and 30 mins from your base.

Standby's happen on an adhoc basis. You might get one or two plus in a week or none for weeks at a time it just depends on the flying roster. Typically you have a 90 min call out time.

I speak French but can count with the fingers on one had how many times i use it, despite flying into France a lot. But it can come in handy and does look good on your CV.

Most airlines will base you at the base you have applied and the base they are advertising for.

FR will base you anywhere they like and with minimum notice on occasion. They are closing and down grading bases so read up on them (and don't bury your head in the sand and only read the good bits, there are very good reasons to why there is so much negativity with FR).

Good luck, its not the greatest time to start a flying job but there are some airlines that are taking on. Have you looked at Flybe?

Hello and thank you for your reply!

Why do you say "not a career but a job"?

Correct me if I am wrong, but with Ryanair don't you eventually get to a FR contract? After 12 months you can apply or do they appoint the best from the agencies?

Personally, I wouldn't mind working around different bases - after all I did 3 A levels on languages!!!

90 minutes seems fair. Could a airline just ring and say "Come Now"?

I have read many, many things on FR cabin crew jobs - some excellent; some totally awful! But then, I have read the same for loads of other airlines. Just to say, I personally want to do long-haul, but most long-haul airlines are not recruiting. But if things change, then I would go BA, Air France or Lufthansa - anything required there, i.e special qualifications?

I did look at Flybe, but I think out of Easyjet and Ryanair. I would rather work for one of those.

Many thanks!

Hi, just so you know... I am a guy... Sorry I should of said in my first post! I have wanted this job since I was 8. After a horrible few years - I managed to finally find the dream again. And now, nothing will stand in my way!

I really want to speak in different languages, so probably a European airline would be for me!

I find that some FR crew are like that - but some really seem to love it! I think I need to find some FR crew and have a chat...

How much do FR pay? Likewise with Easyjet? It is quite confusing on there websites!

I hope other airlines start recruting soon!

And I won't stop smiling!!! :):):):)

Thank you!

Flight attendants
 

Do flight attendants make 45,000 pounds and they get sleep as well on the plane because that's what i heard. Also does everyone get there own room in a hotel.

Dear airbus02,

If you want to be taken seriously here, you really should spend some time reading through PPRuNe for a while before you start asking a lot of questions. I thought that on the other thread which you posted, most folks were pretty polite, but given that this thread has not had any replies, there may be a reason.

I would offer that unless you do a little homework first, you run the risk of being generally dismissed.

That said, you are absolutely welcome here and your enthusiasm will be encouraged, but it may be better not to wear out your welcome quite so quickly.

Best wishes.

11Fan

Okay firstly i want to know what i said in the aviance and airlines forum wrong i thanked everyone and also said what i meant about replying seriously i said it in a good way thats what i even said to make that person understand. Also im only young and interested in the travel industry and if this is what i heard from a person who works in the travel industry i thought it must be true but wanted to check and see from other people so if everyone can reply to my post i would really appreciate and if i said somethings wrong which i dont know please tell me so i can make you understand.

Hello again airbus02,

Again, I applaud you for your enthusiasm. I did not suggest you did anything wrong at all, in fact, quite the opposite. What I am attempting to do is to encourage you to spend some time reading through these forums. It is from this that you will gain a wealth of knowledge. Then with this knowledge, your understanding of the industry will increase and as a result, your questions will become more focused, as opposed to the appearance of random thoughts.

That said, salaries vary greatly between airlines and seniority. Read through the Terms of Endearment and Wannabes. A lot of good information there. As for the hotel rooms, yes, for the most part, you don't need to share a room, unless it's the Crew Room and there's only one couch.

Enjoy reading and keep your interest. This is a fascinating industry. Take some time to learn about it from those here who have already experienced it.

All the best.

11Fan

when you go into your interview just ask them "Is it true I get paid 45k and get to sleep on the job?" They'll give you a straight answer.

Hi grapefruit

Don't give up! - When I applied (a good 11 years ago now) the competition was tough and I felt I didn't have much of a chance. I was only 22 at the time with CV that wasn't exactly heavy on experience.

However I think what swung it for me was the voluntary work I'd done. I'd joined a local charity helping the elderly a couple of years before, visiting people that were living alone and simply having a chat or acting as a taxi to those who couldn't make it to the doctors or supermarket.

Lots of crew I know still volunteer with organisations like the Samaritians and St Johns Ambulance and I think it does add crucial extra cv points (as well as giving you a great sense of making a difference.)

Hope this helps!

Once again im young and so dont know that much and 11 fan thanks for telling me a bit about cabin crew also jaye this is what i heard so therefore if you heard it from someone in the travel industry then i was guessing it was true also the sleeping part i heard from some one who works on a plane and they have seen the room on top of the plane where the crew sleep and im sorry if your offended taht i have no aprreciation for cabin crew and hard work but i do so please give me a chance because i am only young and im sure you beleived things from people when you were young.

And that straight answer will be YES!!!!!

We certainly have FA's who earn that amount of money and sleep on the job :)

Mutt

Thanks mutt what airline is that and also do you get to do it or is that person the manager and gets to do it.

...... airbus02, a lot of our aircraft have crew rest facilities where the crew take breaks during long flights.

As for the money, well as you are young, i wont discuss how thats earned :)

Mutt

Okay then just wanted to know also about the money just wanted to know because it will be to late when i grow older and wont be able to live also if any of my friends cousins or people i know who want to be a flight attendant wont blame me for there life.

I generally place people blaming me for their life the least of my worries.

Dont get what your saying but okay yeah and i wont be able to live on about about 20,000 and i don't want people blaming me for there salary and blaming me for encouraging them to do a job that pays less.

If you're looking for a job that pays enough to support you and your entire family, I dont think cc is the right one for you. You're only 15 so your best bet would be to work that bumbaleery off at school then work hard at uni.

Hell, you could even train to be a pilot if flying is really a passion. But I really dont think cc is a job someone could do if their only motivation was pay day or how much sleep they can get ;)

Don't stress, you've got so much time to decide.

Hello once again the sleeping is not a thing but the pay is i want to be able to survive and i dont have enough time because it should be now i should be thinking about what to do i have thought of becoming a pilot and i do want to become one but i posted my cabin crew post here if my wish of becoming a pilot does not happen hopefully it will.

Cabin Crew Wages ??
 

Hi I have always wanted to be cabin crew and have a few questions

1) How much do you get paid

2) How many days off a week do you get

3) How long can you fly for

This kind of Job is okay especially if you're in cruise ship.

which airline are we talking about here?

What am i supposed to do?
 

Hi everybody.
I am 22 years old, college student living in Dublin, Ireland.
I am originally from S.Korea and I've been living in Ireland for 5 years. I would love to be a flight attendant in Europe, especially in Germany or Ireland & UK but it's hard since the primary requirement of most airlines is like 'valid European passport holders'

I don't know how to start looking for a job here in Europe!!!

Eu Passport
 

Would be a good idea to get married and asking for citizenship, might take couple years to get the passport.

Or you can become cabin crew at companies which take you with your Korean passport (Middle-East).

Call me dumb but what does FR stand for?:\

Hey Future CC!

I wish i spoke 3 diff languages...wow! I am cc at bmi at the moment and prev to that, Silverjet, Tommy Cook and BMIbaby. I didnt start flying until i hit 30'ish by which time I had a house, a car, a loan or two!

Have you considered working abroad for a Middle Eastern airline? There are many of them and if you research heard enough many crawl out of the woodwork through private recruitement agencies too such as flydubai and arabjet.
Many of my friends work for Emirates, a few for Ethihad and Gulf also. They really love it including the tax free pay and other benefits.They also speak languages. I know that Emirates has a min age limit and others dont so worth looking at.

You are young and open minded so do not tie yourself down to a job in the UK if you dont have many responsibilities. Your age puts you at an advantage to experience the best of what is out there and not just in this country.

I wish you all the best.
J x

You are dumb (you did ask...)

Let me google that for you

FBW

umm too young for the M.E airlines, 20 for GF and QR 21 for EK and EY. If you listen to the people who are in the job you will find Flybe and Monarch come out ahead of Easy. FR...?? no comment!! You need to be fluent to work for a foreign National carrier so perhaps you could get a job in customer service, particularly the hospitality industry in your chosen country for the next couple of years until you are old enough to apply or they start recruiting again, whichever comes first!! Customer service is key so if for example you wanted to try for Lufthansa then a couple of years as a Hotel receptionist in Germany would be a huge advantage.

Universal Training Standard / Licence for Cabin Crews?
 

I have a few questions in regards to cabin crew training and qualifications. It seems that almost all airlines provide in-house training for their cabin crews. I have stumbled upon a few 3rd party "schools" but am not sure how they can certify you to fly for various airlines.

Is there some sort of legislation or universal training standard that all cabin crew must attain in order to become qualified and operational?

eg. Water egress training, first aid, emergency slide operation ect...


If so, can anyone point me in the right direction of this document? I'm interested in the ICAO world in general, and the EASA / JAA Pan-European part of the world in particular...


EDIT: I have seen a number of flight attendant "schools" that purport to give "certificates" to will help them get flight attendant jobs.

It sounds like a scam as it doesnt seem to really give you any qualifications that would allow you to skip some / all the preliminary training an airline would put you through anyway...


Any thoughts on this?

Are there any notable 3rd party companies which do the training of cabin crews which are recognized by airlines to the extent that they would hire them without having to go through the same in-house training as a new hire flight attendant with no prior training?

Does anyone have an online copy of ICAO DOC 7192 Training Manual Part E1 Ed 2 – Cabin Attendants Safety Training?

question about tattoos?
 

hi :) im new onto this site, so im sorry if someone has already posted something about tattoos, but i REALLY want to become cabin crew, and i have all the right requirements, except for the fact that i have a tattoo. its really small and on the back of my neck, and it would be covered up if i was wearing a shirt with a collar. are most airlines really picky about this, or would it stop me getting a job? i could also cover it with make up or a plaster, but would this be allowed? thanks!

Need advice
 

hi, im courtney. i have been wanting to be part of cabin crew since the age of 6. i am now 15 nearly 16 and i am leaving school this May. Does anybody have any ideas or tips on what to do as soon as i leave school? write back please x:)

hello :) the only thing you really need is customer service experience. Anything else is a bonus (ie second language, hospitality experience, )

So when you leave school I would advise you to get a job in a shop, restaurant, bar, care home, bank, telesales.... anything really. If you want to go to college/uni then try to work part time if possible because almost every airline needs you to have 2 years customer service experience. You could start now with a Saturday job at tesco/ a local charity shop / volunteering with elderly or disabled people.

And start thinking about which airline you want to work for so you can research research research and be totally prepared when you go to the OD.
xxxx

thankyou for helping me. i should be getting a job in a pub so that will help my communications. also what is the OD?

Any ideas on what airline has the best rate for pay?
and are you an airhostess if you are do you enjoy it?

write back please x

Hotels are also a good base for customer service. You want to be able to build solid customer service experiences you can use in your interviews. Another idea would be to try getting hired as a gate agent or check in clerk for an airline. It will not only give you the customer service skills, but will also familiarize you with the industry, terminology and lifestyle. At some airlines, when you transfer internally over to inflight, you sometimes carry your date of hire for vacation, staff travel, pensions, and for redundancy purposes. One other very important aspect of working in this industry is flexibility; if you are already working in the business, it will show that you understand this concept.