Job Description

Air Cabin Crew deal directly with customers on-board the aircraft, in terms of keeping them safe, serving them food and showing them on and off the aircraft. They are trained to deal with security, safety and emergency procedures and administer first aid if required. Air cabin crew often work shifts that will involve irregular and unsociable hours.

Entry Requirements

There are various ways you can get into this job role and the entry requirements can vary depending on what you choose to do:

A college course

You could do a college course like a Level 2 Certificate in Air Cabin Crew, or study a cabin crew module as part of a broader travel and tourism course.

You may need:

2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

The following local colleges offer courses in Travel and Tourism:

Or your local 6th form may offer a relevant course

An Apprenticeship

You could start by doing a cabin crew advanced apprenticeship.

This will usually take 12 months to complete. You'll do on-the-job training and spend time with a college or training provider.

You'll usually need:

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Click here to search for an apprenticeship.

Direct application

You could apply directly to airlines for a cabin crew job. Entry requirements vary but good customer service skills will be expected.

Career Tips

Some airlines and private providers run 2-day cabin crew courses, which may help your chances of getting a job.

Some airlines also have online career quizzes you can do to test whether working as air cabin crew is for you, before you apply.

Being able to speak a second language gives you an advantage when making applications. You'll also need to demonstrate that you have great customer service skills, so experience of working directly with the public is useful.

You'll find details about working as air cabin crew on Prospects.ac.uk.

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

be over 18 years of age
have a good level of fitness
pass a medical check
pass enhanced background checks

You'll also be expected to:

have a smart appearance
have a valid passport with no restrictions for the countries the airline travels to
live within 90 minutes of your base
have good written and spoken English

Many airlines also ask that you're able to swim up to 25 metres.

There are rules about height and weight - these vary between airlines. As a general guide, most look for people between 5ft 2in (157cm) and 6ft 2in (188cm) with weight in proportion to height.

Career Path and Progression

With experience, you could progress to cabin crew supervisor or a senior air cabin crew role.

You could also work in a ground-based role like cabin crew training, recruitment, passenger services, marketing or sales.

Related careers you may be interested in:

Airline customer service agent
Airline pilot
Airport information assistant
Resort representative
Travel agent

Required Skills

Excellent communication and customer service skills
A friendly and outgoing personality
Organised
Well presented
Efficient
Diplomatic and tactful
Able to keep calm in emergencies or when dealing with difficult passengers
Assertive
A good level of fitness

Salary Range

£13,500 to £30,000

Air Cabin Crew