How to Become a Air Hostess?

What do Air Hostesses do?

An Air Hostess would typically need to:

• In charge of the safety and comfort of passengers on commercial aircraft.
• Attend pre-flight briefings to learn about job assignments, flight specifics, scheduling, the number of infants on board, and special needs passengers.
• Perform pre-flight activities such as security checks and inspections of the aircraft’s safety, emergency, and other equipment.
• Maintain the aircraft’s cleanliness.
• Ensure that the information and safety instructions, entertainment and food menus, and on-flight retail brochures are all current in the seat pockets.
• Arrange and serve snacks, drinks, and meals on board; also perform the clearing service.
• Check that the medical supplies and other supplies on board are in good working order.
• Oversee passenger boarding; greet and escort passengers to their seats; and verify that all hand luggage is safely secured in overhead lockers.
• Check that all passengers are wearing seat belts during takeoff, landing, and during the flight if needed.
• Inform passengers about safety procedures; demonstrate the usage of safety and emergency equipment; and guarantee that all safety regulations are followed by passengers.

• Direct evacuation procedures during emergencies

• During turbulence in the air, reassure the passengers.
• Attend to passengers’ wishes and any particular requirements they may have.
• Deal forcefully yet gently with difficult and belligerent passengers, especially after excessive alcohol use.
• When a patient or crew member becomes ill during the flight, provide first-aid and emergency medical assistance.
• During the flight, communicate with the pilot or captain concerning passenger safety and comfort; make announcements on behalf of the pilot about seat belt safety and turbulence; respond to queries during the flight
• Sell duty-free items and inform passengers about allowance limitations at their destination.
• Ensure that guests disembark securely at the end of their journey.
• Check that no luggage has been left in the overhead lockers and keep an eye out for any strange objects on board.
• Complete all paperwork, including flight reports.

Standard Work Environment

An Air Hostess primarily works in a passenger aircraft’s cabin. Certain airlines require its employees to live near the airport in order to be flexible, as they may be called in for work at any time. The likelihood of being located abroad is likewise high.

Each airline has its own uniform policy for its cabin staff.

Work Schedule

Air Hostesses do not work a typical workweek. Because aeroplanes operate around the clock, they work unpredictable hours on a rota that includes nights, public holidays, and weekends. Overnight overseas flights are common. You may work part-time.

Some flight attendant unions may negotiate contractual restrictions that limit Air Hostesses’ total work hours, both daily and monthly. A typical shift may last 12 to 14 hours per day, with longer shifts possible for international flights.

Employers

Finding a new job may appear difficult. Air Hostess can improve their job search by asking their network for referrals, personally contacting firms, using job search platforms, attending job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at hiring agencies.

Air Hostesses are generally employed by:

• Scheduled & Non-Scheduled Air Transportation
• Chartered Flights
• Large & Medium-Sized Airlines

Unions / Professional Organizations

Professional organisations and groups, such as the International Association of Flight Attendants, are essential for Air Hostesses who want to further their professional growth or interact with other professionals in their industry or career. Membership in one or more of these organisations adds value to your CV while strengthening your credentials and qualifications.

Workplace Challenges

• Fatigue due to staying on one’s feet for long periods in confined spaces
• Stress from dealing with the diverse needs and demands of passengers, some of which may be unrealistic or hard to fulfil
• Dealing with air turbulence which makes it difficult to serve food and drinks and gives rise to the need to manage anxious passengers
• The immense responsibility of ensuring passenger safety during flight and in emergencies
• Risk of injuries and illnesses due to changing schedules, air turbulence, and  coping with jet lag when travelling over different time zones
• The need to maintain a polite disposition even while dealing with impolite passengers
• Constantly maintaining a well-groomed persona during working hours

Suggested Work Experience

Any academic programme in which a prospective Air Hostess enrols usually includes a period of supervised experience, such as an internship. When your tasks outside of the classroom precisely align with your teachings inside, you will get the most out of them. When more experienced workers manage to turn seemingly ordinary occurrences into unique learning experiences, you may be able to hear endless stories from them and gain significant hands-on experience.

Cabin crew advanced apprenticeships, which normally last a year and involve practical training in collaboration with institutions or training providers, are beneficial for gaining experience.

Candidates with job experience may be preferred above those with qualifications by airlines. A year or two of part-time or temporary work in any position that requires teamwork and communication, particularly in customer service jobs, is beneficial. Such positions, which may be found in sales, catering, restaurants, hotels, resorts, and other industries of travel and tourism, educate you how to interact with the public and assist you in demonstrating the skills and knowledge required to operate as an Air Hostess.

To demonstrate your devotion to course providers and future employers, read about the profession and interview or job shadow professionals working in aviation cabin crew.

Recommended Qualifications

A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required for an aspiring Air Hostess. Certain airlines prefer applicants who have completed college-level coursework. Fluency in a foreign language is required for Air Hostesses operating on international flights to communicate effectively with passengers. It may also provide you with an advantage over other candidates.

Some would-be flight attendants may also attend flight attendant academies. Although not required, a foundation, associate or bachelor’s degree or a higher national diploma in hotel administration, languages, leisure & tourist management, or travel may reflect an applicant’s interest in this vocation and boost the likelihood of employment.

Certificate or certification studies in aviation cabin crew may be beneficial. Such modules may also be found as part of travel and tourism curricula.

Working as a cabin crew member normally requires a secondary education with strong scores in English and maths.

Certifications, Licenses and Registration

An Air Hostess’s proficiency in a skill set is demonstrated through job experience, training, and passing an assessment. It can help you stand out in a competitive employment market, carry a large wage premium of up to 18%, boost your prospects of progression, and allow you to become an independent consultant if obtained from an objective and reputable company.

By including a Code of Ethics, successful certification programmes defend the public welfare.

An Air Hostess must be certified by relevant aviation authorities, often by finishing their employer’s training programme and passing an exam for specific types of aircraft. They must go through training if they want to work on a different aircraft. They must also renew their training every year in order for their certification to remain valid. They may also be required to undergo a medical examination.

An application, processing fees, an examination, and applicable education and experience are often required for licensure. To discover licensure requirements and procedures, consult with local or national aviation organisations and authorities.

Projected Career Map

Career advancement is driven by performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional certifications. Employees who continuously achieve high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years, while career advancement chances vary by airline.

On foreign airlines, senior flight attendants often supervise the work of other attendants. Promotion to managerial positions is possible, which would entail tasks such as recruiting, scheduling, and instructing other crew members. You could advance to the position of Purser or Chief Purser, in charge of a certain cabin, such as business class. You could advance to additional senior cabin crew positions like Cabin Supervisor or Cabin Service Director.

You could also work on the ground in jobs like cabin crew recruiting, training, safety teaching, marketing or sales, and passenger services like check-in. Another area where you could diversify is in flight or aircraft operations. Work opportunities abroad are also accessible.

Job Prospects

Candidates with applicable credentials, requisite customer service abilities and experience, multi-linguistic skills, and flexible schedules have the best career possibilities.

Beneficial Professional Development

Continuing professional development (CPD) will assist an active Air Hostess in developing personal skills and expertise through work-based learning, a professional activity, and formal education.

Whether traditional schooling or self-directed learning is used. It enables you to always improve your skills, regardless of your age, employment, or degree of expertise.

Each airline offers new entrants a planned training programme of varying lengths, often at the carrier’s flight training centre. Training may be required for the qualification you want.

The training emphasises passenger safety and covers topics such as aircraft evacuation, security, first aid administration, aeroplane safety equipment operation, and emergency procedures. Specific training is provided on flying regulations, airline operations, and your responsibilities.

Cultural awareness, assertiveness, currency exchange, customs & immigration rules, food preparation & service, passenger care & customer relations, personal grooming, and product knowledge are also covered, with written and practical assessments.

Students must fly in practice flights as part of their training. You may also be placed on probation as an extension of your training, at which time trainers or senior crew will evaluate your performance and, if appropriate, admit you to the cabin crew team.

When you are assigned to a new post, you must renew your training through a systematic programme tailored to the function and the aircraft. The airlines also support continued development through in-house specialised training.

As you begin working, you may also receive on-the-job training. As part of your continued growth, you may enrol in in-house specialised courses such as crew resource management.

Conclusion

Although being an Air Hostess might be a tough job, it is also a prestigious and attractive one. There are numerous opportunities to travel to other locations, meet people from various backgrounds, and have meaningful experiences. Although it is a short-lived career, there are plenty of options on the ground level once you have gained enough experience. A positive demeanour, outstanding behavioural skills, and excellent communication skills are required to become a successful Air Hostess who makes each flight a memorable experience for customers.

Advice from the Wise

Develop your interpersonal, linguistic, and communication abilities to become an Air Hostess. You must be professional while remaining personable, and you must ensure that the consumer is satisfied with your services to increase revenue growth. A good Air Hostess is customer-service oriented, has strong problem-solving abilities, and is adaptable to deal with changing schedules.

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