Hello again beautiful beings!!!! I hope you’re having a great beginning of the summer and that you’re staying safe and sunburn-free. Today, I’ve decided to talk a little bit about what it’s like to be a flight attendant in modern aviation, since many people are curious about this. I have prepared a list of the most commonly asked questions so I can clarify for all of you and maybe give you motivation to join this beautiful profession! Stay tuned!
- Do flight attendants get to stay in the places they fly to?
Depends. If you’re a flying across Europe, your longest flight will most probably last 4:30 hours, which means you can still fly back to your airport of origin. Cabin crew who fly across continents and on longer flights have to stay in the destination because of flight time limitations and rest periods.
2. Do flight attendants have to speak a lot of languages?
No. Usually the only language you will be required to speak is English, as this is the common language in the aviation world. It is true, though, that national companies like Iberia require you to speak and understand the language of origin of the airline at an advanced level (C1).
3. Is it true that to be a flight attendant you need to be a model?
Absolutely not. Maybe decades ago, when the aviation world was different, it was a requirement to be normatively pretty and have a certain body type. Fortunately now, as long as you have a healthy BMI, you can participate and be selected in almost any airline process regardless of your measurements. However, please keep in mind that there will be a minimum height limit because you need to be able to reach the emergency equipment located in the overhead compartments during an emergency.
4. Do you have to wear make up and heels?
Depends on the airline. Mostly, the grooming requirement is to have a full face of make up as in: foundation, lipstick, mascara, blush and eye makeup. However, in the last years, a few airlines have considered this as obsolete and have started to remove this regulation within their crew. Furthermore, there are some airlines that also allow masculine make up on board.
Heels are also becoming a thing of the past, many companies allow sneakers in both male and female cabin crew and some even have designated days when you’re not required to wear your cabin shoes.
5. Is it true that flight attendants and pilots always end up together?
Next question, please.
6. What are the requirements to become a flight attendant?
Firstly, you will need to pass a medical exam to make sure you are fit to fly. Secondly, you will need a Cabin Crew Attestation, basically a license to be a flight attendant, which you can obtain either from the airline that hires you or privately (not all airlines are providing with attestations so it’s better to do some research before applying). You will also need a B2 level of English and a clear criminal record.
7. Do flight attendants stay in one city the whole time or do they constantly move?
It totally depends on the company you’re working for. Some airlines have permanent bases where you perform your flights and then come back home, meaning you can have a stable life and even a family. Other airlines and specially the charter ones are constantly moving you around, providing accommodation in each city or area where they send you.
8. Do flight attendants work a lot?
Summer is the busiest season for us and we fly several days a week. However, during winter, the number of flights we operate descends drastically. There is a limitation of 100 hours of flight per month, though, and you cannot fly more than 900 hours in a year.
9. What are the age limits to be a flight attendant?
To start working in an airline, you have to be at least 18 years old (other airlines don’t hire anyone under 21). There isn’t really a maximum age to be a cabin crew, it just depends on the company you aim for and the profile they are looking for at the time of the interview. However, it is true that flight attendants tend to retire by the age of 45-50 (although you will see much older crew on board who still love their job and choose to continue).
10. Do flight attendants just serve coffee and snacks?
This is the worst way to describe our job. A few weeks ago, someone asked me this question and expected me to get upset, instead, I replied:
“A flight attendant on board is like a policeman in the street. We are trained to save your life, to give you CPR, to assist you if you’re giving birth, to teach you how to use your lifevest in case of ditching, to take care of you in case of illness until we reach the closest airport, to control crowds in case of an emergency landing, to guide you in terms of survival… However, if none of these situations happen, you will see us happily serving coffee and snacks. Just like a policeman, when there is no crime, chilling and driving around the city with his car”.
So all in all, being a flight attendant is much more than it may seem, but we are also just normal souls with a huge lack of sleep. If you have any more questions or you would like to enter the aviation world, I’m always here to help and guide you into fulfilling your dreams. I hope you enjoyed and lots of kisses!!!!!!
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