Cabin Crew Member
Cabin crew members are part of a team which acts as the main point of contact for aircraft passengers while they are in the air. Cabin crew are responsible for ensuring that their passengers have a safe, comfortable and pleasant journey.Cabin crew members are trained to deal with safety and security of passengers during a flight, which can include directing passengers in emergency situations. They also prepare the aircraft for flight and deal with any passenger requirements including serving food and drink and providing assistance with boarding and disembarking.
Cabin crew members are briefed before every flight so that they are aware of points such as, how many passengers there are, if there are any passengers with particular needs and what the weather forecast is. Before the flight, cabin crew also have to check that the plane is clean and tidy and stocked with food and drinks. They also have to check up on the aircraft’s equipment, such as first aid kits and comfort items like blankets and pillows.
Once all pre-flight checks have been completed, cabin crew members then oversee the boarding of passengers onto the aircraft. They check boarding passes and help people with their hand luggage, making sure that it is stored away safely. Cabin crew also deliver pre-flight messages; such as welcoming people on-board and providing safety instructions.
During the flight, cabin crew members communicate with the pilot and share flight information with passengers. They may also serve food and drink and may sell duty free products and gifts. Cabin crew are also responsible for dealing with any problems during the flight; this could be anything from someone feeling ill, to somebody causing a disturbance. At the end of the flight, cabin crew members make sure that all passengers disembark from the aircraft safely and then check the aircraft to make sure that nothing has been left behind. They also complete any forms and reports as required.
The starting salary for a member of cabin crew is around £12000, though there are additional allowances on top of this figure, which can bring the average starting salary up to around £14500. With experience, salary can increase to £18000.
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Working environment
Cabin crew members work shifts, including nights, early mornings, weekends and bank holidays. Depending on the airline they work for and the flight group that they are assigned to, cabin crew members usually work either on short haul (such as European or internal) flights, or on long haul flights. Those who work on short haul flights may follow regular working hours, whereas those on long haul flights will find themselves spending nights away from home.The working environment for cabin crew members is demanding. Cabin space is restricted, and the galley, where meals and refreshments are prepared, is small too. A lot of time is spent moving between the galley and the rest of the cabin and cabin crew members will spend a lot of their time on their feet, attending to passengers.
Cabin crew members can also experience jetlag and fatigue due to the travelling they do, especially if they are on long haul flights and crossing different time zones.
Cabin crew members have to wear a uniform and must be well groomed at all times. They normally must have no visible tattoos or piercings.
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Skills and interests
Cabin crew members must enjoy interacting with lots of people. They are the ‘face’ of an airline and so need to understand the importance of good customer service.Skills that cabin crew members need to have include:
- communication; particularly a friendly and approachable manner, but also the ability to deliver instructions and information calmly and clearly
- ability to remain calm under pressure and to be able to reassure others
- ability to work quickly and efficiently
- able to work well as part of a team
- good organisation.
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Entry into the role
Cabin crew members work for airlines; these can range from small private jet operations to large international companies. Competition for jobs can be intense, although vacancies can arise on a fairly regular basis.Entry requirements do vary between airlines, but in general applicants need to be able to demonstrate a good standard of literacy and numeracy. Some airlines require applicants to have English and maths at GCSE grade C or above (or national equivalent). Qualifications in foreign languages, travel, leisure and tourism can also be useful as can knowledge of first aid.
Airlines may also prefer applicants who have experience of working in a customer service environment.
Airlines often set the following requirements for applicants:
- minimum age of 18 (although for some airlines this is 21)
- height normally between 155cm and 190cm and weight in proportion to height
- physical fitness, including the ability to swim at least 25 metres
- normal colour vision and good eyesight
- a valid passport allowing unrestricted world travel.
Cabin crew applicants are also subject to criminal records checks for airport security clearance.
Cabin crew jobs are normally advertised by airlines themselves, using their own websites. They may also advertise in local and national press, or on aviation recruitment websites.
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Opportunities
Cabin crew members can progress their careers to take on additional responsibilities in roles such as purser and senior cabin crew. They can also become a crew supervisor or cabin services director.Cabin crew members can also move into ground-based aviation employment – they can become a cabin crew trainer or can move into other areas of customer service, for example passenger services and passenger support.
All cabin crew receive basic training on recruitment, which provides them with essential skills such as health and safety, passenger security, customer service, first aid, equipment usage, cultural awareness and aviation regulations.
Industry-related qualifications are also available for cabin crew members:-
- City & Guilds level 2 award, certificate and diploma in air cabin crew
- EAL level 2 certificate in air cabin crewing
- NCFE level 2 certificate in airline cabin crewing
- OCNW level 2 certificate in air cabin crew skills
NVQs are also available:
- level 2 in aviation operations in the air – cabin crew (offered by City & Guilds and EAL)
- level 3 in aviation operations in the air – cabin crew (offered by City & Guilds and EAL)
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Useful links
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AVIATION - cabin crew
Watch an interview with a member of cabin crew (links to Virtual Work Experience from Learning and Teaching Scotland).
View case study (external website)