A flight attendant’s cabin crew qualifications prepare them to provide excellent service while in the air. While specific qualifications vary depending on the airline and regional labor and defense laws, many cabin crew jobs require similar skills. Health and fitness restrictions, education, a clean criminal record and citizenship, and customer service experience are some of the most common cabin crew qualifications. Airlines may also require cabin crew members to have certain safety skills, which can be useful in the event of an emergency on board.
Before a person can become a flight attendant, many airlines have basic health and fitness requirements that must be met. Height and age restrictions, as well as physical fitness requirements, may be among them. Potential crew members may be subjected to a physical fitness test as well as a medical examination to ensure that they do not have any medical issues that would impair their ability to work. A history of drug or alcohol-related criminal violations, as well as signs of drug abuse, may be grounds for immediate dismissal.
While cabin crew members do not require any formal education, many airlines do require a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. Even if they have not completed an undergraduate degree, some airlines give preference to those who have attended college. A college degree can also be useful for those hoping to advance through the ranks of airline management beyond cabin crew.
Possession of a clean criminal record is one of the most important cabin crew qualifications. Aside from minor infractions such as parking tickets, some airlines will not hire personnel with any type of criminal record. All prospective flight attendants are frequently subjected to a thorough background check to ensure that all criminal record requirements are met. Many airlines also demand proof of citizenship or long-term legal residency in the airline’s home country.
Customer service skills may be among the most important cabin crew qualifications, given that customer service is the most common responsibility of flight attendants. To ensure the safety and comfort of everyone on board, flight attendants must be able to handle difficult or nervous passengers with ease. Some jobs may require prior customer service experience, even if it was gained in a different industry. Those with childcare or disabled customer service experience may also be excellent candidates, as airlines are frequently required to provide special services to these passengers.
Qualifications for cabin crew may also include medical or emergency training. A flight attendant’s first aid and CPR certification can help ensure that they are prepared to help in any basic medical situation. Cabin crew may be required to complete extensive training programs after being hired to ensure that they are capable of handling emergency situations unique to flying, such as evacuation procedures. While not all airlines require medical or emergency training, having these skills can make an applicant appear more qualified to potential employers.