Cabin Crew

Career opportunities for Cabin Crew

Career Option

Rise for air cabin crew is based on experience and execution. From the part of a cabin crew member, it's possible to progress to the role of purser or chief purser - the label given to the chief flight attendant.

Pursers have the exact responsibilities as the general cabin crew but are also provided with the management responsibilities of a particular cabin, such as first-class or business class. As a purser, you'll make sure that all teams within your cabin have the highest level of customer service while promoting the sale of duty-free items. Most airlines need staff to have between two to five years of experience and knowledge to become a purser.

From the role of the purser, you can advance to a senior cabin crew. This place is known at some airlines as cabin supervisor or cabin service director. The part is very identical to the pursers. Besides, you'll have accountability for all cabin crew on board, not just in one specific cabin. All cabin crew and the purser/chief purser will notify you. You'll usually be concerned with cabin crew training courses, supervising recruits, and providing all relevant paperwork is concluded at the end of the flight.

Some air cabin crew may also desire to become a significant (VVIP) cabin crew. This work is carried out with important private clients, usually on private aircraft. The clients are generally prestigious and may contain government officials or royal families. The highest level of assistance is expected, and employers need at least two years of experience performing in premium (business or first) class. Multiple VVIP positions are based in wealthy areas of the Middle East.

Another alternative is to move into ground-based operations, such as cabin crew training courses or recruitment, passenger assistance or crew controller. Or, at more prominent airlines, you can transfer into other areas, including marketing, sales, HR and safety cabin crew training course.

Each airline offers a structured training programme for new entrants, ranging in length depending on the airline. It generally lasts between four and seven weeks.

The primary focus of the training is for the safety of passengers, including the aircraft's safety equipment and emergency operations, security and first aid.

Training also includes a series of written and practical tests on areas such as:

  • Assertiveness.
  • Cultural awareness.
  • Currency exchange.
  • Customs and immigration regulations.
  • Food preparation and service.
  • Galley management.
  • Passenger care and customer relations.
  • Personal grooming.
  • Product knowledge.

You'll need to show:

  • Outstanding communication skills.
  • Excellent customer service.
  • Confidence in dealing with people.
  • Good cooperation skills to work with teams.
  • Compassion and the capability to support your colleagues.
  • Discretion when dealing with VIPs or royalty.
  • Competence in handling complex situations and the ability to stay calm under pressure and in emergencies.
  • The gift of being diplomatic but also assertive where required.
  • Commercial awareness and sales skills.
  • Flexibility in operating unsocial hours on any day of the year.
  • The ability to work fast and efficiently, often to tight time constraints.
  • Numeracy skills for handling cash, including foreign currency.
  • The ability to work in a confined space.
  • The ability to diffuse situations calmly and fast.
  • Describe the cabin crew profession, its roots and current practices.
  • Determine aircraft types and appropriate cabin crew functions.
  • Control passenger relations in a variety of circumstances.
  • Recall emergency and security procedures.
  • Intro to the airline industry and aircraft.
  • Crew member coordination and contact.
  • Customer service and handling passenger interactions.
  • Safety and emergency practices (with virtual cabin walkthrough – narrow and wide-body aircraft).
  • The general philosophy for the carriage of hazardous goods and the dangers associated with their transport onboard an aircraft.
  • Understanding of security-related issues.
  • Safety and dangerous.

Cabin Crew Course duration 
3 months