Flight benefits, travelling the world and meeting interesting people. All perks of being a flight attendant. Here’s how to be a star in the sky.
Are you passionate about travelling the world? Why not make a career of it? As travel and tourism increases globally, so does the market for flight attendants. If you want to be flying high with the best of the best airlines, you’ll need to seriously have what it takes to be a star flight attendant.
General Entry Requirements
For internationally recognised airlines, you usually have to meet some of the same requirements. For example, you usually must be:
• At least 18 years of age
• In good health with good unaided vision
• Tall enough to reach overhead emergency equipment (usually min. 158 cm)
• Have a warm personality and willingness to help
Each airline has different specific requirements. New Zealand Airlines, for example, requires that you hold NZ residency and a NZ or Australian driver’s license. Singapore Airlines requires you to hold a degree or diploma, have a high level of English proficiency and are willing to be based in Singapore. Emirates requires you to be 21 years of age and at least 160 cm in height. They only require a high school graduation and do not allow visible tattoos. Qantas requires a height between 163 and 183 cm, and you must hold an Australian or New Zealand permanent residency with a passport ensuring unrestricted access to all Qantas port of call. You must also have an excellent level of health and fitness, as well as a Current Senior First Aid Certificate and an RSA.
Of course, these are all examples of standard requirements for flight attendants. There are other qualities that will help you stand out among the competition.
Ability to Speak Other Languages
While being from New Zealand means that you have an advantage and can speak English, special attention is given to cultural and language needs in key markets, especially China, Japan, Europe and the Pacific Islands. Priority is almost always given to applicants who are fluent in another language. Useful languages are: Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, German, French, Spanish and languages of the South Pacific.
Customer Service or Hospitality Industry Experience
Catering to the whims and needs of a passenger is not always so difficult to catering to customers at a restaurant or hotel, so if you have any experience or hospitality certifications, use this to your advantage. You should have a strong sense of responsibility and a desire to serve to the best of your ability. Anticipating a customer’s needs, and being able to meet the requirements of guests with special needs, is very important if you want to be an excellent flight attendant.
Strong Cultural Awareness
To be a good flight attendant, it is important to possess a positive attitude and an empathy for others. You must have a strong cultural awareness and possess the ability to adapt to new environments and people. Flexibility in cultural matters is very important, and you must always show respect for people from different countries.
Interested in getting the education you need to be a star flight attendant? Learn more about studying travel, tourism and hospitality at Crown Institute in Auckland. Call us on 0800 357 316 or enquire online now.
