WHO IS A FLIGHT ATTENDANT?
Flight attendant (also known as steward/stewardess or air host/air hostess) is a member of an aircrew employed by airlines aboard commercial flights, primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers. Collectively called the cabin crew, flight attendants are deployed in the cabins of all commercial flights and additionally may also be present on some private or jets and government or military aircraft .A flight attendant is someone whose primary duty is to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers during an airline flight. They are part of the cabin crew for the plane, a team of personnel who operate a commercial, business, or even military aircraft while traveling domestically or internationally. A flight attendant is a member of an aircrew employed by airlines aboard commercial flights, primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers.
WHAT DOES A FLIGHT ATTENDANT DO?
The primary job of flight attendants is to keep passengers safe and to ensure that everyone follows security regulations. Flight attendants also try to make flights comfortable and enjoyable for passengers. A flight attendant's most important responsibility, however, is to help passengers in the event of an emergency. They are also tasked with serving meals and drinks to passengers, but this is mostly a secondary responsibility.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FLIGHT ATTENDANT ARE AS FOLLOWS:
- Attending a safety briefing along with Pilots prior to boarding the plane:
Reviewing safety and emergency procedures specific to the type of aircraft prior to boarding.
- Greeting passengers as they board the plane:
Helping special needs passengers, unaccompanied children, passengers with small babies, or VIPs.Helping passengers find their seats and stowing their carry-on luggage.
- Explaining safety procedures and measures to passengers:
Going over the safety procedures speech.
Making sure the emergency exit seats are occupied by passengers that are willing and able to respond in case of an emergency.
- Making sure that all the safety procedures for take-off are met:
Ensuring tray tables and carry-ons are stowed and secured correctly.
Ensuring all passengers have their seatbelts fastened, that all seats are in the upright position, and all armrests are down.
Serving meals and drinks to passengers during the flight.
- Conducting periodical cabin checks to ensure the safety of the crew:
Checking for unusual noises or situations;
checking the lavatory smoke detector hasn’t been tampered with;
checking with the Pilots to ensure their health and safety; and
Restocking supplies as needed.
- Handling emergency situations:
Evacuating passengers out of a plane;
using emergency rafts and slides;
in-flight firefighting;
providing first aids;
providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);
defibrillating passengers when needed;
adhering to emergency landing procedures;
Handling emergency decompression situations.
Making in-flight announcements.
Ensuring cabin safety during turbulence.
- Ensuring cabin safety prior to landing:
Collecting all loose items such as trays and rubbish;
ensuring all passengers’ loose belongings are stowed away; and
Ensuring all passengers have their seatbelts fastened, that all seats are in the upright position, and all armrests are down.
- Assisting passengers as they get off the plane:
Assisting passengers with special needs, unaccompanied children, passengers with small babies, or VIPs; and
Making sure all passengers leave the plane.
Making sure all passengers leave the plane.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS?
These are the two different types of flight attendants
COMMERCIAL FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Corporate flight attendant (also called a “business aviation flight attendant”) is just that, a flight attendant who works on private, non-commercial aircraft (generally referred to as “business aircraft”)
CORPORATE FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Corporate flight attendant (also called a “business aviation flight attendant”) is just that, a flight attendant who works on private, non-commercial aircraft (generally referred to as “business aircraft”)
A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK:
Greeting and helping passengers board the plane.
Helping passengers with their carry-ons.
Going over safety and emergency procedures.
Serving meals and drinks to passengers, as well as complying with some special requests.
Making in-flight announcements.
Ensuring the safety of the crew.
Helping passengers leave the plane.
WHAT IS THE WORKPLACE OF AN FLIGHT ATTENDANT LIKE?
Flight attendants work nights, weekends, and holidays. But since most attendants are union members, they usually work set hours. Most attendants are usually limited to working 12 hours shifts but some are allowed to work 14 hour shifts. Flight attendants have variable work schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, because airlines operate every day and some offer overnight flights. Attendants work in an aircraft and may be away from home several nights per week. Normally Flight Attendants are scheduled to work about 9 to 20 days a month dependent on their airline and seniority. Flight Attendants do not work a standard 8 to 5 work week. You will normally work a trip, immediately followed by days off.
KNOWLEDGE AREAS THAT ARE REQUIRED:
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
Psychology - Knowledge of human behaviour and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioural and affective disorders
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labour relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Therapy and Counselling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counselling and guidance.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
SKILLS
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills:
Communicating clearly with passengers, in order to explain safety regulations and procedures;
making in-flight announces in a calm and clear manner;
being empathetic and able to inspire trust; and
Having a friendly and engaging personality and being able to work as part of a team.
- Passion for customer service:
Being able to tend to the needs of passengers and answer any inquires or complaints they may have.
- Safety conscious:
Being able to go over security checklists, to identify possible security threats and to react accordingly; and
Remaining clam in emergency situations.
- High levels of initiative, resourcefulness, flexibility, and compromise.
PERSONALITY TRAITS :
Calm under pressure and stressful situations.
Confidence.
Conflict arbitrator.
Conscientious and dedicated.
Excellent attitude (positive thinker)
Excellent communication skills.
Multitasked
Observant and aware of your surroundings.
TECHNOLOGY SKILLS:
Calendar and scheduling software
AD OPT Altitude
Arkitektia Flight Itinerary
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Computer based training software
IBM Lotus LearningSpace
ABILITIES:
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
notice when problems happen
use rules to solve problems
Attention
do two or more things at the same time
pay attention to something without being distracted
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
Apart from high school degree you must have 2 years of experience in service industry. If you are hired by an airline company, then you undergo 6 months training conducted by the company itself. After training you need to get a certificate from FAA to satisfy that your 6 months training has met FAA standards. Flight Attendants are usually recruited and trained by airlines at their headquarters. Although it is a position mainly filled by females, males are also eligible. Being at least 18 years of age and having a high school diploma are the basic requirements to become a Flight Attendant, although many airlines prefer their staff to also have a college or university degree. There are some schools and training centres for aspiring Flight Attendants; while the training at an airline’s headquarters is specialized and adapted to the specific regulations and policies of each company, training institutes offer a more generic, but equally comprehensive preparation. Training to become a Flight Attendant focuses mostly on safety and security measures. Depending on each country, school, or airline, training can take from 1 to 6 months. Training also focuses on the use of the equipment available for the crew inside a plane. The final part of the training focuses on customer service.
JOB OUTLOOK
The average salary for a Flight Attendant is ₹ 27,162 per month in India. A flight attendant is paid according to her experience and the airline she works for. A fresher may earn Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 25,000 per month. A head flight attendant can earn up to Rs. 50,000 per month. Major international airlines pay Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 1 lakh per month. This can differ from organisation to organisation, and the number of hours one clocks per month. Flight attendants for some airlines are offered extra wages for working on holidays or for taking on positions with additional responsibility. Flight attendants and their immediate family are legible for discounted or free air travel on their own airlines and discounted travel on other airlines.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Which airline has the highest paid flight attendants in India?
Air India: Rs.40,000/month.
Jet Airways: Rs.35,000/month.
Vistara: Rs.35,000/ month.
Spice Jet: Rs.30,000/month.
Indigo: Rs.31.500/ month.
Go Air: Rs.29, 000/month.
Air Asia India: Rs.28, 000/month.
Is cabin crew a good career in India?
Career Options as Air Cabin Crew - Career Opportunities as Cabin Crew, Air Cabin Crew Courses India. Air cabin crew has a big responsibility of taking care of passengers on the flight. If reaching the skies and attending people is your dream, this sector is the best career option for you.
How can I become a flight attendant in India?
1. Mastery in spoken English and other foreign languages as required.
2. 18 - 26 years of age.
3. 10+2 with degree in hospitality, or other graduate degree.
4. Height of min 157.5 centimetres, Weight proportionate to the height.
5. Eligible for an Indian Passport.
6. Unmarried.
7. Perfect eyesight.
8. Good health.
Can a boy become air hostess?
Air hostess as the name suggests (HOSTESS), is only female & not male. But a male can apply for Flight Steward Jobs. Eligibility to be an Air Hostess/Flight Steward: 10+2 graduate with a diploma/degree in tourism management/hotel management.
Is there any exam for air hostess?
Some of the top colleges and universities in the nation conduct entrance exams like that of the AIAEE, NCHMCT JEE and AEEE for admission to the air hostess course. Some of the private institutes also provide direct admission based on the performance of the student in their 10+2 board exams.
Is being a cabin crew a good job?
There are many advantages as a cabin crew. You will experience new things, you meet many great people, you get to see some beautiful places and cultures. Here is a list of advantages and cool things that come with this job: One of the greatest advantage of being a cabin crew is, that you get to see new places.
What are the disadvantages of being a flight attendant?
While the disadvantages are the erratic and unexpected changing of schedule due to unavoidable reasons. Misconception of the job is another disadvantage, because the passenger thinks that they can ask the cabin crews to do anything, whereas flight attendants are there for safety purposes in the first place.
Where do flight attendants sleep between flights?
Flight attendants and pilots get their own designated sleeping areas on long-haul flights built especially for them. While flight attendants are supposed to sleep on bunk beds in tiny crew rest areas, pilots take rest in separate sleeping compartments, where they can spend up to half of their time on a long flight.
Do flight attendants share rooms?
Flight Attendants do not work a standard 8 to 5 work week. Does the airline pay for Flight Attendant hotel accommodations on layovers? Yes. The airline pays for a hotel room for each crew member as well as arranging company paid transportation to and from the hotel.
Do flight attendants families fly free?
That doesn't extend to everyone: non-dependent children, travel companions, extended families, and guests are only eligible for reduced-rate travel. According to the employee benefit page, domestic flights are "free" but travels to international destinations are subject to government and airport fees.