How to Become an Air Hostess?

An Air Hostess or flight attendant or cabin crew is typically a member of an aircrew employed by airlines primarily to ensure the comfort and safety of passengers aboard airline flights, commercial flights, business jet craft, or military aircraft. In order to understand how to become an Air Hostess, it is essential to familiarise yourself with their responsibilities during a flight. If you are exploring the question of how to become an Air Hostess, then you have come to the right place. Here is a complete guide on pursuing your career as an Air Hostess, training institutes and courses, fees, salary, requirements, qualifications to become an Air Hostess, and more.

Must Read: How to Become a Pilot After 12th?

How to Become an Air Hostess: Career Paths 

Aspirants can choose from three different career paths. Let’s take a look at them:

• Pursue air hostess training right after 12th and apply for a job
• Complete Graduation, undergo training and then apply for a job
• Complete Graduation (relevant) and then directly apply for a job

Note: Airlines typically hire air hostesses based on their skills and aptitude. A written test and a series of interviews are typically used in the selection process.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become an Air Hostess?

Here are the major qualifications to become an Air Hostess in India:

• To become an air hostess, you should have completed 10+2 or equivalent from an accredited institution.
• The candidates who haven’t completed their high school are required to go for a GED test, i.e. General Educational Development Test.
• The candidate with a degree in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism are given preference.
• Basic computer skills and math competency can be highly beneficial.
• Good command of the English language and a knowledge of an international language is an added advantage.
• The candidate must clear a 3 to 6 weeks training program at the base location confined with the particular airline.
• The completion of the formal training program allows you to gain a certification and license from an authorised body regulating all aspects of civil aviation in a particular country like the FAA (The Federal Aviation Administration) in the US.

How to Become an Air Hostess after 12th?

To become an Air Hostess after 12th, you need to apply directly to the aviation training institute as the basic qualification needed to pursue Air Hostess training is 10+2 from a recognized board. Here are the top training institutes to pursue aviation training that provide proper qualifications to become Air Hostess after 12th in India:

1. Pacific Airways
2. Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training
3. Aptima Air Hostess Academy
4. Livewel Academy
5. PTC- Aviation Academy
6. Indira Gandhi Institute of Aeronautics (IGIA)
7. Universal Aviation Academy (UAA)

When it comes to entrance tests, you might be required to clear a written test and interview round to pursue Air Hostess training at these academies and institutes in India.

We have listed below the major universities and colleges providing cabin crew training programs across the globe to help you further in your research on how to become an Air Hostess:

1. Glendale Community College
2. Moraine Valley Community College
3. Community College of Baltimore County
4. Gwinnett Technical College
5. Orange Coast College
6. Ball State University
7. Liberty University
8. International Air and Hospitality Academy

Check Out: MBA in Airport Management

How to Become an Air Hostess After 10th

It’s one of the most frequently asked questions by students that whether or not they can pursue or become an air hostess after 10th. Well, the answer is no! The minimum eligibility criteria for working as an Air Hostess or Flight Steward is a 10+2 diploma in any stream (Science/Commerce/Arts) with English as a subject. The minimum educational requirement is a 10+2 diploma. Having said that, graduates or diploma holders are typically preferred by airlines. Graduates with a degree or diploma in fields such as hospitality, travel and tourism management, aviation, and aviation management are preferred by airlines (international and national both). Along with the above-mentioned educational qualifications, candidates must also meet the physical and medical standards mentioned in the next segment of the blog. 

Physical and Medical Requirements

There is a standard eligibility criterion that you need to fulfil in order to become an Air Hostess. Here are the major physical requirements that airlines require:

• The minimum age to become an air hostess is generally 18 or 21 years.
• The minimum height of the candidate should be 5’ – 5’2”.
• Your bodyweight should be in proportion to the height.
• There should not be any visible marks, tattoos or body piercings.
• The candidate should be able to carry beverage or meal carts and lift emergency window exits and open emergency doors. 
• No mental illness record.
• A vision test is mandatory to check that the candidate’s far and near vision is at least 20/40 with glasses or contact lenses.
• A hearing test with no loss on audiometry in better ear greater than 40 dB when losses at 500 or 100 or 2000 Hz are averaged.
• The candidate must pass DOT fingerprinting and drug screening test. 

Recommended Read: Aviation Courses After Graduation

Air Hostess Training Courses

Here are the top Air Hostess training courses offered in India and abroad:

Diplomas in Air Hostess Training (1 year)

• Diploma in Air Hostess Training
• Diploma in Cabin Crew or Flight Attendant Training
• Diploma in Aviation and Hospitality Management
• Diploma in Hospitality and Travel Management
• PGDM in Aviation and Hospitality Services
• PGDM in Airport Ground Services
• PGDM in Aviation, Hospitality, Travel & Customer Service

Certificate Courses (3 to 6 to 12 months)

• Air Hostess Management
• Air Hostess Training
• Cabin Crew or Flight Attendant
• Airlines Hospitality
• Aviation Management and Hospitality
• Flight Purser (certification)
• Aviation Customer Service (certification)
• Airlines Hospitality (certification)
• Hospitality and Air travel Management (certification)
• Airline Passenger Service (certification)

Degree Programs in Aviation (2-3 years)

• BBA in Aviation
• B.Sc. in Air Hostess Training
• Bachelor of Travel and Tourism Management
• Bachelor of Hospitality and Travel Management
• Degree in International Airline and Travel Management
• BBA in Airport Management
• MBA in Aviation 
• BSc Aviation
• MBA in Aviation Management

Salary of an Air Hostess

As an air hostess, your salary will largely depend on the airline you are working with. On an average, air hostesses earn somewhere around 25,000 INR – 40,000 monthly [indicative] while the salary package for senior positions can be even higher upto 50,000 INR-75000 INR [indicative] for those working with domestic airlines. Further, private airlines offer high-salaried packages somewhere up to 2 Lakh to 3 Lakh per month [indicative].

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Skills Required

Customer service is an integral part to succeed as an Air Hostess and requires a specific set of skills to carry out a variety of tasks under severe pressure. The idea is not only about knowing how to become an Air Hostess but to grasp the skills needed to fit into the job requirements.

Here is a list of skills, qualifications and capabilities required to become an Air Hostess.

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills 
• Detail-oriented and organized to work in a team.
• Empathetic behaviour toward the elderly, children and sick passengers.
• Calm and composed demeanour during stressful situations and emergencies like air turbulence, mechanical problems etc to ensure that passengers are following safety procedures.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with culturally diverse groups.
• Professionalism
• Good physical conditions to handle erratic schedules like longer shifts, hefty tasks etc.
• Quick thinking and good memory for working in a fast-paced and tight-spaced environment.

Must Read: Air Ticketing Courses

Here is How to Become an Air Hostess?

Here is a detailed step-by-step procedure and qualifications you need to follow to become an air hostess:

• Pursue Air Hostess training at a recognised cabin crew training institute or academy.
• Thoroughly research the airline you are interested in working with and lookup their destinations.
• Read the career page of the airline’s website to understand more about the recruitment process and eligibility requirements.
• Ensure that your passport is up to date with at least 12 months before expiry.
• Be clear that you don’t have visa restrictions into any country.
• Having a minimum of 2 years of experience in a frontline job or customer-facing role is an added advantage.
• You should know where to apply and keep more available options. 
• If you are shortlisted, then you will have to travel to the assigned venue for a face to face interview and GD.
• Moreover, there will be a clear drug test and background check.
• Qualifying the interview, you will get your entry ticket into your chosen training institute.

Check Out: Commercial Pilot Courses

Perks

In order to understand how to become an Air Hostess, you should know that this job profession is characterised with a fair share of dedication, rewards and commitments. It is more than a simple quest around the globe.

• A career as a flight attendant offers an opportunity to earn and explore beautiful places in the world.
• While you’re on-board you will get an opportunity to interact with a wide range of people with different professions, nationality or language. As an Air Hostess, it will help you build industry-specific contacts.
• Along with a discount on your personal tours, you will definitely get an exclusive discount on travel and tickets when planning a trip with your family.
• Airline companies also provide free medical benefits or insurance to employees
• Moreover, cabin crews are paid well along with other benefits like allowances for daily meals and affiliated hotels during layovers, transportation for work trips, gratuity, retirement benefits, amongst others.

Want to know more? Here’s a complete guide on How to Make A Surefire Career in Aviation!

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Below is a list of several tasks assigned to Air Hostesses during a flight:

• Ensure the Comfort and Safety of Passengers: They oversee passenger requests, serve food and beverages and comfort sick passengers. Moreover, they have to review emergency and safety procedures prior to take-off in order to ensure safety in the flight.

• Assist Passengers in Deplaning: It is the duty of a flight attendant to ensure that passengers are safely in their seats as the plane descends and all loose objects or garbage has been removed and secured. Once the plane lands, they help passengers with their luggage and direct them to depart the plane.

• Conduct Pre as well as Post-Flight Checks: Pre-flight check involves testing of safety equipment to ensure that it is in working condition and post-flight checks ensure that passenger items have been removed and seats and trays are placed properly. Other than this, they might do some light cleaning on the interior of the plane as well.

Check Out: Airport Management Courses

Top Recruiters

Some of the well known and famous recruiters in Aviation are mentioned below:

• SpiceJet
• IndiGo
• Lufthansa
• Virgin Atlantic
• Air India
• Air Asia 
• Vistara
• GoAir
• Emirates Airlines
• Qatar Airways
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific

FAQs

With the enormous growth in the aviation industry, it is highly beneficial to know how to become an Air Hostess in order to familiarise yourself with the essentials of this career in the Airline industry. Leverage Edu mentors can help you select an ideal training program that will equip you with the essential skills for building a flying career in Aviation. For more entertaining and informative content, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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