A New Career in the Sky
Overview: Are you thinking of a mile-high career? Our handy guide explains what this career entails and how to make it happen.
It’s easy to see why a career as an air steward might appeal - it conjures up images of far flung locations and the promise of free international travel. While the industry has changed a lot since the heyday of glamorous ‘trolley dollies’, there is still much to recommend a career as cabin crew. But don’t be fooled - it involves as much hard work as it does sipping exotic cocktails on a lounger! In this guide we take a look at exactly what this job entails, offering advice on how to pursue this career if you’ve got your heart set on working above the clouds.
What Do Air Stewards Do?
This is an extremely demanding job that’s not for the faint of heart. Air stewards are in charge of greeting passengers, helping them board the plane, ensuring all safety measures are adhered to and serving refreshments. Once the flight lands, cabin crew are also in charge of helping the passengers disembark, and sometimes help with cleaning the plane ready for its next flight. Hours can be long and exhausting, especially on international flights when stewards are on their feet for extended periods of time. They also have to be willing to work antisocial hours, including nights, weekends and holidays.
However, it isn’t all hard work! Air stewards enjoy international stopovers, funded by the airline – this is especially true for long-distance airlines. Hotels are paid for, and crew are also given a living allowance. One consideration though – often air stewards will need their own annual travel insurance for stopovers as the airline will only cover them while they are actually working.
In addition, staff are often given heavily discounted flights for use in their own time. So, if you are someone who wants to see the world, cabin crew could be the ideal job for you – it offers a unique opportunity to travel whilst making money.
How to Become an Air Steward
You are usually expected to apply directly to the airline – all major carriers have recruitment websites which are well worth exploring, such as BA Cabin Crew, Thomas Cook and Virgin Atlantic.
But what sort of people are they looking for? Firstly, there are height and weight requirements – usually crew are expected to be a minimum of 5’2. They must also look presentable, with no visible tattoos or piercings. GSCEs in Maths and English are usually expected, while a language can also be an advantage. Normal colour vision and the ability to swim are also essential!
Airlines tend to train cabin crew at their headquarters, a process which usually takes around a month. Before getting to this stage, though, there are courses you can take which will set you in good stead for a career in aviation. These include:
- Level 1 Certificate in Exploring the Aviation Industry- Level 2 Certificate in Introduction to Air Cabin Crew
- Level 2 Certificate/Diploma in Air Cabin Crew (New Entrant)
What are the Prospects?
The life of an air steward is perhaps better suited to those who are young and unattached, as it involves much time away from home. But when you want to settle down, what prospects does this career offer? Many cabin crew successfully transition to land-based roles or other management positions in the airline. Experience in aviation also serves as a good foundation for other careers within the service and leisure industries.
If you have an adventurous heart, want to see the world and love serving people, an air steward could well be your dream job.