What Are the Requirements to Be a Flight Attendant?

I get asked many questions about my life as a flight attendant, ranging from how tall do I have to be to what is a layover like or, what happens to my love life?

Everybody wants to know more about how to become a flight attendant.

Let’s face it, being a flight attendant does sound glamorous and exciting. You get to travel the world, you meet lots of interesting people and you do all this while you are being well paid.

For many, it is their dream job. I know it’s mine.

But, to get to be a part of this exciting world, where do you start? Let me help you with that.

In this article, I’m going to cover the very basic requirements needed to become a flight attendant.

I’ve put all this together based on my eleven years of experience as an international flight attendant and from discussions from my many friends and colleagues in the airline industry.

I’ve included the official and the not so official requirements of airlines and I’ve given you some very handy and practical tips on what to expect and what to do when you are pursuing your dream of life in the skies.

1) Nationality – can I be from anywhere in the world?

Okay, I get a lot of questions like: ‘Can a Non-US citizen work as a flight attendant for US airlines?’ and, ‘Is it possible to get a flight attendant job for a European airline if I am an American citizen?’

The answer to both those questions is, yes.

Nationality is not usually a job defining issue for airlines, but you will need to be a legal resident in the country that you are based in and you must also have a working visa.

Be aware that most airlines will NOT provide visa sponsorships for flight attendants and that they won’t even consider your application unless you can prove that you have a working permit for the country in which you will be based.

As far as I know, only a few private jet companies, the Middle East airlines such as Emirates, Qatar, or Etihad and some Asian airlines like – Cathay Pacific, Hainan Airlines, China Southern will arrange a work visa for you.

These airlines are known for hiring a mix of people from different countries up to a certain quota. So if you want to work for one of these, then go for it.

*Note for Europeans: 

As an EU national, you generally don’t need a work permit to work anywhere in the EU.

In fact, in almost all of the European airlines, there are a lot of people working who come from many other European countries.

Personally, I think this is by far one of the most multicultural and diverse environments that you can find to work in on the planet.

In my company, I have colleagues and friends from Romania, France, Morocco, Italy, Russia, Portugal, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Colombia, Brazil, and many other places.

I feel so lucky to work in a multicultural environment, that allows me to have friends that I can visit all over the world. I love it, just love it!

2) Age – Is there an upper and lower limit?

All airlines have a minimum age requirement. For most, it’s eighteen years old. But it can be twenty or twenty-one for some US companies.

The maximum age limit to become a flight attendant is never usually mentioned in application documents or referred to in interviews, as it would be work discrimination based on age.

Ageism, in a word.

So let’s talk about this uncomfortable subject for a bit.

Although it’s seldom mentioned, even in this day and age we see cases of age discrimination in the airline industry. Some companies exclusively hire only young flight attendants, and in many cases, especially in Middle East and Asian airlines, it’s very unlikely that you will find employment as a flight attendant after you are thirty to thirty-five years old. This especially applies if you have no previous experience in the job.

From the point of view of these companies, an employee in their twenties can focus more on their career since they will have no family responsibilities. They will be more flexible, complain less and better represent the company’s public image.

And because of this branding, companies like Emirates, Qatar, Etihad Gulf Air, usually hire people between twenty-one and thirty-two years old.

Even though there’s no maximum age requirement written into their job specifications, they still have a marked preference for younger candidates.

The same thing happens in Asian companies like China Eastern, Singapore Airlines, Air China, Eva Air, or China Eastern – the maximum age is around twenty-seven to twenty-eight.

But having said that, you can still try for a position. I have two friends that joined Emirates at the ages of thirty-three and thirty-five. So it is possible. Not easy, but possible.

Lordy, Lordy,  I feel so old as I am writing this. No, not old; mature and experienced and having a huge amount to offer!

But take heart, US airlines and some EU airlines are very accepting of anyone who is above their minimum age requirement.

In Europe the maximum age limit (even though unspoken) is more flexible, but it does depend on each airline.

In British Airways, Easyjet, Finnair, or KLM,  there is no age limit at all  and they will even hire people over 50 years old.

Also, all the American and Australian companies hire candidates of any age above the minimum.

That’s a big ‘Bravo!’ from me to all those companies.

It’s bewildering to know that such things are still happening in this day and age, but I guess it’s just the mentality of the individual country and the airline company’s culture.

I’ll give you an example of what Qatar Airways Chief Executive, Akbar Al Bake, once said at a business conference.

Feel free to get angry:

“By the way, the average age of my cabin crew is only 26 years, so there is no need for you to travel on these crap American carriers. You know you are always being served by grandmothers at American carriers.”

Thankfully and rightly, after this he had to apologize and write a letter doing so to the AFA (Association of Flight Attendants), a union group of more than 50,000 flight attendants from over 20 American airlines.

TIP: It’s not a bad idea to go to their website https://www.afacwa.org/and do some research about your future career.

We should stop age discrimination against all flight attendants!

Right, I’ve said my piece, so let’s move on.

More on this topic: Am I Too Old to Be a Flight Attendant?

3) Minimum height – how short is too short?

So exactly what is the height requirement to be a cabin crew member?

This is established by each company and you’ll normally find the information on their application websites.

Generally it varies in general between 5 feet 2 inches (158cm) and 6 feet 1 inch (185cm).

The reason for the minimum height requirement is because a flight attendant must be able to reach the safety equipment placed in the overhead compartments in order to carry out emergency procedures.

But while the requirement  is  mainly for safety reasons, it is also to help passengers who are  boarding to find space, or to make space, for their luggage.

The maximum height is not a problem, there are not many airlines putting a maximum height requirement, so being tall is usually an advantage, although being too tall in the confines of an aircraft may be less than comfortable on a long trip.

But there are some airlines that don’t want their cabin crew to be too tall because their planes are smaller and they have less headroom.  In these cases, staff need to be less than 6 feet 1 inch or 185cm

Let’s look at some examples for the height requirement in different airlines:

• British Airways: from 5’2 (157.5cm) to 6’1 (185cm)
• Aer Lingus: from 5’2 to 6’2
• Iberia: minimum 164 cm women; 175cm men
• Lufthansa: 158 cm
• Swiss Air: 158 cm
• Emirates: minimum height of 160cm+arm reach of 212cm
• Air Arabia: 160cm
• Oman airlines: 157 cm
• Singapore Airlines: 158cm females; 165cm males
• Air Asia: 157cm females; 173cm males
• Philippines airlines: 5’3″ females; 5’6″ males
• Mesa Airlines: 4’11”-6′
• PSA: Minimum 5’2″

You’ll find more examples in my article How Tall Do I Need to Be to Become a Flight Attendant?

To check that the height you mentioned in your resume corresponds to your actual height, on the day of the interview most airlines will measure you without your shoes on.

This is usually the first thing they do on the assessment day, so make sure you meet this requirement before going.

Sadly, if you don’t pass, they will send you home straight away.

They are quite strict about this.

There are some airlines that don’t measure your height. Instead, they’ll make you do a little test to make sure that you’ll be able to reach the overhead compartments on the plane.

This is called the arm-reach test, which I think is a much fairer way to go.

In the arm-reach test, the required height will be marked on a wall with a sticker and candidates will be called and asked to remove their shoes and then they’ll have to raise their arm/s to see if they can reach the mark.

This arm reach test is also an elimination round, so this is one of those ‘Please try this at home,’ things to do to save you disappointment and a possible spot of depression later.

Examples of airlines arm reach requirements are: 

• Etihad: able to reach 212 cm without shoes.
• JetBlue: able to reach 6’3” without shoes.
• Frontier Airlines: ability to reach into overhead compartments with a height of 67” and depth of 28
• Cathay Pacific: able to reach 208 cm without shoes.

Is it possible to be a flight attendant if you are short?

If you think you are too short because your height is below the requirement, don’t panic, you do have a few options:

•  You can still try the airline that you wish to work for if you are only one or two centimeters below the requirement. Any shorter than that and it really doesn’t make much sense in your applying.
• You may be rejected by an airline, but why not try a different one? You might get lucky if they don’t have enough applicants and they waive their height requirement. Or if they are in need of someone who speaks German because they are opening a base in Germany and you are fluent in the language.
• The other option is to apply to airlines that are asking only for the arm-reach test instead of  a minimum height.

If you are in doubt, but you think you’re in with a chance, keep trying – you’ll get there eventually.

4) Education, languages – what do I need?

In most airlines, you need to have completed secondary education or have finished  High School.

To be honest, it does help if you have achieved a higher level of education than that.

Many of my friends and colleagues studied for a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism, English Philology, Nursing, or Translation, before choosing this as a career.

But, look,  if you don’t have a College or University education, don’t worry, it’s not mandatory.

It’s only some Asian airlines or private aviation companies that ask for a university degree.

In terms of languages, English is a basic requirement for any airline in the world.

You’ll need to have a high level both in speaking and writing it. This is a must.

English is the international language of the aviation world, from the cockpit to the control tower.

And, depending on the airline, you may also need a second language.

In Europe, for example, they usually require you to speak the language of the home country where the airline is based as well as  English.

For example, Air France will ask their cabin crew to speak French and English as a minimum

KLM, the national Dutch carrier: Dutch, and English

Iberia, the Spanish flag carrier: Spanish and English.

Of course, if you speak a third language this will be highly valued, but it’s not necessary.

Can I apply for a cabin crew job if I can’t speak English?

Yes and no.

You don’t need to speak English like a native, but you will have to use English almost every day at work and to study many things that are written in English as part of your training.

If you are not a native English speaker, your English will be tested on the day of the interview.

So your chances for success are enhanced if you are as fluent as you can possibly be in the language.

So polish up your skills before you apply. Go to some language exchange meetups, take some conversation classes, travel abroad to English-speaking countries.

English is not as hard a language to speak as some people make out, so a little practice really does go a long way.

You can find more about this in my article: English for cabin crew: how to improve it and pass your interview.

5) Swimming skills – is it really necessary?

During the cabin crew licensing training course, you will have to pass a test to prove that you can swim.

In Spain, for example, you must be able to swim 50 meters in less than 2 minutes and 30 seconds to pass.

In other countries, it’s enough to be able to swim 50 meters unaided across a pool that’s about 2 meters deep, with no timing.

Sounds pretty easy, yes?

Not at all.

The test is usually not done wearing a swimming suit, it’s done in full clothing to simulate a plane-ditching situation.

So read the first sentence of this paragraph again and then imagine doing the same exercise while being weighed down in full uniform.

Each airline will have different exercises, so if you ask me what the swimming tests are like in training, I can only guide you from my personal experience.

1. First, you swim 50 meters – which is an Olympic pool size – with your clothes on.
2. Next, you have put your lifejacket on, jump in the water, inflate your lifejacket, and swim back to the end you started from.
3. You will have to drag someone from one end of the pool to the other with both of you wearing a lifejacket.
4. You must demonstrate that you can tread water for 1 to 2 minutes without wearing a  lifejacket.
5. Jump into the water, swim to the middle of the pool, climb onto a life raft and help others to get on board.
6. Complete 8 meters of continuous underwater swimming

You’ll probably spend the whole morning doing this, but that’s basically all there is to it.

Which probably sounds like more than enough to you.

You can find more about this topic in my article: Do You Need to Be Able to Swim to Be a Flight Attendant?

Look, I’m not a confident swimmer, can I still be cabin crew?

If you don’t know how to swim,  or if you are not very confident in the water, it’s okay, you don’t have to be an amazing lifeguard, just be able to complete the tests.

However, I would recommend that you take swimming classes before the training starts or go to the pool, and until you are totally confident in the water.

In these videos, you can see some examples of the training that is done.

BAA Training: ditching and water survival

 

KLM training in water

 

And don’t get too nervous – your classmates will be in the same position and people who are confident will help you, everyone is in it together and will be supportive.

Don’t worry.

6) Health requirements – how strict are these?

Once you have passed the cabin crew training course, you will have to successfully pass an aeronautical medical examination.

In Europe, for example, we need to pass the EASA class 2 aeromedical examination in order to be allowed to fly.

These tests are carried out by an aeromedical doctor and all new cabin crews are required to take this initial medical exam in order to get their license.

Then after every 5 years up to the age of forty, or every 2 years if you are between forty and fifty years old.

If you develop a medical condition, or if you come back from a long illness, then you may need to take this test again.

But if you are a normally fit and healthy person, the medical is a pretty easy one to pass.

So exactly what does an EASA class 2 medical exam consist of?

• Your medical history: the doctor will ask you questions about previous illnesses.
• Weight and height: weight should be proportionate to height.
• Urine test: to detect drugs or diabetes. Remember that it is totally prohibited to consume drugs, and if during your career as a flight attendant drugs are detected in your test you will lose your job immediately. No ifs, no buts, no excuses.
• Blood test: checking for abnormalities such as anemia, cholesterol, or epilepsy.
• Blood pressure: to detect hypertension.
• Electrocardiogram: to test your heart rate and detect arrhythmias or heart disorders.
• Hearing and sight test: if you wear glasses or lenses don’t forget to take them. You will be OK with astigmatism not exceeding 2 dioptres and hypermetropia or myopia not exceeding 5 dioptres. Also, color vision testing is usually carried out using the Ishihara test.
• Spirometry (in the initial test only): to detect abnormalities in the lung or respiratory function such as asthma.

How much does the aeromedical test cost?

Most airlines will pay for this once you are hired.

But if you need to pay for it yourself, the cost can vary a lot.

It depends on the medical center, the country, even the province and whether or not it’s an initial examination or the extension of a previous one.

Generally, the range is somewhere from €150 an extension to €280 for an initial.

Real-life Requirements in Job Ads

Okay, now  I’ve covered all the basics, let’s take a look at some real-life flight attendant job ads to help give you a sense of what the airlines are looking for.

But before we do that, please bear in mind that what I have written above is really just about the basics.

There is so much more to becoming a flight attendant, but getting the foundation right and then building on them is important.

What are the weirdest demands made by some airlines?

It can sound crazy, but many airlines will also require a certain weight.

They say “weight in proportion to height”.

But what is this?

How do you determine if your weight is in proportion to your height?

Well, the best way or the most common to determine this is by using the BMI (Body Mass Indicator) formula.

This ratio of weight to height calculates that people are at an appropriate weight in relation to their height.

The formula determines that those who come in  at between  18 and 25 are fine. Those over 25 are considered overweight and over 30 is considered obese.

But some companies do decide to calculate the ideal weight with their own BMI charts.

Ana P. is one of my friends and colleagues that was rejected by TAP Airlines (Portugal) for being overweight.

They even asked her on the day of the interview, if she could lose some weight.

And this happened last year in 2019.

She is 1,63cm (5.34ft) and 57kg (125lbs).

The average weight for a woman over twenty in the US is 168.5 lbs. They didn’t even let her pass the first stage of the interview because this perceived weight problem.

Unbelievable!

Ana told me this really dented her confidence, she felt super discouraged.

She had to pay for her flight to Lisbon to attend the interview because she is living in London and when she got there, they told her she needed to lose weight and didn’t even bother to interview her.

If they didn’t want her, could they not have found a less soul destroying excuse?

At least after her traveling all that way.

Could they not have at least given her an interview?

So now you know, if you are applying to TAP, be prepared for them to be archaic in their weight requirements.

And there are more:

• In Aigle Azur, a French Airline, they determined that the ideal hip size for a cabin crew member should not be above 100cm or 39 inches. Anyone above that was out of the selecting process.
• In Air Nostrum, a Spanish regional company, they used to make all the applicants try the uniform skirt on the assessment day in a size EU40 – the biggest size (8 in USA or 12 in the UK) – and if it didn’t fit, you were not eligible.
• In China Southern Airlines they specify in their job ads that the legs of the candidates have to be straight or normally aligned, not bow-legged or knock-kneed. Only beautiful and well aligned legs need apply.
• In Iberia, the main Spanish airline, they were requesting a pregnancy test by all the female applicants as part of their application process until they got fined by the authorities.
• In other airlines, especially in the Middle East and Asia, they only want single flight attendants and those without children. This is also the case at Gulf Air or private airline companies of the UAE. In other cases, they only hire young women flight attendants, like in the case of Go Air or Indigo.

Incredible, right?

Yes, as I said before, archaic and almost medieval.

The sad truth is that flight attendants (who are mostly female) are still suffering discrimination in so many different ways.

And even though it’s not written anywhere, in the end all the airlines do what they want and hire who they want.

It’s harsh and it can be wrong, but it is a reality of our world.

So let’s hope we move  into fairer and better practices in the future.

Other requirements to keep in mind

There are other requirements that I didn’t mention here,  but just briefly, here are some of them:

• Criminal record check certificate: if you’re in the United Kingdom or US you will also be required to provide a 5 or 10 year checkable background. You’ll have to give details about your employment and education history in the last 5-10 years without leaving any gaps.
• Flexible in geographical relocation: as a flight attendant you need to be ready to be based in any city. The company will decide where that will be, so re-location is a large aspect of becoming a flight attendant that you definitely need to be aware of.
• Customer service experience really does count. Fortunately, if you don’t have any, it’s a skill that is very easy to acquire. No need to get a job specifically for this thing outside of the box. What about volunteer work? Charity shops, tour guiding for a local historic site, anything that gets you interacting with customers will be invaluable.
• No visible tattoos, piercings, extreme hair colors, or hairstyles

Conclusion

I know what you’re thinking, this all seems to be more difficult than trying to get into NASA.

But it’s not, you just need to be a little bit lucky and research all about the recruitment process in the airline you want to work for and, most important of all, prepare yourself.

I’m not going to lie.

It’s a long process.

It will probably take you a couple of months, and the training will be hard and intense, but you’ll meet a lot of lovely people and in the end, it will all have been worth it.

I wish you the best of luck!

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