Career as an Air Hostess or a Flight Steward

What: The most important aspects of air travel are to make the journey of the passenger as much as comfortable and safe. It is here the air hostess / flight steward play a great role. They are people who welcome passengers aboard an aircraft. They help them in their seating arrangements and arranging their hand baggage in the proper manner. They ensure the safety-belt arrangements and demonstrate the use of emergency equipment. They make the necessary announcements inside the flight.

Air hostesses and flight stewards have to be on duty throughout the duration of the flight looking after passengers in general and taking special care of air-sick travellers, sick children and babies; and also the elderly people or very young who are traveling alone. They serve meals to passengers and to the crew. They are trained in first aid and handling emergency situations during the flight.  

Many young girls as well as boys opt for the career because of the exciting experience of flying, visiting different places, interacting with different kinds of people on board and for the very attractive pay package. Liberalization of air policies has increased the private operation of air services and this has created immense job opportunities in this field. Average salary of an air-hostess ranges between Rs. 30,000 to 40,000 per month, excluding perks. These figures may vary from airline to airline. Salary of a fresher air-hostess could be even less than above stated figures but these would climb up, depending upon experience and performance. However, there are opportunities of promotion to the rank of Senior Hostess/Steward, Cabin Supervisors, and Training Manager as well as to the senior administrative positions.

Experience is duly rewarded. Today, growing competition among airlines have made them more compromising in terms of salaries. Reputed airlines are ready to pay even more than Rs. 50,000 a month, provided you have gained good experience.

If you are working in international airlines, your salary could be equal to what a pilot gets after a flight in India as air-hostess working in international airlines, generally get daily allowance in the currency of the respective country. This allowance is much higher than Indian allowance. Thus, their total earnings could go up to Rs. 60,000 per month.

How: After completing the initial screening of applicants, private airlines company may invite them for a written examination, usually of the objective type. Those who qualify in the written test have to appear for a group discussion followed by a personal interview of successful candidates. Trainee cabin crew undergo training in catering, first aid, general airborne procedures, documentation (dealing with the flight documents they have to complete after each flight), use of the public address system and technical details of aircraft pressurization and ventilation. They are given lessons in the use of safety equipment and the emergency drill.

Airlines recruit cabin crew (air hostess/ flight stewards) on the basis of certain eligibility criteria:

• Age & Marital Status : Below 25 years & Unmarried
• Height & Weight: Minimum height should be 154.5-157.5 cm for air hostess and 170-180 cm for flight steward. Weight should Proportionate to height as per the company’s standards
• Vision: Preferably normal eyesight without glasses or minimum uncorrected vision should be 6/24 in each eye.
• Educational: Graduate degree from a recognised university, or Plus Two/Equivalent with 3 year diploma in Hotel Management and Catering from a recognised institute. Knowledge of the national language and at least one international language (English) is essential

Where: See Below