There are many young girls and women who want to become flight attendants. There is a very romantic image surrounding this profession. However, there are also certain disadvantages. It is hard work and a flight attendant is away from home a lot. At the same time she sees a lot of the world. Special training is offered for flight attendants. In addition, each airline has its own internal training courses. The profession of steward (man) or stewardess (woman) is a popular profession. There are many people who have a very romantic view of it, because flight attendants fly all over the world. At the same time it is hard work and an irregular existence. That is the dark side that many people do not immediately see. There are different types of flight attendants. There are both ground stewardesses and flight attendants who work on the plane, the so-called cabin crew. Sometimes both of these tasks are performed by the same people. The cabin crew manager is called a purser. He or she manages the rest of the cabin crew during the flight.
How do I become a flight attendant?
Certain requirements are imposed on the profession of flight attendant. This varies per company, but in broad terms these requirements are similar. For example, a flight attendant must be at least 18 to 21 years old. Requirements are also set for the level of education. A flight attendant usually must have completed a HAVO diploma or MBO education. Furthermore, a flight attendant usually must speak at least English and another language. A flight attendant may also not be longer than 1.90 meters tall and not too wide. In addition, requirements are also imposed on appearance. For example, a flight attendant may not have visible tattoos or nose piercings, for example. In the past, there have been several lawsuits surrounding incidents, but the airline was usually found in favor in those cases. Another requirement is that the flight attendant must live a maximum of 60 minutes’ travel from the base airport. This is so that she must be on site quickly when she is booked for a reserve shift. Finally, a flight attendant may not have a criminal record. In that case, she would not be able to enter certain countries, such as the United States.
Working as a flight attendant
Various institutes offer preparatory training for the profession of flight attendant. Candidates who take these courses have a better chance of being hired. There is always a lot of interest when flight attendants are sought. Competition is fierce, especially in times of crisis. In times of crisis, fewer people fly and therefore fewer flight attendants are needed. Each airline also offers internal courses. These usually last four to seventeen weeks. This course consists of the same components for every company. Attention is paid to emergency situations, fire safety, first aid and evacuation procedures. Flight attendants also receive training in how to deal with difficult passengers.
Advantages and disadvantages of the flight attendant profession
There are certain advantages to being a flight attendant. This way she sees a lot of the world and can sometimes fly family or partners with her at low cost. At the same time, there are also many disadvantages. It is hard work in a small space with sometimes difficult passengers. In an airplane it is not possible to simply withdraw. It also takes a lot of energy to have to be friendly all the time. There are also certain health problems. The air is often very dry and flight attendants can suffer from sleep disorders due to the many jet lags. The regulations always take into account that flight attendants have a mandatory number of rest hours. It is also often traumatic for the family because the flight attendants lead an irregular life. The salary of a flight attendant is also good. This is partly due to the irregularity allowances. Most Dutch flight attendants worked for companies such as Easyjet, KLM, Transavia and Arkefly.