Air Hostess Job Description

"Sally Weston: Donna, did I ever tell you about a nasty habit that flight attendants pick up on the job?
Donna Jensen: No.
Sally Weston: We learn to always keep smiling, even when we're out of Bloody Mary mix." ~ From the movie, View from the Top

An air hostess is a female flight attendant who works in a commercial domestic and / or international flight, and is responsible to monitor and protect the public safety of the passengers on board, and fulfill their basic on-board requests including foods and beverages as per preferences, blankets and pillows, taking care of passengers who require special attention in their illness, helping passengers with finding their seats, placing their luggage, and so on. Considering all these factors, the Federal Aviation Academy (FAA) has implemented certain laws and guidelines regarding the job requirements of being an air hostess, as this career option is one of the most important and sought after jobs available in the aviation sector.

Air Hostess Job Description

It's a dream for most of the girls to have a career that gives them an opportunity to fly around the world with a chance to look their best..., always! If you are one of them, then let me tell you that with every positive aspect that this job contains, you must also be willing to face the challenges and difficulties that are bound to come your way. Air hostesses are expected to look, act, and serve like the angels in the sky who are taking care of the passengers traveling miles above the surface of the earth. And let me tell you, it is not easy to be an angel. Let us discuss the job requirements of becoming an air hostess in detail.

Certified Qualifications
It is mandatory for aspiring air hostesses to hold at least a high school diploma for domestic airlines. However, most of the international airlines prefer a college diploma, or additional degrees in the field of psychology, tourism and communication skills. This is so because being an air hostess demands humbleness, good communication skills, politeness and customer service. Patience is again something which is a must. This is because dealing with different passengers at the same time will test your patience and the ability to handle challenging situations resulting from different human behaviors. An FAA certificated training is also mandatory for an aspiring air hostess. This training teaches how to handle passengers under critical circumstances such as terrorist attack, injuries, emergency situations, and so on.

Physical Appearance
If you aspire to become an air hostess, the age limit varies from 16-25 years. There are other requirements when it comes to physical appearance. Some of these parameters include a good height, clear complexion, pleasant smile, confidence in the way you carry yourself, and a fit body. You can go to the website of the respective airlines and find all the information that you need when it comes to know the age and height limit of the candidates. However, if you think you are tall enough to comfortably reach the overhead bin of the flight, then you should be good to go. When your job expects you to take care of the travelers, quick thinking and tactful skills are also required. Therefore, the airlines wish their attendants to be both physically and mentally fit, so that they can catch up with the challenges that are required to be met.

Personality Traits
When it comes to personality traits, as already mentioned, air hostesses should have a pleasing and charming personality. Patience is immensely required as you need to deal with people from across the globe, trust me, they can be unbelievably difficult to deal with! But you need to hold your calm with them. Having excellent communication skills is your way to win your passenger's heart with your words. Apart from this, you also need to be quick and alert as this job demands people who are highly competitive. A neat attire, a groomed look, a caring and friendly approach, and a hospitable smile. These are the pleasant traits that you must possess in order to be the perfect air hostess.

Job Duties
Coming to the job duties, an air hostess is responsible for patiently informing and briefing the passengers about the safety rules that need to be followed while traveling in an airplane. Before each flight takes off, there is a briefing conducted by the flight pilot about the flight plan and the various cabin crew jobs and duties on the flight. This helps the entire team to coordinate their activities as demanded by the situation. Air hostesses, or flight attendants, also need to check the working conditions of emergency equipment, availability of first aid kits, adequate supply of beverages, blankets and pillows; before the passengers board the plane. After the passengers have arrived on the plane, the air hostess needs to check passenger tickets, assist the passengers to find their seat and place the carry-on baggage. They also need to educate the passengers regarding the use of seat belts and emergency equipment. They are also responsible for taking care of the food and beverages of the passengers on board and help them evacuate the plane in case of emergencies.

Working Conditions
No matter how glamorous and amazing the job of an air hostess seems to be, they do have their share of challenges as well. The working hours are irregular as there are always delays and changes in the flight plan. For domestic flights, the shift can go for as long as 14 hrs, or longer, if you are working for an international flight. Also, the job requires you to work during holidays or weekends, making you spend approximately 65-90 hrs per month in the air, plus additional 50 hours spent on writing reports and preparing to fly. You do get paid for the overtime on an hourly basis and the airline pays for your hotel stay and meals, but, most of the time is spent traveling!

Remuneration and Rewards
Speaking of remuneration, the salary varies from country to country. Speaking of United States, the salary for a fresher starts from approximately $16,000 and can go up to $30,000. Apart from the basic salary, air hostesses also avail the benefits of various attractive perks and packages which includes free stay at the world's luxurious 5 star hotels, free pick and drop, a chance to meet and serve some of the most famous celebrities, and to see the entire world at its best while getting paid for it! It is truly a career filled with style, dignity, money, and class!

Career Growth
As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is likely to be a growth by 11% between the period of 2006-2016. Apart from that, if you love traveling and glamor, love to see new places, are willing to take the challenges that this job has to offer (with the mindset of excelling in your job in each and every possible way); growth is definitely inevitable.

They say you have to wait for a lifetime to get the best rewards. Well, as far as this rewarding job is concerned, you don't really have to wait for a lifetime, but yes, you do need to start focusing on your strengths and work towards your goals of becoming an air hostess. There is a lot of competition, and with a job as high paying and rewarding as this, there is bound to be the selection of the finest to get through the spot! All you require is the passion and the heart to serve others by always being your best, and no one can stop you from taking off and flying high. To conclude, I'd like to quote a line from the movie View from the Top, which I'm sure has inspired many girls throughout the globe to become an air hostess. The line goes something like this - "Life is a series of arrivals and departures." Make sure you catch your flight in time. All the best!