What Does an Air Hostess Do? How to Become an Air Hostess in India?

From the early days of aviation, air hostesses have welcomed, ushered, served, and assisted passengers travelling by air. On-ground they are responsible for various pre-boarding formalities and assistance. Whereas during a flight, they look after the safety and comfort of passengers to ensure traveller satisfaction. They are the celebrities of the airlines' industries. Usually, they attract a lot of attention by simply mentioning their career choice.

What are the types of air hostesses?

Flight Attendants: They are responsible for the safety of each passenger. They are the ones who are seen demonstrating various procedures related to safety and emergency before take-off.

Cabin Crew: They are responsible for ensuring that all flyers are provided with food, water, and other help required to keep them comfortable.

Ground Crew: They are entrusted with check-in formalities and collecting bags for air transport. They need to provide on-ground assistance before the journey begins in City A and after it gets over in city B. They are equipped to handle all queries and offer all sorts of aid to the passengers.

Except for the ground crew, the other types of air hostesses are required to travel with the passengers.

Requirements for becoming an air hostess

Educational Qualifications:

• A Degree/Diploma/Certificate course in Aviation, Air Hostess training, Airport management, Ground staff training, tourism and hospitality, etc., is a must to become an air hostess.

Physical Qualification:

1. Height should be at least 5' - 5'2"
2. Weight should be proportional to the candidate's height.
3. Age cut-off is approx. 18-26 years.
4. Applicants should be capable enough to pick up heavy bags, open emergency doors, push food carts etc.

Personality Requirements:

1. Good communications skills.
2. Good interpersonal skills.
3. Warm, welcoming nature. Willingness to serve passengers.
4. Able to handle all types of people and their attitudes.
5. Patient with passengers, especially elders, children and disabled.
6. Self-driven, yet a team player.
7. Calm under pressure.

Benefits of being an air hostess.

1. Air hostesses earn one of the best salaries in the service industry.
2. Free pick up and drop at the airport before and after work.
3. Opportunity to travel to new cities within India and abroad for FREE.
4. When away from home, they get 5-star accommodation and food allowance.
5. Chance to meet new people of all sorts and experience diverse cultures.

Things you should understand before becoming an air-hostess.

1. The working hours are long and not fixed.

2. An air hostess may have to work early mornings, late nights, weekends, etc. There are no fixed shifts.

3. No choice of destination or for the sector of your flight. The staff must operate on the assigned flight only.

4. You may have to deal with some rude people who will treat you like a waitress.

5. You have to do everything on the flight, from welcoming guests to serving them food and beverages.

6. You will be required to collect trash from passengers and, in some cases, tidy the washrooms.

7. The job requires you to be able to lift heavy handbags and fit them in the overhead bins of the aircraft.

8. Maintaining a routine like gymming, attending physical classes, etc., becomes challenging because you have to keep going to different cities every other day.

9. Certain airlines have a cut-off age in the 30s for the air hostess staff, making this a bold career option.

   Here's hoping this article helps you make a better decision about the career you wish to pursue. However, if you are confused about which field is apt for you, take this free career guidance testtoday. Glow & Lovely Careers (formerly known as Fair & Lovely Career Foundation) lets you take a free online English course. This course will help improve your communication skills to become an air hostess. So try it today.