There’s no winging it at 30,000 feet.
Tending to the countless needs of air travelers is no light lift, so flight attendants must be especially skilled.
According to one attendant, the post requires tenderness and patience — and the ability to swim if the plane unexpectedly nosedives into water.
“The most important requirements for becoming a flight attendant,” stewardess Rania Ibo wrote in the closed captions of her viral word-to-the-wise for folks considering a career in the clouds.
“No. 1,” she began in the clip, which garnered over 2.5 million views, “You are at least 18 years old — some airlines only hire people aged 21 and over.”
“No. 2,” continued Ibo, an attendant with Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air. “You can swim and feel safe in the water. This will also be tested practically during the training.”
The brunette, a mile-high maven and lifestyle influencer from Dubai, went on to list eight additional criteria that cabin crew candidates must meet before being welcome aboard.
And for good reason.
Most major airlines set their own age, height, language, fitness, citizenship and appearance standards for in-flight staffers, according to experts of TheTravelAcademy.
Owing to the unpredictability of the skies, flight attendants must remain agile, alert, and able to tackle any task — including terrifying turbulence and unruly riders.
Henny Lim, an employee with Cebu Pacific in the Philippines, virally unveiled that she and her fellow flight attendants are instructed to sit on their hands, a posture called the “bracing position,” while departing and landing to reduce the risk of bodily harm in case of an emergency crash.
Ibo, too, previously revealed that, while greeting passengers onto an aircraft, she and her seemingly warm co-workers aren’t just being friendly.
“[We’re checking] whether you are too drunk or sick to fly,” the pro explained to social media in May, adding, “to see who could help us in an emergency.”
And to manage that mess and more, flight attendant have to be fully fit for business.
Here are the boxes Ibo says must be ticked off before takeoff.
- You are at least 18 years old — some airlines only hire people aged 21 and over.
- You can swim and feel safe in the water. This will also be tested practically during the training.
- You have no visible piercings or tattoos. Usually allowed if everything can be covered by your uniform.
- You speak good English. Other foreign languages are always an advantage but not a must. Nevertheless, it is always recommended to list them all.
- You have a valid passport.
- You are able to remain calm, even in stressful situations, and deal with different situations and people professionally.
- You are at least 160 cm (5-feet and 2-inches) tall and physically fit.
- It is no problem for you to be available all year round. You don’t mind having new duty rosters every month.
- You have a visual acuity of +/5 diopters without visual aid.
- You are resilient, flexible and friendly.
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