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Flight Attendants

Air cabin crew attend to passengers' needs throughout the flight, serving refreshments and selling duty-free goods. Flight Attendants are expected to be friendly, enthusiastic and courteous at all times. 

The work can be stressful and demanding, but it can also be a varied, interesting and rewarding role.


Tasks may include: 

• attending pre-flight briefings
• welcoming passengers and directing them to their seats
• looking after passengers during the flight
• demonstrating emergency procedures and equipment
• ensuring passenger safety, and directing passengers in an emergency
• making announcements on behalf of the pilot
• serving meals and refreshments
• giving first aid where necessary
• writing a flight report.

Skills and knowledge

Flight attendants need to:

• be able to operate emergency equipment and know about flight and emergency procedures
• have hospitality skills for serving food and drinks
• have first aid and medical skills
• be able to assist passengers with special needs, such as young children and people with disabilities
• be able to give tourists tips and guidance on their stay in New Zealand
• have good communication skills
• have organisational and time management skills.

Personal qualities

To be a flight attendant you need to be:

• customer-focused, with a warm, friendly personality
• able to relate well to people, including a diverse range of cultures
• responsible, practical, mature and professional
• able to work well in a team
• efficient, resourceful and alert.

Pay

On top of their salary, flight attendants are also paid an allowance for things such as meals, accommodation, uniforms and grooming.

Career progression

Flight attendants may be promoted from economy to working in business class or first class, or to a senior crew position such as in-flight service co-ordinator or in-flight service director. They may also transfer to ground-based employment, or move into other tourism and hospitality jobs.