It’s 2025, and more airlines are recruiting new flight attendants. This is due to the increase in air travel demand, leading airlines to expand capacity, add more destinations, and order more planes. As a result, airlines continue to hire more flight attendants. However, those who do not make it and even those who never tried applying always say that “airline recruitment standards for flight attendants are high.” But are the recruitment standards for flight attendants high, or do people use this as a reason for not getting in? Here are my thoughts and analysis.
Safety is always the top priority in aviation
Are the recruitment standards for flight attendants really high? The answer is yes. The main reason is that their primary duty is to ensure the safety and security of all passengers on board. Serving meals is secondary. A flight attendant’s responsibility is huge because they are responsible for human lives.
Flight attendants must be able to evacuate passengers in an emergency in less than 90 seconds. This means they have no time to panic. They must make quick decisions, work as a team, and remember emergency procedures under pressure. Despite the danger, they must think and act immediately without letting emotions take over. Airlines also assess emotional intelligence (EQ) during the hiring process to determine if applicants can handle emergency situations.
Medical emergencies also occur on board, and not every situation they trained for will happen the same way in real life. Flight attendants must know how to respond to unexpected medical situations. Airlines assess their intellect, decision-making skills, and ability to communicate clearly, especially during emergencies. Strong communication skills ensure passengers understand safety procedures. Airlines also evaluate customer service skills since flight attendants work in the hospitality industry and interact with passengers with different needs and personalities.
Height and arm reach requirements exist because flight attendants must be able to access emergency equipment stored in overhead compartments and other areas in the aircraft galley. Airlines also assess confidence, as flight attendants must gain the trust of passengers. If passengers feel the crew is unsure of what they are doing, they may not follow instructions during an emergency.
Even serving meals is not as easy as it seems. Every step is carefully coordinated to ensure efficient service without compromising quality and safety. This is why teamwork is essential for cabin crew members.
These recruitment standards for flight attendants exist for valid reasons, not for discrimination. They ensure flight attendants can handle their responsibilities effectively.
High but not overwhelmingly high
Why does it seem like only a few applicants get hired during recruitment events? The answer is numbers. Airlines hire based on operational requirements. Hiring too many would be costly. Airlines are not obligated to hire someone just because they have applied multiple times or traveled far for the recruitment event.
For example, if an airline needs only 50 flight attendants and 100 people apply, each person has a 50% chance of getting in. If 500 people apply for those 50 slots, the chance drops to 10%. Based on recent data, airlines in the Philippines usually open only 50 to 200 slots, while the number of applicants can reach 15,000 to 20,000. This means only about 1% of applicants are selected.
Even if 500 applicants meet all qualifications, an airline that needs only 100 flight attendants will choose the top 100. This makes the standards feel high, but the real issue is the high number of applicants compared to available slots.
What if only 50 flight attendants are needed and only 10 out of 500 applicants are qualified? The airline will not hire unqualified applicants just to fill the slots. They will take in the 10 and conduct another recruitment until they find 50 qualified candidates.
What does this mean for you?
Should you still join mass recruitment events? Yes. The challenge is how to stand out and increase your chances of getting hired. Instead of blaming the standards or the situation, focus on improving yourself. If you do not adapt, others will.
Is it okay to try multiple times? Yes, but each attempt should make you a better version of yourself.
Lastly, having a “backer” does not guarantee success. If an unqualified person gets hired through connections, they can become a safety risk. If an accident happens due to their lack of training, the airline could face serious legal trouble. This is a risk airlines do not want to take.
Generally, airline recruitment standards for flight attendants are high all around, and not only in the Philippines. However, no standards are too high if you really want to earn this job and to really stay long here.
It is good that airlines maintain high standards. This job is not about having a pretty face on board or traveling the world for social media. It is about safety and service to every passenger. This is why recruitment standards for flight attendants are high.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
