As the airline industry recovers from the effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns, more and more airlines begin to hire flight attendants as capacity increases. There are many aspirants who aspire to earn their wings one day. As a result, I’m going to give you some pointers and advice on how to become a flight attendant, or airline cabin crew, in the Philippines.
It is not an easy task to become a flight attendant. Only a few people are fortunate enough to succeed on their first attempt. Regardless of how many attempts you make, the only thing that matters is earning your wings, even if it takes more than ten.
Because the job entails the safety and security of human lives on board an aircraft, expectations are high, and only a few people are chosen for this position.
Flight attendants must also deal with a hundred or more different personalities in a single day. They must be adaptable, patient, caring, and understanding, as well as selfless, competent, and professional. At the same time, they serve as the airline’s brand ambassadors. As a result, the responsibilities they bear are significant.
How to become a cabin crew in the Philippines?
In essence, becoming an airline cabin crew is similar to applying for any other job. You submit your resume, wait for the airline to confirm a scheduled interview, attend the screening, wait for the results, go through training if you pass, and then begin flying. Isn’t it simple? No, not at all.
In the Philippines, airline standards are extremely high. Indeed, only about 10% of all applicants pass the screening process. Given the responsibilities and nature of the job, airlines are very picky about who they hire for cabin crew.
The screening process for becoming a flight attendant varies depending on the airline. Minimum height requirements apply to airlines such as AirAsia Philippines and PALexpress. Cebu Pacific considers total arm reach. This is why it is critical to always read the list of requirements and qualifications provided by the airlines. Never assume that all of them are the same.
Some local airlines hire foreign nationals as cabin crew interpreters, such as Japanese Interpreters, Chinese Interpreters, and Korean Interpreters, for foreign nationals who want to work for an airline in the Philippines. According to what I know, Japanese and Korean interpreters are based in their home countries but receive training in Manila if we’re talking about Philippine Airlines. They fly only between the Philippines and their home countries. For regular cabin crew positions, you must have a Philippine passport.
Is it necessary to go to a flight attendant school or take a flight attendant course?
To be clear, the airlines do not require you to first attend a flight attendant school. However, flight attendant schools and short courses have advantages in that they prepare you ahead of time. They already show you what to expect during the hiring and training processes.
Regardless of whether you attended a flight attendant school or not, you will go through the same recruitment and airline training process. Passing will be entirely dependent on your performance.
In addition, there are no required college courses or strands to become a cabin crew member. Any course will suffice! College courses in the hospitality industry are also beneficial, but they are not required to become a flight attendant.
Where to find airline jobs?
First and foremost, you can find these on the airlines’ official websites and social media accounts. I also post cabin crew hiring events on my page or on this website, along with links to the airline’s official website or Facebook announcement. However, I recommend that you only use the airlines’ official social media accounts and websites.
Please be cautious about using other social media accounts as your primary source of information. Fake news or incorrect information can land you in hot water.
You must devote time to this, and when you find one, please conduct thorough research. Understand all of the qualifications and requirements. You should also read the process flow so that you know what to do when you start applying.
Should you apply even if you don’t meet one of the qualifications or requirements? Yes! You won’t know unless you try. You’ll never learn unless you put forth the effort. If others tell you, “wag ka na mag apply kasi sayang ang oras mo lang,” believe me, you’re wasting your time by listening to them. If you go out and try, you will not lose anything. At the end of the day, you gain valuable experience and lessons.
If you need tips and advice to pass the cabin crew recruitment, please do check this.
Cabin crew training
You will be required to complete the airline’s cabin crew training after passing the recruitment and screening processes. This usually lasts about 70 days and no one is immune. Whether or not you attended a flight attendant school, you will still have to go through the airline’s rigorous training. This is something you should be prepared for.
This is actually ten times more difficult than the recruitment process. With exams every day, you will have to do a lot of reading and memorization. The passing rate for all Philippine airlines is 90%, and you only have three “lifelines.” This means you can only fail three times. If you do, you will be removed from training and will have to go through the entire recruitment and training process again.
You may read more about the training process here.
Once you have completed all of the training and check rides, the airline will issue you your wings, indicating that you are now a full-fledged flight attendant.
So I hope this summarizes how to become a flight attendant. It’s basically just like applying for a job in any company. Good luck!
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!
