flight attendant skills

Less-known skills and qualities needed to be a flight attendant

A lot of us are very familiar with the important qualities and skills needed to become a flight attendant. We are all aware that customer service and communication skills are very important. However, there are some essential qualifications that every flight attendant needs to have, but these are not well known. These are the ability to make proper and quick decisions, intelligence, and a high emotional quotient.

Flight attendants are in charge of the passengers’ and crew’s safety and well-being during a flight. They are the first line of defense in an emergency or unforeseen event, and as such, rapid decision making abilities, intellect, and a high emotional quotient are essential. Allow me to explain why these are very important and why you cannot be a flight attendant without these qualities.

To all aspiring cabin crew members, it is critical that you understand your duties as a flight attendant. It is not just about traveling, servicing people, and doing safety demonstrations. Airlines have high expectations of flight attendants since the lives of a hundred people are in your hands. As a result, if you want to be a flight attendant, you must have certain skills and attributes.

flight attendant skills
Photo: Gary Sato

Quick decision making skills

One of the most important skills for flight attendants to have is the ability to make rapid and efficient decisions. 

The first and biggest reason why quick decision making skills are required for flight attendants is because their work environment is fast-paced and dynamic. Planes often travel at great heights and speeds, and emergencies may occur at any moment. Flight attendants must be able to react swiftly and efficiently to crises such as medical emergencies, security threats, and emergency landings. Flight attendants must be able to analyze the situation, weigh alternatives, and make rapid, efficient judgments to protect the safety and comfort of passengers in various scenarios.

Another reason that flight attendants must be able to make rapid decisions is that they must give good customer service. Passengers expect flight attendants to fix any difficulties that may emerge during the trip and to make the travel pleasant and enjoyable. Flight attendants, for example, may have to make rapid judgments about how to handle client demands, such as delivering special meals or accommodating passengers with impairments. They must be able to appraise the situation, weigh all choices, and make the best decision for the passengers.

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When it comes to managing their own workload, flight attendants must be able to make quick decisions. They must be able to prioritize work and make rapid judgments on which chores should be completed first. They must also be able to make rapid judgments on how to distribute resources and efficiently manage their own time. Flight attendants, for example, must be able to make split-second judgments about which safety demonstrations to conduct and when, as well as which emergency protocols to execute in the case of an emergency.

Intelligence

Intelligence is a vital attribute for anybody who wishes to become a flight attendant since it allows them to manage a broad variety of scenarios that may emerge during a flight swiftly and efficiently. Flight attendants are responsible for the safety and well-being of the passengers and crew on a flight, and they must be able to recognize and react to a wide range of emergency and unforeseen circumstances.

flight attendant skills
Photo: Gary Sato

Flight attendants must also be intelligent in order to grasp the complicated processes and protocols that are necessary in emergency scenarios. For example, in the event of a medical emergency, on-board fire, or security threat, flight attendants must be able to immediately comprehend emergency procedures and regulations, as well as make fast judgments about how to address the issue.

High emotional quotient

Flight attendants must also be emotionally strong. Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, evaluate, and manage one’s own emotions as well as the emotions of others. Flight attendants must not panic in the event of an emergency. They must stay calm in order to fully analyze the issue and determine what to do next. To guarantee a safe evacuation, they must be able to collaborate with the rest of the flying crew. Every second matters, and flight attendants must respond swiftly to do the proper thing, since a little error may be disastrous.

The cabin crew must be able to empathize with passengers and staff, understand their feelings, and respond correctly since they often deal with a diverse group of people. This means they must be able to stay calm and collected in stressful situations, as well as reassure and soothe passengers in the case of an emergency.

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Flight attendants must also interact with the pilots, ground crew, and other flight team members. To ensure the safety and well-being of the passengers and crew, they must be able to make quick decisions on how to handle any problems that may arise during the flight, as well as communicate effectively with the other members of the flight team.

Those mentioned above are essential qualities you need to become a flight attendant on top of having good communication skills, customer service skills, and other known ones. All these are essential given that the primary role of flight attendants is to ensure the safety and security of all passengers on board.

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