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Air cabin crew : Salary and conditions

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Case studies

  • Basic salaries for air cabin crew are generally low, with new recruits expecting to earn £12,000-£15,000 a year (salary data collected Dec 09). This includes a flight allowance, which is payment for every hour that is worked away from base. Crew may also receive a London weighting allowance as well as commission from in-flight sales.
  • Air cabin crew with experience can expect to earn £15,000-£20,000 a year (salary data collected Dec 09).
  • Senior cabin crew members (e.g. after 10-15 years in the role) can earn up to £25,000 a year (salary data collected Dec 09).
  • Airlines have their own pay structures and employment policies and so salary information is for guidance only.
  • Long shifts may be worked involving irregular and unsocial hours. This may often include weekends, nights and public holidays. Average annual holiday entitlement is 30 days.
  • Around 75 - 85 hours per month are spent in the air, plus another 75-85 hours worked on the ground, preparing the aircraft, writing reports and participating in pre- and post-flight briefings.
  • Part-time opportunities are available but this still involves unsocial hours.
  • Airlines catering for the package holiday market tend to recruit temporary air cabin crew on a seasonal basis. Securing a permanent contract can be difficult as many airlines recruit staff just for one season.
  • Although more men are attracted to the airline profession as a whole, there are currently more women air cabin crew than men.
  • Some airlines require staff to live within a certain radius/easy travelling distance of the airport (flexibility is vital as staff may need to be on stand-by for work at short notice). Some air cabin crew may be based in locations abroad.
  • Jet lag may be a problem when crossing time zones, and working under air pressure may sometimes cause tiredness. Work schedules, fatigue and disturbed sleep patterns may cause disruption to home and social life.
  • The airline provides air cabin crew with a uniform and they are expected to be smartly dressed at all times. Visible tattoos and piercings are discouraged.
  • Air cabin crew often work in confined spaces and have to spend a lot of time on their feet. The work is physically demanding, particularly on long-haul flights. Dealing with difficult passengers in an enclosed space may be stressful.
  • The amount of time spent away from home varies depending on the airline. Spending some nights away from home might be necessary 
 
AGCAS
Written by Julie Bhagat, AGCAS
Date: 
December 2009
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