Air cabin crew: Job description and activities
Job description
Air cabin crew are responsible for the safety of passengers and are specially trained to deal with security and emergency situations.
Besides ensuring the safety of the aircraft, air cabin crew are also employed to ensure passengers are comfortable and that the flying experience is a pleasant one.
Air cabin crew attend to passengers' needs throughout the flight and provide a high level of customer service, serving refreshments and selling duty-free goods. They are expected to be friendly, enthusiastic and courteous at all times.
The work of air cabin crew may be stressful and demanding, but it is also a varied, interesting and rewarding role.
Typical work activities
Tasks typically involve:
- attending a pre-flight briefing, during which air cabin crew members are assigned their working positions for the upcoming flight (crew are also informed of flight details, the schedule and if there are passengers with any special requirements, such as diabetic passengers, passengers in wheelchairs or the number of infants on board);
- carrying out pre-flight duties, including checking the safety equipment, ensuring the aircraft is clean and tidy, ensuring that information in the seat pockets is up to date and that all meals and stock are on board;
- welcoming passengers on board and directing them to their seats;
- informing the passengers of the aircraft safety procedures and ensuring that all hand luggage is securely stored away;
- checking all passenger seat belts and galleys are secure prior to take-off;
- making announcements on behalf of the pilot and answering passenger questions during the flight;
- serving meals and refreshments to passengers;
- selling duty-free goods and advising passengers of any allowance restrictions in force at their destination;
- reassuring passengers and ensuring that they follow safety procedures correctly in emergency situations;
- giving first aid to passengers where necessary;
- ensuring passengers disembark safely at the end of a flight and checking that there is no luggage left in the overhead lockers;
- completing paperwork, including writing a flight report.
AGCAS
Written by Myrto Kalle, London School of Economics and Political Science
Last updated:
February 2008
