How much do flight attendants earn? UK average salary explained
MANY of us dream about walking down the aisle… of a plane for a summer holiday.
But some dream of travelling the world as a flight attendant – but how much do they earn?
What is a flight attendants salary in the UK?
According to the government website, the base salary for a flight attendant is £15,000 a year.
However, the city and airport you work in will affect your salary.
For example, according to Indeed if you work at London Heathrow Airport you could be paid £40,405 per year.
That’s £25,405 more than the base salary.
However, if you were to work at another airport in London you could be earning £19,292 per year, £4,292 more than the base salary.
Your pay will also be affected by the airline you work for as some will pay better than others.
How can I become a flight attendant?
The first thing to know about becoming a flight attendant is you’ll be working with your airlines customers.
Therefore, good social and customer service skills are essential.
The government website states you become a flight attendant by:
- doing a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
If you decide to go to college then you’ll need to complete a Level 2 Certificate or Diploma in Air Cabin Crew.
Alternatively, you could study a cabin crew module of a boarder travel and tourism course.
If you decide to do the cabin crew advanced apprenticeship you’ll spend 12 months doing on-the-job training.
Alternatively, you can apply directly to the airline themselves.
Some airlines and private providers run two day cabin crew courses, which will increase your chances of getting a job.
Airlines may also have an online career quiz that you can do to find out if cabin crew is the right route for you.
If you speak another language this may give you an advantage.
What qualifications do I need to become a flight attendant?
In order to undertake a college course you’ll need:
- Two or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 or A* to D or equivalent.
If you want to do an apprenticeship you’ll need:
- Five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 or A* to C or equivalent including English and maths for an advanced apprenticeship.
If you’re directly applying to an airline you should check the job requirement but good social and customer service skills are essential.