Expert: D. Norkus - 4/21/2005

Question
Hi, my name's Rebecca. I would like to ask a few questions. Not about being a pilot but an air stewardess. I couldn't find any section on air stewardess so I guess I can ask you? Well, recently, I've decided to apply to  an airliner. interested in being part of the cabin crew. I was wondering wot are the interview sessions be like and wot should I wear to the interview? Wot are mostly the questions they ask? Another thing is, I have motion sickness. Have you ever experienced that before? I used to have car sickness but now not anymore since I travel long distance everyday. But I sometimes still have air sickness. I really want this job but am afraid this will put me down. Wot does "perfect eyesight" means for a pilot or air stewardess? colour blind or short-sighted? And, If i wanna apply, wot's the medical check up like? Thanks. I really need help. Thanks

Answer
Rebecca,

Hope this reaches you soon as the Allexperts site was down with a "HTTP 500 - Internal server error" from 1900 Pacific time until I went to bed at about 2200.  I will anwser as best I can.  By saying "cabin crew" or "air stewardess" I can bet you are not from the United States but the UK or Europe. Here in the US (where I live) we call them "Flight Attendants" or "inflight" instead of cabin crew.  The term "stewardess" went out in the 1980's here. While I cannot provide any insight on non-US carrier hiring requirements, nor can I comment on the interview process (as I have never done a Flight Attendant interview,  I can provide you with some great resources to inform yourself:

1) Well, recently, I've decided to apply to an [airline] as...cabin crew. I was wondering [what] are the interview sessions [are] like and [what] should I wear to the interview? [What] are mostly the questions they ask?

Order the book "Welcome Aboard: Your career As A FLight Attendant" by Becky S. Bock. It provides in depth anwsers to questions like these and more. Used copies can be had for £6.68  It can be ordered via this link-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/096428393X/202-8030274-3238210

This is a forum for aspiring and current flight attendants to ask & anwser questions or exchange advice (you must register to read it):
http://www.flightattendants.org/

In addition, the site www.aviationinterviews.com has an information section for F/As (you must register to read it). Check it out to see who is hiring (mostly US) and what the interviews are like. Applicants who have gone throught the interview process post their expericenes, what happened and what questions were asked. By reading throught the replies in this forum you will get a vast cache of questions and insight for the F/A interview process.

You might also try the forums/message boards at www.pprune.org for information. Although they are predominantly pilots, they have a section for 'cabin crew'. The board is under PPRuNe Forums » Other Aircrew Forums » Cabin Crew.

The site http://www.airlinecrew.net also has message boards for F/As, but they are not as active/informative  as the others.

2) Another thing is, I have motion sickness. Have you ever experienced that before? I used to have car sickness but now not anymore since I travel long distance everyday. But I sometimes still have air sickness. I really want this job but am afraid this will put me down.

Have you flown before and had a problem? That should be your indicator. If you do, you may have to take Dramamine or some similar anti-nausea remedy until you get used to it if you get hired.

3)[What] does "perfect eyesight" mean for a pilot or [flight attendant]? colour blind or short-sighted? And, If i wanna apply, [what's] the medical check up like?  

"Perfect" eyesight usually means correctable to 20/20 (in the USA, outside the US they measure it differently)  or what is considered 'normal' uncorrected vision. Don't know about color blindness. Information on the physical can be had at one of the above links.

You might also try a search of the internet with your desired keyphrase enclosed INSIDE QUOTAIONS. Like, "cabin crew" + Virgin or simliar for keyphrase specific hits to find more websites of interest on the subject. Quoting your phrases always returns better search results.


Hope this helps. Good Luck!