British Airways Cabin Crew Requirements

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British Airways operates one of the largest and the most modern fleets of any airline in the world, and in 2016 was voted favourite airline in the Travel Weekly Globe awards.

Crew Base

London Heathrow (Mixed Fleet) – Long & Short Haul
London Gatwick (Gatwick Fleet) – Long & Short Haul
London City Airport (BA CityFlyer) – Short Haul
London Gatwick (BA EuroFlyer) – Short Haul

International cabin crew are recruited locally and requirements may differ.

Cabin Crew Essential Criteria:

  • To be aged 18 or over at time of application
  • Fluent in both spoken and written English
  • 12 months customer service experience
  • Hold a valid passport (with minimum of 12 months before expiry date) with
  • the unrestricted right to live and work in the UK and which allows unrestricted global travel
  • You will need to be able to acquire a US Visa
  • To undergo a Criminal Record Check for all countries of residence for six months or more in the previous five years and be able to provide satisfactory references for the last five years
  • Ability to obtain and retain an airside pass
  • Be willing and able to work shifts covering 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for your entire career
  • Be willing and able to spend periods of time away from home and conduct stand-by duties in the proximity of your airport base
  • To wear the British Airways uniform to the required standard with no visible tattoos or body piercings. Tattoos or body piercings must never be visible on the body or through uniform clothing and MUST be able to be covered. Only tattoos that can be reasonably covered up are permitted. Plasters and bandages must not be used
  • To undertake and successfully complete initial training to obtain a UK CAA (UK Civil Aviation Authority) Cabin Crew Attestation (CCA) (which will be provided to you on successful completion of your course)
  • Yellow Fever vaccination certification, or eligibility for an exemption

About You:

  • Passion for delivering outstanding customer service
  • Outstanding communicator and decision maker
  • Effective time management
  • Resilient in dynamic and challenging environments
  • Motivation to constant learning and growth
  • Brand Ambassadors committed to excellence every day
  • Hardworking, empathetic and dedicated team player

Salary:

From £20,500 starting salary with the potential to earn up to £30,000 annually through flying/duty pay and a tax-free subsistence allowance. (for Heathrow base). BA CityFlyer/ EuroFlyer salary and benefits package may vary. International cabin crew salaries may differ.

Other Benefits:

  • Bonuses awarded on performance and commission for inflight retail sales.
  • Annual leave starts at 30 days per year rising to 34 days per year.
  • Preference bidding (you can bid for certain destinations and state if you would prefer long or shortfall flying) but nothing is guaranteed and you will always have to do both long and short haul as it is in your contract.
  • Investment in ongoing training and development (Great to further your career prospects with a very reputable airline)
  • Attractive travel concessions across an extensive network and other airlines
  • Unlimited discounted airfares for your friends and family
  • Contributory company pension scheme (worth having)!
  • Life insurance
  • Subsidised staff restaurants (and often worldwide restaurants with your employee ID card)
  • Uniform
  • Secure car parking close to Terminal 5 (whilst operating only as crew)
  • Free airport parking at Heathrow whilst on holiday
  • Discounts at selected car hire, hotels and retail stores (on presentation of your staff ID pass)
  • Excellent facilities at the award-winning Terminal 5 at Heathrow which includes our
    state-of-the-art Crew Report Centre

Company Facts:

CEO & Chairman: Sean Doyle (since October 2020)

Founded: 1910
Frequent-flyer program: Executive Club
Company slogan: To Fly. To Serve.
2023 Turnover: £23 billion
Fleet Size: 280+ (including the A380-800 and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner)

British Airways Cabin Crew Jobs

Click here to find out where British Airways are recruiting Cabin Crew OR have a look at their recruitment process so you know what to do. Cabin crew jobs can also be found on the Jooble.”

Want to make airlines more competitive when it comes to hiring Cabin Crew? If you are airline staff, custom challenge coins are great as employee benefits. The challenge coins are not only commemorative, but also a symbol of honour, and can also be used as a bottle opener. It is a very good choice to present to the employee union at a recognition conference.
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Cabin Crew Wings Team

Our team of experts have the many years as Cabin Crew plus HR experience and are up to date with the latest selection news.

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76 Comments

    1. Hi Akaz,
      At that height you should be fine to work for most airlines – but it’s always best to check with the individual airline you’re interesting in applying to for reassurance. Good luck!

    2. Hi Akaz, at that height you should be fine working for most airlines but it’s always worthwhile contacting the recruitment team for the particular airline you’re interested in applying to for reassurance. Good luck!

  1. Hi. I’m from malaysia. I would like to ask you does BA sponsors international people to get the right to work and live in the uk or do i have to sponsor and get it by myself in my country?

    1. Hi there, as far as I’m aware this would be something you would have to organise yourself.

  2. Hello,
    My dream is to become a flight attendant for British Airways, I meet most of the requirements for the job but I´m not a citizen in the UK, I´m actually a citizen in the US and my question is that, to be able to work in British Airways do I need to have a UK visa or passport?

    1. Hi there, yes you would need to have the legal right to live and work in the UK and would have to apply for the appropriate paperwork.

  3. Hello,

    I’m interesting in a career in cabin crew, I’m 24 and have had plenty of customer service facing jobs.
    I’ve also got an A* in travel and tourism and 3 GCSE’s at grade C or above.

    My only issue I think I’m going to struggle with, is that I have 2 half sleeve tattoos on both arms sitting above my elbow. Can you see this been a problem?
    Obviously they would be covered with long sleeve shirts, but some airlines I’ve noticed wear short sleeved shirts on board.

    Really hoping it isn’t going to make it difficult as It’s my dream!

    Thank you
    Lindseh

    1. Hi Lindsey,

      It depends which airlines you are happy to apply to. Is BA your dream or would you apply elsewhere too?

      For BA, unfortunately, I think that this could be an issue given your description of the placement of your tattoos – they have a strict policy and will carry out a tattoo check as part of the assessment process.

      Some other airlines have a more relaxed attitude and will allow you to cover your tattoos with cosmetics if you are in short sleeves. The only other option is removal (again this would depend on the colours and design of your tattoos) and I realise that this may not be an option for you, but some airlines will allow you to go through the assessment process if you show them that you are currently in the process of having your tattoos removed.

      I hope this helps!

      1. Hello! 😊 i’m a filipino with a secondary degree. I’ll be moving in United kingdom soon & i would like to apply as cabin crew at BA. Do you think I’m qualified for educational requirements? I’m an ex cabin crew here in philippines for 2 years. Thank you! 😊

        1. As long as you meet the requirements, including UK residency requirements for employment, and your spoken english is fluent enough then you can certainly apply!

  4. Hello there, I’m 37 Egyptian cabin crew.. I have 8+ years of experience & I wish to work for a foreign airlines.. But my passport is Egyptian..I don’t mind to relocate to another country.. can anybody please recommend me some European , Canadian or American airlines companies that I can apply for?!!
    Thanks in advance!

  5. Does British airways considered to accept different nationality to be as their cabin crew or flight attendant?

    1. Yes they do, they recruit international crew for their wordlwide bases – as long as you have the right to work and live in the country you’re applying for.

      1. I didn’t really pass my GCSE but I got into university and I’m studying Aviation and Airport Management can I still apply for British Airways?

        1. Hi Jessica,

          You can certainly still apply for British Airways – airlines take other things into consideration like work and life experience, and your personality and attitude! Don’t worry too much about the paper qualifications, as airlines will accept an equivalent level of study too. The fact that you’re studying an aviation related course at university level is a definite positive.

  6. I am interested in being apart of the cabin crew, I am 18 years old. My math grade isn’t too great but I have 2 C’s would I be able to apply?

    1. Most airlines (including BA) look for 3 GCSE passes at grade 3 or above, or equivalent. There are other things that the airlines take into consideration – you might find this article on qualifications or this post written for school leavers helpful. Best of luck and please do contact us if you have any more questions.

      1. Hey am KARABO am a cabin crew graduate but still its hard for me to find job through this airlines would you please recommend so thing for me

        Thanks in advance

  7. Hi, im 37 and work in healthcare and have done extensive training, NVQ’s level 2 and 3 and I have quite a number of years of customer service experience. I’m looking into a possible change in my career. Would my age be a problem?

    1. Hi there! Absolutely not – the ages of students on our Cabin Crew Courses ranges from 18 to 55! Airlines take a lot into account – your personality, your attitude and your work and life experiences for example. You might find this article useful, or have a look at this post from our blogger Lorna who started her dream job with Virgin Atlantic at 45, or this article detailing the success of a previous course member who worries that she was to ‘mature’ to be crew. Please don’t hesitate to drop us a line if you have any questions or there’s anything else we can help you with!

  8. What are the certificate requirements for a cabin crew job? Do i need any form of training before i can apply for the job?

    1. Hi there, you might find this article a useful read. Airlines take a lot more into consideration than qualifications – your personality, life and work experience and attitude for example. As for training, a recognised Cabin Crew Course is a good start, which will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to get through the recruitment process and beyond. If there’s anything we can help you with or you’d like any more information on any of our courses or products then please do get in touch!

  9. Hi there,
    I have a EU passport as well as a South African passport. I would just like to know if my passports meet one of the requirements, with regards to being able to live and work in the UK?
    Thank you
    Kaylyn

    1. Hi Kaylyn, if you have an EU passport then (currently) you would have the right to live and work in the UK.

      1. With just the South African passport , what would one have to do to earn the rights to live and work in the Uk?

  10. Heyy my name is Noumaan… I’m from India, residing in Bangalore .. I have completed my high school as well as secondary education… And I have completed a course in
    PAMCC…. Its a 1 year course…….so I’d love to work with British Airways… And do u accept male candidates by any chance?

    1. As long as you meet the BA requirements (as detailed above) you can apply. Good luck!

  11. Hi,
    I passed my online assessments and got invited to an assessment day in June. So I wanted to know what happens when you pass all the assessments there? Do you go for a final interview immediately after or there’s a period of time you should wait before being called in for a final interview?

  12. Hi there,

    I am interested to be an air cabin crew. I am 20 years of age. I came from philippines and settled the UK in 2015. I had finished my grade 9 Secondary Education in my country but after that I have been to college here in Kent to continue my English and Maths. I have my Maths at level 1 and I did an English Assessment level 2. I just want to know if I have enough requirements to be an air cabin crew. Can you give me some information or advice please? Thank you. Hope to hear from you soon.

    1. Hi Anne, the requirements vary from airline to airline so it really depends on who you want to work for. BA for example want 3 GCSE’s at Grade C or above or the equivalent (excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking), plus be fluent in written and spoken English. If you meet both of those there is no reason why you can’t reply.

  13. Hello
    Wanna know.
    If you are South African
    Living in the Middle East
    Applied for BA crew
    What does it mean when they say u need to have the
    right to work & stay Britain what does that mean exactly.
    To my understanding it means I have to be a current UK resident
    Or have to have my own sponsor or I have to sponsor myself cause the company won’t sponsor once I get the job.
    That question always confuses me.

    Kindly assist
    Thanks

    1. That is correct. For BA, you need to be based in the UK and for that you must be able to legally live and work there. The airline will not sponsor you like Emirates or Ethiad.

  14. Hello, I’m from Australia and was just wondering if I have all the requirements, how would I go about applying, and what else would I need to apply ?

  15. hello
    can people who are not living in the UK to apply for the job? i don’t have an EU passport
    i am from israel.
    thank you
    amir

    1. British Airways require you to have the right to live and work in the UK, so long as you have this it doesn’t matter if you do not have an EU passport or are currently not living in the UK.

    1. Hi Amy, there is no real ‘norm’ for the interview attire however most people dress to look like Cabin Crew as this gives the airline a great idea of how you will fit in their uniform. Good luck!

  16. Hello, I am a US citizen and I currently fly for a US carrier. Is it at all possible for me to apply for BA. Would my being a US citizen prevent me from being able to be hired with BA?

    1. As long as you have the right to live and work in the UK then you can apply to be Cabin Crew based at London Heathrow or London Gatwick. Good luck!

      1. I want to apply for cabin crew based in uk but m not gettin it how to go thru it cn u help me out wid a email or some contact thru which i can leave my cv thanks

  17. Hello good morning i just wanna ask a question i just passed my assesment online with british airways and i got invited to sttend an assesment face to face but the question here is that i am egyptian is that a problem for me getting hired ? I have no residence in the uk

    Ps i worked before in 2 major airlines in the middle east for almost 5 years will that be a plus ?

    1. BA will require you to have the right to live and work in the UK, if you don’t you may find you will not be allowed to finish the assessment day. Your previous experience will certainly be a plus but unfortunately if you are unable to live/ work in the UK BA may not employ you. Good luck though and let us known how you get on.

  18. Hi! I recently got married to an English man, I’m a Filipino and used to fly with a Middle Eastern Airlines for 7 years. Can I apply? The only requirement that I don’t have is the GCSE grade. Thanks!

    1. The salary doesn’t vary based on your age however it may be more if you have previous Cabin Crew experience or apply for a Cabin Manager role.

  19. Am 18years and got a D in my high school but can I still stand a chance for applying and working at British Airways

  20. Hello
    I was just wondering if you were allowed to take your shoes of when checking the height requirements???

    Thank you
    Naomi

    1. Most airlines (like BA) ask you to take your shoes off when doing the reach test, although this may vary depending on who you apply to.

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