Taking the Skies: How To Become an Air Hostess In India
The pristine red uniform sits nicely on your body.
The collar is well ironed and you straighten your cap.
You strut down the aisle as if it is your permanent home.
Slowly you fold your hand, put up that confident smile and get ready to welcome the passengers on your airline.
Seems relatable? Is this something that you have been dreaming of for some time now?
Well, then you all set to take off into the skies.
But, becoming an air hostess in India is not all smooth sailing.
It can be confusing, and you might have questions like How to become an air hostess in India? Can I become an air hostess right after my 10th?
What courses should I take to become an air hostess after the 12th?
Can I pursue a postgraduate Air hostess training course?
If these questions keep you awake at night, then you are in the right place.
We have all your questions answered right here on how to become an Air Hostess in India.
Check your Eligibility
To become an air hostess in India there are four main criteria that you need to fulfill.
Before you can sway down the aisles you need to pursue air hostess training.
To get into any reputed air hosting training institute in India there are certain educational qualifications, medical standards, physical attributes, and an age limit that you need to satisfy.
Educational Requirements
If you think there is some special bachelor's course that you need to do to become an air hostess in India, then you are far from the truth.
The beauty of becoming an air hostess is that you do not need to have any special course in your bachelor's.
You need not even do your bachelor's.
You just need to finish your 10+2 in any stream (Arts, Commerce, or Science).
Once you are done with that, the world of flying is ready to welcome you with open wings.
There are few institutes where you can train to become an air hostess after class 10.
However, it is more advisable to finish your 12th first.
If you wish to go for a Post Graduate course in Air Hostess training, then you can do that as well.
However, to pursue a PG course in Air Hostess training you must have a graduation degree.
Age Requirements
To become an air hostess you need to start young.
It is a course that has a certain age limit, as that is what the profession demands.
Most of the air hostess institutes in India have set standards for people who can enroll in the Air Hostess training course.
You should be between the ages of 17-25 years to be eligible for an Air Hostess training course.
However, some institutes allow aspirants who are 26 years or sometimes older. You need to directly contact your chosen institute to know about the age limits.
Physical Attributes
To become an air hostess it is important to look the part as well.
Air Hostesses have certain physical attributes that are set by the airlines.
The institutes will also only admit aspirants who match these physical attributes.
While the physical requirements might differ from one airline to another.
The following is the usual standard:
Candidates with spot-free complexion will be given a preference.
You need to be physically fit
If you are a female then the minimum height requirement is 157 cm and for males, it is 170 cm.
Your weight should be proportionate to your height.
Some airlines also fix a certain BMI that the candidate has to match to work for them.
So, if you are planning to become an Air Hostess, now is a good time to keep your nutritionist on speed dial.
Medical Requirements
Becoming an Air Hostess is truly not an easy job!
Along with having certain physical attributes you also have to pass a specific set of medical standards.
Your eyesight needs to be a minimum of 6/9.
Some airlines do allow their candidates to correct their eyesight and then come back later
Becoming an air hostess requires high levels of calmness and the ability to work under pressure.
You cannot have a history of mental illness.
You must not also suffer from any heart diseases.
Other Required Skills
If you have set your sights on the skies then you also need to fulfill some other criteria that the profession of Air Hostess asks for.
If you wish to have a high flying career in this field then you should have: politeness and kindness, willingness to help, able to keep calm, able to resolve conflicts, presence of mind, leadership qualities, good communication skills, smart and confidence, pleasing personality, and fluency in foreign languages(not always a requirement)
Some of the airlines also ask for unmarried candidates. However, this varies from airline to airline.
The Admission Process
If you are all ready to fan out your wings and fly into the world of aviation, then you need to choose a good Air Hostess training institute.
Any reputed Air Hostess training institute will operate under the guidelines of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Make sure you check the credentials of the institute before joining.
While some institutes will just see your 10+2 marks and admit you. Many have entrance exams and interviews.
These tests will usually test your English skills and logical reasoning skills.
There are many different types of training and courses that you can take up after your 12th standard or after your graduation.
To help you in the process, we have listed some of them down here:
The Certificate Courses
If you are looking to pursue a certificate course on your path to become an Air Hostess, then you will have a buffet of options.
You can pursue a certificate course right after your 12th standard.
The moment you pass your 12th, you can jump into a certificate course.
These courses are made by the individual institutes that offer them, and hence the certification and the syllabus will differ.
You can check each course under the institutes on their websites and pick the one most suitable for you.
The duration of these courses also differs.
Some courses get over in three months, while some can last anywhere between six months to one year.
There are some post-graduate certificate courses too that you can pursue after your bachelor's.
The Diploma Courses
If you are looking for something more extensive then fly off to do an Air Hostess diploma course.
Diploma courses also vary from institute to institute. On average the courses last from six months to a whole year.
The Degree Courses
If you are looking for something that holds more value and will give you complete in-depth training in the world of airlines, then take off and do a degree course.
There are courses that also for three years and you get a bachelor's degree at the end of it. Some courses last for two years.
These courses will take you through the lengths and breadths of the aviation industry and you will learn more than just Air Hostess training.
By the time you graduate, you will certainly have an edge over the other candidate in becoming an air hostess in India.
While these courses hold the most value, pursuing a certificate or a diploma course doesn’t make you less employable.
Once you are done with any of these courses, you can then directly apply to the airline of your choice.
You can apply to both domestic and international airlines such as Emirates, Qatar airways among many others.
So, just keep your head high, and in no time will be flying past the clouds.