The role of a Flight Attendant is far more than simply serving food and drinks on board an aircraft. It is a position of responsibility, safety, professionalism and customer care. Airlines rely heavily on their cabin crew to create a safe and enjoyable experience for passengers. The job description usually includes ensuring passenger safety, demonstrating emergency procedures, offering first aid when needed, handling passenger concerns with diplomacy, and maintaining a calm presence even in stressful situations.
In the UK, the average salary for a Flight Attendant ranges between £18,000 and £28,000 per year, with senior cabin crew members earning upwards of £35,000. Salaries can rise significantly with international airlines or with long-haul operations, particularly where allowances are offered. With added benefits such as discounted flights, hotel stays and the opportunity to travel the world, the career is both exciting and rewarding.
As someone who has coached professionals for over 25 years, I, Jerry Frempong, know first-hand that the gateway to securing this highly sought-after role starts with an outstanding CV. Crafting a Flight Attendant CV that wins interviews requires not only showcasing your skills and experience, but also aligning with the airline’s core values of professionalism, safety and customer service. That is why I have created this cv template and cv example to guide you step-by-step towards achieving your career goals.
Why your Flight Attendant CV matters more than ever
Competition for cabin crew positions is fierce. Hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants apply for a single vacancy. Airlines want to see candidates who stand out immediately through a clear, professional and polished CV. Your CV is often reviewed by automated systems before it even reaches a recruiter’s hands. That means it must be keyword-optimised, well-structured, and free from errors.
By following the guidance below, using a professional cv template, and tailoring it to your unique experiences, you will dramatically increase your chances of being shortlisted.
How to structure a winning Flight Attendant CV
Here is a proven structure I recommend to my coaching clients:
Contact Details – Keep them simple and professional. Include your full name, phone number, email address and LinkedIn profile. Avoid casual email addresses.
Personal Profile / Career Summary – A short, impactful paragraph highlighting your passion for aviation, proven customer service skills, and commitment to passenger safety. This is your “first impression” section.
Key Skills – Use bullet points to list specific skills airlines look for, such as:
Safety and emergency procedures
First aid certification
Conflict resolution
Multilingual communication
Exceptional customer service
Team collaboration
Professional Experience – Start with your most recent role and work backwards. Focus on achievements rather than duties. For example, instead of “served food and drinks,” write “Delivered exceptional passenger service on flights carrying 300+ passengers, consistently achieving 95% satisfaction scores.”
Education and Training – Highlight GCSEs, A-Levels or degrees, plus any aviation-related training or certifications (e.g. First Aid, Safety & Emergency Procedures).
Additional Information – Languages spoken, volunteer experience, IT skills or hobbies that demonstrate teamwork, discipline or resilience.
Advice for graduates and career starters
Many aspiring cabin crew members worry that without direct aviation experience, their CV will not be considered. This is simply not true. Airlines value transferable skills, particularly from hospitality, retail, healthcare, or customer service backgrounds.
As a graduate or entry-level applicant, you should focus on:
Showcasing customer interaction roles (bar work, shop assistant, front-of-house).
Demonstrating resilience and flexibility, for example balancing studies with part-time work.
Highlighting language skills or travel experiences that show cultural awareness.
Remember: enthusiasm, adaptability and a genuine passion for people can outweigh years of experience. By using the right cv example, you can frame your background as exactly what airlines are looking for.
Advice for mid-career professionals
If you are transitioning from another industry, your CV must make a clear case for why your skills are relevant. For example, someone with a background in teaching has strong communication, patience and leadership skills, all invaluable on board. Retail managers bring experience in conflict resolution and customer satisfaction.
Your challenge is not a lack of skills, but positioning them appropriately. This is where a tailored cv template can help. Emphasise transferable achievements, such as “Led a team of 10 to deliver outstanding customer service in a high-pressure retail environment,” which is easily aligned with cabin crew responsibilities.
Advice for senior professionals and managers
For those aiming at Cabin Crew Manager, In-Flight Supervisor, or Purser positions, your CV must reflect leadership, training, operational oversight and compliance expertise. Airlines want proven leaders who can inspire teams, handle incidents calmly, and uphold safety standards without compromise.
Your CV should include:
Evidence of managing multi-cultural teams.
Experience in coordinating safety drills and audits.
Examples of reducing incidents, improving customer satisfaction or boosting team performance.
Demonstrable leadership in challenging situations.
The right cv example will show how you progressed in your career, highlighting both operational and people-management achievements.
The do’s and don’ts of a Flight Attendant CV
Do’s
Keep your CV concise (maximum 2 pages).
Tailor each application to the airline’s brand values.
Use positive action verbs such as “delivered”, “achieved”, “resolved”.
Include quantifiable achievements (e.g. customer ratings, number of passengers served, awards).
Proofread carefully to avoid spelling and grammar mistakes.
Don’ts
Don’t use long, blocky paragraphs. Use bullet points for clarity.
Don’t include irrelevant work history that doesn’t show transferable skills.
Don’t overuse industry jargon – keep it accessible.
Don’t add photographs unless the airline specifically requests it.
Don’t lie or exaggerate – airlines carry out detailed background checks.
General tips for creating a standout CV
Tailor your Flight Attendant CV to each airline. Emirates, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Ryanair all have unique cultures and priorities.
Ensure your LinkedIn profile complements your CV. Recruiters often cross-check both.
Use strong formatting: clean fonts, consistent spacing, and professional presentation.
Focus on results. Instead of saying “Worked as a waitress,” write “Consistently exceeded sales targets and recognised for excellent customer service.”
Keep updating your CV with new training, achievements and responsibilities.
Final encouragement from Jerry Frempong
Over the past 25 years, I have helped thousands of professionals create interview-winning CVs that transform careers. A Flight Attendant career is within your reach, and with the right cv template and cv example, you can show airlines you are the candidate they need.
If you are ready to take your career to new heights, let’s work together. I will personally help you perfect your CV and LinkedIn profile so that you stand out in this competitive market. Book your one-to-one appointment today at CV London
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Your dream job as a Flight Attendant is waiting – let’s make it happen!
