Landing a job as Cabin Crew with British Airways can be a particularly hard one to crack. But before you even submit your resume and get through the Assessment Day and Final Interview you’ll have to meet a long list of minimum requirements.
For many candidates, these essential criteria shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve but there are some surprising conditions that could disqualify you from the job.
We’ve broken down these requirements into six areas: Physical and Health Requirements, Residency Requirements, Working Hours, Criminal Convictions, Uniform Standards and Minimum Time Between Applications.
Physical and Health Requirements
- Age: At least 18 years of age.
- Language Skills: Fluent in English – Both written and verbal.
- Height: Between 1.575m (5’2″) and 1.85m (6’1”).
- Weight: No set minimum or maximum weight but it must be in proportion to your height
- Swimming Test: Able to swim for at least 50 metres and then tread water for three minutes and assist other people in the water.
- Jump Seat Test: Able fit into a jump seat harness and adopt the brace position, without needing to modify the harness or close it with a seatbelt extension.
- Functional Reach Test: The fist on the arm you use the most is at least 2.01 metres (6’ 7’’) above the ground when extended above the head.
- Medical Test: Able to pass the Cabin Crew medical test.
Residency Requirements
- The unrestricted right to live and work in the UK. This includes all EU citizens but cannot include anyone who requires sponsorship.
- You must hold a passport that allows you to travel unrestricted (excludes refugee passports, etc).
- Your passport must have at least 12 months before expiry.
- You must be in a position to apply for a U.S. visa.
Working Hours
- British Airways is not currently offering part time or shared working opportunities for new Cabin Crew hires.
- You will need to be able to work a shift pattern that covers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
- You must live within 90 minutes of your airport base (Heathrow, Gatwick or London City airports).
- You will have a roster that covers a one month period at the time. You will learn your roster for the next month approximately 20-25 days before it starts. The hours and days you work will vary from month to month.
- You can bid for your preferred routes but there is no guarantee that you’ll get the flights you ask for.
Criminal Convictions
- Must be able to obtain an airside security pass – This will include a Criminal Conviction Check that you have to pay for and obtain yourself.
- British Airways will also carry out checks on your financial and work history. You must be willing to provide information for BA to complete these checks.
- If you have a conviction for any of the following offence then you cannot apply to become Cabin Crew in the UK:
Terrorism
Offences against people
Theft and dishonesty
Sexual offences
Controlled or illegal drugs
Criminal damage
Firearms
Immigration
Bomb and threat hoaxes
Offensive weapons
Public order
Administration of justice
Remember, you will only be barred from applying to become applying if you have been convicted of one these crimes. If you were arrested but not found guilty then you can still apply. More details can be found here.
Uniform Standards
- Must be prepared to remove any headwear in the event of an emergency (including headwear worn for relgious purposes).
- No visible tattoos or body piercings – You can have tattoos but they must be hidden when wearing the British Airways uniform.
Minimum Time Between Applications
- British Airways requires a minimum 6-month period between applications.
- The 6 month period starts from the point you were told your application was not successful.
- This includes all British Airways cabin crew positions – Mixed Fleet, Gatwick fleet and British Airways CitiFlyer.
