Entering into the world of cabin crew members can be an exciting but sometimes overwhelming experience when it comes to getting ready for the interview process. To help you ace this very important step, we have put together answers to the 10 most commonly asked questions at cabin crew interviews. Be it your first application or a revamp of what you have been doing; getting these important questions and answers will go a long way in boosting your confidence and properly preparing you. In this blog, we will talk about precisely what airlines are looking for and some tips for making a lasting impression during your cabin crew interview.
10 Frequently asked questions & answers at Cabin Crew Interview!
Ques 1) Why do you want to become cabin crew?
Answer for your Reference:
The dream of a cabin crew career isn’t all about traveling but more about becoming a dedicated professional with service attributes. The objective of the interviewer is to find an interest and passion for the work, but above all, personal values and the kind of match they find with the company’s mission and that of the job in hand. Sharing your inspiration demonstrates your commitment to excellent customer service and contribution to the overall success of the airliner.
Example: “Thus, my love for travel and my good communication skills led me to take up the profession of being a flight attendant. I know I have always been interested in one thing: the possibility to discover new cultures, meet people from absolutely different backgrounds, and visit places. This job in particular allows me to combine my enthusiasm for traveling and my innately friendly nature in order to relate to people in the best-service-oriented way possible.
Furthermore, it is the dynamic nature of the job that really inspires me, because through this job, each day provides a completely new set of challenges that unravel, complementing the learning process. The opportunity to work with a team and ensure the safety and comfort of passengers will really make this job worthwhile and align with my personal values and long-term aspirations.”
Ques 2) How would you handle long hours and irregular schedules in this job?
Answer for your Reference:
This means that the charter in purveying to the fluctuating need to travel, adjust to fast-paced work environments, and work long hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, with unpredictable shifts and time zone differences. Interviewers want to make sure you can cope with these challenges, maintain a positive attitude, and continue to deliver top-notch customer service while ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers, even when you might be feeling exhausted or stretched thin.
Example: “Adaptability, discipline, and being able to focus on self-care are definitely nurtured wh a lot in dealing with long hours and irregular schedules that are part of the cabin crew job. Curious about how I do that? I maintain a healthy lifestyle both in and out of work by practicing a balanced diet, hydration, and good physical exercise — habits that keep me boosted with energy and a tank full for the next shift.”.
Further to this, I ensure I get enough rest, preferably with the right sleeping environment together with following proper pre-sleep / prepare to sleep. This has gone a long way in making me adjust better to different time zones and subsequently ensuring I remain alert and ready to offer fabulous service to the passengers. Finally, the adoption of these habits helps me remain productive and be at my best, given the stressing nature of the job.”
Ques 3) Share any customer service experience.
Answer for your reference:
The responsibility of a cabin crew member is to offer a brilliant experience to each passenger upon boarding and throughout the flight. This translates into ensuring safety, comfort, and customer satisfaction while handling any complaints or issues that may arise from customers. Interviewers ask about your experience in customer service to understand how prepared you are to handle situations, meet diverse needs, and remain cheerful and professional under pressure. It is proof that you are the ideal person for a job if you can show off your customer service skills.
Any customer service experience – say, “I used to work as a retail associate, where most of the customers have a lot of demands on their needs in the store. I made sure I gave them what they needed and gave them accurate information about the items or products they are looking for. Wouldn’t you say that is similar to one of the duties I’d be performing as a cabin crew?” Well, after this, I think I could support one of the things that have been said, so go ahead and try to be more detailed along with it, so I can think of a better example.
I also handled various demanding situations, including returns and complaints. It was in such scenarios that I learned to always keep cool and find solutions where all parties go home satisfied; in this case, the client and the organization. All of these experiences have honed my communication skills and ability to adapt very fast; all these are important qualities for a successful member of cabin crew.
Ques 4) How would you deal with an unruly or disruptive passenger on board?
Answer for your reference:
In this highly stressful and active environment where commercial air travel is concerned, passengers would like to ensure that you have the capability to handle trying situations while keeping a professional manner and using tact and, when needed, assertiveness. Your ability to tone down friction and project a calm and self-possessed manner in all situations of tension is paramount.
Example: “If I’m handling a misbehaved or rowdy one, the safety and comfort of all other passengers in the vehicle will definitely be topmost in my mind. To diffuse the situation, I would respond in a calm and professional manner, addressing the passenger politely but firmly. Ideally, I would want to know their concerns and any issues they would like to be addressed.
If this doesn’t work out and the nuisance created by the passenger continues, then I would take the assistance of other members of the crew and proceed to the following stages of the protocols devised by my airline. It would further probably involve a serious discussion of the matter with the cabin supervisor or even referring the issue to the captain. At all times, adequate communication between other crew members has to be kept, and the safety of the rest of the passengers on board has to be constantly watched.
Ques 5) How do you assure that the passengers comply with the rules of safety inside the airplane during the flight?
Answer for your reference:
As safety is the first concern in the field of aviation, it is very much important for the cabin crew to be certain that passengers are aware of and follow all safety protocols. This question is posed so that they understand whether you treat safety as an important criterion, and can communicate well with passengers under challenging circumstances. They seek, through this question, to have you talk about how to enforce the rules, deal with passengers who may be non-compliant in doing so, and stay professional and calm.
Example: ” By being a cabin crew member, my high concern is on the matter of passengers’ safety. I think the first effort to take and make sure the passengers adhere to the safety guideline is through pre-flight departure safety instructions strictly but in a friendly manner, stressing the importance of application of the rules in their lives. While doing this, I make sure that all the passengers are caring enough to give me their ears in this demonstration, and I request those who may be distracted in any way to turn their minds back to the guideline as I make my presentation with a sweet voice and certain smile.”.
During a flight, I am equally conscious of each and every step while monitoring the behavior of passengers, such as when a person violates safety regulation by remaining unbuckled or using gadgets at an inappropriate time, I constantly advise the client in an amicable but stern manner, drawing the client’s attention to the instructions detailing the risks of carelessness with the result that there is safety for all in the aircraft due to active communication and monitoring.
Ques 6) What languages do you speak, and to what extent of fluency?
Answer for your reference:
Communication, being an important skill for the cabin crew, comes in building relationships with passengers from different backgrounds. Therefore, when an interviewer asks about the language proficiency one has, they want to know about the ability to relate to and help a variety of clients who will make sure they have good flying experience with maximum comfort. Multilingual workers can be the right people in case of an emergency or any special needs at the time of the flight in order to guarantee safety and health for each person aboard.
Example: “I am fluent in English, which is my native language. Besides, I am well-versed in Hindi / Marathi / Gujarati, etc., and I am able to converse easily with passengers on any kind of topic they may prefer to discuss. All these years I got ample opportunities to practice the same while travelling and conversing with natives, due to which I can be more confident of using the native languages.
Ques 7) What strategies would you apply in stress management and maintenance of a positive attitude in times of flight?
Answer for your Reference:
Being a cabin crew member involves a lot of challenges: demanding schedules, troublesome passengers, and events without notice. An interviewer might ask this just to make sure that you could cope up in such a kind of pressure and that you have the right kind of mindset in handling such scenarios critically but with a positive approach, as it becomes crucial for an overall good experience for the customer and smoother operation of the flights, and these get directly co-related with the personal well-being and satisfaction of the job.
Example: “In order for me to be able to handle both stress and attitude positively in the flight, I have made a plan in which I can assist myself with time management and things that are good self-care. I can take care of my resting and provide for personal matters the best that I can before starting prep for responsibilities with the flight when able. In the flight, I prioritize my tasks very carefully and delegate some duties to other crew members so that we can work as a team.
Another essential factor is that I keep in touch with the colleagues all the time. Whenever in a situation where a stormy test is around or the situation seems to be overbearing, I share the same with my colleague on board for advice and moral support. This helps in reduction of level of stress and also adds up to the general workplace environment. Also, on break, I always try to have mindfulness exercises, for example, deep breathing. This puts me in the best situation to be composed and focused on the rest of the flight. These are stress control strategies, which consequently permit me to serve the passengers excellently well, without any particular reservations, whatsoever.”
Ques 8) How would you manage passenger complaints and conflict situations, if any arise in-flight?
Answer for your Reference:
The expectation is that the cabin crew is the face of the airline because the passenger may be unhappy. Interviewers want to know that you are able to deal with such situations to the best standards of being professional and therefore capable of speaking well about the cust service standards being upheld. The ability of a candidate to manage conflict and complaints bears on the direct experience of passengers and is a key determinant of perceptions of airlines. That explains the reason conflict management is core and calls for demonstrations of competence in this area.
For instance, “My main objective, when trying to resolve complaints passengers bring to me or conflicts that might arise on board is to actually listen and to show understanding with the passenger’s concerns, ensuring that they feel acknowledged and understood through remaining calm, open in body language and that helps in de-escalating any tension, allowing for better assessment.
After understanding what the problem is all about, I have to then take the correct measures and act within the limits stipulated by the airline to solve the complaints. I do this as quickly as possible, specifically by taking the measures that are under my control, such as reseating passengers or giving them a new option regarding the meals being served. I assure the same passenger that their concerns will be escalated to the concerned department and accordingly followed up. Throughout the process, I remain to be professional at all times and keep the safety and comfort of every passenger on top of my mind.”
Ques 9) Explain how you would help a passenger who is struggling with travel anxiety or fear of flying.
Answer for your Reference:
The reason interviewers ask this question is that they want to assure it won’t be a surprise to you when passengers become anxious, even scared, while on board, and you are expected to deal with it calmly and with sensitivity. Cabin crew members must make certain that all passengers are comfortable and in a safe environment while on board, and your ability to handle difficult circumstances with compassion and professionalism is a large part of that.
Example: “If I was dealing with a passenger suffering from travel anxiety or fear of flying, the first thing I would do is approach them in a calm and understanding manner. I would communicate with the passenger using open-ended statements to get the big picture and hopefully discern some potential underlying issues that could be causing the anxiety.
When I got to know more about their situation, I would try to reassure them with mediation information on safety precautions by airlines in combination with my experiences as a cabin crew member.
I would further recommend some relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises or visualizing to help them to ease up their feelings. I would also offer further distractions, if needed, such as various magazines, movies, or music to keep their mind off their fears. I might further check on the passenger periodically to make sure that he or she is comfortable at further stages of the flight and further highlight other concerns that might arise.
Ques 10) What convinces you that you will be a great addition to our cabin crew team at this airline?
Answer for your Reference:
The question looks for your reasons and depth of fitting within the reasons in the specific airline values and culture. Cabin crew must be versatile, team players, possessing excellent customer service—all this within safety and security. By asking such a question, the interviewer wants to examine your knowledge about the company, how well you are able to work within a team, and how much zeal you’ve got for that post. They wish to be convinced that you are going to bring a lot to their cabin crew, helping to create a positive environment for passengers as well as for colleagues.
Sample: “I feel that I would be a very good addition to your airline’s cabin crew team because I have good interpersonal skills and a passion for delivering the best customer service. My previous career in hospitality has given me first-hand experience in being an expert at interacting well with people of different backgrounds, showing grace under pressure in difficult situations, and making a moment to remember for guests.
I am also a very adaptable person who can work hand in hand with the fast-moving environment—an essence that comes when working on flights with tight schedules and varied passenger needs. Knowing very clearly that safety would be the first requirement in the role, I do take my training and procedures seriously up to date for the wellbeing of the passengers. My commitment to excellent service and being able to work under very great pressure have instilled in me so much confidence that I can positively contribute to your airline’s cabin crew team.
Also Read: Understanding Cabin Crew Responsibilities.