How to become a cabin attendant?
“I want to see the world”. That is often the reason why girls or boys want to become cabin attendants. However, for KLM, it is most important that you are prepared to do your utmost to make the passengers comfortable. This is as true for a short flight from Amsterdam to London that takes less than one and a half hour, as it is for a journey of more than 12 hours to Singapore.
To be considered for cabin attendant training, you need a Dutch HAVO diploma (A-levels equivalent), or a MAVO diploma (O-levels equivalent) with a completed tertiary (MBO) training such as tourism or nursing. In all cases, you have to be fluent in Dutch and English. You also need a reasonable knowledge of German, French or Spanish. You must be at least 21 years old, and neither too small or too tall. If you are too small, then you can’t reach anything in the galley (the on-board kitchen). If you are too tall, you would constantly bump your head on the ceiling of the aircraft, especially in the smaller types. Many people think that you have to be very good looking. That is absolutely untrue, but you must look well groomed. It is very important that you are friendly and helpful.
Once you meet these requirements, and if KLM has vacancies, you can enroll for a course as cabin attendant with KLM. The initial training lasts for six weeks. If you aspire to a cabin crew leadership role, you can become an purser and later a senior purser. For this, you will first have to have several years of experience, and pass further training courses.