“Flight attendant, arm door, cross check”
You’ll probably hear this on the in-flight announcement before you take off for your next vacation destination. Avid travelers will know that the plane will soon be on its way to its destination.
For flight attendants, this instruction is part of their job and a necessary responsibility to ensure passenger safety.
Singapore Airlines (SIA), Singapore’s top airline, is hiring thousands of crew members to fill the gap when air travel begins after the end of 2022.
During the pandemic, SIA put a hiring freeze and many of its crew members on unpaid leave. Local recruitment activities resumed in February 2022, and since October 2022, approximately 1,200 flight attendants have been hired, and he was considering hiring an additional 800. The airline’s total number of flight attendants was 11,000 before the pandemic.
SIA reported that passenger capacity in November 2022 reached 75% of pre-Covid-19 levels and is likely to increase further as travel normalizes in 2023.
As air travel resumes, the demand for flight attendants will rise across various airlines, and tight demand will lead to competition, increasing the chances of getting a job.
So how much do SIA flight attendants make? We share the details.
But first, why should you consider working as a flight attendant?
Let’s face it. Most people love to travel and go on holidays. If your job allows you to travel and shop in Milan and eat dim sum in Hong Kong in the same month, it really sounds like a dream job. Not far from reality.
Besides free flights and travel opportunities, there are usually flight rewards for family and friends as well. You can also stay at a hotel overseas, and food expenses will be compensated.
Of course, there are risks in any job (more on that later), but so are most jobs. Even desk workers are at risk of being overworked.
How much do SIA crew members earn?
According to Glassdoor, SIA flight attendant jobs are the most popular because of their higher salaries compared to other airlines. SIA flight attendants earn an average of $3,585 a month, all inclusive, based on a survey of 262 salaries. SilkAir crews, on the other hand, earn about $3,000, while Scoot crews earn close to that amount.
Salaries are based on flight patterns and flight hours. Basic salary accounts for about half of the total salary, and the rest is calculated by adding various allowances.
| salary component | Explanation |
| basic salary | Flight attendants are paid a base salary. This is a flat rate that you get regardless of flight time. |
| In-flight allowance (per hour) | Depending on the flight time, it will be added to the salary. Experienced crew members receive higher in-flight allowances than junior crew members. |
| Long haul flight allowance | This usually refers to flights longer than 14 hours. |
| transfer allowance | A fixed fee is paid for each connection (also known as a night stop allowance). |
| turnaround allowance | The amount of time it takes for an aircraft to prepare for its next flight after it has landed. |
| Payment of transportation expenses | We will give it to you every month when you commute to work or school. |
| uniform allowance | To purchase new uniforms and workwear accessories. |
The crew will be based in Singapore and will initially offer a five-year employment contract. An additional five-year contract may be offered, depending on performance.
SIA Benefits:
- Once a year, you’ll be granted free travel to an SIA destination and enjoy discounted travel the rest of the year.
- We have an attractive annual leave scheme, medical and dental care scheme.
- Learn skills curated to SIA’s high standards, including service training, grooming, first aid, and aircraft safety procedures.
Please note that full salaries are only given to new hires who have completed a four-month training program (see details below). Basic salary will be paid during the training period.
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What are the requirements to qualify for an interview?
The looks and outlook of the SIA crew matter, as the company has a long reputation for recruiting attractive looking people.
In recent years, however, the criteria for attractiveness are less stringent. As long as an aspiring crew member is well-groomed and has a pleasant personality, they may get the role.
However, the minimum height requirement of 1.58m for women and 1.65m for men has not changed due to the need to follow safety and emergency procedures on board. Any facial piercings or visible tattoos should also be covered.
- 18+ as required by law
- Friendly personality and strong service spirit
- Fluent in English and good communication skills
- There is a minimum height requirement of at least 1.58m for women and 1.65m for men to perform safety and emergency procedures on board.
- GCE ‘O’ level 5 credits (including English) or a minimum qualification of Higher Nitec or above
- Former SIA flight attendants can also apply
Successful applicants must be able to begin employment with SIA within three months of the date of application.
Most flight attendants are recruited from Singapore. Singapore Airlines is also recruiting from Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, India and Indonesia. Recruitment for Chinese flight crews has also occurred in the past, but is unlikely to resume due to ongoing restrictions due to the pandemic.
Previously, SIA used to do mass recruitment in hotel ballrooms, but due to the pandemic, it now conducts online video interviews as the first step in its curation.
Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for a final interview.
SIA’s 4-Month Crew Training Program and What You’ll Learn
If you are selected as an SIA flight attendant, you must undergo a rigorous four-month classroom and on-the-job training program. The training aims to ensure that new recruits embody the airline’s customer service philosophy and develop professional flight attendants for all flight situations.
Training includes:
- Basics of social etiquette, grooming and passenger handling skills.
- Meal service procedures, including food and wine tasting courses.
- First aid and safety procedures for various aircraft types.
Flight attendants are also required to undergo safety training in the Safety Training Section of the Flight Crew Training Department. Classroom instruction is enhanced through the use of aircraft equipment and evacuation drills.
Safety training modules include basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and firefighting. Hands-on training includes practicing his CPR on a dummy with special equipment and using a fire extinguisher in a dedicated fire training room.
Emergency drills and scenarios have also been developed leading to simulated ground evacuation and water survival drills.
What is Underwater Survival Training?
- Cabin mockups are used for drainage procedures, slide raft boarding, and launch instructions.
- “Open ocean” conditions are simulated by a wave generator.
- You can create a variety of sea scenarios and situations, day or night.
Finally, there is Safety and Emergency Procedures (SEP) training that all crew members are required to attend each year. Her annual SEP training includes first aid and firefighting, and land and sea evacuations alternate each year.
After the training is successfully completed, the flight mission will begin.
Is there a risk of working as a flight attendant?
Now that you’ve learned about the perks of the job, it’s time to share its possible drawbacks. This will allow you to make clear decisions and choices if you want to pursue this as a career/job.
As a steward and stewardess, be prepared to deal with unpleasant people on board. It could be a demanding passenger or a grumpy baby. But not all flights have problem customers. No matter what kind of work you do, you deal with people who are unpleasant, so compared to doing other types of work, this is not such a dire problem.
You have to pay attention to your appearance and weight. This can be an obstacle for those who like food or have weight issues.
There are also airborne diseases (such as Covid-19) to which crew members may be exposed, and crew members should accept these as job risks.
It is said that the working system changes frequently, so be prepared for those who value the system. When asked to help a sick fellow crew member, you may have to unload everything on your day off.
I have to work on public holidays because flights take off regardless of holidays or weekends.
You also have to deal with time zone changes, which can lead to erratic sleep habits. there is.
Featured image credit: Singapore Airlines
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