Summary
- Private jet jobs are highly competitive and often obtained through word-of-mouth referrals, making industry experience and networking crucial.
- High school diploma is the minimum requirement, but qualifications in nursing or teaching and customer service experience are favorable.
- Having a valid passport with no restrictions, knowledge of foreign languages, and a background in commercial cabin crew are advantageous in securing private jet jobs.
Private jet jobs are surprisingly hard to come by, especially if you have no industry experience. Experienced cabin crew tend to move into business aviation as it's a new challenge and exciting work. Jobs are very rarely even advertised, so it is often through 'word of mouth' that crew find their positions. How can you increase the chances of finding such an elusive job?
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1 Education
A high school diploma is the bare minimum required for a cabin crew position. A degree is a bonus though not completely necessary; however, qualifications in nursing or teaching are looked upon favorably. Completing a travel or cabin crew college course can help in some cases, especially if the college is working directly with an airline. Customer service experience is essential for cabin crew roles.
2 Passports and visas
A passport with no restrictions is paramount. If working in Europe and you can obtain both, having a UK and an EU passport is an ideal option. In the UK, cabin crew can also apply for two passports, which is helpful when applying for visas.
A US C1/D visa is beneficial if you are working outside the USA. Other practical visas often asked for by private operators are for Russia, China, and India.
3 Languages
Foreign languages are extremely useful. Private jets can reach almost any area worldwide, more so than commercial aircraft. It is always helpful to know a few words of the local language, not only for politeness but when dealing with catering companies and ground handlers, so you get the items you really need for the flight.
4 Cabin crew background
Although not always asked for, having a solid background in commercial cabin crew will undoubtedly go a long way, preferably working in business and first-class cabins. Knowledge of safety procedures, equipment, and aviation first aid and fire training is vital for any aircraft. Not all operators train their cabin crew on private jets, so it is always better to have a cabin crew background so you know what to do in an emergency situation.
5 Private flight attendant training
In the US, there are established training facilities for flight attendants on private jets. In the rest of the world, not so much.
There are courses for private jet flight attendants that focus very much on cabin service but can be expensive. This kind of course isn't necessary, and established experience working on private jets is much more critical.
6 Qualities
Working on private jets can be challenging and time-consuming, so resilience and time management are crucial, especially when working as a solo crew. Bearing in mind most clients are VIPs, confidentiality and discretion are very important, along with following protocol and etiquette, and having strong attention to detail, are required.
7 Specialized skills
Because the private jet cabin crew job is so multi-faceted, there are many skills to garner. Strong food and wine knowledge is essential when preparing menus and ordering catering. It is also useful to know what food trends are in the fine dining world. Catering or chef skills are helpful, along with sommelier, flower arranging, and butler skills. Any of these skills (or all) will help to gain a job on private jets.
8 Building reputation
The private aviation world is incredibly small, and word gets around fast. It is crucial to build a strong reputation for yourself and let your work speak for itself. Your colleagues will appreciate it, and transitioning between operators, especially if freelancing, will become a breeze.