Experts reveal 17 must-know tips for flight attendant exams – Could being seen as 'old and overweight' actually be a plus?

▲ Peach Aviation once recruited Taiwanese flight attendants in Taiwan. (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong, same below)

Reporter Chen Rui-zhong / Taipei reporting

Becoming a flight attendant is a dream job for many. In the recent “Most Desired Employers for the New Generation” survey published by Cheers magazine, EVA Air and China Airlines also ranked in the top 10. This year, EVA Air plans to recruit 600 flight attendants in Taiwan, while airlines such as Scoot and V Air have also released flight attendant recruitment openings, enticing many job seekers to give it a try.

Having run a flight attendant exam training business for many years, and also serving as a recruitment partner for airlines such as Vanilla Air and Peach Aviation in Taiwan, the founder of Airline Training Institute,Lin Pei-li, instructorChuang Hui-chien,Lin Hsin-ya, all have extensive experience as flight attendants and have also helped many candidates successfully pass the exams.

▲ (From left) Lin Hsin-ya, Chuang Hui-chien, and Lin Pei-li from Airline Training Institute.

The founder, Lin Pei-li, is a former China Airlines flight attendant with multiple publications related to the profession; Chuang Hui-chien has served as a flight attendant for EVA Air, Far Eastern Air Transport, and Macau Airlines; and Lin Hsin-ya is the first Taiwanese to join a Middle Eastern airline as a flight attendant—each with their own specialty areas. The three experts also shared their experiences with readers of ETtoday News Cloud, helping more aspiring aviation industry candidates understand the flight attendant profession and potentially realize their sky-high dreams.

1. How to find the airline that’s right for you?
Each airline has its own corporate culture and main service areas. Candidates can take time to learn about the background of different companies. Some airlines value team cohesion, while regional or low-cost carriers may prioritize distinct, lively personal characteristics. Additionally, airlines vary in terms of routes, uniforms, and salaries.

▲ EVA Air estimated recruiting 600 new staff in 2016. (Photo / Provided by EVA Air)

2. How many job openings do airlines typically offer each year?
On average, there are about 1,000 job openings per year, with airlines such as China Airlines and EVA Air offering the most positions. However, each recruitment round often sees over 5,000 applicants, making the competition intense. Other airlines such as Emirates, V Air, Scoot, and Hong Kong Express have also begun recruiting flight attendants in Taiwan.

3. How do candidates find out about recruitment information?
Some airlines release recruitment info on their websites in batches, while others announce their full-year and global recruitment plans at once. Therefore, some candidates plan to apply to multiple countries’ recruitment programs.

▲ Flight attendants are often the face and image of their respective airlines.

4. Flight attendant salaries
Salaries are mainly calculated based on a base salary, plus flight allowances and overseas station subsidies, with slight variations between airlines. Taiwanese airlines start around NT$50,000–60,000, Singapore Airlines around NT$70,000, and Middle Eastern airlines from NT$80,000–110,000.

5. Preparing mentally in advance
Although it may seem glamorous, being a flight attendant is a highly challenging job. Not only do you serve passengers onboard, but you also help ensure flight safety. Therefore, the experts also say,if you’re motivated by “traveling the world, getting free flights, or finding a wealthy spouse,” becoming a flight attendant may not be for you.

▲ The initial written application materials often form the examiner’s first impression. (Photo / Provided by TransAsia Airways)

6. Written application materials
From the very first impression made through your written application, your chances of advancing to the next round depend on it. Therefore, the personal photos submitted (full-body shots, headshots, lifestyle photos) are very important and should be taken seriously. If applying to multiple airlines, consider using a universal style and format to save on repeated photo costs.

7. Language Proficiency
English proficiency is the most basic requirement for flight attendant recruitment exams. Typically, Asian airlines require a TOEIC score of 560–600 or above, while foreign airlines require 700 or above. Therefore, experts suggestit’s best to have a foundation of at least 700 points..

▲ Foreign language ability is one of the key foundations for becoming a flight attendant.

8. Appearance and Grooming
Experts point out that as times change, “being tall + having double eyelids + wearing a bun” is no longer the guaranteed formula for success in flight attendant recruitment. The key lies in finding a makeup style that suits you and showcasing a style that matches the airline. Experts say some airlines prefer an elegant look, others prefer a friendly crew, and preferences vary—candidates need to understand what each airline values.

Additionally, some airlines have asked candidates to wear sportswear, remove high heels and stockings, aiming to see the most authentic version of the applicants. But experts also warn that tattoos, too many ear piercings, or overly obvious scars can be disadvantageous during the selection process.

9. Do Flight Attendants Have Height Restrictions?
Some airlines no longer have height restrictions for flight attendants, but there is still a “reach height” requirement, usually being able to touch 208–213 cm or more with bare feet and outstretched hands. For candidates with a lower reach height, experts suggest taking yoga classes to relax the body and joints, which can typically increase reach height by about 2 cm.

▲ Some airlines test reach height, which can be improved through yoga training.

10. How Should You Prepare for the Interview?
Beyond English proficiency, inner personality traits are also key criteria for judges. Each airline has its preferred type, so candidates should understand their own strengths and weaknesses and find their right battlefield. Experts even reveal that “interview questions are not the real test.”

During the interview, examiners may ask a series of sharp questions to assess the candidate’s stress resilience, sense of humor, and responsiveness. Zhuang Huiqian once faced direct criticism from an examiner for being “too old and too fat,” and Lin Xinya was criticized for having “unsightly dental braces,” but both responded with quick wit and clever answers, demonstrating their determination and intelligence in pursuing the position. For example, when questioned about her dental braces, Lin Xinya replied to the examiner: “Once I get my braces off next week, I’ll be so pretty I’ll forget I ever had them.” By using humor to defuse the situation, both ultimately passed the interview.

Experts note that flight attendants work in customer-facing service roles, so when facing criticism, showing the right response and resilience can help turn the situation around and leave a good impression on the interviewer.

11. How Can You Score Extra Points?
Backgrounds such as nursing experience, proficiency in second or third languages, bartending or wine-serving skills can offer advantages during the exam. A background in customer service, competition awards, club participation, etc., can also boost your score.

▲ Stress resilience and personal uniqueness when facing examiners are often the keys to success.

12. What Does the Interview Process Involve?
In addition to examiner Q&A, airlines customize different test content based on their corporate culture. Some include group discussions, games, talent performances, difficult customer simulations, foreign language tests, and also evaluate candidates through a runway walk.

13. What Are the Characteristics of Foreign Airlines?
Compared to appearance, foreign airlines typically place more emphasis on individual ability and character. In addition to strong foreign language skills, the composition of crews in foreign airlines resembles a mini United Nations. Learning to work with colleagues from different countries and cultures becomes a major focus of the job. Take Gulf Air Bahrain, where Lin Xinya once worked, as an example—it employed flight attendants from over 120 countries, with one flight having crew members from 11 different nationalities.

▲ Korean Jin Air flight attendant.

14. What Additional Benefits Do Overseas-Based Flight Attendants Receive?
Since airlines are based in different locations, crew members may need to reside long-term in places like Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, etc. Airlines often provide dormitories or housing allowances, as well as annual return-flight tickets home.

15. What Benefits Do Flight Attendants Get?
In addition to opportunities to explore the world, companies usually offer flight attendants discounted airfare, though it’s generally limited to the attendant or their immediate family. There are also additional perks at partner stores and hotels.

▲ Airlines with a more vibrant corporate image often seek outgoing and cheerful crew members. (Photo / Screenshot from Taoyuan International Airport’s official fan page)

16. What Are Common Occupational Hazards for Flight Attendants?
The most common challenges flight attendants face include constantly adjusting to time zone changes and often being unable to spend holidays with family and friends. Amid the demanding work, homesickness can be particularly strong.

Additionally, assisting passengers with their luggage and constantly moving around the cabin can also lead to occupational injuries in the back and legs. Crew members often joke that they “walk to Tokyo and run to Amsterdam,” which illustrates the pressure on their feet. Moreover, the English briefings required before each flight pose significant mental stress for crew members with weaker foreign language skills.

17. Do you absolutely have to attend tutoring classes to become a flight attendant?
Experts say that if you already have a solid foundation in areas such as foreign language proficiency and communication skills—essentially being a natural fit for the job—you can indeed pass the exam through self-study, though tutoring can help speed up your preparation. However, for those with more average abilities, tutoring and similar methods can be useful for mastering test-taking techniques and strengthening personal skills.

With the development of the internet, there is now a wide range of flight attendant tutoring classes, study groups, and senior sharing sessions available. Experts also advise candidates to carefully evaluate the content and members of these programs in order to find the most suitable preparation method for themselves.