To build a sustainable career, many people choose to do something that aligns with their interests. As the saying goes, find a job you enjoy doing and you’ll never have to work a day. For those who enjoy traveling and caring for others, being part of a cabin crew could be an apt career choice.
The duties of a cabin crew run the gamut from attending to passengers, conducting safety checks, working with the flight crew to ensure a smooth flight and participating in company events. Decked in singular uniforms that are recognisable instantly, cabin crew essentially serves as an ambassador of an airline and represents the company’s values and personality.
A cabin crew is an important part of flight operations and an airline’s marketing plans. Here’s how much a cabin crew earns in Malaysia.
How Much Can You Earn As A Cabin Crew?
In Malaysia, national carrier Malaysia Airlines and low-cost carrier AirAsia are the most popular airlines.
According to Glassdoor, the median salary of a cabin crew in Malaysia is around RM4,000, inclusive of base salary and other remunerations such as bonus. Specifically, the following is how much a cabin crew would earn in Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia, based on data from Glassdoor.
| Airlines | Salary Range (RM) | Median Salary (RM) |
| Malaysia Airlines | 1,500 – 5,000 | 4,000 |
| AirAsia | 1,500 – 5,000 | 3,000 |
Source: Glassdoor
The total pay of a cabin crew may also depend on the number of shifts the crew worked. The more shifts a cabin crew work, the higher their pay would be.
Cabin crew can work their way up to become senior cabin crew and managers.
Besides salary, cabin crew may also receive other benefits. For instance, cabin crew who join AirAsia’s internal employee branding team, Allstars, will enjoy benefits including free flights, unlimited discounted flights for family members, medical and insurance coverage and access to career growth programmes.
Requirements To Be A Cabin Crew
As each airline has its own corporate values and priorities, naturally the requirements for the hiring of cabin crew will differ as well.
For instance, national carrier Malaysia Airlines places more emphasis on selecting applicants who are able to showcase Malaysian hospitality. Meanwhile, AirAsia seeks team players with a friendly personality, which is in line with the AirAsia branding.
Other requirements include having a Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) with two credits and being proficient in the English language.
There are also physical requirements as the job does involve tasks such as reaching into the overhead bin, so applicants will need to be of certain height. Besides, the cabin crew will also be working in the front line, so being well-groomed is important. Candidates may also be required to be vaccinated for Covid.
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Requirements To Be A Cabin Crew |
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Malaysia Airlines |
AirAsia |
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Academic Requirements |
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Physical Requirements |
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Personality |
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Source: Malaysia Airlines & Air Asia
Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia do hire cabin crew from other countries as well. For AirAsia, foreign applicants will need to bring their higher education certificates.
Recruitment Process
Individuals can submit online applications for the position of cabin crew on the airline’s website. They will have to fill up some personal details online before securing an interview.
During the interview, applicants will need to prepare the following documents:
| Malaysia Airlines | AirAsia |
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Source: Malaysia Airlines & Air Asia
Generally, the dress code for the interview will be formal attire. For female candidates who opt to wear skirts, the skirt will need to fall on or below the knee. The interview dress code for Malaysia Airlines is stricter whereby female candidates need to wear long-sleeve tops, close-toe dress shoes and pants of black, navy or grey colour.
The recruitment process for cabin crew is generally rigorous with multiple selection stages that include initial screening, individual and group interviews, physical assessments and medical examinations.
Once candidates are selected, they will receive training on various topics including safety protocols, emergency response and first aid training.
Things To Consider Before Becoming A Cabin Crew
Similar to many jobs, there are pros and cons to being a cabin crew. Cabin crew are often portrayed as people leading glamorous lives of traveling the world. However, in reality, cabin crew train for their jobs, attend briefings before flights and do a lot of behind-the-scenes work that we do not get to see. If you are considering becoming a cabin crew, it’s best to understand all aspects of the job before applying.
Some of the advantages of becoming a cabin crew is being able to travel, meet people and get free flights. Being part of a cabin crew, you will be working irregular hours and you may be away from your loved ones during the holidays. It’s also a lot of hard work as you will be on your feet and you may also be roped in to do tasks such as working at the tarmac, cleaning the cabin and toilets.
Read more: Salary Guide For Public School Teachers In Malaysia
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