Air hostess is the older name for cabin crew. The clearest published minimums come from South African Airways (SAA), whose cabin crew training page lists these pre-requisites: 18 years or older, a Matric/Grade 12 qualification, the ability to speak, read and write English, the ability to swim with the aid of a life jacket, and a valid cabin crew medical certificate.
Each airline sets its own selection criteria on top of that, so treat the list as a starting point and check the airline you want to join. Cabin crew licensing and medical certification fall under the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).
Entry Requirements at a Glance
SAA lists the following for its cabin crew training course.
- Age 18 or older
- A Matric/Grade 12 qualification
- The ability to speak, read and write English
- The ability to swim in water, with the aid of a life jacket
- A valid Class 4 Medical Certificate, as SAA’s page names it
Height, reach and appearance rules vary by airline. SAA’s page does not state any, so ask the airline directly rather than relying on a figure from a job board.
Education and Subject Requirements
SAA asks for Matric/Grade 12 and English. It does not state a subject combination or a minimum mark. Confirm with the airline how it treats your results.
Beyond English, any additional language or experience requirements are set by each airline, so check its advert.
Age, Fitness, Licence and Background Requirements
Fitness is formal: you need a medical certificate issued by an examiner accredited by SACAA. SACAA’s aviation medicine page groups cabin crew with private and student pilots as Class II medical certificate holders, while SAA’s course page calls the cabin crew certificate Class 4. Ask your examiner or airline which one applies to you before you book.
SAA also says a chest x-ray from a radiology department is required before you book the medical examination, and that you must complete a security clearance indemnity form to access its premises and aircraft. SACAA is responsible for the first aid training content that forms part of cabin crew licensing requirements.
Documents and Evidence Required
To book SAA’s course, its page says you complete three things and arrange your medical:
- A registration form
- A student training agreement
- An SAA security clearance indemnity form
- A Class 4 medical examination arranged with a SACAA accredited medical examiner, preceded by a chest x-ray
Have your Grade 12 results and identity document ready as well, as any airline or training provider will ask to see them. Other airlines may ask for more, so read each advert carefully.
Application and Selection Process
SAA says it offers cabin crew training programmes, for cabin crew licensing purposes, to the general public. Its initial course runs for 42 days and is presented by an SACAA-approved training organisation. The same page carries a notice that courses are suspended until further notice, so contact SAA before planning around it.
To become an air hostess in South Africa, the route on SAA’s page is: meet the pre-requisites, obtain the medical, complete an approved cabin crew course, then apply to airlines. Airlines recruit on their own timetables and set their own further tests. Never pay anyone for a guaranteed position.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air hostess the same as cabin crew?
Yes. Cabin crew is the current term for the same job.
How do I become an air hostess in South Africa?
Meet the airline’s minimums (SAA lists 18+, Grade 12, English, swimming and a valid medical certificate), get your medical from a SACAA accredited examiner, complete an approved cabin crew course, and apply to the airlines. Confirm the steps with the airline, as practice differs.
Do I need a cabin crew course before applying?
SAA offers cabin crew training to the general public for licensing purposes, though its page notes a suspension. Other airlines set their own rules on training, so check the requirements in each airline’s advert.
Do I need to swim?
SAA requires you to be able to swim in water with the aid of a life jacket.
Confirm the current requirements with the airline you are applying to, and with SACAA for medical certification. See the job requirements hub and browse all career requirements.