Summary

• Some airlines have very strict requirements for staff; for example, Air India requires flight attendants to be attractive and thin, while Gulf Air attendants must be single and ask permission to get married.
• Hong Kong Airlines even has its employees trained in kung fu and extensive self-defense, while Qatar Airways limits the rights of female cabin crew to get pregnant and married.
• Emirates Airlines requires female flight attendants to not become pregnant during their first three years on the job.

Getting paid to travel the globe, see some of the most beautiful places in the world, explore exciting cultures, and meet lots of interesting people along the way, are just a few of the perks of having a career as a flight attendant. Just like every job, however, there are rules that each employee must follow, with some airlines being more strict than others. The lives of flight attendants are often overlooked by passengers, although they can be rather interesting, especially if they work for strict airlines.

Whatever the airline, though, having a career in the sky is not as simple as it may seem on the exterior. With intense training also comes rigid policies and strict rules for some employees, even those who work for the airlines with the happiest flight attendants. All these guidelines are put in place because airlines believe it is in the best interest of the experience for their customers, their staff, and their company image. While not all airlines are as uncompromising, the following are some of the strictest airlines to work for, according to flight attendants.

UPDATE: 2024/01/21 14:48 EST BY NOAH STAATS

Flying Keeps Getting Stricter: Here Are Some Wildly True Airline Policies That Flight Attendants Have To Follow

This article has been refreshed with new information regarding strict airline policies and what flight attendants go through during their pre-employment process. Trust us, it's not as glamorous as it seems!

17 Gulf Air & Qatar Airways Flight Attendants Must Be Single (& Ask Permission To Marry)

Single (and not ready to mingle), these airlines' flight attendants have to fly solo

According to flight attendants for Gulf Air, they must be unwed prior to starting a career with their company. While they are free to date, employees also must ask the company for permission to marry if they want to take their relationships further; apparently, staff must ask their employer's permission first. What's more intimidating; asking her dad for her hand in marriage or querying her boss?

What's more, like Gulf Air, Qatar Airways has strict rules on female staff; the company may terminate female air hostesses' contracts if they become pregnant, a practice it has been previously asked to stop by the UN. Although its policies have been relaxed somewhat, Qatar Airways still requires its female cabin crew to immediately notify the company if they wish to get married or if they become pregnant.

• What makes this airline strict: Gulf Air and Qatar Airways are said to be invasive in their employees' personal lives. You cannot be married before starting a job for Gulf Air, and you must ask the company for permission to take your relationship further. When working for Qatar Airways, female cabin crew cannot become pregnant without potential risk to their jobs, and they must notify the company if they want to get married.

16 Air India Flight Attendants Must Be "Attractive"

Even Shallow Hal can't compare to Air India's stringent aesthetic requirements

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, in this circumstance, it is the employers of Air India. In order to have a career with Air India, employees must not only be attractive, but they must also be thin by being on the lighter end of the average for body mass index (BMI).

Air India is uncompromising on this rule, even warning and firing employees who do not meet their standards.

• What makes this airline strict: Air India requires flight attendants to be attractive and thin.

15 Qatar Airways Houses Cabin Crew In Guarded Company Complexes

Flight attendant housing with Qatar Airways feels a bit like boot camp for employees

Qatar Airways was mentioned above regarding its harsh policies on female cabin screw staff, restricting their ability to get pregnant or married. However, the company also requires cabin crew to live in company accommodations with a 24-hour security guard watching their every in and out.

They also need to use identification cards to enter and leave the facility, with strict curfews and rules on visitors.

• What makes this airline strict: Qatar Airlines employees live in company complexes with 24-hour security and tight checks on their whereabouts.

14 Hong Kong Airlines Trains Cabin Crew In Kung Fu

You don't want to mess with Hong Kong Airlines flight attendants unless you know Kung Fu

Hong Kong Airlines believes it is essential for all cabin crew to be trained in self-defense in case of an emergency while on duty. Therefore, they train all flight attendants in the practice of martial arts, specifically Kung Fu.

Who knew that one of the things flight attendants do when dealing with unruly passengers on Hong Kong Airlines might be to Kung Fu someone back to their seat? You don't want to be a naughty passenger on that flight!

• What makes the airline strict: Hong Kong Airlines forces employees to train in kung fu and extensive self-defense training.

13 Don't Try To Get Pregnant While Working For Emirates

If want to be a parent, you have to wait three years as an Emirates flight attendant

Emirates has always been known for its strict rules for employees, but this one may take the cake, especially for the brand's female staff; it may not be one of the best airlines to work for as a flight attendant if any female cabin crew members wish to become mothers so soon.

Emirates has a policy for female cabin crew; it states that they cannot get pregnant within the first three years of being employed by them, or they may be asked to leave.

• What makes this airline strict: Emirates Airlines will terminate employment with flight attendants who become pregnant within their first three years.

12 British Airways Cabin Crew Must Learn How To Tread Water

If you can't swim well, don't expect a call back from British Airways

British Airways is quite possible the hardest airline to get into as a flight attendant if you can't swim; it has guidelines that all flight attendants must tread water for 55 yards and tread water for 3 minutes while assisting other people in the water.

While this may seem like a strict rule (typically, this kind of thing is mandatory for professional and recreational scuba diving courses), the company believes this training is essential for employees to help in emergencies.

• What makes this airline strict: To be hired by British Airways, cabin crew must tread water for 55 yards and three minutes.

11 Don't Expect To Accessorize At JetBlue

This US company provides approved accessories to flight attendants.

One of the strictest airlines for flight attendants is JetBlue, but mainly in the aesthetics department. This airline carrier does not allow its cabin crew to accessorize outside of approved items provided by JetBlue to its staff.

Moreover, the uniform policy and stringent grooming conditions for flight attendants ensure a prim and proper flight, no matter the city or plane.

• What makes this airline strict: JetBlue does not allow flight attendants to wear their own accessories or modify their uniforms in any way.

10 Delta Airlines Is Very Strict In Its Drug Testing

Those who've had a drug run-in or failed a test in the last decade can kiss Delta goodbye

One airline that does not mess around with background checks and drug testing is Delta; it's one of the hardest airlines to get into as a flight attendant for those who have anything less than a squeaky-clean background. If you apply to be a flight attendant for a US company such as this one, you can expect extensive medical, including sight and hearing tests, plus be able to complete a 10-year background check and drug testing.

Throughout the hiring process, you may be asked to take drug tests and be retested, so this is a big one for the brand.

• What makes this airline strict: Delta runs extensive criminal background checks and requires all crew to take drug tests throughout the hiring process.

Delta even has a huge museum in Atlanta for people to check out.

9 Attendants Undergo Intense Amazon Jungle Survival Training With LATAM Airlines

Love animals and the jungle? Apply to work at LATAM Airlines and undertake hard training!

Most passengers assume that a flight attendant's main job is to serve them refreshments, but that's entirely incorrect; they're also required to help save lives in case of emergencies, and they all undergo extensive training for this.

It is said that LATAM Airlines actually trains employees in intense Amazon rainforest survival training. It's nice to know how well-prepared the cabin crew is if you were to fly with this airline.

• What makes this airline strict: LATAM Airlines requires flight crew members to train in the Amazon rainforest as part of a survival course in the event of a crash.

8 An Education And Good Health Is A Requirement To Work For Czech Airlines

Those hoping to land a job with this airline must be educated and undergo lots of testing, including health and psychological

The majority of airlines require flight attendants to be high school graduates at a minimum, with some requiring a university degree for higher positions and promotions.

Still, Czech Airlines takes it one step further, making potential cabin crew candidates take aptitude testing, psychological testing, and finally, health testing.

• What makes this airline strict: On top of schooling requirements, this airline makes employees undergo aptitude testing, psychological testing, and finally, health testing.

7 Etihad Airways May Have The Most Strict Rules On Visitors

Free housing may not be so 'free' with Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is another airline that houses flight attendants for free. While on duty, though, flight attendants' visitors must leave their homes before 1:00 am.

Plus, if an employee would like their parents to stay over, only the mother of the female who works as a flight attendant or the father of the male employed as a flight attendant is allowed to stay the night.

• What makes this airline strict: You will be monitored while living on the property with Etihad Airways.

6 Thai Airways Has Strict Age And Family Requirements For Staff

You have to be under 24 with no children to apply to work for Thai Airways

Thai Airways has quite strict policies on the hiring age for potential candidates. They must be under 24 years of age when they first apply and single with no children.

Thai Airways believes the first couple of years of service to their career is so busy that keeping a family life proves to be too much for most flight attendants and their schedules.

• What makes this airline strict: Thai Airways requires flight attendants to be under 24 and childless to apply and be hired.

5 There Are Multiple Rounds Of Interviews To Work For Singapore Airlines

You'll have many, many interviews if you want to be a flight attendant for Singapore Airlines

While some airlines are more rigid once you have actually been employed, Singapore Airlines has some of the strictest processes to get a job with them. They have been known to have over five different rounds of interviews even to get close to the intense training they require for flight attendants.

That said, there are reasons for this, often leading to flight attendants who are hired being very happy in their positions.

• What makes this airline strict: Singapore Airlines has some of the strictest hiring protocols in the industry. You will have many rounds of interviews.

4 Malaysia Airlines Crew Must Undertake Etiquette Classes

You'll have to be prim, polite, and proper to be hired as a flight attendant on Malaysia Airlines

Training with Malaysia Airlines covers areas of safety procedures all the way to social etiquette.

In their etiquette classes, flight attendants are taught how to walk down the aisles of aircraft elegantly, how to hold their heads up properly so as to look confident and not arrogant, and even how to sit down in their uniforms with the high slits in their skirts.

• What makes this airline strict: Malaysia Airlines requires employees to undergo etiquette classes to ensure a prim and proper flight for guests.

3 It's Not So Easy To Work For EasyJet With Tattoos

Say goodbye to showing off your ink if you're working on board an EasyJet flight

EasyJet has a lot of perks for working for them, like commission onboard sales, but they still have strict physical guidelines like most airlines. One of those guidelines is a requirement that all cabin crew cannot have any visible tattoos, which is pretty restrictive with short-sleeved and skirt uniforms.

Flight attendant requirements have changed rather dramatically since the 90s, with the uniform being a big one.

• What makes this airline strict: EasyJet does not allow tattoos to be shown by flight attendants.

2 There Are Strict Grooming Standards With Allegiant Air

Although more relaxed in messaging, flight attendants on Allegiant Air are put through the wringer

Most airlines require all employees to dress and present themselves like any other professional environment; therefore, Allegiant Air is along with the norm in their grooming, hair, and makeup guidelines.

Allegiant Air requires their cabin crew to only wear makeup that compliments their features as well as their uniform, and their hair must be well-groomed and not extreme in color, length, or style.

• What makes this airline strict: Allegiant Airlines requires flight attendants to properly groom themselves, including their hair and makeup.

1 American Airlines Flight Attendants Must Be "Thin"

As one of aviation's largest employers, American Airlines only hires thin

American Airlines is one of the biggest employers in the airline industry, so it is no surprise they set the standard for employees.

They require their flight attendants to be of a certain weight and height. American Airlines believes it is a bonafide requirement for the job since flight attendant duties can be so physical in tight spaces.

• What makes this airline strict: American Airlines requires flight attendants to be in good physical fitness and be thin.