Who Is a Flight Attendant (Flugbegleiter) and How Does Their Career in Aviation Begin?

Author name: Admin Publication date: 2025-07-06 Article category: jobs and professions

Who is a Flugbegleiter?

Definition

A Flugbegleiter is a member of the cabin crew (Kabinencrew), responsible for serving passengers and ensuring their safety on board.
They are also referred to as steward/stewardess or cabin crew.


Main duties

Before the flight

  • Taking part in the pre-flight briefing with the crew

  • Checking the aircraft equipment (emergency equipment, food, drinks)

  • Welcoming passengers and helping them find their seats

During the flight

  • Giving the safety instructions (Sicherheitsanweisung) and demonstrating emergency procedures

  • Serving food and drinks and assisting passengers with special needs

  • Monitoring the cabin and ensuring compliance with safety regulations

  • Dealing with emergencies or medical problems during the flight

After the flight

  • Assisting passengers with a safe and orderly disembarkation

  • Making sure the aircraft is free of forgotten luggage or personal items

  • Writing a flight report and documenting any special incidents


Safety first

  • Training in first aid

  • Learning how to evacuate the aircraft in emergency situations

  • Practising how to handle fires or technical issues in the cabin


How does the career start?

Basic requirements

  • At least a secondary school certificate (usually Realschulabschluss or Abitur)

  • Good command of German and English (additional languages are a strong asset)

  • Good physical fitness, meeting the height and health requirements set by each airline

  • Strong social skills and the ability to work under pressure and handle challenging situations

Training (Schulung)

  • Training is provided directly by the airline and usually lasts between 6 weeks and 3 months.

  • It includes:

    • Safety and evacuation procedures

    • Passenger service and hospitality on board

    • Training in first aid and fire-fighting

    • Simulations of emergency situations

Practical start

  • After successfully completing the course, trainees receive a cabin crew licence (Flugbegleiterlizenz).

  • They usually start on short-haul flights (Kurzstrecke) and, with time and experience, move on to long-haul flights (Langstrecke).


Summary

A Flugbegleiter is much more than just a service provider; they are responsible for the comfort and safety of every passenger on board.

  • The job begins with strong personal skills and intensive professional training provided by airlines.

  • It combines organizational work, direct human interaction, and professional action in emergency situations.

— The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on in-depth research and multiple sources. However, errors may occur or some information may be incomplete or not yet fully confirmed. Therefore, the information in these articles should be regarded as an initial, non-binding reference, and you should always contact the relevant authorities and official bodies for binding and up-to-date information.

Who is a Flugbegleiter?
Definition
A Flugbegleiter is a member of the cabin crew (Kabinencrew), responsible for serving passengers and ensuring their safety on board.They are also referred to as steward/stewardess or cabin crew.

Main duties
Before the flight


Taking part in the pre-flight briefing with the crew


Checking the aircraft equipment (emergency equipment, food, drinks)


Welcoming passengers and helping them find their seats


During the flight


Giving the safet...

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