Not all of us love flying. Being stuck in a long metal tube with a load of other people at an unfathomable height is not for everyone. Yet, despite the unnatural setting, flying is often an experience that many of us relish. The procedures, the seat belt rules, the inevitable screaming baby…. and the unfailingly polite and smiling cabin crew members.
If there was a job that demanded a certain type of person, it is cabin crew. They are confined to that narrow gangway for hours on end, seemingly serving hundreds of passengers simultaneously. Their smile never leaves their lips, and their demeanour is permanently switched to helpful.
When cabin crew are looking for a job, their cabin crew cover letter needs to consequently venture far beyond the factual nature of their CV. The hiring manager needs to feel the warmth of their smile as they read the words on the page. The most personality-packed cover letters will likely get the interview invites. But how do you go about writing such a cabin crew cover letter?
To start with, it is useful to do some research. Our range of cover letter examples is a good place to start. For some cabin crew specific advice, in this guide we look at:
- Writing a cabin crew cover letter to help your application soar
- Deciding which aviation career stories to tell in the letter
- Picking a format and structure that works for you (plus a cover letter sample)
- Writing a cabin crew cover letter with no experience
- Mistakes to avoid if you are keen on that interview invite.
Here are a few other cover letter examples to offer more inspiration:
Best format for a cabin crew cover letter
Before we take a look at a cover letter sample, let’s deal with the basics. Cabin crew are very process driven. They have so much to do on their flights, so they appreciate the need for structure in their work. A cover letter is no different. Talk a hiring manager through your experiences in the way they expect — there is no need to do anything differently from the norm in terms of structure. Your cabin crew cover letter should include the following elements:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
A cabin crew cover letter should be all about the extras that you cannot find in a CV. You know, all the stuff that you don’t have to do on the flight, but you know that the passengers will appreciate it. You need to make the hiring manager feel like you have gone the extra mile and personalised the cover letter to such a degree that it feels that it is written just for them. Let your innate love for detail come to the fore.
Before we dive into the detail of the letter, it may well be worth gaining a more general appreciation of cover letter writing. Our comprehensive cover letter guide would be a good place to start. When you have decided on things such as font size, margin width and cover letter design, you will know how much space you need to tell your story.
Dear Alice Fletcher,
I am writing to express my interest in the advertised cabin crew position at UK Airlines Ltd., a role I came across on your official website. As a dedicated individual who has always been fascinated by the aviation industry, I believe I can offer excellent customer service skills and a keen attention to detail, both of which I understand are crucial for this role.
In 2021, I successfully completed a BSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Surrey, graduating with honours. This academic journey has equipped me with a deep understanding of the hospitality sector, emphasising customer satisfaction and service excellence. Moreover, my coursework in safety and emergency procedures has provided a solid foundation that I am eager to apply and build upon in the cabin crew role at UK Airlines Ltd.
During my time at university, I also completed an internship at a renowned hotel in Manchester where I developed a strong skill set in attending to clients from diverse backgrounds with varied needs and preferences. These experiences have honed my communication and interpersonal skills, allowing me to excel in high-pressure environments and maintain a calm, professional demeanour.
In addition to my academic and professional background, I have always been committed to maintaining a high level of physical fitness, which I understand is a vital aspect of a cabin crew member’s role to ensure the well-being and safety of all passengers on board. My multilingual abilities in English and Spanish further enhance my readiness to communicate effectively with a diverse clientele and to provide assistance to passengers in various circumstances.
I am extremely excited about the opportunity to join the UK Airlines Ltd. team, where I am eager to contribute to the high standards of safety and customer service that your airline is known for. I am confident that my background in hospitality and tourism, coupled with my enthusiasm for the aviation industry, positions me well to contribute positively to your team.
Thank you for considering my application. I am looking forward to potentially discussing how my educational background and skill set can align with the goals and standards of UK Airlines Ltd., and how I can play a role in ensuring a pleasant and safe journey for all passengers.
Yours sincerely, Samantha Brown
Cover letter header
People probably feel good when they see the logo of your airline. Design can have an intangible effect on someone’s perception. The cover letter header is your chance to introduce an element of design into your application, but make sure that it isn’t too flashy or colourful. After all, you have a no-nonsense job that is focused on efficiency.
Include your full contact details at the top of the cabin crew cover letter — name, email, and mobile number. The hiring manager may wish to invite you to interview there and then, so repeat these details here as well as on your resume.
There is no need for a full home address — data protection issues are everywhere these days. Finally, you should also forgo the employer’s inside address. You won’t set foot in a corporate office, after all, and it just takes up vital cover letter space.
Cover letter greeting
Greeting people and making them feel welcome comes naturally to a cabin crew member. Getting the greeting right at the start of a cover letter is therefore important. Opt for the standard “Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Surname” and you won’t go far wrong.
If the hiring manager is not listed on the job description (you will likely be interviewed by someone from the cabin crew HR team first), try to find out a name if you can. There may be an HR email address where you can inquire. A phone call to a massive corporate office will likely end in failure. If you are still not sure, go for a warm “Dear Airline cabin crew team” rather than the overly formal “To whom it may concern.”
Cover letter introduction
The introduction of the cabin crew letter should get into your story of service. Don’t talk about your responsibilities – instead, tell your future hiring manager about your personality and motivations at work. Attitude is everything when your job is to keep passengers happy on a long flight. Your passion for customer service should shine through right from the start.
Maybe tell an unusual story to demonstrate how you go above and beyond when the moment demands it. You will experience all sorts of situations, so give a hint that there are many more stories to come during an interview.
Dear Alice Fletcher,
I am writing to express my interest in the advertised cabin crew position at UK Airlines Ltd., a role I came across on your official website. As a dedicated individual who has always been fascinated by the aviation industry, I believe I can offer excellent customer service skills and a keen attention to detail, both of which I understand are crucial for this role.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The middle paragraphs of cover letters should address some specifics from the job description. The airline will likely have a few expectations that are above and beyond the normal job — share some accomplishments that show you have what it takes.
The middle part of the cover letter is also where you can double down in the potential culture fit. If you have worked for an airline with a similar customer service mentality, tell the potential employer more about your experiences. You need to minimise the perceived risk of hiring you at this early stage.
If an airline makes a hiring mistake with their cabin crew it can have serious ramifications for their brand — especially at a time when viral social media posts can shine a light on any customer service failures. Come across as a safe pair of hands.
In 2021, I successfully completed a BSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Surrey, graduating with honours. This academic journey has equipped me with a deep understanding of the hospitality sector, emphasising customer satisfaction and service excellence. Moreover, my coursework in safety and emergency procedures has provided a solid foundation that I am eager to apply and build upon in the cabin crew role at UK Airlines Ltd.
During my time at university, I also completed an internship at a renowned hotel in Manchester where I developed a strong skill set in attending to clients from diverse backgrounds with varied needs and preferences. These experiences have honed my communication and interpersonal skills, allowing me to excel in high-pressure environments and maintain a calm, professional demeanour.
In addition to my academic and professional background, I have always been committed to maintaining a high level of physical fitness, which I understand is a vital aspect of a cabin crew member’s role to ensure the well-being and safety of all passengers on board. My multilingual abilities in English and Spanish further enhance my readiness to communicate effectively with a diverse clientele and to provide assistance to passengers in various circumstances.
I am extremely excited about the opportunity to join the UK Airlines Ltd. team, where I am eager to contribute to the high standards of safety and customer service that your airline is known for. I am confident that my background in hospitality and tourism, coupled with my enthusiasm for the aviation industry, positions me well to contribute positively to your team.
How to close a cabin crew cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
The close of a cabin crew cover letter should end on one last story of success. Then there is the simple matter of saying that you are looking forward to finding out more during an interview. This call to action will serve to show your confidence in your ability and it will also hopefully prompt a hiring manager to invite you to an interview. If your application is good, they should get the sense that time is of the essence.
Thank you for considering my application. I am looking forward to potentially discussing how my educational background and skill set can align with the goals and standards of UK Airlines Ltd., and how I can play a role in ensuring a pleasant and safe journey for all passengers.
Yours sincerely, Samantha Brown
Cabin crew cover letter with no experience
Getting a job as a cabin crew member requires a high level of customer service, but plenty of people enter the industry without previous aviation experience. There are plenty of similarities if you have worked in a customer-facing high-end luxury setting — you are there to facilitate an experience.
Focus on your transferable skills and make the link between what you have done and what you will be expected to do when you are in the air. If you are moving into the industry, it is important to show that you have done your homework.
Basic mistakes in a cabin crew application letter (and how to avoid them)
A mistake by a cabin crew member can be amplified when they are on a long flight and need to walk past the customer that they have let down multiple times before they land. Flying is stressful for many people, and you can never quite tell how someone might react to an error. Try to avoid these mistakes in your cover letter to show that you are not error-prone.
- Grammar mistakes. While writing might not be an integral part of your job, make sure that you use a program like Grammarly to double-check the basics.
- Get the tone right. You should write your cover letter in the same tone that you would use with a passenger –— professional but warm. Don’t be too casual.
- Keep it relevant. Telling a story from a budget airline might not work if you are applying for long haul flights with a significant percentage of business class passengers. Check the job description carefully to avoid any mismatch.
Key takeaways
- Make sure that your personality comes across in the cover letter — that is so important for your future employer. It is important for them to get to know you.
- Share plenty of customer-centric stories — it is all about the passengers, after all.
- Include facts and figures about your career — you need to be able to measure your success. How have you dealt with the inevitable emergencies in the air?
- If you are wondering about the cover letter design, have a look at our attractive cover letter templates.
