Working as an airline crew member means you have loads of different job options open to you. There are plenty of airlines all over the world, but which are the best ones to really nail down a job with? Today, we take a look at the top airlines all over the globe, and what makes them so good to work for.
Qatar Airways
One of the top-rated luxury airlines in the world, Qatar Airways has long been a popular choice for aspiring crew members. First of all, just working on one of their planes is enough to convince anyone to sign a contract with them. Their jets are massive and packed full of crazy luxury items and amenities. It’s almost like working in a hotel, but thousands of feet high up in the sky! They have long distance flights going all over the world, which means you could end up seeing some new and exciting things every time to board the plane for a shift.
But, one of the standout features of Qatar Airways is their benefits package. You automatically get put in lovely layover hotels whenever you’re on a long-haul flight, and all the accommodation they provide for you is free as well. Plus, there’s free health insurance, plenty of annual leave, and the fact they’re Qatar-based means they’re also tax-free, which is an added plus when it comes to your salary!
Air France
The funny thing about Air France is that it doesn’t really boast one of the top salaries around. However, it’s made a real name for itself in the last twelve months as an airline people enjoy working for. Right away, you have the benefit of living in France, which is always going to be a good thing! You get to experience the French culture and enjoy as many pastries and coffees as you like. It offers a really good base for you to settle down in and enjoy your life away from work during your off days.
Speaking of which, another significant point in favor of Air France is their approach to annual leave. You get plenty of it, with some crew members saying they get given a week off every month to help recover from jet lag – if you’re working on their long-haul flights. That’s another good reason to work for them; they fly pretty much all over the world.
Air Asia
Air Asia was recently voted the best budget airline in the world! They mainly fly out of Kuala Lumpur, and this in itself is one of the key reasons it makes it on this list. The Malaysia property market is going really well at the moment, meaning it’s an incredible place to live and work. When you’re not working, you have access to loads of highly affordable luxury apartments or houses to live in. This means you never have to worry about paying rent or finding somewhere that feels like home while juggling work at the same time. Plus, they have multiple flights per week going to some of the coolest countries in Southeast Asia, meaning you’ll be in for a fair few stopover jobs in some really cool places!
You also get performance bonuses, plenty of yearly leave, and a 5-day work week – so you’re free to explore Malaysia on your days off. To add to this, staff get free flight tokens to use throughout the year, and there’s room for career progression too!
United Airlines
United often finds itself in the news for all the wrong reasons, but it’s actually one of the best airlines to work for as a crew member. Sure, it doesn’t have the range of incredible destinations that a lot of the others do, but it still flies to plenty of beautiful places. Plus, there’s the obvious benefit of it being based in the US. So, if you’re from the US – which most of you reading this probably are – then this could be the perfect option for you. It means you won’t have to move halfway across the world so you can stay close to family while living the dream as an airline crew member.
To make things even better, they offer a pretty fantastic salary, which won’t leave you feeling shortchanged for the work you do. Furthermore, they really push the boat out with the range of employee benefits as well. The leave structure is impressive, there’s a new rule that means you get 10 hours to rest (minimum) between flights, and there are extra perks like free tickets too! Then, you have the final thing; a lovely retirement plan to set you up for your golden years as well.
Emirates Airlines
Few airlines on earth can stand up to what Emirates do. They’re always there or thereabouts when the top airlines for passengers are being ranked, and this is reflected in how they treat their staff too. There’s supposedly an excellent company culture here, where everyone feels nice and relaxed, and you get along with your coworkers. Perhaps this is down to the fact that working on one of their colossal planes is probably nothing like working on your average airplane! They’re so big, so incredibly modern, and it’s like you’re working in a luxury restaurant most of the time.
The killer points with Emirates are their destinations and benefits. You get to fly to some of the most luxurious countries on planet earth. We’re talking real bucket list stuff here, and this comes with some of the best benefits in the game. There’s paid leave, one of the best salaries out there, health insurance, and you actually get to choose between two benefits packages that suit your needs the best.
Etihad Airways
Finally, we have one of the biggest and most impressive airlines in the world; Etihad Airways. Once more, we’re dealing with the pinnacle in luxury travel. Flying with them is like taking a limousine around the globe – while staying over in a 5-star hotel at the same time. For employees of Etihad, they’re blessed with some outstanding benefits. Arguably the biggest one is the sheer variety of countries you get to visit. Many flight attendants are in New York one week, Sydney the next, and Paris following that. You will literally see all four corners of the globe, crossing off iconic cities in no time.
To make things even better, you get put in luxury hotels during all of your layovers in these amazing cities. Then, Etihad also provides fully-furnished, modern accommodation for you to live in when you’re not working too. Add to this the best salary out there, free health insurance, massive amounts of holiday leave, and you’ve got a pretty great job on your hands. To cap it all off, you’ll be living in one of the top holiday destinations on earth; Abu Dhabi. That’s right, you get free accommodation there, and many flight attendants rave about how safe the city is, and how there are so many things to do when you’re off work. To put it simply, it seems like every crew member’s dream job!
These are some of the best airlines to work for right now. Some other ones didn’t quite make this list but deserve an honorable mention, such as Southwest Airlines, Air Canada, Qantas, and Virgin Atlantic. If you’re a crew member looking for a job change, then these are the best companies that offer the best combination of salaries, benefits, destinations, and a great home.
