Airlines / Aer Lingus / Requirements
Aer Lingus cabin crew requirements
The hard filters Aer Lingus applies before a recruiter reads your CV — age, reach, tattoos, languages and documents, with how strict each one is compared to the rest of the industry.
Minimum age
18 years
Most carriers set 18; Gulf and US majors usually 21.
Height & reach
157 cm min · 210 cm reach
6 airlines ask for the same 210 cm; 16 demand more.
Tattoos
Some visible tattoos accepted
No tattoos, piercings or body art visible in uniform; small tattoos must be coverable by the uniform in every variant, and visible hand, neck or face tattoos are disqualifying. Only 8 of 59 indexed airlines accept tattoos that show in uniform — this is one of them.
Languages
Fluent English
Fluent English; European languages an advantage.
Education
Leaving Certificate or equivalent secondary education.
Also required
Medical, swimming & documents
EU/EEA right to work in Ireland (or UK for Manchester base), ability to swim 25m, valid passport with unrestricted US travel eligibility, and a 5-year checkable background.
Work rights matter here
Aer Lingus expects the right to work in Ireland. Without it, applications are usually filtered out before assessment regardless of how strong the rest of your profile is.
Do you meet these Aer Lingus requirements?
Check your answers against Aer Lingus and every other airline in the index — two minutes, no sign-up.
Stricter or softer than its rivals?
| Airline | Min age | Reach | Visible tattoos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | 18 | 210 cm | Some allowed |
| British Airways | 18 | 201 cm | Not allowed |
| Virgin Atlantic | 18 | 210 cm | Not allowed |
| Lufthansa | 18 | 160 cm height | Not allowed |
| SWISS | 18 | 158 cm height | Some allowed |
| KLM | 18 | 158 cm height | Not allowed |
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum height for Aer Lingus cabin crew?
Aer Lingus measures reach rather than height alone: you must touch 210 cm, with a minimum height of 157 cm. Practise against a wall on tiptoes before the assessment day.
Can you join Aer Lingus cabin crew with tattoos?
No tattoos, piercings or body art visible in uniform; small tattoos must be coverable by the uniform in every variant, and visible hand, neck or face tattoos are disqualifying. That makes it one of the more flexible policies in our index.
What age do you need to be to apply to Aer Lingus?
The minimum is 18. There is no published upper limit at most carriers, and experienced applicants in their 30s and 40s are hired regularly.
Requirements change without notice — tattoo and grooming rules in particular have been relaxed at several airlines since 2022. Always confirm on Aer Lingus's official careers page before ruling yourself out.