Airlines / Southwest Airlines / Requirements
Southwest Airlines cabin crew requirements
The hard filters Southwest Airlines 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
21 years
Most carriers set 18; Gulf and US majors usually 21.
Height & reach
No published minimum
Reach matters more than height: you must access the emergency equipment overhead.
Tattoos
Some visible tattoos accepted
Visible tattoos are permitted within limits under the relaxed appearance policy, but not on face or throat and nothing offensive; large pieces may need covering. Only 8 of 59 indexed airlines accept tattoos that show in uniform — this is one of them.
Languages
Fluent English
Fluent English; Spanish is an advantage for the Latin leisure network but not required.
Education
High school diploma or GED.
Also required
Medical, swimming & documents
Right to work in the US; ability to lift 50 lbs, operate exits and complete a 3–4 week training program in Dallas; strong customer-service personality is screened for heavily.
Work rights matter here
Southwest Airlines expects the right to work in US. Without it, applications are usually filtered out before assessment regardless of how strong the rest of your profile is.
Do you meet these Southwest Airlines requirements?
Check your answers against Southwest Airlines and every other airline in the index — two minutes, no sign-up.
Stricter or softer than its rivals?
| Airline | Min age | Reach | Visible tattoos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 21 | — | Some allowed |
| Delta Air Lines | 21 | — | Not allowed |
| American Airlines | 20 | — | Not allowed |
| United Airlines | 21 | — | Some allowed |
| Alaska Airlines | 21 | — | Not allowed |
| JetBlue | 21 | — | Some allowed |
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum height for Southwest Airlines cabin crew?
Southwest Airlines publishes no fixed height minimum — the test is whether you can reach the emergency equipment in the overhead compartments.
Can you join Southwest Airlines cabin crew with tattoos?
Visible tattoos are permitted within limits under the relaxed appearance policy, but not on face or throat and nothing offensive; large pieces may need covering. That makes it one of the more flexible policies in our index.
What age do you need to be to apply to Southwest Airlines?
The minimum is 21. 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 Southwest Airlines's official careers page before ruling yourself out.