What kind of selection process do you have?
The cabin crew selection process has many phases, including for example:
- Video assignment
- Online tests
- Medical survey
- Assessment day (incl. interview, group assignments etc.)
The purpose of the selection process is to evaluate the above-mentioned basic criteria and competencies relevant to cabin crew work. These competencies may vary slightly over time, but they typically include skills and abilities such as teamwork, resilience, customer experience orientation and the ability to follow instructions. During the selection process, you can also ask questions and learn more about the cabin crew members’ work.
How long is the training and when will it start?
The training normally takes six to nine weeks. We will arrange several training courses for the selected future cabin crew members. The specific schedule of the training will be clarified during the recruitment process.
What will I learn during the training?
During the training, you will learn Finnair’s operating policies and how to act in various safety, first-aid and service scenarios. Defined by the aviation authorities, safety and first-aid skills are the foundation of cabin crew members’ professional competence. Additionally, service communication and cultural awareness as well as Finnair’s vision and principles of good customer service are essential topics of the course. After the training, you will have the basic level of competence to work as a cabin crew member.
Finnair Flight Academy’s highly professional instructors will guide and help you during all the phases of the training. We expect you to work hard, focus and give your best in all the exams, lessons and drills; we will evaluate your performance continuously. Your commitment will pay off when you become a certified cabin crew member of Finnair.
Can I choose what flights I will operate?
All cabin crew members operate on both domestic and international flights.
Is it possible to suggest specific days that I want to have off from work?
Yes, you may wish for a maximum of 6 days off in a month
How many hours does a cabin crew member work?
Full-time employees work about 110 hours a month.
Part-time employees work 45–90 hours a month.
Salary
Cabin crew member’s salary varies a lot depending on what kind of flights you fly and when.
The basic salary of full-time employment and the hourly salary of part-time employment depend on how much experience you have as a cabin crew member. If you have previous cabin crew experience, it will be taken into account according to CLA (Collective Labor Agreement).*
The salary consists of basic salary, salary additionals (approx. 30-40% of the basic salary) and daily allowances. Salary additionals include e.g. Sunday allowance or night duty allowance. The monthly basic salary ranges currently from about 1700€ gross pay to around 2800€ gross pay for crew members with long experience. The salary grade has an effect on salary additionals as well.
*Salary is based on the agreement between the Service Sector Employers PALTA and Transport Workers’ Union AKT.
For a Finnair Cabin Crew interview, I would not prepare only generic answers such as “I am friendly and hardworking.” Finnair explicitly looks for people who can demonstrate teamwork, resilience, customer experience orientation, adaptability, initiative, and the ability to follow instructions, while also sharing Finnair’s values.
Below is an interview-focused summary based primarily on Finnair’s current official materials.
1. Ten things that are important in Finnair’s company culture and policies
1. Safety comes before everything
Finnair’s clearest principle is “Always safe.” Safety is described as the foundation of everything the company does, and Finnair states that it will not compromise on safety.
Interview implication:
A strong candidate understands that a cabin crew member is first and foremost a safety professional, not simply a service professional.
“For me, excellent service can only exist when safety is always the first priority.”
2. The customer is at the heart of the business
One of Finnair’s three core values is “Customer at heart.” The company emphasizes listening to customers, understanding what matters to them, and creating an experience worth returning to.
Interview implication:
Show that you don’t just “serve passengers”; you observe, anticipate and adapt to their needs.
3. One Crew / teamwork
Finnair describes its culture as “Stronger together” and uses the concept of “One Crew.” Collaboration and respect between colleagues are central to how the company wants employees to work.
For cabin crew, this is especially important because the crew must function as one team under time pressure.
Interview implication:
Give examples where you supported a colleague, communicated clearly, or put the team’s success above your individual preference.
4. Responsibility and professionalism
Finnair expects employees to take responsibility for their work and act responsibly toward customers, colleagues and the company. Its Code of Conduct specifically emphasizes responsibility for safety and correct action in exceptional situations.
Interview implication:
They want someone who can say:
“I take responsibility for my actions, especially when something unexpected happens.”
—not someone who immediately looks for someone else to blame.
5. Respect, equality and inclusion
Finnair places strong emphasis on diversity, equal opportunities and a non-discriminatory workplace. It also aims to provide safe and inclusive travel experiences for customers with different needs and backgrounds.
Interview implication:
Demonstrate that you can treat every passenger with the same respect, regardless of nationality, age, personality, language ability or travel class.
6. Cultural awareness
Finnair operates internationally and specifically includes service communication and cultural awareness in cabin crew training.
This is a major point for an international cabin crew interview.
Interview implication:
Don’t assume that every passenger communicates or expresses dissatisfaction in the same way.
A good mindset is:
“I adapt my communication style to the individual passenger while keeping Finnair’s service standards consistent.”
7. Continuous improvement
Finnair emphasizes a culture of continuous improvement, including learning, developing processes, improving customer experience and developing employees’ competencies.
Interview implication:
When discussing a mistake, don’t simply say:
“I learned from my mistake.”
Explain what you changed afterward.
8. Simplicity and clarity
Finnair’s Code of Conduct describes simplicity as an important way of working, including clarity, transparency, efficiency, professionalism, agility and low hierarchy.
This is particularly relevant onboard.
Interview implication:
A great cabin crew member can communicate complicated or stressful situations clearly and calmly.
9. Sustainability
Sustainability is a significant part of Finnair’s strategy. The company has science-based emissions targets and incorporates environmental considerations into its operations, including catering and resource use.
Interview implication:
Don’t treat sustainability as just “using less plastic.” Think about waste, food, fuel efficiency, responsible consumption and long-term thinking.
10. Finnish identity and warm professionalism
Finnair describes itself as strongly connected to Finland and aims to offer customers a unique Finnish experience. At the same time, it combines professionalism with a warm and approachable spirit.
This is extremely important for an interview.
Think:
Finnish hospitality = calm + genuine + respectful + understated + reliable
rather than exaggerated or overly theatrical hospitality.
2. Ten Finnair services / service characteristics that can differentiate it from other airlines
A small but important interview point: not all of these are literally unique to Finnair. Other airlines may offer similar products. What makes them useful for your interview is the way Finnair combines them into a Nordic/Finnish customer experience.
1. A distinctive Nordic/Finnish service identity
Finnair intentionally builds its onboard experience around Nordic flavours, Finnish heritage, simplicity and sustainability.
This is probably one of the most important points to understand.
You can say:
“I think Finnair differentiates itself by bringing Finnish and Nordic identity into the customer journey, rather than offering a completely generic international airline experience.”
2. The famous Finnair blueberry juice
The signature blueberry juice is one of Finnair’s most recognizable onboard touches.
Finnair introduced it in 2014, and nearly one million litres have been served annually in recent years. It is offered as part of the complimentary drink service.
This is a fantastic interview example because it demonstrates how a simple product can become part of a brand identity.
3. Nordic Kitchen
Finnair’s onboard food concept is called Nordic Kitchen, with an emphasis on Nordic flavours, high-quality ingredients, simplicity and sustainability.
On European flights, Economy passengers can also pre-order meals or purchase snacks and drinks onboard, depending on the route.
4. Destination-inspired food
Finnair doesn’t only focus on “Finnish food.” Its menus combine Nordic flavours with inspiration from the destination.
For long-haul Business Class, Finnair describes its menus as incorporating both Nordic delicacies and the tastes of destinations.
This is a particularly good point when talking about cultural awareness.
5. A very strong Finnish design element
Finnair integrates Finnish/Nordic design into the onboard experience.
For example, its long-haul Business Class experience includes Iittala-designed tableware, while selected comfort products are designed by Marimekko.
So the brand isn’t communicated only through the crew’s words—it is communicated through food, tableware, textiles, cabin design and the overall atmosphere.
6. The AirLounge Business Class seat
Finnair’s long-haul Business Class uses the Collins Aerospace AirLounge concept, designed to give passengers more personal space and freedom of movement, with the seat converting into a spacious bed.
For an interview, you don’t need to memorize the technical specifications.
The important concept is:
Finnair focuses on a calm, spacious and home-like Nordic experience.
7. Personalized meal choices
Finnair allows passengers to pre-select meals, including special-diet options, depending on the route and travel class.
This is relevant to the “Customer at heart” value because personalization means recognizing that passengers have different needs.
8. Digital/self-service elements
Finnair increasingly integrates digital services into the journey. For example, on many European flights passengers can use the Nordic Sky portal to purchase onboard food and drinks with their own phone, after which cabin crew deliver the items to the seat.
This is a nice example of how cabin crew are not simply “traditional service staff.” They are part of a digital + human service experience.
9. Strong onboard connectivity and entertainment
Finnair offers internet connectivity across its long-haul fleet, while its refreshed long-haul cabins include personal entertainment screens with movies, TV programmes and games.
The interesting interview angle is not merely “Finnair has Wi-Fi.”
It is:
Technology should make the journey smoother without replacing human service.
10. Consistent service + disruption management
One of Finnair’s current strategic priorities is Reliability: consistent and efficient journeys, punctuality and better disruption management.
This is especially important for cabin crew.
Imagine a flight delay, missed connection or upset passenger. Finnair wants the customer experience to remain as good as possible even when things don’t go according to plan.
That makes resilience and emotional intelligence very important cabin-crew competencies.
What I would remember for the interview
If you only memorize five concepts, make them these:
1. Always safe
Safety is non-negotiable.
2. Customer at heart
Observe the customer, listen and anticipate needs.
3. Stronger together / One Crew
The crew succeeds as a team.
4. Finnish/Nordic experience
Calm, genuine, simple, warm and professional—not overly theatrical.
5. Reliability + continuous improvement
Stay composed when things go wrong and learn from every situation.
These aren’t just my interpretation: Finnair’s current cabin-crew recruitment page explicitly says the selection process typically assesses teamwork, resilience, customer-experience orientation and the ability to follow instructions, while the company says it wants people who share its values and motivation for offering a unique Finnish experience.
A particularly strong interview sentence
If they ask “Why Finnair?”, a strong direction would be:
“What attracts me to Finnair is the combination of uncompromising safety, genuine customer care and a strong Finnish identity. I also really value the One Crew culture, because I believe the best customer experience comes from a team that communicates well, supports each other and stays calm under pressure.”
That answer hits safety + customer + Finnish identity + teamwork + resilience in one go.
And importantly, these points are based on Finnair’s current 2026 recruitment and strategy materials, rather than generic cabin-crew interview advice.