Hiring and Sponsoring Air travel assistants (SOC Code 6213)

Air Travel Assistants, classified under SOC Code 6213, are essential personnel in the aviation industry who enhance the overall travel experience for passengers. Their role is multifaceted and involves a variety of duties to ensure efficiency and safety throughout the air travel process. 

• Key Responsibilities:
  • Passenger Reception: Greets passengers at the airport terminal, examining tickets and documentation to facilitate a smooth check-in process.
  • Luggage Handling: Checks in luggage and distributes boarding passes, ensuring all necessary documentation is correctly processed.
  • Aircraft Preparation: Checks emergency equipment and prepares the aircraft for passenger boarding, distributing reading material, blankets, and other necessities.
  • Onboard Assistance: Welcomes passengers, guides them to their seats, and assists with hand luggage.
  • In-Flight Services: Ensures that sufficient meals and beverages are stocked on board, serving passengers during the flight.
  • Duty-Free Sales: Offers duty-free goods for sale during the flight to enhance passenger experience and convenience.
  • Safety Announcements: Makes important announcements on behalf of the pilot, demonstrating emergency equipment use and checking that safety belts are fastened.
  • Emergency Protocols: Directs and instructs passengers during emergencies, ensuring adherence to safety procedures.

With the increasing volume of air travel and emphasis on customer satisfaction, the demand for trained and efficient air travel assistants is on the rise. This guide is designed to assist HR professionals in understanding the hiring and sponsorship process for air travel assistants under the UK’s immigration framework.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Air travel assistants?

SOC Code 6213 refers to air travel assistants who facilitate a smooth and safe journey for passengers at airports and on flights. Their responsibilities can include:

• Receiving passengers: Greeting travelers at the airport terminal and checking tickets and documentation.
• Checking in luggage: Managing luggage check-in processes and distributing boarding passes.
• Preparing the aircraft: Ensuring emergency equipment is functioning, distributing reading material, blankets, and other necessities before passenger boarding.
• Welcoming on board: Guiding passengers to their seats and assisting with hand luggage.
• Managing in-flight services: Ensuring adequate supplies of meals and beverages are available, and serving passengers during the flight.
• Duty-free sales: Offering and selling duty-free goods during the flight.
• Making announcements: Communicating important information on behalf of the pilot and demonstrating the use of emergency equipment.
• Ensuring safety: Directing and instructing passengers in case of emergencies and ensuring compliance with safety procedures.

Air travel assistants play an essential role in the aviation industry, enhancing passenger experience, ensuring safety protocols are followed, and contributing to operational efficiency.

Eligibility to Hire Air travel assistants (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Air travel assistants must exhibit strong customer service skills and adhere to certain qualifications and experience criteria. These may include:

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal communication skills for interacting with passengers and announcing important information during the flight.
• Documentation Handling: Experience in examining travel documents, checking in luggage, and distributing boarding passes efficiently.
• Emergency Training: Knowledge of safety protocols and emergency procedures, including demonstrating the use of emergency equipment.
• Customer Service: Prior experience or training in customer service roles to assist passengers throughout their journey and ensure a pleasant flying experience.
• Attention to Detail: Ability to check the aircraft for readiness, including emergency equipment and onboard supplies such as meals and beverages.
• Sales Skills: Experience in selling merchandise, such as duty-free goods, during flights can be beneficial.
• Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with pilots, cabin crew, and airport staff to ensure smooth operations.

Ensure that the job description aligns with SOC Code 6213 and that the assistant’s experience and skills meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Air travel assistants: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Air travel assistants under SOC Code 6213.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Air travel assistants, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Air travel assistants under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Air travel assistants. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Air travel assistants applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Air travel assistants’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorshipfor a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Air travel assistants can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Air travel assistants

Before the Air travel assistants begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Air travel assistants’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Air travel assistants holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Air travel assistants’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Air travel assistants’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Air travel assistantss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Air travel assistants

Sponsoring Air travel assistants under SOC Code 6213 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Air travel assistants, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Air travel assistants under SOC Code 6213 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.