The general picture
Grooming and uniform standards exist to keep a consistent, professional appearance across a cabin crew team — not to exclude candidates for personal or medical reasons that don't affect their ability to do the job. Two of the most common questions candidates search but rarely find a clear answer to are whether glasses are acceptable, and whether a hijab (or other religious head covering) can be worn as part of the uniform. Both are more accommodated across the industry than many aspirants assume — but the exact policy is genuinely airline-specific, so this guide covers the general landscape rather than guaranteeing any one airline's position. Always confirm directly with your target airline's careers page or recruitment team before assuming.
Glasses
Wearing glasses does not disqualify you from a cabin crew role at the vast majority of airlines. What's generally expected:
- Frames should be neutral and professional — classic shapes in black, tortoiseshell, or metal tones, rather than novelty or heavily branded frames, consistent with the rest of the grooming standard.
- Contact lenses are also accepted by most airlines as an alternative, if you'd prefer not to wear glasses on duty.
- Vision requirements still apply. Airlines typically set a corrected-vision standard (i.e. vision correctable to a certain level with glasses or contacts), assessed at the medical stage rather than at the CV or interview stage. This is a genuine safety requirement, not a grooming preference — read the airline's specific medical requirements if you have a known vision condition.
- At the interview or open day itself, wearing your usual glasses is fine and expected — there's no benefit to switching to contacts just for the assessment if glasses are your normal correction method.
Hijab and other religious head coverings
A number of major airlines, particularly across the Gulf and parts of Asia, offer a hijab-inclusive uniform option as part of their standard cabin crew uniform — meaning candidates who wear a hijab are not required to remove it to be considered or to fly in role. This has become a more visible and more common part of the industry's uniform design in recent years.
That said, this genuinely varies by airline, and it's not universal. Rather than assume based on general industry reputation:
- Check the specific airline's careers page or uniform policy directly. Many now show uniform options, including a hijab-inclusive style, in their recruitment materials.
- If it's not clearly stated, ask the recruitment team directly — either at an open day or via the airline's official careers contact. This is a completely normal and common question, not one that reflects poorly on a candidate.
- The same "neat, consistent, uniform colour" grooming principle applies to a hijab as to hair styling generally — matching the uniform's colour scheme and worn neatly is typically the expectation where it's offered.
If your target airline doesn't currently offer this option and it matters to your decision, it's worth researching other major carriers that do before ruling out the industry altogether — the landscape here has genuinely broadened over the past several years.
The wider principle
Across grooming standards generally — hair, glasses, religious coverings, and other personal considerations — the industry's direction over the past decade has moved toward standards that are consistent and professional without being unnecessarily narrow. If you're unsure whether something about your appearance or a personal requirement is compatible with a specific airline, the most reliable answer always comes from that airline directly, not from general assumptions about the industry.
Frequently asked questions
Can you be cabin crew if you wear glasses? Yes — glasses do not disqualify you at most airlines, as long as your vision is correctable to the airline's required standard, assessed at the medical stage. Neutral, professional frames are generally expected as part of the overall grooming look.
Do airlines allow contact lenses instead of glasses? Yes, most airlines accept contact lenses as an alternative to glasses, and either is generally fine to wear at the interview or open day stage — there's no need to switch your usual correction method just for the assessment.
Which airlines allow hijab as part of the cabin crew uniform? This varies and changes over time, so the most reliable source is always the specific airline's own careers page or recruitment team rather than general reputation. A number of major carriers, particularly across the Gulf and parts of Asia, do offer a hijab-inclusive uniform option.
Should I ask about a personal grooming accommodation before or after applying? Either is fine — many candidates ask at an open day or via the airline's careers contact before applying, and recruiters are generally used to fielding this question. It's a normal part of due diligence, not something that counts against you.