The journey to becoming a flight attendant involves understanding the job and gaining the necessary skills and experience.
Flight attendants pose with a model of a new 787-9 and the real aircraft behind them at the 2019 Paris Air Show. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Being a flight attendant is often seen as a glamorous career and lifestyle. The job offers the opportunity to travel the world and stay in hotels on the company’s dime. On top of that, flight attendants get to meet new people while working in a dynamic and exciting environment.
These advantages draw many people towards becoming a flight attendant. Like any job, the role of a flight attendant also comes with some challenges. The journey to becoming a flight attendant can also be a difficult and competitive one. Here is what you need to know about becoming a flight attendant.
Working as a flight attendant involves traveling and performing customer-facing tasks like serving food and beverages and greeting passengers. However, there are many parts of the job that the public does not see, and it is important for prospective flight attendants to fully understand what the role entails.
A flight attendant’s primary responsibility is the safety of passengers. Accordingly, a significant portion of flight attendant training is dedicated to safety procedures. New flight attendants spend time learning and practicing important tasks like first aid, cabin firefighting, as well as land and water evacuation procedures.
The role of a flight attendant also includes many customer service functions. From helping passengers with their bags to delivering the airline’s food and beverage offerings, flight attendants work with travelers and colleagues in confined spaces. This can come with challenging situations ranging from upset passengers to medical emergencies.
The lifestyle that comes with being a flight attendant is unlike that of most other career paths. Flight attendants work long hours, including shifts in the evening and overnight. Since the air travel industry is a 24/7 operation, flight attendants also work on weekends and holidays.
At most airlines, flight attendants will also have to spend nights away from home, as trips can span multiple days. Although this allows flight attendants to explore new destinations, it also means time away from friends and family outside of working hours. Flight attendants may also need to relocate for their new job.
If you are interested in becoming a flight attendant, it is important that you understand the lifestyle of a flight attendant. While there are many benefits of the job, prospective flight attendants should also understand the challenges and required sacrifices.
Airlines value particular skills when looking for future flight attendants. Since the job involves a significant amount of interaction with travelers, customer service experience and skills are major assets for candidates.
The work of a flight attendant can be stressful and dynamic. As such, it is important that flight attendants can work well under stress. Flight attendants need to perform their duties in the case of an emergency. Similarly, they should be flexible and adaptable, in order to adjust to changing work conditions.
On-time performance is a key goal for airlines, and companies expect their employees to strive for punctuality and reliability. They are therefore looking for flight attendant candidates who are reliable and dependable.
The exact requirements to become a flight attendant vary between airlines. However, there are some universal requirements:
Education: All airlines in the United States require their flight attendants to have a high school diploma or equivalent (such as a foreign degree or GED).
Height and Weight: There are typically minimums and maximums for both height and weight. Flight attendants must be able to perform certain safety-related tasks, such as moving through the cabin, operating aircraft doors, and reaching overhead bins.
Age: Most airlines in the United States require flight attendant applicants to be a minimum of 20 or 21 years old.
Ability to Travel: Airlines generally require their flight attendants to have a passport and have the ability to travel to (or obtain the necessary travel authorizations for) all destinations in the company’s network.
There are many places to look for flight attendant jobs, but the most common and direct sources are the airline’s own websites. On these sites, you will find up-to-date information about job postings, requirements, and the hiring process.
Choosing which airline or airlines to apply to is also an important part of the process. Different airlines operate different route networks and aircraft types. When it comes to your work-life balance, companies also have different work cultures, benefits, and crew bases.
A United 787-9 in Los Angeles (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
In addition to gaining work experience and developing the desired skills, you can research the selection process to help you prepare and become a more competitive candidate.
Learning about the company and the job will show that you are motivated and committed. There are also many resources online about the flight attendant hiring processes of specific airlines. These include the airline websites themselves, third-party sites, and social media resources.
If you are offered a job after the selection process, you will begin your new career as a flight attendant. New flight attendants start by going through an intensive training course before stepping foot onto their first flight.
Being a flight attendant can be an exciting and rewarding experience. At many companies, there are opportunities to move between bases, fly to different destinations, and move to other parts of the airline.
It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to get through the application and hiring process. The length of the process depends on the airline, your timing, and your situation.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median flight attendant salary in the United States in 2023 was $68,370. However, your pay will depend on your airline and seniority.
Unless you pay for third-party preparation resources, there are little to no costs to become a flight attendant. Airlines typically cover any travel costs throughout the recruitment process.
Receive a daily dose of the airline industry's top stories along with market insights right in your inbox.
American Airlines flight attendant Celinda Levno was killed Saturday night during a Denver layover. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants…
A week after an emergency landing of a SWISS flight sent a flight attendant to the hospital, SWISS confirmed that…
Besides pilot roles, becoming a flight attendant can be among the best ways to travel the world and get paid…
