Flight attendants are trained professionals who prepare aircraft cabins for flight, take care of passengers' needs and assist them in emergencies. They receive their training from the airlines, which require a minimum of a high school diploma or the equivalent before applying. Flight attendants earned average incomes of $41,720 a year as of 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median income, or midway point between the highest and lowest salaries, was $38,020 a year. Competition for entry-level jobs is strong, and a college degree will increase your chances of landing one.
Complete an associate or bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in public relations, tourism, communications or a related field. Although college is not always required, the airlines get huge numbers of applicants for each position and prefer those with a postsecondary degree. Include foreign language classes in your study program if you want to work on international routes and are not already fluent in more than one language.
Apply online with an airline for a position as a flight attendant. Although the minimum age is 18, some airlines have a higher age requirement, such as 21. Applicants must pass a medical exam and background check before they are hired.
Attend flight attendant training school with the airline. The first stage of training normally takes three to six weeks and covers flight attendant duties, safety procedures, first aid, airline operations and regulations. Federal Aviation Administration requirements determine the course of study.
Complete your initial training, including practice flights, and pass a proficiency check to receive a Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency from the Federal Aviation Administration. You must meet FAA certification standards to begin working as a flight attendant.
Complete additional training and a proficiency check for each different type of aircraft you work on, as the FAA requires. Also complete periodic refresher training to maintain your FAA certification.
- The airlines usually have specific height and weight requirements for flight attendants. For example, you must be tall enough to reach the bins overhead. You must also have a tidy and professional appearance without obvious piercings or tattoos. And you must have corrected vision of 20/40 or better.
- A year or more of experience in customer service will increase your prospects of finding a flight attendant position.
- New flight attendants must work irregular schedules chosen by their employers.
- The work is grueling and requires many hours of standing and shifts up to 12 hours long.
- New hires usually work as reserve flight attendants, which means they are on call in case others are sick or extra staff is needed. On-call status usually lasts a year, but may last longer.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: How to Become a Flight Attendant
- AvStop.com: Flight Attendants
- United: Flight Attendant Positions
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Flight Attendants -- Job Outlook
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: What Flight Attendants Do
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011: Flight Attendants
- USA Today: Thousands Apply to Become Flight Attendants for American
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