How To Become a Flight Attendant

If you want to travel for a living, you should consider becoming a flight attendant. Flight attendants make sure that airline safety regulations are followed during the flight, and they also serve the passengers.

1. Meet the necessary experience. Many positions today require at least a two-year college degree and around 2 years of customer service experience. Plan to attend college after high school, and apply for customer service positions while in school, if your goal is to become a flight attendant. Some international airlines also require knowledge of at least one foreign language; if possible, take care of this requirement while you’re still in school.

   Most airlines require a minimum age of 21, so while you can begin preparing earlier, you can’t begin applying for positions until you’ve reached the minimum age. To work for United States airlines, you’ll need to be a U.S. Citizen. Most airlines also perform a 10-year background check and drug screening. If you have some gaps in your employment history, be sure to arrange for people who can vouch for your activities during that time. Also apply for a passport; some airlines will not even interview you without one, while others allow you to apply for one during the training period.

2. Learn about being a flight attendant. Talk to flight attendants about their job. The duties of a flight attendant can be much more difficult than most people think. Consider that you will be in the air about 75 to 85 hours per month. This job requires working nights, weekends, and holidays, usually in locations far from home. Flight attendants must be punctual for every assigned flight. Irregular sleep, poor diet, and breathing recycled air can bring health problems, as well.
3. Learn about open positions. Attend a flight attendant open house, which are often held in large cities. Check online with individual airlines for job opportunities. These websites will also list the job requirements in detail. Send your resume or fill out the online applications for any airline you would be interested in working for. The next step usually includes an interview.
4. Be prepared for your first few years. After four to six weeks of intensive training, you will be placed on reserve status for at least a year. This means that you’ll need to be available on short notice to fill in for other attendants. Most flight attendants have to relocate to another city at the start of their careers, and are placed on less desirable flight routes. Moving into more desirable positions is based on seniority, or how long you have been a flight attendant.

While being a flight attendant is more difficult than most people realize, the position can also allow you to travel the world with flight discounts. You will meet many interesting people, and, once you gain seniority, you will have a flexible work schedule.