How to become a flight attendant

1. 1Finish high school and get customer service experience

   Time: 1 to 2 years of workSources 1, 3

   A high school diploma or GED is the usual minimum, and some airlines prefer applicants with some college. More important is experience serving the public: BLS says most new flight attendants have 1 or 2 years in jobs like restaurant server, hotel front desk, retail or call centers. Speaking a second language helps for international flying, and some airlines hire specifically for language skills. Learning CPR and basic first aid on your own is useful but not required.

2. 2Meet the airline's basic requirements

   Time: Before you applyCost: Passport fees if neededSources 1, 3

   Airlines set their own minimum age, typically 18 or 21. You must be authorized to work in the US and hold a valid passport; American Airlines requires it before training and checks its expiration date at the interview. You need vision correctable to at least 20/40, and you must be able to reach and pull emergency equipment from overhead bins without help, which works as a height or reach requirement. Expect a background check, a drug test and possibly a medical exam.

3. 3Apply and interview with airlines

   Time: Several weeks to several monthsSources 1, 3

   Major and regional airlines open flight attendant hiring in waves, and popular postings draw large numbers of applicants. Applying to several airlines, including regional carriers, improves your odds. The process usually includes an online application, a video or virtual interview, and an in-person interview day where recruiters assess how you communicate and handle customers. After a conditional offer you complete the background check, drug screening and any medical checks before a training class date is set.

4. 4Complete the airline's initial training

   Time: Several weeks (about 7 at American Airlines)Cost: No tuition; may be unpaidSources 3, 4, 1

   Training takes place at the airline's training center and runs most days of the week. Federal rules require initial ground training on the authority of the captain, handling disruptive passengers, crew communication and each aircraft type, plus emergency drills: evacuations, ditching, fires, oxygen and first aid. You must pass written tests and hands-on competence checks to stay in the class. Training ends with practice or observation flights, and those who finish receive the FAA Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency.

5. 5Work reserve at your assigned base

   Time: Usually the first 2 years or moreCost: Possible relocation costsSources 3, 1

   New flight attendants are assigned a home base by the airline, largely by seniority. American says new hires work straight reserve for their first two years, meaning on call and ready to report on short notice, so many live near their base or share crash pads. As your seniority grows, you can bid for regular trip lines, preferred routes and bases. Every year you complete recurrent training to stay qualified.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Staying calm under pressure

In an evacuation or medical emergency, passengers follow the crew member who sounds certain, and you have seconds to act.

De-escalation

Disruptive passengers cannot be asked to leave at 35,000 feet, so you have to defuse conflicts with words first.

Physical stamina

You push heavy carts, lift bags into overhead bins and stand for hours, sometimes on 14-hour duty days.

Clear communication

Safety briefings, PA announcements and reports to the captain must be short and impossible to misunderstand.

Flexibility

Reserve schedules, delays, cancellations and reassignments are routine, especially in your first years.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: speaking, active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, critical thinking.

Training cost

No tuition

Before financial aid

Time

6 months to 2 years

Typical path

Median pay

$63,580

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

No training cost

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Airlines train new flight attendants at their own expense, so there is no tuition. American Airlines, for example, says training is not paid but provides flights to and from its training center, lodging and meals. Out-of-pocket costs we could not price from official sources: a passport if you do not already have one, wages you give up during unpaid training, and uniform items or luggage some airlines expect you to buy. Private flight attendant schools charge tuition, but airlines do not require them.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Lead flight attendant or purser

  With seniority and extra training, flight attendants can work the lead position, coordinating the cabin crew and communicating with the pilots, often for added pay.

• Inflight instructor, recruiter or base supervisor

  Senior flight attendants can move into training new hires, recruiting, or managing crews at a base.

• Airline pilot$232,140 median

  Some flight attendants train as pilots, which means paying for flight training, earning several FAA pilot certificates and building a large number of flight hours before an airline will hire you.

• TSA officer$66,770 median

  Aviation security experience carries over to screening work, which keeps you in the airport with regular hours and no nights away.