A flight attendant is responsible for much more than serving drinks on a plane. He or she playa a key role in ensuring the safety of the passengers during the flight. If you're interested in learning about the qualifications required to land a job as an airline flight attendant, read on. The page will detail the process of how to become a flight attendant.
- Flight attendants must be patient, flexible, and have good interpersonal skills. The job requires you to make sure that passengers are comfortable and safe. You will also function as a liaison between the pilots and the passengers. There is no special education or training required before being hired, as suitable candidates will be trained by the airlines.Flight Attendants Training Online: Flight Attendant Training
Step 1: Qualifications

- Each airline has their own minimum requirements for flight attendants, but airlines typically require the following:
- You'll generally need to be 21, although some airlines have a minimum age requirement of 18.Flight Attendant Facts: acts How To Become A Flight Attendant
- A high school degree or a GED is required, although half of all flight attendants hired have at least one year of college.CabinCrewJobs: Qualifications to be a Flight Attendant
- Customer service experience is usually needed.CabinCrewJobs: Qualifications to be a Flight Attendant
- Fluency in English is required by U.S. airlines; fluency in a second language will give you an advantage in the hiring process.CabinCrewJobs: Qualifications to be a Flight Attendant
- Legal requirements include being a U.S. citizen or possessing a green card, having a valid social security number, and having a current passport.CabinCrewJobs: Qualifications to be a Flight Attendant
- You need to be willing to relocate to whichever city the airline assigns you to as a home base.CabinCrewJobs: Qualifications to be a Flight Attendant
- Each airline has its own height requirements, with both a minimum and a maximum height.Flight Attendant Facts: acts How To Become A Flight Attendant
- Airlines generally have appearance regulations governing hair length, tattoos, body piercings, and general grooming that you must be willing to comply with if hired.CabinCrewJobs: Qualifications to be a Flight Attendant
How to Have a Career as a Flight Attendent
Step 2: Prepare a Resume
- Your resume should be specifically tailored to highlight the skills and qualifications that would make you an attractive candidate for the airlines.Flight Attendant Facts: acts How To Become A Flight Attendant You'll want to make sure you include:
- Any previous flight attendant experience
- Your educational background, including any honors or awards
- Any customer service work experience you've had
- CPR, first-aid, or similar certifications
- Foreign language proficiency
- If an email address is given on the airlines website, you can email the resume, but make sure you follow up with a hard copy in regular mail.CabinCrewJobs: Format a Flight Attendant Resume
Step 3: Apply for a Job

- Send a resume to each airline you would like to work for.Flight Attendant Facts: acts How To Become A Flight Attendant
- Although not all will respond, the next step for those which do will be to fill out their airline-specific application.
- If the airline is interested after reviewing your application, they will usually call you in for a personal interview.Flight Attendant Facts: acts How To Become A Flight Attendant
- Some airlines have periodic open houses that serve as job fairs for flight attendants. If you attend, treat the event with the seriousness that you would bring to an interview.Payscale: becoming a Flight Attendant
- Before being hired, you will also need to pass a medical exam and a background check.CabinCrewJobs: Qualifications to be a Flight Attendant
Step 4: Training
- Training is provided by the airline, and will generally last from 6-8 weeks.Payscale: becoming a Flight Attendant
- The length of the training period will depend on the number of different aircraft flown by the airline, as each has its own specific safety features.Flight Attendants Training Online: Flight Attendant Training
- Transportation, lodging and meals will usually be provided by the airline during the training period.Flight Attendants Training Online: Flight Attendant Training
- Approximately 35% of airlines pay trainees a salary during training; the rest just cover expenses.Flight Attendants Training Online: Flight Attendant Training
- Most airlines do not consider you an employee until you have successfully completed their training program.Flight Attendants Training Online: Flight Attendant Training
- A few airlines charge fees for their training programs.Flight Attendants Training Online: Flight Attendant Training
Conclusion
- If you meet the qualifications and successfully complete the airline training program as a flight attendant, you'll begin a rewarding career with unmatched travel benefits, a flexible schedule, and 12-20 days off a month.Flight Attendants Training Online: Flight Attendant Training
