Guide to Becoming a Flight Attendant

Globetrotting is just another perk of being a flight attendant.

If you're thinking of becoming a flight attendant, buckle your seat belt and be prepared to embark on a journey that allows you to travel the world and meet new and interesting people from every corner of the earth. You should also be prepared not to have a lot of control over your schedule for many years after joining and to spend many weekends, evenings and holidays on the road away from loved ones.

Responsibilities

The main job responsibility of a flight attendant is to ensure that government safety regulations are followed on-board commercial passenger airliners and to make air travel more comfortable for travelers. In exchange for their hard work, flight attendants are remunerated with a competitive salary, with hourly wages that range from $17 to more than $50; worldwide industry travel benefits; and fashionable uniforms.

Applying

To apply for a job as a flight attendant in the United States, applicants must be at least 21 years of age and have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent. The airlines usually like to see at least two years of college, although applicants with a few years of customer experience will generally be considered.

While most major U.S. airlines require applicants to be able to read, write and speak English as a minimum linguistic requirement, candidates who are fluent in multiple languages always have an edge.

Prerequisites

Applicants must have a valid passport and have the ability to enter and exit all destinations served by their prospective employer. The applicant must be willing to accept domestic and international travel assignments and be based wherever the airline chooses to base the flight attendant upon employment.

Candidates are also required to pass a criminal background check and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drug and alcohol test. If hired, a flight attendant must submit to random drug and alcohol testing throughout his career.

Training

Training to be a flight attendant can be quite rigorous, filled with full days of classroom training, homework, frequent examinations and drills to ensure that applicants are familiar with emergency procedures. Training is usually conducted at an airline's training facilities and can last for periods ranging from six to eight weeks. During initial training, applicants receive a monthly stipend and are provided with dormitory-style accommodations.

While the material covered in initial training is generally not conceptually difficult, the volume of information can seem overwhelming. Among other topics, flight attendant candidates are required to study aircraft-specific safety procedures, CPR, basic first aid, airport city codes, on-board customer service and scheduling.

According to Michelle Higgins, a columnist for the "New York Times," when she went to American Airlines' flight attendant training program in Ft. Worth, Texas, she learned what to do during an in-flight emergency, how to open an emergency exit window and how to operate a defibrillator.

Additional Considerations

Applicants serious about being flight attendants must understand that if they want to work for the airlines, they'll likely spend many years having to work nights, weekends, holidays and extended hours. Newly hired flight attendants generally don't have much control over their schedules and could be required to report for assignments with as little as two hours' notice. Airlines are looking for individuals who are punctual and dependable with a strong work ethic and outstanding customer service skills.

References

• New York Times: Flying the Unfriendly Skies
• New York Times: The Curriculum Is Emergencies