Taking a look to be informed learn how to develop into a flight attendant?
As a flight attendant, you might be able to discover a lifelong occupation that you simply revel in, in addition to cross on home and global flights all over the world.
Consistent with the Bureau of Exertions Statistics, the median pay for a flight attendant is $61,640 in keeping with 12 months, and the selection of flight attendant process openings is predicted to develop via 30% over the following decade. That is a lot sooner than the typical for all occupations.
Airways are hiring for flight attendants like loopy at this time, so this can be a nice time to learn to develop into a flight attendant.
These days, I’ve interviewed Deanna Castro from Long run Flight Attendant on learn how to develop into a flight attendant.
Deanna has been a flight attendant for 16 years, and he or she could also be a flight attendant occupation trainer.
In nowadays’s interview, we’re going to speak about flight attendant salaries (and the way your years of labor revel in will have an effect on your pay), process tasks, what flight attendant process coaching is like, and extra.
On this interview, you’ll be told solutions to questions comparable to:
- How a lot does a flight attendant make?
- How lengthy does it take to develop into a flight attendant?
- Is it arduous to develop into a flight attendant?
- Which airline has the perfect paid flight attendants?
- What’s a mean flight attendant shift like?
And extra! This interview is packed stuffed with treasured knowledge on learn how to develop into a flight attendant.
Deanna additionally has a useful useful resource on learn how to develop into a flight attendant – How To Land a Flight Attendant Profession direction. This direction is going over choosing the proper airline for you, the hiring procedure and interview guidelines, learn how to get ready for flight attendant coaching, are living training periods, and extra.
Similar content material:
How To Turn into A Flight Attendant
1. Please give us just a little background on your self and the way you were given began as a flight attendant. The place have you ever traveled to?
For so long as I will have in mind, I all the time sought after to go back and forth. My folks didn’t go back and forth a lot as a result of my Dad had a trade that he used to be tied to and used to be afraid to fly.
When I used to be 12 I took my first flight to Florida with my mother and sister, and my Dad drove the 1100 miles to fulfill us there.
I have in mind the flight attendant, she gave the impression of Snow White. She smiled as she introduced us our pre departure beverages and made me really feel so comfortable.
I used to be in awe this used to be her process, and he or she appeared so chic.
My favourite a part of the flight used to be the takeoff, I have in mind taking a look out the window gazing the whole thing get smaller and smaller and from that second I used to be addicted to flight.
When I used to be 19 years outdated, I took a 12 months off of faculty and I moved to Italy for 6 months to review artwork. My folks weren’t too satisfied about it, however I used to be made up our minds to depart the rustic for the primary time.
I’ll by no means omit that flight both, again then, everybody used to be smoking! The interior of the cabin used to be a large cloud of smoke. However I didn’t even care, I used to be going to Europe, and I couldn’t wait.
I grew up on a horse farm and my folks all the time knew that I used to be by no means going to stick put, I used to be too adventurous.
My folks begrudgingly allowed me to briefly transfer to Italy, and after I were given house that they had a proposition for me.
If I’d drop out of college, they’d construct me a state-of-the-art driving facility and assist me get began in trade as a horse teacher and driving trainer with the remainder of my school cash. I stated sure, after all I stated sure! Who wouldn’t? I liked horses and I liked trade so why would’t I say sure?
After about 9 years, I couldn’t take it anymore, I needed to get out into the arena. I liked to go back and forth and staying in a single position felt suffocating.
I went on a solo holiday to Hawaii for 6 weeks. I fell in love with the island, made such a lot of buddies and were given presented a task. I went house, leased my horse trade and moved to Hawaii.
My folks weren’t pleased with my determination. I advised them I’d ultimately come again, however I wanted a spoil and I had to see the arena. I’d take those prolonged journeys, a month within the Greek Isles, I’d go back and forth round the United Kingdom and Europe, after which return to Hawaii.
My new employer in Hawaii inspired go back and forth, and I used to be in my component after I may just fly to other portions of the arena.
Sooner or later I noticed an advert within the newspaper, if used to be for a livestock name for Hawaiian Airways, I felt that being a flight attendant and getting paid to go back and forth the arena could be a dream come true for me.
I minimize out the advert and put it up on my fridge, and ultimately threw it away. I advised myself that I didn’t have the {qualifications}. I felt like I wasn’t just right sufficient, I didn’t have sufficient coaching or the talents that they have been searching for and I couldn’t were extra mistaken.
I finished up leaving my process, remaining the trade briefly and dealing for any other employer in an administrative center. That administrative center process used to be arduous. I’m an excessive amount of of a loose spirit for that and I felt caught.
Sooner or later a brand new temp worker began, it used to be my process to coach him and we were given to speaking. It grew to become out he used to be on furlough (this used to be after 911) from his flight attendant process with United Airways.
I advised him I all the time sought after to be a flight attendant, however I doubt they’d rent me. He used to be like “What?!? You are ideal for the flight attendant place! It’s such a very simple process and they’re searching for customer support revel in, which you have got.”
I used to be stunned. “Did a real flight attendant simply inform me that I used to be the very best flight attendant candidate?!”
He were given known as again to paintings and what he stated caught with me. As quickly because the airways began hiring once more I carried out! I were given employed on my first take a look at. When the recruiter advised me I used to be invited to flight attendant coaching we each began leaping up and down and have been hugging. I feel I used to be crying, I used to be so satisfied.
We carried on like that for a complete two mins after which we each felt just a little embarrassed as it used to be like we have been highest buddies separated at start who had simply been reunited! It used to be nice. I’ll by no means omit that second for the remainder of my lifestyles.
That used to be when I discovered true happiness and my calling. I didn’t finally end up making use of to Hawaiian Airways so I were given to transport house, paintings phase time in my horse trade and I were given to FLY and I used to be primarily based at house.
Issues all labored out completely. I were given to go back and forth, my folks were given to have me again house, and I lived a lifestyles I most effective ever dreamed about.
I were given to go back and forth far and wide, particularly my first few years flying. I used to be in the United Kingdom each week, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Hawaii, in all places the Caribbean, and lots of the United States.
I’m nonetheless a flight attendant nowadays, it’s been 16 years now and I regulate my agenda much more than I used so that you can. I most commonly keep in america and Caribbean via selection, however I nonetheless now and again do a a laugh global commute, like Singapore or anyplace else I will to find that has a protracted layover and is a laugh.
Me, at the left, the day I graduated, January 29, 2006.
2. What’s the moderate day as a flight attendant like?
The typical day as a flight attendant is you cross to the airport and test in on your flight. There are flights which are extra like a holiday, after which there are flights which are extra productive.
The flights which are extra like a holiday you could possibly fly to a few unique or a laugh vacation spot and spend 24 hours there. You keep in a perfect lodge, proper at the seashore or within the town the place you’ll do anything else you need for the following 24 hours.
The productive flights are ones with a shorter layover on the airport, or possibly only a flip (a flip is whilst you cross somewhere and fly proper again, so there’s no lodge, since you cross house on the finish of the day.)
Why the ones flights are extra productive is since you spend extra hours at the aircraft and no more within the lodge. You’re operating and no longer lounging round.
There are brief journeys that don’t seem to be as productive, (much less flight hours and shorter layovers) however I try to keep away from journeys that don’t have numerous flight hours. I’m in it for journeys which are both the thrill or take advantage of cash.
I love to paintings lengthy days, 12 – 14 hours and the day simply flies via, actually!
As a flight attendant you spend numerous time speaking to passengers, easing their fears and frustrations, serving foods and drinks, and checking protection apparatus.
As a flight attendant you don’t continuously paintings with the similar workforce individuals, however whilst you meet your workforce you’re in an instant circle of relatives. It’s a unique bond that every one flight attendants percentage as a result of we’ve this kind of loopy way of life and most effective we will be able to know it.
3. How a lot does a flight attendant make?
On the primary airways get started out round $30 an hour. Contractually we get a carry once a year till we most sensible out in pay. I’ve crowned out in pay till we get our subsequent carry at about $70 an hour after 13 years.
Lots of the primary airways are these days in contract negotiations and we will be able to indisputably be getting raises.
A brand new flight attendant makes about $25,000 to $35,000 a 12 months relying at the airline. The name of the game is to paintings for one of the crucial most sensible 5 airways (American, Alaska, Delta, Southwest and United Airways) and no longer the small regional airways if you wish to generate income as a flight attendant.
It’s really easy for a flight attendant of ten or extra years to make six figures. After 5 years, flight attendants on the most sensible 5 airways are in a position to make $50,000 or extra a 12 months.
Despite the fact that the pay isn’t as prime for first 12 months flight attendants, you are living 1,000,000 greenback way of life, getting paid to go back and forth, loose go back and forth by yourself time, and also you get to stick in stunning resorts and motels to your layovers.
The whole lot is looked after you as a flight attendant, you don’t wish to to find your individual lodge or organize transportation to and from the lodge, this is looked after via the airline.
4. Are airways these days hiring for flight attendants? What does process enlargement appear to be?
Airways are desperately searching for flight attendants at this time. As soon as the pandemic hit, go back and forth declined hastily and a few airways in reality paid flight attendants a lump sum to retire. Flight attendants jumped on the likelihood to receives a commission to retire on most sensible in their retirement plans.
Then, when go back and forth returned, there used to be a scarcity of flight attendants. I’ve no longer observed this a lot hiring from the entire airways within the historical past of my occupation.
No longer most effective is there a flight attendant scarcity as a result of flight attendants retiring, however airways are increasing their routes and purchasing extra airplanes. They want flight attendants to workforce the ones flights. 1000’s of flight attendants are wanted at this time.
5. How outdated do you want to be to develop into a flight attendant?
Relying at the airline you’ll be as younger as 18, and a few airways rent at 19, whilst others at 20 and 21. American hires at 20, and United, American, Delta, Alaska and Southwest all rent at 21.
There’s no age prohibit to develop into a flight attendant both. Many of us develop into flight attendants after retirement. So long as you’re in just right bodily situation, you’ll observe to develop into a flight attendant. Airways worth lifestyles and paintings revel in of a wide variety.
As a result of being a flight attendant is this kind of nice process, there are flight attendants which have been flying for over fifty years and don’t have any plan for retirement in sight. Why would they? They regulate their agenda, paintings when, the place and if they would like, and make nice cash.
6. How lengthy does it take to develop into a flight attendant?
That actually will depend on the airline. Some airways can accelerate the method and it will most effective be about six months. Different airways are slower and it might take a 12 months or longer.
In the event you don’t get employed there’s a ready length to use once more, both six months or a 12 months, relying at the airline. So if so infrequently it might take years to get employed as a flight attendant.
Everybody’s timeline may also be other, however it may be useful that it takes awhile to get employed as a result of you have got time to organize.
The contest to develop into a flight attendant is so fierce that it’s important to nail the interviews to be decided on.
7. Is it arduous to develop into a flight attendant? What are the {qualifications} to develop into a flight attendant?
It may be arduous to develop into a flight attendant as a result of airways can get loads of 1000’s of candidates and only one% to two% get employed.
However I inform everybody to not let that quantity scare them as a result of if they have got a need of their middle to develop into a flight attendant, they are able to make it occur.
Some {qualifications} to develop into a flight attendant are:
- A highschool degree or GED
- Possess and deal with a legitimate U.S. passport or overseas passport with appropriate visas and be eligible to paintings and go back and forth freely inside the U.S. and all international locations they serve, with out restriction.
- A zeal to serve
- Customer support talents (no longer essentially in a customer support place, maximum jobs have a component of purchaser provider)
- Should be 18, 19, 20, or 21 relying at the airline
- Be bodily agile and be capable of lend a hand shoppers. The power to face, stroll, kneel, bend, hunch, stretch, succeed in, raise heavy gadgets, and push or pull a beverage cart as much as 250 kilos
- Talent to go ten 12 months background test and drug trying out
- Ready to talk, write, and keep in touch successfully in English
- Prepared to relocate or trip in keeping with operational want
- Maximum airways are requiring a Covid-19 vaccination
8. Which airline has the perfect paid flight attendants?
It’s lovely shut between Delta, American, and United, however Southwest Airways has the perfect hourly fee.
Southwest Airways additionally pads in additional time into their journeys in order that flight attendants could make just a little more money. Maximum flight attendants don’t receives a commission for boarding in order that more money is helping quilt that point spent no longer being paid for boarding.
Any other factor about Southwest? They enable their flight attendants to promote their journeys. If they have got a commute they don’t wish to do as a result of they would like the break day they are able to promote it the commute and be offering a pleasant chew of trade for any other flight attendant to take it.
I think like Southwest Airways is actually dedicated to their staff making nice cash.
9. What are the professionals and cons of being a flight attendant?
The professionals and cons of being a flight attendant are:
Personally the professionals a long way outweigh the cons, however there may be all the time a down facet to the whole thing.
Execs:
- Paid go back and forth and loose go back and forth to your break day
- Superb pay and advantages
- Loose flight advantages on your folks, your youngsters, partner, or perhaps a good friend
- Talent to make six figures a 12 months – I actually am a six determine flight attendant earner
- Assembly a wide variety of other folks, celebrities, politicians, athletes, you title it.
- Layovers in unique puts in the most productive resorts
- Lifelong friendships
- There’s no age prohibit for flight attendants and a few other folks develop into a flight attendant after retirement
- You’ll’t beat the versatility of the process
- Reductions on the whole thing, apartment automobiles, resorts, meals, and company reductions
Cons:
- Lengthy days
- Within the very starting you don’t have a lot regulate over your agenda
- Being away out of your circle of relatives for vacations
- Low pay to start with
- Some passengers are unruly, however fortunately the FAA has applied a nil tolerance coverage and the ones unruly passengers now must pay fines for unruly conduct as a substitute of caution letters or counseling.
10. Are you able to record the stairs had to develop into a flight attendant?
- Fill out the applying at the airline’s web page
- Add your resume and canopy letter
- Review – Some airways habits exams which is an internet questionnaire
- Video Flight Attendant Interview – this may also be both pre recorded questions or a bunch video interview.
- Some airways do a Phone Interview – It’s simply what it feels like, an interview over the phone.
- Face to Face Interview – You fly out and spend a couple of part an afternoon interviewing, with many different flight attendant applicants
- Preliminary Flight Attendant Coaching – For many airways you don’t seem to be formally employed till you go 3.5 – 8 weeks of flight attendant coaching at a coaching heart.
- Commencement – Commencement is when flight attendants get their wings.
- Flight Attendant!
11. Are there another guidelines that you’ve for any individual who desires to develop into a flight attendant?
It’s a protracted procedure to develop into a flight attendant, and there are numerous steps to take to get your wings, nevertheless it’s all price it.
Being a flight attendant is among the highest jobs on the earth.
12. Are you able to inform me extra concerning the direction you be offering?
The direction I be offering is known as Flight Attendant Faculty – it’s an internet studying program with 4 weekly are living training periods.
Passing the flight attendant interviews are the toughest portions of changing into a flight attendant. My direction covers the whole thing that you want to grasp the interview procedure.
No longer most effective do you get a whole on-line direction that teaches you precisely what you want to do to develop into a flight attendant however you get 4 weekly zoom training periods.
What can we do within the training periods? Flight Attendant Profession Counseling, it’s a large bounce and a fully other way of life, our occupation counseling consultation will can help you to find the most productive airline have compatibility for you.
We additionally do mock interviews, prep and apply so you’ll glance, really feel and be the a part of the flight attendant to your interviews. My scholars make some primary transformations right through the direction.
They acquire no longer most effective wisdom but in addition such a lot self belief that they may be able to stand out as a celebrity in a sea of candidates.
The aviation business is other than another and the Flight Attendant Path & Training periods assist aspiring flight attendants be told the whole thing they wish to know despite the fact that they have got no flight attendant revel in.
Do you need to be informed learn how to develop into a flight attendant?
