How to Become a Flight Attendant

Thousands of commercial flights take off daily, serving the needs of their passengers. Flight attendants provide service, assure that all the passengers abide by federal regulations and are safe. Along with assuring the passengers' safety, flight attendants also make sure the passengers have a comfortable and enjoyable flight. They must make sure seatbelts are fastened when necessary and things are properly stowed during take off and landing. Flight attendants must deal with any emergency that arises during the flight. They are also in charge of the food and beverage service, as well as other in-flight amenities. Here is a list of some of the things airlines look for before hiring someone as a flight attendant.

  • Education All flight attendants must have a high school diploma. However, many airlines will only consider candidates who have a college degree.
  • Fluency in languages Being fluent in more than one language is almost mandatory on international flights.
  • Local citizenship All American airlines require their flight attendants to be United States citizens.
  • Customer service experience Although this isn't a requirement, airlines look favorably at applicants with customer service experience. Flight attendants are constantly working with people, from greeting them to serving and helping them.
  • Flexibility You must be willing to relocate to another city, especially early on in your career. The airline may need flight attendants in a particular city and you may be asked to relocate there.
  • Training Once you're hired, you must pass a formal training course. The course is given at a flight training center and lasts approximately eight weeks.
  • Certification Upon completing the training, you must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). You will have to show that you completed all the training requirements and passed the approved proficiency tests. You will only be certified for the aircraft you trained on. You will need additional training to certify for another aircraft.

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