No! The only schooling required for the flight attendant position in the U.S. is a high school diploma or equivalent. It is as simple as meeting the very basic requirements, applying and being well prepared for the interview, which is where my guide and preparation materials come in. Once you are selected, you will be trained by your airline in a 3-8 week required, specifically structured, FAA approved training program that is security sensitive and cannot be duplicated elsewhere.
There may be online sites that offer courses or "training" in becoming a flight attendant. There are even on line sites that offer "certificates" for flight attendant hopefuls. Please do not fall victim to these scams. No one can offer guaranteed flight attendant employment with an airline and airlines do not recognize these programs. It is so important to remember that airlines do not give any preference to any applicant who has attended, or under gone any "program" prior to applying. In fact, airlines often feel that these applicants will have to be "re-trained" with the real training information, decreasing their chances. Our guide and our other preparation products are intended to educate you and prepare you shine in your airline interview at an affordable price and with 100% support after the sale.
How can I determine if I am right for the Flight Attendant Career, and get a head start on interviewing?
We offer our Flight Attendant Career Test FREE with any purchase from our site. It contains over 50 airline qualifying questions, PLUS the required 24 hour clock. This is a tool this is utilized by nearly all airlines, and it will definitely help you to determine if the career is a good fit for you.
I want to be a flight attendant! Where do I start?
Getting started is as simple as meeting the basic requirements like minimum age, height, vision, citizenship and customer service experience. After that, all you must do is prepare and our guide is the best, most trusted and recognized resource available, then select the airline(s) you are interested in, and apply! Many airlines accept applications and resumes online, while others will require that you attend an open interview session in a scheduled location.
Once you have interviewed and been selected, you will be trained by the airline in a specialized training program that is not available to anyone but selected applicants and cannot be obtained anywhere but the airline you are hired with. Once you successfully complete your airline's training program, you will graduate and begin your career! What are the requirements to be a flight attendant?
This has been the question we receive more than any other. You should be able to meet the posted qualifications for the airline to which you apply. These usually include:
HEIGHT- Normally the minimum height is between 5'0-5'1 and the maximum ranges between 5'8-6'3. The height requirements are DIFFERENT at every airline. Many airlines do not even have height requirements, but instead require that you be able to reach to a specified vertical height.
VISION: Correctable eyewear or contact are allowed to ensure you can meet the corrected vision requirements.
WEIGHT: There are NO weight standards at US airlines. You will only be visually assessed and the recruiter is looking for weight in proportion to height.
EDUCATION: Only a high school diploma (Or GED) is required. NO prior schooling or training is required. The airline that hires you will provide all of your training. Airline training material is highly specific and safety sensitive and cannot be purchased. You cannot receive your airline training from any place other than the airline, regardless of what you might see on the internet. My guide does offer a chapter on successfully surviving Flight Attendant Training.
CUSTOMER SERVICE: Some airlines will require some customer service experience. This can be in any type of situation that brought you into contact with the public in some capacity. Usually, if you can demonstrate in your interview that you are aware of and can perform effective customer service, you are considered qualified.
TEN YEAR BACKGROUND CHECK: You must be able to pass a ten year background check, fingerprint and drug screening.
MEDICAL EVALUATION/AGILITY TEST: Once selected you will undergo a medical physical and agility test to ensure you are in good health and able to perform the duties of an FA.
As you can see, compared with most careers, the basic requirements for the flight attendant position make it very attainable, and that is why there are so many applicants for every one flight attendant opening. My guide is intended to set you apart, prepare you and help get you the job.
How do I get started?
Applying to airlines has become more simplified than ever. Most will allow you to submit your application or resume directly online their company site, or interview instantly at an open session. Preparation is essential. My guide is the most trusted, recognized source on the flight attendant career. I encourage you to consider purchasing it as your preparation resource. Then visit our airline hiring page to see which airlines are hiring, and how to apply. You could change your life sooner than you think!
Why should I buy your Guide to get hired as a flight attendant?
My life changed dramatically after being hired at American Airlines. I never forgot what an extraordinary gift it was to fly around the world with really fun people and be exposed to so much opportunity, plus be paid! I decided early on in my career to try and help others do the same after realizing that so many people had huge misconceptions about how to get hired. I also know a flight attendant interview is unlike any other type of interview and the right preparation is essential in being selected. I also realized the airline industry was lacking a dependable, trustworthy resource guide for people who really wanted a chance at the career. Since our inception in 1997, we have helped thousands leave a less than exciting work life for an "office with a view" and allowed others to simply fulfill a life long dream. I believe I offer the best resource available on getting hired as a flight attendant and. my readers are success stories, and I look forward to assisting you!
I saw a site online that offers a training program for flight attendants, do I need it?
No, the airline that hires you will provide all of your training, at no expense to you. Again, you do not need to invest money in a program or school that cannot offer you guaranteed employment with an airline, particularly since the airlines do not recognize them. On the other hand, we are recognized by the people who do the hiring at airlines, and we are committed to offering our information at a price that is affordable.
Why do some sites charge for airline hiring information and you don't?
We are unsure as to why there are sites charging applicants for hiring information. There are some sites that actually copy our hiring information page and sell it. Please do not fall victim to these sites. We do not charge because it is not necessary to do so. Airlines worldwide send us updates daily to announce hiring AND they rely on us to pass it on to our clients and visitors because we are the number one airline hiring site and they want to see our well prepared clients at their interviews!
What will the interview for the flight attendant position be like?
The Flight Attendant interview you will undergo will be much like other job interviews, in terms of your needing to be professionally dressed, personable and positive throughout the interview. However, there many more applicants competing for every one flight attendant job. This is why your preparation and my guide are crucial! Airlines can be highly selective with so many applicants! What sets an airline interview apart from other job interviews is that at your airline interview, you will be assessed in areas of personal presentation, customer service work history, your abilities to interact with others, your understanding of customer service, and your overall personality. We teach you to be the applicant that airlines look for. You will usually participate in a group exercise, to let the airline see how you work with others on a task. You will always be asked questions, you will usually be asked to introduce yourself to the group, you may read a sample in-flight announcement aloud or be asked to take a test surveying your comprehension skills. You'll also receive an overview of the company and the career from a representative of the airline. Usually the interview will last at least several hours. The length is again, part of the process to see how you hold up all day, both in terms of personality and professionalism, just as you will need to as a working flight attendant.
What kinds of questions will they ask me at my interview?
Questions at the airline interview are the most important factor for the recruiters as it allows them to get a real glimpse of who you are, what you know about customer service, etc.. The primary focus of the questions will be to see how much you understand customer service. My guide has all of the current questions, over 90 of them, with answers. You need to be ready to give the recruiter the answer they are looking for, because there are right and wrong ways to answer these questions!!!
Some sample questions include:
Question: Why do you want to be a Flight Attendant?
Wrong answer: Because I would like the free travel and I like people.
Right answer: I would like to be a Flight Attendant for _____ Airlines, because I have exceptional customer service skills and the ability to interact with a diverse customer base on a professional and personal level. I also understand the importance of workplace and customer safety and working as team to provide the leadership and service that create a comfortable and inclusive passenger experience. I also think I would be perfectly suited for the very unique and fast paced work environment of the aviation industry.
Question: The Captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign and while checking the cabin and you notice a child sleeping on the floor by their parents seat. What would you do?
Right answer: I would professionally inform the parents that for safety, the child must be awakened and return to their seat and ensure their seatbelt is fastened.
Question: You are working onboard the aircraft when you are approached by a passenger who tells you he/she cannot sit in the seat they are assigned because of the ethnicity of the other passenger. What do you do?
Wrong answer: Tell them we do not tolerate prejudice and they will have to take their assigned seat.
Right answer: I would be professional and discreet. I would maintain calmness in the cabin, and reseat the passenger if it seemed the situation required it. If the aircraft were full, I would notify the agent and seek assistance in reseating the passenger while ensuring no disruption in service.
I'm over 50, am I too old to be hired as a flight attendant?
No! You are never too old to begin a flying career. Airlines welcome all applicants and the vast and varied life experience they are able to bring to the job! There is no maximum age requirement in place at US airlines, so you are just never too old to begin applying for a Flight Attendant position! We have clients hired well into their 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!
Am I too young to apply for a flight attendant job?
All airlines have a minimum age requirement, usually between the ages of 18 and 21 years old. The requirement depends on the airline. Once you meet the age requirement along with the other basic requirements, you can simply begin applying. Airlines seek applicants of all ages in order to ensure a diversified work force.
I am ready to start! What are my next steps?
First, think about which of our products and services will be of the most assistance to you, and place your order. You need to have your resume in hand to apply and you need to be educated about the airline process and the FA career prior to applying.
If you do not have a passport, immediately begin the process of getting one.
Get an email that is your name, (first and last) it will be much more professional on your paperwork, and keeps your name in front of the recruiting team. Also, airlines tell us that a huge issue for them is important emails concerning employment never reaching applicants because it ends up in spam folders, etc.. When in process with an airline, continually check your email to be sure you are receiving their communications.
Monitor our hiring site to stay up to date on where to apply.
Read about the airlines you like by linking to their corporate page from their main page, (via our hiring page) Airlines like informed applicants.
Lastly, begin to get your personal life in order and things organized, sometimes the airline hiring process happens very quickly and you are off on the adventure of a lifetime in a very short time frame.
I have been selected, but I am worried about passing training at my airline. How can I prepare?
Once conditionally selected from your interview, you must then successfully pass a safety and security sensitive Flight Attendant training program that cannot be duplicated elsewhere, and can only be taught by your airline. It is a specially designed program and it is challenging because you must be proficient in the skills to save lives, maintain a safe and comfortable passenger environment and also provide outstanding customer service. There is no reason to be worried, your airline selected you and wants you to succeed, but you will be held to a high academic standard, appearance standard and conduct standard while in training. When you earn those shiny wings, it all worth it.