Most flight attendants are hired directly by airlines with a high school diploma or equivalent plus customer service experience. After passing the airline’s interviews and screening, new hires complete several weeks of airline training required by the FAA and earn a Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency. A college degree is not required, though some applicants have one, and the first year is usually spent on a reserve schedule.
Beyond the drink cart
Flight attendants are on board first for safety. Service is the visible part; emergency readiness is the core of the job.
- Safety: checking emergency equipment, briefing passengers, handling medical events, managing disruptive passengers and leading evacuations if needed.
- Service: helping passengers board and settle, serving food and drinks, and handling a lot of requests and complaints with patience.
- Life on trips: early report times, layovers in hotels, delays, cancellations and nights away from home.
- Seniority: schedules, routes and home base are largely set by seniority, so the first years usually mean less choice.
What airlines look for
- Education: a high school diploma or GED at minimum; some coursework in hospitality, communication or a second language can help.
- Age and eligibility: minimum ages vary by airline, and you need to be legally able to work in the U.S. and travel internationally.
- Physical requirements: airlines set rules for reach, vision and the ability to lift and move equipment and to fit through emergency exits.
- Experience: customer service jobs, especially in restaurants, hotels or retail, where you have handled difficult people well.
- Screening: expect drug testing and a background investigation covering your work and personal history.
Speaking a second language can open international routes at some airlines.
Training and the FAA certificate
Training is run by the airline, often lasts several weeks and is intense. It covers emergency procedures, evacuations, firefighting, first aid, aircraft-specific equipment and service standards, with frequent tests. Passing earns an FAA Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency for the aircraft types you were trained on, and flight attendants repeat training regularly to stay current. Some private training schools advertise flight attendant courses, but airlines train their own hires, so those courses are not required.
Steps from high school to your first trip
- Build customer service skills in a job where people are sometimes unhappy and you still have to stay calm.
- Learn or keep up a second language if you can, and get a passport.
- Research airline requirements and hiring seasons, and set alerts for openings.
- Prepare for a multi-step process that may include an online application, assessments, video interview and in-person interview. Our job interview prep guide helps.
- Complete airline training and earn your certificate.
- Plan for the reserve period: living near your base or commuting, being on call and building seniority.
Testing the fit before you apply
- Work in hospitality or an airport customer service role and notice how you handle long days on your feet.
- Take some red-eye flights and pay attention to what the crew handles.
- Ask a flight attendant for an informational interview about reserve life, commuting and how they handle time away from family.
Who stays, and why people leave
People who thrive are calm, flexible, friendly with strangers and fine with an unpredictable schedule. It ranks high among careers for people who like to travel and careers for people who like helping. People leave because of reserve schedules, low early seniority, time away from home, difficult passengers and the physical toll of irregular hours. Some move into training, recruiting, inflight management or other aviation roles.
Changing careers to fly
Many flight attendants start in their 30s, 40s or later, especially after careers in hospitality, teaching, nursing or retail. Life experience and calm under pressure count. Think through finances and family logistics for the reserve period before you apply. See building a career without a degree and changing careers. For current pay and outlook, check the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor helps young adults and career changers explore whether flight attendant life fits, prepare applications and practice interviews, stay accountable through a long hiring process and intense training, and build routines that work on a reserve schedule. Mentors are not credentialed career counselors, airline recruiters or aviation instructors. See career and education mentoring and mentoring for young adults.
Related
- Career paths: guides to dozens of careers
- How to become a pilot
- How to become an air traffic controller
- Gap year ideas
- How to become a landscape architect
- How to become an environmental scientist
Common questions
Do you need a degree to be a flight attendant?
No. Airlines generally require a high school diploma or GED, and customer service experience matters more than a degree.
Do you have to go to flight attendant school?
No. Airlines train their own new hires, and that training is what leads to the FAA certificate. Paid private courses are optional.
What is reserve?
Reserve means being on call for trips instead of holding a set schedule. Most new flight attendants spend their first months or years on reserve before seniority improves their options.
How long is flight attendant training?
It varies by airline, but it usually lasts several weeks and is full time, with tests throughout.
Get started
Thinking about flying for a living and want help preparing for the hiring process? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.