How to Pass Flight Attendant Training

http://www.wikihow.com/Pass-Flight-Attendant-Training

Flight Attendant Pre-Qualification Test

http://www.airlinecareer.com/flight-attendant-jobs/eval.htm

Galley Gossip: Age, weight and height requirements for flight attendants (and why Christina Ricci could never be a Pan Am stewardess)

“In this male-dominated world, in that famously openly chauvinistic culture, these women were really taking the reins and running their lives in a way most women didn’t,” Christina Ricci said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter about her upcoming television show, Pan Am, a night time soap opera revolving around the lives of flight attendants and pilots in the 1960’s. Think Mad Men at 30,000 feet.

Christina Ricci has been cast to play Maggie, a head stewardess. What’s funny about this is Ricci wouldn’t have been hired to be a stewardess back in the day. At five foot one, Christina is too short. Pan Am required its stewardesses to be at least five foot two and weigh no more than 130 pounds. They also couldn’t be married or have children. On top of that the mandatory retirement age for flight attendants was 32. So even if Ricci had managed to squeak by Pan Am’s minimum height requirement, she wouldn’t have flown for long. The actress, born in February, is already 31 years old. With Pan Am scheduled to air in September, Christina only has five months to travel the world before being forced to hang up the uniform and retire. That’s not enough time to establish oneself as a head stewardess for a major airline. At my airline it takes six months just to get off probation! But back in the 60’s stewardesses averaged eighteen months on the job. A year and a half. By those standards, Christina Ricci would already be three-quarters of the way through with her career. Sad, but true.
Thankfully a lot has changed since 1960…

 HEIGHT: Today US airlines have height requirements for safety reasons only. Flight attendants must be tall enough to reach overhead safety equipment. Typically flight attendants range between five foot three to six foot one. There may be a lower height restriction at some regional airlines where the aircraft type operated has a maximum height allowance of 5’10”.

WEIGHT: In 1990 all US airlines dropped weight requirements for flight attendants. The only requirement today is that weight must be in proportion to height. If a flight attendant can not sit in the jump seat without an extended seat belt or fit through the emergency exit window, they can not fly.

AGE: Most airlines have a minimum age requirement, usually between 18 and 21 years old. There is no maximum age limit. As long as a flight attendant can pass their yearly recurrent training, and does not have any health or physical problems that would prevent them from flying, they can continue to work for as long as they like.

NOTE: Foreign carriers still follow strict height, weight, and age requirements.

History of Flight Attendants

Flight attendants have a long and changing history. When thinking of flight attendants, the term "stewardess" often comes to mind, with the name implying females. However, the history actually begins with those commonly referred to as cabin boys or stewards. These stewards originated in maritime travel and made up the cabin crew who were responsible for the safety and comfort of passengers. Sea ships from centuries back needed this personnel to help smooth away any problems that took place during travels. It was not until the early 20th century that airplanes began to employ similar stewards and later stewardesses that made up what we now call flight attendants.

The role of the first flight attendant is attributed to Heinrich Kubis of Germany in 1912. It was not until the 1920s that United States airlines began to employ male cabin boys on their flights. They would serve and attend to the needs of passengers. It would be a decade later before the first female flight attendant was employed. Ellen Church, a register nurse, took this position in history when United Airways hired her to be the first woman attendant. She started the trend of airlines hiring only nurses on their flights because they were thought to be better for tending to passengers suffering from injury or illness. The list of duties that most air hosts or hostesses perform today include general safety, customer service and comfort, food service, and assistance with baggage. Most flight attendants today are females, but there are males who perform those roles as well.

Training and qualifications for flight attendants vary by country or region, but encompass many of the same features worldwide. Training duration ranges from weeks to months and usually takes place near major airports for obvious reasons. Safety is a priority topic during training and can consist of a variety of extensive courses. Flight emergencies, evacuation procedures, firefighting, survival in different environments, first aid, and CPR training are just some of the numerous subjects for which they are trained. Various academies exist for training, or prospective employees may be trained through an airline directly. A certificate of completion is given out to new attendants who have gone through training. Knowledge of more than one language is a positive attribute for a steward or stewardess, especially for international airlines.

Uniforms have changed for cabin crew members throughout history. Since the start of a mostly or all female crew beginning in the 1930s, uniforms have undergone several transformations. First, the focus was on nurse's uniforms to promote the image of flights attendants as health and safety specialists on flights. Then, strict military lines promoting conservative values and the military heritage of stewards was emphasized. Later, this was replaced by softer, more feminine lines highlighting the glamour and excitement of flying.

Changes have been made to uniforms, gender, restrictions, and other facets of flight attending throughout history, but one thing has remained the same: safety is key. From the early 1920s onward, safety has been a chief concern of the cabin crew. Passengers know that they can count on flight attendants to keep them safe and happy on their travels across the world.

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

Flight Attendant School - Start Your Challenging Career

Flight attendant school provides the necessary schooling for new wannabe flight attendants with specialized intensive teaching programs. If you would like to be a licensed crew member in the business of aviation you have to follow the classes of any certified airline steward school. Probably the most interesting aspect regarding a steward school is that you require specific skills and established physical and psychological requirements that candidates ought to meet. The policy for submission are extremely strict and no exceptions are allowed. You ought to know that a high level of teaching is not an significant asset for any future flight attendant career. Because of the fact that a flight attendant school shows students all the necessary information, the exclusively requirement to join is a baccalaureate diploma. A preceding profession experience is taken in consideration, especially if the knowledge is in customer services.

Only students who meet the flight attendant school profile are really eligible. Admittance is achievable if you have specified physical and mental skills. If you like to journey around the world and dislike routine, a airline steward career is for sure appealing, but this is not all you should do. Some of the challenges an applicant will encounter in a flight attendant school are:

Intensive training

As you necessitate special training to accomplish your duties as a airline steward, you 'll be trained certain methods and approaches in a short period of time. In order to be suitably trained you need to join this intensive training. The quantity of information you will be asked to learn might be at times mind-boggling. If you ever wish to graduate a flight attending school you must be well organized and to know how to arrange your time and energy.

Energy draining activities

Intensive practice has a important role for any hopeful flight attendant. If you are not sure you will be able to focus totally on your practice hours, there are big possibilities for you to be unsuccessful. The study period is extremely exhausting that 's why you 'll have to save your energy. To become a licensed flight attendant you 'll have to handle evacuation and rescue techniques. It is not sufficient to learn these techniques, in particular circumstances, you will have to put them into practice.

Prepare for the unusual

A great part of the licensed airline stewards found them self dealing with extreme moments. The huge pleasure that is earned by traveling to so many places goes along with the dangerous situations they have to confront sometimes. Flight attendants have to always be ready for unscheduled flights. You 'll definitely not have a 9 am to 5 pm job. Airlines organizations compel their personnel, especially their crew members to be flexible when it comes to their schedule.

Every airline steward school have developed professional preparation programs, since they know airlines organizations require positive and self-confident personnel. Client-oriented attitude and communication as well as linguistic skills are essential.

As airlines companies need well-trained personnel, they have developed their personal flight attendant school. This way graduated applicants will have knowledge of the specific needs of the corporation. If you consider tempting the duties of a airline steward, check the offer to become trained as a professional and take into account the first reference "love to fly".

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

What You Need to Apply For Flight Attendant Openings

When you are looking for a job as a flight attendant, there are several places you can look to find flight attendant openings. Since the major employers in the air transportation business are airlines, you can check the websites of the airlines to see if they do have a need for flight attendants and are hiring. Some large corporations with private jets also have need for flight attendants from time to time and they may post the ads in magazines related to their business or to air travel. There are also job search sites on the Internet where you can find postings for flight attendant jobs. If you post your resume and cover letter to these sites, when an opening comes up you will get an email alerting you to the posting.
 
In order to determine whether or not you qualify for a flight attendant opening when it is posted, you do have to read the ad to find the qualifications that the employer is looking for in the applicants. The minimum level of education required by all airlines is a high school diploma, but this is just the minimum. Most of the flight attendants that are hired today have a college or university degree. Even though this education does not give you the training you need to work as a flight attendant, it shows the employer that you are willing to work hard in school to better yourself.

One of the major qualifications that you will need to be successful in obtaining a position as a flight attendant is exceptional customer service skills. You don't necessarily need to have experience in this area because it will come with practice once you start the training for the job. However, if you do have experience and have a good reference to attest to this, you have a better chance of getting the job. Many people don't even realize that they do have this experience and never put it on their resume because they think they should only list the skills that are related to other aspects of air travel. If you worked in any area in which you dealt with the public, you should list this on your resume as customer service.
 
Fluency in more than one language is one of the qualifications that will really make your application for the job stand out. Airlines fly all over the world and deal with customers that speak many different languages. Fluency in English is a requirement and unless you are fluent in English you will not get a job as a flight attendant in any English speaking country.
 
You do need to have a passport because of the different countries you will be flying into. You must also be neat in appearance, with no tattoos, visible body piercings or wear offensive jewellery. You must also be willing to relocate in some cases when you apply for one of the openings for flight attendants and of course, you must be willing to work shifts that will require you to be away from home for short periods of time.

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

Top 10 Reasons To Become A Flight Attendant

That's how it happened for me. I have been in the industry for 9 years and I say go for it! Most people consider flying to be the safest, most convenient and fastest way to travel. As such, there has been a higher demand of workforce in the aviation industry. Now, if you are a fresh graduate and didn't consider joining the field before, it's not too late to change your mind. There are flight attendant training courses if you want to be ahead of your class when you get hired by airlines or you can do what I did. I applied and got in! I was armed with confidence, captivating smile and a good command of the English language. Don't forget good posture and reasonably acceptable height.

I can say that my flight attendant career feels more like a vacation than a job. Below are more reasons why you should choose to become a flight attendant.

BELONG TO A PRESTIGIOUS FAMILY. Did you ever stare at cabin crews before they embark on the plane? You can't help but turn your head and look. Why? You want to know if they're pretty or cute, right? You expect them to be. They have to be physically pleasant because you will be seeing them for the most part of your flight. The airlines allots a big chunk of its budget to conduct interviews, choose potential candidates, then, train and nurture them as flight attendants. During the interviewing process, primarily they are chosen for their looks, height and weight. Secondary is their communication skills. Thirdly is their work ethics. If you pass these three criteria, you will be honed to exude elegance and grace as projected by the airlines' image. You get to represent the company and have the responsibility to make a good impression. You get to be checked out every time you are wearing your uniform, so smile and be proud.

THE LIKELIHOOD OF ALWAYS BEING SLIM. You may have seen a few overweight flight attendants but I assure you, majority of us has the ideal body weight. For a 14 hour duty, we get to stand for 3 hours, walk and talk for 9-10 hours and sit for an hour or two depending on the passenger load. You can just imagine the workload and the physical strain we put through. It's like a 13 hour workout at the gym!

BECOME A FIRST AIDER. I'm sure you have experienced emergencies before, from a simple nosebleed to cardiac arrest. What did you do? Did you call for help? Did you give help? Or passed out? Don't be ashamed if you didn't know what to do. Giving first aid can be learned. One chapter will be devoted to teach you how to save a person's life in your career as a flight attendant. It will be very useful, not only when you are at work, but in every day of your life.

NOT A SWIMMER? Even if you are applying in one of the Middle East airlines where there are not too many bodies of water surrounding the area, it is still a must to know how to survive in the open water. In case your aircraft ditches, hopefully not, you are able to save yourself and your passengers. Again, this skill will be handy not only in your professional career as a flight attendant but also when you are in your Hawaii vacation.

FAMILIARIZE WITH AIRPORTS. So where do you go after you check in? No idea. Ask the ground staff who checked you in. Where do you go after the immigration? Again, you have no idea. Ask the immigration officer. You don't know which gate you are supposed to go. Ask one of the passersby wearing uniform. Great! You found it. So finally, you are settled with the right gate before boarding commences and with still the calmest composure to go to your flight. To achieve this smooth experience, it is recommended that you have to check in 4 hours before your international flight and 3 hours if you are flying domestic. But, as someone who is familiarized with the ins and outs of airports, I could check in 2 hours before my international flight and an hour and half if I'm going domestic. Or, you could be a frequent flyer who is traveling as frequent as flight attendant flies.

SUNRISE AND SUNSET AT 36,000 FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. I bet that you have marveled when the sun rises or sets at beaches or mountain tops. But have you ever seen the horizon when you are at 36,000 ft high? It makes you think that life is beautiful and that you are blessed to be alive.

WON'T EVER PAY FOR EXCESS BAGGAGE. This is just our little secret but if you are a flight attendant you get this privilege. It pays to have the sweetest smile, apologetic face and a badge that shows you are a flight attendant.

LEARN FIRST CLASS SERVICE. If you are involved in the service industry, it pays to know how to deal with your customers the best way possible. You show professionalism and integrity in what you do. In effect, you elevate the company's image which makes you an asset and you mature as a service provider.

BE PAID ABOVE THE AVERAGE. Yes, the job is risky. Yes, the workload is heavy. It is because you will be paid handsomely. If you are able to manage stress and still hold on to your sanity, you are on your way to big bucks! The number one reason why you should become a flight attendant is YOU GET TO

TRAVEL FOR FREE. The places to see and explore are limitless. Many people are inhibited to travel because of the airfare cost and accommodation expenses. With you, just sign in for your flight, rest in the hotel after the duty, hop on a bus and see the world!

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

Advancement and Pay Raises Available for Flight Attendants

The flight attendant profession is very different in the way they advance the employees and the way the airlines give their employees raises. There is opportunity for advancement from flight attendant jobs to a different type of job in the airline industry. First of all, the attendant could graduate to the level of a lead flight attendant and the next step might be to a supervisor. Then they could try for the position of base manager and then vice president of in-flight products. These advancements are sometimes based on the number of years they work for the airlines and others could be just a natural progression of the job. Another change they could make could be to aspire for the job of public relation specialists. Some of these advancements may take additional training, sometimes within the airline. These might be called promotions or they might just be a change in the work environment, from an airplane atmosphere to an office job when the attendant grew tired of traveling all the time and desired to have a more stable type of job.

Office workers and people working in banks and other types of office jobs have the opportunity to negotiate their salary raises and the majority is based upon the employee's performance. The flight attendant salary is based mostly on seniority and they are usually paid an hourly union rate. The professionals salary is based on what their labor contract states and this amount can last usually from three to five years until the contract expires. Each individual airline pay their employees on different pay scales and the attendants are usually grouped in a certain number of years worked and then paid according to the contract.

For instance, a certain airlines, per the union contract, could start their pay at twenty two dollars per hour, and pay their sixth year attendants thirty five dollars per hour, and lastly their fourteen year attendants an hour's wage of forty five dollars an hour. According to the contract, other airlines may also pay attendants on the number of flight miles accrued each month. The new employee should try and find airlines that have flight attendant salaries that are the norm in the business. It is also suggested that they choose an airline that is hiring on a regular basis and has the most flight attendant job openings as this will mean the attendant will be able to gain seniority faster which means a higher salary. If an attendant is looking to make the most money, it is recommended that they try to find employment with large airlines.

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

International Flight Attendant Or Domestic Flight Attendant Work - The Pros and Cons

Are you caught in a dilemma of whether to choose international flight attendant or domestic flight attendant work? Try to decide what airline to apply to based on the work you will do and the conditions you'll work under. Ultimately it's about lifestyle and while the actual work is similar, the type of work differs and the lifestyle you'll lead is in rather stark contrast between the two options.

One you get to see family and friends with predictable regularity, the other not so. One you have to learn to sleep on a plane, the other you'll probably be sacked if you do. One you fight the clock, the other you'll find that the clock fights you.Yes, international flight attendant and domestic flight attendant work has its differences. The basic requirements to be either an international or domestic flight attendant are of course the same.

You have to meet the same educational standards of leaving or GED equivalent, be of sound physical health with correctable vision, be able to swim 50 metres (150 ft) fully clothed and hold a first aid certificate. Of course you need to be a great people person with great customer service skills and preferably have significant past customer service experience in the 'real world'. Then there's the ability to study, be a team player and be able to adapt to flying requirements such work a 24/7 roster as well as the need or willingness to relocate to a base directed by the needs of the company if required.

For some however, the passion to experience either International flight attendant or domestic flight attendant work sees the requirements as mere incidentals or stepping stones to achieving their dream to fly.Domestic flight attendant work provides great challenges and will give you a lot of satisfaction provided you have the core attribute of a great flight attendant and that is, you really are a people person. You will be saying hello and goodbye to perhaps 1000 or more people in a days' work depending on the aircraft size and type you happen to be operating on during your duty.

And while a typical working day would max out at 4 legs, some route structures or working hours may allow for 5 or even six leg days. 'Legs' are airline speak for describing a single flight from point A to point B and involving one take-off and one landing.This can be tiring work but the major benefit is that you maintain a normality of lifestyle and as an airline employee you of course reap the rewards of great holiday travel discounts and other airline employment benefits in your downtime.

International flight attendant work is starkly different to the status quo of domestic flight attendant work. Particularly with intercontinental and trans Atlantic work or in essence, anytime you have to do more than one service on board in one leg. Two or more services automatically mean that you will be a long time in the air and won't be seeing a new lot of passengers until you've landed, said goodbye and gone to your hotel for a sleep and specified rest period, sometimes being several days.Yes international work is much more a lifestyle or rather, jet-setting option. It can play havoc on your personal home relationships although some wouldn't have it any other way because they can make it work for them. And while North and South flying is relatively easy on the natural and normal circadian rhythm of your body, East and West flying exposes you to great time changes relative to your 'home body clock'.

Again, this can be managed to a certain extent and for many, the sheer thrill of travelling to and seeing new places particularly in the first one or two years of flying overcomes much jet lag.Obviously there are pros and cons in the finer details of international or domestic flying such as the preference of flying on single or wide bodied aircraft, the willingness to live out of a suitcase or be home at the end of your shift, receive fantastic duty free allowances and for that matter travel allowances or simply forgo most of them and save them for your personal travel time. Largely however, it's the type of work and lifestyle that you'll lead that is the major difference between the two options.

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

Flight Attendant Careers - Looking to Get Yours Off the Ground and Into the Air?

Flight attendant careers with any of the major or legacy carriers are sought after for good reason. The lifestyle and benefits of an airline flight attendant is envied by everybody and sought by many.
Benefits such as:

• Worldwide travel benefits which can include your next of kin and friends
• Medical cover including dental plans and eye care
• Life insurance for you and your significant other
• Profit-sharing plans within the company and retirement planning
• Achievement awards
• Vacation rewards
• Gifting programs
• Human resources support including workers assistance for security of emotional health.

Is it any wonder that Flight Attendant careers are sought after for the many benefits that they offer alone?

And while benefits are one thing, the lifestyle of a flight attendant can be champagne too. With luxury 5 Star hotels to stay in while over-laying, the opportunity to see the world at literally no expense, the thrill of shopping to your hearts' content, and the educational brilliance of meeting with and experiencing foreign cultures. Yes you can literally travel and experience the world and get paid for it.

Be one of those that hold down Flight attendant careers with Delta Airlines for example and the world will literally be your oyster with flight services to six continents and some 575 destinations including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, The Caribbean and South Pacific, Indonesia and the Middle East. Perhaps Southwest airlines is more your type of airline or preferred route structure with services to 35 States and 68 cities including Chicago, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Okland, Olando and Los Angeles.

Flight attendant careers are open to anyone who can meet with minimum educational requirements and certain restrictions. Delta Airlines require you to be at least 18 years of age as do Southwest Airlines however some airlines stipulate a minimum age of 21. Educationally you must possess at least a H.S. diploma/GED equivalent or similarly year 12 in other parts of the world. A common requirement for flight attendant careers with any airline is that you are a people person as you are the font-line service professional to its customers. Delta Airlines state that, 'you are the face of the company' and that 'you must be passionate about maximising each customers experience while promoting the brand'.

Similarly, Southwest Airlines state that, 'Our people are our single greatest strength and our most enduring long-time competitive advantage'. In essence your service acumen, customer focus and the ability to represent and promote the company positively are just some of the factors you'll need to consider if applying to their flight attendant careers HR department. Your grooming must be impeccable and your communication and team work abilities a proven skill on interview day.

Other 'must have' requirements will be a Senior First Aid certificate and a Responsible service of Alcohol certificate. Practically you must be able to swim 50 metres (150 feet) fully clothed and be able to then board an aircraft life raft unassisted. And while you must be able to speak the native tongue of the airline that you join, a foreign language in any of the destinations flown to will put you in a good position on their flight attendant careers application short list.

Flying is a passion for some and for others it's a lifelong dream for obvious reasons. Turning dreams into a lifestyle starts with making the first step and before looking at flight attendant careers with any airline your first step is to be able to satisfy the minimum requirements. This will open the gateway to pursuing your chosen airline and see you get the opportunity to literally make your flying dreams become a reality.

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

Your Flight Attendant Resume - The Importance of Getting it Right First Time

The primary goal in submitting your Flight Attendant Resume to an airline is for it to sell you in a way that will get you an interview. In effect it is your promotional sales letter. And it's logical that your resume leads to an interview and should therefore be prepared as an intentional seamless process. That means that presentation has to be professional or even striking and your content has to address the selection criteria and be relatable to your own experiences so that any reference to your resume during a subsequent interview can be immediately validated, justified or elaborated on.

As important as the presentation and content of your resume, there are a number of other obvious reasons for getting your flight attendant resume right first time and one of which is the time delay before you can reapply if you are unsuccessful. For most airlines, if you fail in your application you will be required to wait anything up to 12 months before you can reapply for that position again. The added frustration to that is if no Flight Attendant positions are available at the very time that you are allowed to reapply causing further delay in achieving your dream to fly.

The other critical reason for getting your Flight Attendant Resume right first time is that you need to get 'in-front' of the sheer weight of numbers of applicants that apply to most advertised flight attendant jobs. In fact aviation jobs in general. The commonly accepted industry percentage rate of those that apply for a flight attendant job and who go on to actually succeed in landing a job is less than 3%.

To highlight this point more so, you only have to read of the publicized figures on the web site of Southwest Airlines for the number of applicants who applied for all jobs with the airline as an example. It is a sobering realization for any 'want to be' airline job holding applicant. The facts read that in 2009 Southwest received 90,043 resumes across the board. Of that staggering number just 831 new employees were hired.

That is far less than the recognized 3% who actually land a job let alone a position as Flight Attendant. In fact it is a paltry 0.0092%. Any wonder that there is great importance placed on every step of the hiring process and the need for you to stand out or to be recognized before other applicants.

The first step of this process is obviously your professionally presented resume that addresses the selection criteria. However here are two more great tips when it comes to resumes that put you in 'front of mind' of any HR department.

Tip one - A picture paints a thousand words. Kinesics which is the interpretation of body language such as facial expressions and gestures states that up to 70% of our communication is usually non-verbal. That means that we get cues about what somebody is saying or implying through gestures, body movements, and facial expressions be they live or in a picture.

And while many so-called 'resume experts' don't recognize the value of a picture, Professional Copywriters who live or die on the success of their sales campaigns do which is why you will see their photo on the front of their sales letter and is reason enough to place a picture of you on the front of your flight attendant resume. Ideally this should be a professional upper body/head shot which befits the look that the person looking at it would expect. That means that if you are applying to be a flight attendant then wear your hair, clothing and make up if applicable, that fits with the job description and 'look' of the airline that you are applying to. It provides an immediate connection with the person 'assessing your resume'.

Tip two - Stand out from the crowd, get in front of other applicants, be different, be recognized! According to Wendy S. Enelow & Louise M. Kursmark, authors of Expert Resumes for Managers and Executives, who state that 90% of resumes are in Times New Roman font, this difference can be achieved very easily and with subtlety.

If you want to be different to 90% of other applicants and still present a professional resume simply use professionally accepted business fonts of Arial, Tahoma or Calibri. Your resume will still be very easy to read and will still present professionally and with correct format it may even be striking in its almost subliminal difference.

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

Airlines Hiring Flight Attendants - Where Do You Look?

Web searchers interested in becoming a flight attendant the world over are Googling 'airlines hiring flight attendants' for the express reason that becoming a flight attendant has either been a lifelong dream or they consider that now is as good a time as any to break free and do a job that has lifestyle.

And while an airline job lifestyle is a big draw card to having an office with a view, so too are the benefits of becoming a Flight Attendant. Obviously the vacation travel benefits and participating hotel discounts are pretty hard to beat, but so too are the little known perks like car hire, great credit union deals, profit sharing plans and human resources support to name a few.

It's common for those interested in becoming flight attendants to simply want to find out those airlines hiring flight attendants because that's what you do when you want a job in most industries. Find out where it is, submit your resume and go for the interview. Sadly for most however, that is a long way from reality and there is a rather different process that the airlines hiring flight attendants go through.

Mostly because of the sheer weight of numbers that apply for the position. Certainly there are the recognised favoured airlines that attract large applicant numbers because they are either sentimental or frankly they just pay better and have 'those great travel benefits' that appeal to everyone. But applicant numbers may also be large because the variety and type of flying available is about as diverse as the number of airlines that fly the skies which can be just as appealing.

Again, it depends on what you value as lifestyle. For some it's living out of a suitcase on long international routes and for others it's travelling their own country and enjoying layovers in places that they have always wanted to go but have not yet been to.

There is also variety in the responsibilities on offer as a flight attendant. With airlines that fly the bigger aircraft types such as the Boeings, Air Buses and Larger Embraiers, you become part of a crew of three or more and will be lead by a Cabin Manager who rightly takes care of the management of the flight and the crew.

However if you are the sort of person that wants to get out on their own and run the show by yourself then you'll step right into that responsibility from day one with smaller commuter and hub airlines. Many of them are a one flight attendant operation and sometimes two so it really can be a pleasant and enjoyable experience to literally crew your own office.

As far as Googling 'airlines hiring flight attendants' - about all you'll find is flight attendant schools telling you that they are the only ones with this hiring information and if you do a course through us we can put you in touch with those airlines actually hiring now.

The best advice; stay clear of such banter, save your money and search the airline that you want to work for. You'll find out a lot more from their web site career sections with a few exceptions as some airline career pages are either brief or not there. However that is the minority. Obviously when they put the word out that they are looking for flight attendants the news travels fast however, so hook into some flying forums and even social network sites where like minded people network.

By all means receive information from trusted sights about whose hiring and what you need to do to get the job because there are some great content sites out there but hang onto your money from those offering to either fast track you if you do their course or that they have exclusive 'contacts' or affiliations with airlines. Unless of course you can see real value in what they offer you in the course content or associated information they have to offer.
Certainly becoming an aircrew member is a competitive field and you will have to do all you can to get ahead of other applicants because a flight attendant position is recognised as just too good to miss out on by so many. If this is your dream waiting to happen however, go for it, you won't regret it.

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

You've Got a Flight Attendant Interview and Need Advice - Quickly!

 For so long now you've dreamt of the day you go for your first flight attendant interview. Now that you've been called you're getting nervous. Nerves can be a good thing so long as they are due to excitement not fear. If you've got nerves of fear then arm yourself with a bit of knowledge and get rid of them by being prepared.

To be attending a flight attendant interview means that you have succeeded with your resume application so take a pat on the back. Now for the next step in the application process, your interviews. For most airlines it will be the group interview first and these are typically held in a hotel or suitably sized hall. You will need to register prior to the stated time so don't be late or you'll be turned away.

There are two things that you need to remember at this point and that is you will be under observation at all times and you will never get a second chance at making a great first impression so dress immaculately and present yourself professionally.

Your flight attendant interview group sessions all go through a similar format although all airlines have their own agenda to run on the day.

When the registrations have finished, you will likely be ushered into a room where a company representative will welcome you to the group flight attendant interview session and provide an outline of the day's events. They will then either present a slide presentation or more likely a short video about the airline that you want to become a flight attendant for followed by a question and answer session.

While there are a lot of don'ts during your flight attendant interview here, the thing to remember is to take advantage of this opportunity to ask an intelligent conforming question. It gives you the chance to be noticed and if you are dressed immaculately you will be, and similarly so if you ask the right question. And while the word intelligent speaks for itself, a conforming question is one that not negative, doesn't rock the boat and shows an insight or interest in the subject matter. Normally something about the company is an obvious and good choice.

And while one question is good, don't go over board and run the flight attendant interview like it was your own session and think you need to be the centre of attention. Do this and you're application will be deposited fair and square into the centre of the rubbish bin.

After you're question and answer session you'll move onto groups around a table if you weren't seated there in the first instance and you'll be asked to introduce yourself to each other before being asked to participate in group activities. Again, be reminded that notes and observations are being taken on you at all times. The flight attendant interview cull process is in action.

The thing to remember here is that your group activity and for that matter your flight attendant interview, is a game. If you don't play the 'right' game then your day is about to end. Statistically, history shows with monotonous consistency that more than 95% of the rest of the people in the room with you will eventually be going home unhappy also.

If they haven't culled or reduce the number after the first 'game', the process will be repeated. In short, after each 'game' (group activity), those of you still in the flight attendant interview will be given a short break and shortly thereafter a group of names will be called out.

This is the cull in action and a trained eye will know what group is going home in tears. An interviewer will address one of the groups and inform them that on this occasion they have not been successful.

If you survive this process, and you should if you take the time to arm yourself with a bit of knowledge, and get yourself prepared. Your next interview will be a one-on-one which quite likely will be a one-on-panel flight attendant interview. There is a process or formula to this interview also that with a little bit of knowledge and preparation should put you in the small group of 3% or less that actually achieve a successful outcome to a flying career.








The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

An Insider's Guide to Airline Flight Attendant Interviews, Top Tips for Flight Attendant Applicants

There should be no surprise as to what an Airline is looking for from flight attendant applicants in their interviews. All airlines want Flight Attendants that will embrace and propel the corporate image of their airline.

Certainly flight attendants are individuals, but many identifiable traits of a typical flight attendant can be identified. All applicants will be positively cheerful and sport a happy disposition. They will also understand impeccable grooming and professional personal presentation. However for the most part, the successful flight attendant will possess the values and required communication standards of the interviewing Airline, and this can be markedly different between the airlines.

They maybe focused on first class VIP, relaxed business or holiday passengers, however in order to achieve its identifiable corporate image and brand, the airline interview process for flight attendants must identify and adhere to a matrix of values and guidelines upon which they can achieve consistency of a standard amongst their selected flight attendants.

The flight attendant interview selection process must adhere to this matrix template to enable consistent professionalism and fairness in the process and yet allow for the unique differences of every individual in a non-discriminative way.

When attending any airline flight attendant interview, impeccable grooming and professional personal presentation must be first and foremost. And while many of us can talk amongst our friends, not all of us are good communicators with strangers.

Your knowledge of the airline and enthusiasm for the flight attendant position will also be front and center to some of the questions that you will be expected to answer.Understand that you will be observed at all times, even before and after your interviews. While this can possibly be nerve racking for some, it will be the questions that you are given during your interview that will probably most challenge you.

And while rote learning of particular specific questions for your flight attendant interview on the whole can be useful, it is not nearly as effective as knowing why and how the interviewer wants a question answered.

When you know the reason for a question being asked and the format required to effectively answer it, any question can be answered with confidence and completeness.

Back ground knowledge of your chosen airline and complete flight attendant interview preparation will certainly dispel any jitters and add to your over all presentation and delivery.

Your knowledge of the airline and that of the flight attendant job role will provide a great reference base upon which to be able to naturally answer any questions. By then drawing on your own experiences when giving an answer you'll be able to provide consistency and accuracy in your answers without fabrication.

So first and foremost be positively cheerful and sport a happy disposition. Understand what impeccable grooming means from an Airline interviewer's perspective and be professional in your personal presentation. Learn to be a great communicator with all people. Demonstrate your interest and knowledge of the airline and the flight attendant position and relate your personal experiences to the questions asked of you at every opportunity.

And always remember that you will be observed at all times!

While the career path of an airline Flight Attendant is just way too good to miss out on, by knowing the objectives of an Airline during your flight attendant interviews it can't help but provide a greater degree of confidence in what is required.

This can only reflect positively for you in the eyes of your airline Flight Attendant interviewer.

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

Like To Become An Airline Flight Attendant, Do You Measure Up?

If you are like thousands of others, you've wanted to or at least thought about becoming an airline flight attendant at some stage in your life. And there is no doubt, becoming an airline flight attendant is the absolute dream of many the world over.

No matter where I travel across the globe there are always many questions asked of me from flight attendant hopefuls or soon to be flight attendants about the flight attendant position, but some are definitely asked more often than others.

I guess the two ever burning constant questions that I get from potential flight attendants the world over concern height and weight. It is something that I can associate with because I was no different when I wanted to become an airline flight attendant. Here I have given the answers and some reasoning behind them.

What are the maximum and minimum height guidelines for airline flight attendants?

Not all, but many airline carriers set minimum and maximum height limits for their flight attendants. The primary consideration is firstly the personal safety for that of the flight attendant and the safety of the passenger.

Secondly, the delivery of customer service. Safety is identified in the ability to conduct or participate in an evacuation and be able to operate emergency exits. Service is identified in many ways and the ability to reach overhead lockers to provide customer service in luggage stowage and in-flight accessibility of passengers' belongings is just one.

And it only takes minor reasoning to realize that a flight attendants reach which is normally a function of height for meal delivery, is also very important. Especially when participating in serving 200 or more people many times during a tour of duty in a two seat span aircraft.

Similarly height on the maximum scale requires you to be able to move about the cabin safely without fear of hitting your head or body on any aircraft structure.

This might be on an over wing aircraft where the wing structure encroaches head space in the cabin for example or perhaps head space that is encroached by drop down TV screens presents an important consideration for some airlines.

Obviously it becomes a huge consideration for airlines if they were to employ a person of such a stature that was at odds to the work place in which they were required to work. Especially if that work place could potentially hurt that person in the normal course of their duties.

Further, to employ a person that could not carry out the functions of the flight attendant job role which includes both safety and service due to their height or physical capabilities would be silly, dangerous and possibly fatal.

A minimum used by many airlines starts at 1.58m and the maximum for many is stated as 183 cms.


Weight

While the airline flight attendants of yesteryear were perhaps confronted with a set of scales, the modern day weight requirements for flight attendants are weight in proportion to your height. Translated, this means you can look like real people! In most cases your weight has little to with your competency to fulfill the job role as flight attendant. An airline flight attendant must be able to perform the duties required irrespective of weight.

Weight from an applicant's perspective will only play its part if it prohibits the flight attendant applicant from performing the duties of a flight attendant.

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

A Day in the Life of a Flight Attendant

A day on the job. For a flight attendant that could mean...a trip to Paris...or an emergency landing. It can be fun, an adventure, or both...but is it work? I've found that working for a major airline this past year has been one of the hardest jobs I have ever had, and yet one of the most enjoyable. The schedule and the passengers challenge me in ways I never could have imagined. But nothing beats hanging out in Las Vegas for 24 hours with a company-paid hotel room and expense money. The thousands of us flying encounter many different experiences during the course of a day. This is a day (well, technically a trip) in my life...

5:45 P.M. Friday: The Assignment

In the airline industry, seniority rules. Mechanics, pilots, flight attendants, customer service agents--all of these employees enjoy pay rates, schedules and benefits based on their length of service with the company. Among flight attendants, seniority determines status as a lineholder or reserve. Lineholders have a flying schedule set at least one month in advance; they know when and where they will work and on what types of aircraft. The airlines use reserves to fill open flying time and to cover positions vacated by lineholders calling in sick or on holiday. If you are a relatively new flight attendant, like me, you can expect to sit reserve for a couple of years. Flight attendants often receive a set schedule (known as a block) after less than two years, but at some bases, flight attendants can sit reserve for more than ten years.

As a reserve flight attendant, my "work day" begins with a call from a crew scheduler. Each airline operates differently; at mine, schedulers call reserves on-duty to ask what trips they want to fly the following day. Trips are paid by the flight hour, from the time the aircraft door is shut to the time it is opened. And for every hour away from base, flight attendants are paid expense money. This particular Friday evening, when crew scheduling calls, I choose a four-day trip on the Airbus 319--one of our newer aircraft. It pays better than average and overnights in Raleigh-Durham, Washington, DC and Denver. Working what the airline labels the "C" position, I serve in the economy cabin and sit in the front, near the boarding door. With my trip set, I pack. I take a few extra pieces of my uniform and some clothes for the overnight. I go to bed early since I must check in early the next morning.

7:30 A.M. Saturday: Check-in

This morning, I go down to the crew room below the airport concourse in Philadelphia. Each base has a crew room complete with couches, computers and supervisors' offices. Pilots and flight attendants also have boxes or folders there for company mail. Before starting a trip, a crewmember must check in for it. First things first, I use the computer to sign in for the trip. If you do not sign in an hour before the trip departs, you are liable to get written up by your supervisor. Since boarding begins 30 minutes prior to departure, there's not much time to spend in the crew room, but I have a few minutes to check my box for memos and chat with friends. I head to the plane to meet up with the rest of the crew.

Communication between the cockpit and the cabin plays a vital role in maintaining a safe environment, and the crew briefings at the beginning of a trip set the tone. Once on the airplane, Becky, the lead flight attendant, briefs Mike and me on safety procedures, delegates announcement responsibilities and confirms that we have our emergency manuals. Afterward, the captain
conducts his briefing, reviewing safety-related issues, flight time, weather, and what he likes to drink.

Ready, Set, Go: Inflight

About 30 minutes prior to departure, the agent working our flight comes down the jetway to begin boarding. Becky nods okay, and we finish checking our emergency equipment and catering supplies. From the forward galley, Becky and I greet the passengers and prepare drinks for first class customers. Mike hangs out in the back, monitoring the dwindling space in the overhead bins.
Boarding tends to provide the biggest headache, especially considering I do not get paid until that door is shut. With a nearly full flight, it is pretty much guaranteed that space in the overhead bins will go quickly. Tensions mount, but bags need to be checked. Though the company no longer requires passenger counts, many pilots prefer to have them. When you see the flight attendant slowly coming up the aisle silently moving his or her lips, sometimes motioning his or her hands, that flight attendant is taking a count. As easy as it may seem, it often takes more than one count to get it right.
Once all the overhead bins are shut and the passengers are seated, the flight is ready for departure. I verify that the passengers seated in the window exit row are willing and able to assist in an emergency if necessary. Before shutting the door, the agent hands Becky a copy of the manifest, which lists first class passengers, passengers with special needs or meals, and gate connections. We arm the exits, enabling the slides to inflate if the doors are opened. After the safety video and a final cabin walk-through, the three of us strap into our jump seats and I practice my 30-second review, which includes evacuation commands and door operation procedures. It is still a thrill when we taxi onto the runway and the engines roar. You learn to recognize the strange (and initially scary) noises as just the lavatory toilet seat coming down or unused hangars banging in the closet.

Once we level-off at 10,000 ft, I head to the back and help Mike prepare for the breakfast service. To no one's surprise, we serve the staple of the skies: omelettes and French toast. In the back galley, we brew coffee, cook the meals in the ovens and set up the carts. Since the beverage cart comes stocked with cans of sodas and juices, we just add a few things on top such as some cream and sugar for the coffee. Once the meals finish cooking, we begin serving from the front of the cabin to the back. It turns out we are short a few meals and have to ask the company employees traveling on the flight to go without a breakfast. I hate doing that, but they do not seem to mind. Space is undeniably tight on the beverage cart, and accidents are bound to happen. I am no exception on this leg, knocking a can of soda on a passenger as I reach for it. Not much spills, but he is still peeved. I give him a sorry form to get his pants dry-cleaned at the airline's expense. Finishing the service, I settle in the back row with a book, assisting in the cabin as needed. Passengers occasionally bring cups and other trash back for me to dispose of as they head to the toilet, but the remainder of the long flight is a coffee break of sorts for us.

Service in first class is usually more involved. With 12 or fewer passengers on the smaller jets, it also tends to be more intimate. No carts are needed, and food and beverages are presented in china and glassware. Various types of people fly first class, but that cabin mostly fills up with business people and other frequent flyers. Celebrities occasionally make an appearance. A friend served Sissy Spacek once, and another flew with the members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

During the flight, a problem arises, which is relatively common on longer flights. Sitting in the back, I notice the smell of cigarette smoke coming from the lavatory. A passenger exits and it is obvious he has been smoking. There is no sign of the cigarette in the trash, but I advise him that smoking in the lavatory is a violation of a federal law and comes with a large fine. There are set procedures to deal with situations like these and paperwork to complete.

We cruise through the rest of the day with little problem, except when I smash Mike's finger in the overhead bin as we both try to close it. He's okay, though he is quick to point out the tiny white scratch on his fingernail. An extra flight attendant joins us in Denver for our next leg to Charlotte. She notices a pregnant woman sitting in the exit row, and the four of us discuss whether the passenger is qualified to do so. Since no regulation explicitly excludes pregnant women from those seats and the passenger insists she is both willing and able to assist in an emergency, we decide to let her stay there. The last leg of the day is the easiest. Since the airline needs us in Raleigh-Durham, but does not need us to work from Charlotte, we deadheadon another crew's flight.


Gas, Food, Lodging: The Layover
We arrive in Raleigh-Durham at 8:00 P.M. I take Mike and Becky to the restaurant where I once waited tables. My old boss gives us dinner on the house, certainly a welcome treat on our first-year salary. We have an early start again the next morning and there is not a whole lot to do near the airport in Durham, so we don't stay out late.

On an overnight, the airline provides each crewmember with his or her own hotel room. Long layovers (at least 15 hours off) land you at a decent hotel downtown, near the beach or some sort of shopping venue. For shorter layovers, you will usually stay at or very near the airport. My crew, both the pilots and the flight attendants, stay together the entire trip--layover and all. Some airlines work a little differently, putting flight attendants and pilots in separate hotels. The airline also covers meals, if you count the expense money paid for the trip.

12:40 P.M. Tuesday: Check-out

The next few days of the trip are surprisingly uneventful. The video system on the Airbus, sophisticated as it is with its automatic preprogramming, occasionally malfunctions. Threatened with having to do the safety demo the "old-fashioned way," we manage to play the video manually. At the end of day two, as the plane pulls off the runway at National Airport in D.C., I persuade Becky to spice up the arrival announcement. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our nation's capital," she says, instead of the scripted "Welcome to Washington, DC." I cannot tell if anyone notices. By the end of the fourth day, most of the giddiness has been replaced with exhaustion.

At the end of the last leg, we land in Philadelphia. The trip is now over. I am released from duty 15 minutes later. This rest period lasts at least eight hours and is guaranteed to be free from phone contact from schedulers. Leaving the airport, I head out to the employee parking lot, pick up my car and head home. Back in my room, I unload my bags and unplug the phone.

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

Working As a Flight Attendant - A Rewarding Airline Career

Educational Requirements: A Look at What Airlines are Looking For

One of the reasons that the flight attendant position has become so popular over the past several decades is that it generally requires less education than virtually every other position within the commercial airline. While pilots must pursue college, flight school, and hundreds of hours of experience, flight attendants generally must possess only a high school diploma or GED when they apply for an option position with today's commercial operators. It's worth noting, of course, that many flight attendants do bring additional educational qualifications with them when they submit their resume. Many of today's successful applicants have at least a few years of collegiate coursework under their belts, with many having pursued studies in hospitality or tourism management as an undergraduate major.

Even so, a college degree is rarely a requirement or prerequisite for the job. Training is definitely required, but airlines almost always run their own, in-house training programs for cabin attendants who are new to the field. This training will generally take place over the course of several days, weeks, or months, depending how the airline conducts its program. In line with regulations enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration, flight attendants will be required to take and pass a brief examination that assures they've learned the skills necessary for the job. Known as a Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency, this is an essential conclusion to the training process. Cabin attendants are on the front lines when it comes to passenger service, safety, and emergency response, so it makes sense that training is rather in-depth and tracked for certification.

Work Environment and Salary: A Guide for New Flight Attendants

After training with the airline, cabin crew will complete any and all necessary paperwork, and they'll be assigned one or more flight paths with the airline. Many flight attendants are given a lighter load at first, typically during a one-year probationary period that assesses their capacity to get the job done, stay within company regulations, and perform al of the responsibilities assigned to them by the airline. Southwest Airlines, for example, assigns only about 80 trips to flight attendants during their first year with the company. After an incident-free probationary period, flight attendants are often promoted, assigned more trips, and compensated a bit more generously for their extra efforts.
The salary for today's typical flight attendant, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, is about $37,240 per year. This includes higher-end salaries within the profession, which can top $50,000 on an annual basis for those stewardesses with extensive experience in the commercial aviation industry. New flight attendants, who have no prior experience in the field, can expect to earn around $25,000 for their first year on the job. This will typically lead to a raise after the probationary period, when flight attendants will be working much more frequently and be trusted with far longer trips to international destinations.

Though the modest salaries are actually quite generous when compared to the schedule and number of working days required of flight attendants, the profession's outlook in the United States is less than ideal. In fact, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates that flight attendants as a whole may experience occupational contraction of up to 7 percent through the end of the present decade. That's largely due to declining air travel in the United States, cost-cutting measures enforced by the country's largest operators, and widespread consolidation of America's biggest airlines. As a case in point, a recent job posting by Southwest Airlines advertised 750 available flight attendant positions and received more than 10,000 applications in just over two hours. The word "competitive" may well be an understatement when describing the job prospects for new cabin crew.

The good news is that flight attendants are not confined merely to the American commercial aviation industry. Today's international operators are growing by leaps and bounds, and that means flight attendants willing to move in order to further their career may actually improve their job prospects, increase their salary, and enjoy a far better overall benefits package than they would be offered if they accepted a similar position with a domestic airline company. More information about international jobs will follow later in this article.

A Day in the Life: What Flight Attendants Can Expect When Hired

A typical flight attendant's day can begin at virtually any hour of the day or night, since flights depart from commercial airports on a 24-hour basis. As a general rule, flight attendants will need to arrive at the airport at least 1 or 2 hours prior to when passengers will begin boarding the aircraft scheduled for departure. This is because stewardesses, like pilots and other members of the crew, have plenty of pre-flight responsibilities in order to ensure that the flight is safe, meets regulations, and is ready to meet the demands of passengers as they embark on their journey.

Upon arriving at the airport, cabin crew will meet with the pilots who are handling the departing flight. Many times, they'll also meet with other members of the crew. What proceeds is a briefing of the flight's path, potential weather conditions and safety alerts, and information that is crucial to ensuring the continued safety and convenience of passengers. After this briefing has concluded, flight attendants will make their way to the aircraft roughly 30 minutes before passengers begin to board the plane.

During this pre-boarding period, attendants are responsible for doing a row-by-row, seat-by-seat safety check of the airplane. They'll make sure that all magazines and safety bulletins, life vests, oxygen masks, and any other safety essentials are in place. They'll make sure that seat belts are functioning, that the seats recline and adjust properly, and that the aircraft is perfectly ready for each passenger to take their seat and get ready for takeoff. Some flight attendants will also make their way to the attendants' cabin, where things like in-flight drinks, snacks, meals, and movies will be checked and prepared in advance.

When the aircraft checked for safety and proper functioning of passenger amenities, cabin attendants will prepare for their moment in the spotlight. Passengers will gradually begin boarding the aircraft according to their ticket number and section, and attendants will be responsible for greeting each and every one of them as they set foot in the airplane. This initial impression is absolutely essential, since it's one of the few times that the airline gets to make a deliberately friendly impression upon passengers. Stewardesses who promote a positive experience in the skies will ensure that the airline continues enjoying the business of return travelers. Those who don't engage in excellent customer service can often find their trips cut and their salary stagnant.

As the flight takes off, attendants will engage in their customary review of airline safety procedures and give passengers the instructions they need to enjoy their flight. From instructing passengers to buckle up, to noting when electronic devices can be used and passing out in-flight snacks, cabin crew will be visible throughout the entire flight. After the aircraft descends and passengers depart, they'll also be responsible for cleaning up any messes left in the airplane by travelers and ensuring that the next flight crew has an easy, enjoyable experience when preparing for their own departure.

There are Plenty of International Job Opportunities for Flight Attendants

Though the job market for flight attendants in the United Sates is actually expected to get a bit worse through 2020, that just is not the case for airlines that are headquartered throughout Asia and the Middle East. In those countries, a growing middle class has increased demand for domestic and international flights exponentially over the past several years. In fact, demand for flights is so strong that these airlines often find themselves suffering from a shortage of qualified pilots, mechanics, attendants, and others. This is where many of today's most determined flight attendant applicants can expect to enjoy the best chances of landing an entry-level job.

International airlines offer thousands of open positions, and in order to attract American and other international cabin attendants, they often pair those positions with higher salaries and better benefits. The typical new-hire flight attendant can expect to be paid a premium when compared to their counterparts at American commercial airlines, and they can expect to receive better health, retirement, and vacation benefits as well. This helps international operators stay competitive, and it ensures that their personnel shortage will be relatively easy to solve as even more jobs open up. Flight attendants who don't want to be one of 10,000 applicants for 750 domestic jobs should seriously consider working overseas instead.

Great Opportunities Across the Board

Whether the job is American or international, flight attendants who land a position with a commercial operator will enjoy an excellent career that lets them see the world largely for free. Those with a fondness for great customer service and customer relations will enjoy long-term career satisfaction and be the envy of those confined merely to the same desk, in the same office, Monday through Friday.

 The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

So You Want to Become a Flight Attendant!

So, you want to become a flight attendant. Or, more specifically, you think you want to become a flight attendant. Most aspiring flight attendants are eager to jump right into the application process without first thoroughly researching the career. Here's a look at what to expect.

Then and Now

United Airlines was the first commercial airline to hire a female flight attendant in 1930; her name was Ellen Church. She and seven other single women comprised the "original eight" stewardesses. Their primary role was to provide comfort to the traveling public. Minimum qualifications were such that the applicants had to be single, registered nurses. Marriage, pregnancy, or weight gain meant instant job termination and most stewardesses were forced out of the profession by age 32 due to "old age."

Thanks largely to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, airlines can no longer discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, or marital status. This legislation helped transform the job from a short-term endeavor - strictly for young, single women - to a long-term career option for virtually anyone.

In the 1970s and 1980s, there was a large influx of men into the industry, which created the need for a non-gender specific term to describe the position. Hence, the term flight attendant was born.
Today, there are approximately 100,000 flight attendants in the United States; 70% are female and 30% are male (this gender gap, however, is narrowing and it is not uncommon to see all male crews on certain flights). The average age is 25 to 35 and 50% are married. Over one-third have a college degree (although only a high school diploma is required); common majors include Communications, French, Spanish, and Geography. Pay averages around $16,000 for the first year and up to $50,000 after 14 to 15 years. The turnover rate is high (especially among new-hires), but job satisfaction is equally high among those who manage to survive the first year. Average seniority is 10 years.
Successful flight attendants describe themselves as friendly, outgoing, patient, flexible, reliable, and punctual (there is absolutely zero tolerance for being late) - unsuccessful ones as aggressive, temperamental, impatient, and inflexible. Typical concerns include job security ("Is my airline going to downsize or go out of business?"), long hours, and low pay.

Perception vs. Reality

When you see a flight attendant walking through an airport terminal, what is your perception? Do you envision someone who serves a few drinks, chats with amicable passengers, and enjoys frequent layovers in exotic cities?

Historically, the public perception of the career has not matched the reality of the job. Today's flight attendant is very different from the stereotypical stewardess portrayed in movies and on television. To a certain extent, some of these myths were born out of the "old days" when stewardesses were elegant nurses who worked on spacious airplanes with relatively few passengers. In 1978, however, airline deregulation changed everything. The government no longer controlled fares and route structures as they had in the past. This created bidding wars and turned airlines into cost-cutting machines. Today, it is nothing more than a numbers game where more passengers equals greater revenue. The result: planes are now overcrowded, creating cramped conditions and a culture of hostile passengers. This leaves flight attendants in a rather unenviable position.

These are just a few of the not-so-enticing aspects of the job. As a flight attendant, you must:

• Endure 4 to 7 weeks of typically unpaid initial training, a portion of which takes place on nights and weekends.
• Buy a uniform at a cost of approximately $1,000 (automatic bi-monthly payroll deductions are available to help ease this financial burden).
• Endure a 6 to 12 month probationary period during which you will be under scrutiny and
• required to report to work at a moment's notice.
• Demonstrate remarkable strength and agility (for example, move a 200+ pound beverage cart through cramped aisles or lift heavy suitcases over passengers' heads into tightly packed overhead compartments).
• Remain courteous and professional despite sometimes abusive passenger behavior.
• React quickly to stressful in-flight medical emergencies.
• Endure occasionally violent air turbulence (sometimes without a seatbelt if assisting passengers).
• Experience short periods away from home (usually from 1 to 3 nights at a time).
• Work long hours (up to 16-hour days; no more than 8 hours in-flight).
• Work many weekends and holidays throughout your career when most of your friends and family have days off.
• Attend mandatory annual recurrent training.
• Work occasionally in the presence of prisoners who are escorted by armed guards to court trials or prisons in other cities.

For friendly, outgoing, and patient individuals who can tolerate these negative aspects of the job, a flight attendant career can be very rewarding. Flight attendants do work hard, but they also enjoy many extraordinary benefits. For example, as a flight attendant, you get:

• A great deal of time off (13 to 17 days off per month; roughly 6 months off per year!), up to 10 days at a time.
• Free or reduced-cost travel benefits for yourself and immediate family, covering air travel, lodging, car-rentals, and cruises.
• A lucrative benefits package, often including health and life insurance, credit union membership, employee stock options, and a 401(k) retirement plan.
• Unmatched variety - Forget the predictability of 9 to 5 cube life!
• Maximum scheduling flexibility - You are not limited to weekends off like the rest of the world!
• The opportunity to see the world.
• The opportunity to meet new people, including many celebrities.
• Independence.
• Responsibility.
• A sense of pride and accomplishment (especially when you help an unaccompanied minor or handicapped passenger safely reach their destination).

The #1 Priority: Passenger SafetyMany people have lost sight of the fact that flight attendants are onboard an aircraft for one primary reason: passenger safety. Did you know that every U.S. flight attendant crew is capable of completing an entire passenger evacuation in less than 90 seconds? (every new-hire must accomplish this feat during initial training). Furthermore, flight attendants are required by law to to be fully trained on safety for every type of aircraft in an airline's fleet
Indeed, flight attendants are much more than waitresses in the sky. Flight attendants know how to manage and prepare hundreds of passengers and crew in the event of catastrophic events, such as hijackings and land/sea disasters. They know how to fight fires, operate and troubleshoot the oxygen system, open emergency exits, care for the sick, apprehend unruly passengers - even apply first aid and administer CPR.

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant