How to hire an airline flight attendant

How to hire an airline flight attendant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step airline flight attendant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an airline flight attendant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new airline flight attendant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an airline flight attendant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect airline flight attendant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of airline flight attendant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Airline Flight Attendant	Description	Hourly rate
   Airline Flight Attendant	Flight attendants provide routine services and respond to emergencies to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers.	$10-19
   Attendant	An attendant is responsible for ensuring excellent customer service by assisting customers with their needs and inquiries, managing complaints, and providing timely actions. Attendants duties include maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of operational areas, monitoring product inventories and requesting necessary stocks and equipment, performing administrative tasks as needed, escalating concerns to the management for immediate resolution, and conducting maintenance services... Show more	$9-17
   Flight Attendant	A flight attendant is known as a steward or stewardess, an air host or hostess, and works majority in airlines, some in private business jets, or a few other aircraft. Also commonly referred to as a cabin crew, flight attendants act as an ambassador between the airline they work with and the passengers by primarily taking charge of their safety and comfort during the entire flight... Show more	$12-20

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Passenger Safety
   • Aircraft Cabin
   • FAA
   • CPR
   • Emergency Situations
   • Emergency Equipment
   • Safety Regulations
   • Safety Equipment
   • Customer Service
   • Meal Service

   Responsibilities:

   • Train to respond to medical emergencies including CPR and a.
   • Call FBO's, customs, brokers, and airports for each flight.
   • Compile weather information and NOTAMS for purpose of flight crew briefing.
   • Make updates to GPS when necessary and maintain approach charts current.
   • Disseminate NOTAMS, ensuring adequate aeronautical charts, publications and flight planning material are available to flight crews.
   • Flight follow all missions (magnetic GPS map and radio transmission), to include coordination and setup of landing zones.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your airline flight attendant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An airline flight attendant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, airline flight attendants' average salary in louisiana is 33% less than in michigan.
   • Seniority. Entry-level airline flight attendants earn 46% less than senior-level airline flight attendants.
   • Certifications. An airline flight attendant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an airline flight attendant's salary.

   Average airline flight attendant salary

   $14.85hourly

   $30,897 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level airline flight attendant salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing an airline flight attendant job description

   An airline flight attendant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an airline flight attendant job description:

   Airline flight attendant job description example

   Additional Locations: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX; Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC
   Intro Are you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you ll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you ll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board! American Airlines serves the travel needs of our customers, both domestically and abroad as we care for people on life s journey. We are looking for individuals who are reliable, resilient, customer focused and professional who are prepared to help us run a safe, dependable, on time airline with superior customer service. Listening, taking initiative and making a difference, our Flight Attendants are champions for an elevated customer experience. They deliver the best service as ambassadors in the skies and are dedicated to caring for the thousands of people who choose to fly with us. Why you'll love this job You are applying for the Trainee Flight Attendant position at American Airlines.
   
   All candidates must be willing to be based from any of our base locations including (BOS) Boston, MA; (CLT) Charlotte, NC; (ORD) Chicago, IL; (DFW) Dallas/Ft Worth, TX; (LAX) Los Angeles, CA; (MIA) Miami, FL; (JFK/LGA) New York, NY; (PHL) Philadelphia, PA; (PHX) Phoenix, AZ; (SFO) San Francisco, CA; (DCA) Washington, DC.
   
   AMERICAN AIRLINES IS LOOKING FOR THE BEST!
   
   We are looking for people who want to be a part of the largest airline in the world. American Airlines is in the business of serving the travel needs of our customers. A warm welcome, gracious service and a safe and comfortable feeling, makes our customers' journey something they will always remember.
   
   Our flight attendants are proud of this rich tradition - pride that you can share when you embark on a career representing American Airlines as an onboard crew member. Our Flight attendants are the face of American Airlines and are service professionals of the highest caliber, with a desire, drive and passion to provide outstanding service. If you are a highly customer-focused individual who strives for the best and takes pride in getting the job done, we would like to hear from you. What you'll do Set a high standard and provide remarkable in-flight service Able to turn challenges into solutions or alternatives Think independently while still being part of a collaborative team Handle a wide variety of situations while in continuous contact with the public, both on and off the aircraft Work independently and as part of a team without supervision Ensure the safety and comfort of our customers Respond to a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations Follow applicable regulations and work rules Demonstrate excellent dependability, which is critical to running a successful airline All you'll need for success Physical Demands and Working Conditions: Position requires some physical exertion such as pulling, pushing, reaching, bending, walking and light lifting Long periods of standing and speaking Airports ramp operations are noisy and can be hazardous without due caution Extensive travel, must be able to spend consecutive nights away from home and endure all climates Alternative work schedules including evenings and weekends Skilled in handling difficult situations, problem solving, complaint resolution and conflict de-escalation Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; provide friendly reception to all customers Must be able to professionally represent the American Airlines brand while in the Flight Attendant uniform Requirements: High school diploma or GED equivalent required College education or two years' customer service experience preferred Must be able to make announcements, give emergency orders, and communicate in the English language Must be at least 20 years of age Must be in possession of a valid U.S. or Foreign Passport with applicable VISAs Must possess the legal right to travel unrestricted to/from all states and countries that are served by American Airlines Travel documents must remain valid throughout all phases of training and employment Must have the legal right to work in the United States Able to attend up to 6 1/2 weeks of unpaid training in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and, if employed, move immediately to the city to which you are assigned as a base Able to be on call and available to report for duty in your assigned base (reserve duty). Reserve duty may continue for an undetermined amount of years. Language/Communication Skills/Physical Abilities To be eligible for a designated language speaker Flight Attendant position, you must: Be fluent in the Greek language or another designated language Successfully complete a language proficiency screening at a superior rating What does 'fluent' mean? Speaks the language with proper syntax and grammar structures, including complex verb structures and tenses, and proper agreement of tenses such as noun/pronoun, adjective agreement, etc. Ability to comprehend up-to-date/new expressions and cultural nuances Ability to tailor a message appropriately to the context (social, situational, or emergency) Displays a broad range of vocabulary and appropriate references Can read the language at an appropriate pace What you'll get
   Feel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer: Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network. Health Benefits: On day one, you ll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that s just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more. Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself that s why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need. 401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year. Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more Benefits of being a designated language speaker Flight Attendant include: Premium pay Opportunity to travel more often to destinations where your second language is spoken Must be able to read and speak Greek fluently Feel Free to be yourself at American From the team members we hire to the customers we serve, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of the dynamic workforce at American Airlines. Our 20+Employee Business Resource Groups are focused on connecting our team members to our customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders, helping team members reach their full potential and creating an inclusive work environment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse world.
   
   Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on life s journey? Feel free to be yourself at American. Additional Locations: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX; Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC
   Job Level:

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5. Post your job

   To find the right airline flight attendant for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with airline flight attendants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit airline flight attendants who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your airline flight attendant job on Zippia to find and recruit airline flight attendant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting airline flight attendants requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new airline flight attendant

   Once you've found the airline flight attendant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new airline flight attendant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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