Q: How long do flight attendants work?

Flight attendants generally work 12 to 14-hour shifts. However, these hours can be extended in certain situations, such as international flights. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) demands airlines comply with the law of allowing flight attendants at least 9 consecutive hours of rest before beginning another shift.

Q: How hard is it to become a flight attendant?

It can be extremely hard to become a flight attendant. This is due to the highly competitive nature of the position. Each year, there are far more candidates looking for positions than available positions. In fact, less than 1% of applicants are able to obtain jobs as flight attendants.

Question 1

How long do flight attendants work?

Accepted Answer

Flight attendants generally work 12 to 14-hour shifts. However, these hours can be extended in certain situations, such as international flights.

The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) demands airlines comply with the law of allowing flight attendants at least 9 consecutive hours of rest before beginning another shift.

Question 2

How to become a flight attendant with no experience

Accepted Answer

You must research the requirements, assess your skills and design your resume accordingly, and choose an airline to submit an application to in order to become a flight attendant with no experience.

Question 3

How to get a job as a flight attendant

Accepted Answer

To get a job as a flight attendant, you must meet the basic requirements, complete a training program, and get certified. The basic requirements for becoming a flight attendant are to be at least 18 or 21 years old, depending on the airline.

Question 4

What should I study to become a flight attendant?

Accepted Answer

There is no designated course of study for those aspiring to become a flight attendant. While not necessary, several areas of study including customer service and communication can be helpful.

There are no post school educational requirements for those hoping to work as a flight attendant. A high school diploma or GED and several physical requirements are all that is needed to work in the field. There are a large number of flight attendants that do go on to earn a college degree. Nearly 70% of flight attendants have an associate's or bachelor's degree. The fields of business, psychology, and communication are the most popular areas of study.

Flight attendant school, like a college degree, is not required of aspiring airline flight attendants, but may offer valuable training. Airlines will train attendants in customer relations and airline regulations, while flight attendant school will delve more deeply into aviation safety, geography, and the process of applying for jobs within the field.

Question 5

Why do you want to be a flight attendant?

Accepted Answer

You want to be a flight attendant because it's an exciting profession that allows you to travel, and every day work can be different.

Traveling and varying day-to-day responsibilities are just two good reasons you want to be a flight attendant. If you are a people person and very sociable, this is another great reason to be a flight attendant.

Question 6

How many vacation days do flight attendants get?

Accepted Answer

Flight attendants typically get between 12 to 30 vacation days per year. The number of vacation days a flight attendant gets can vary widely depending on the airline they work for, the number of years they have worked for that airline, and their specific contract.

Question 7

Do flight attendants make good money?

Accepted Answer

Yes, flight attendants generally make good money; however, this depends on a number of factors, such as their experience level and the airline they work for.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, flight attendants make an average annual salary of $62,680.

Question 8

How are flight attendants paid?

Accepted Answer

Flight attendants are paid through flight pay and per diem. The main component of a flight attendant's salary, known as flight pay, is the total hours the flight attendant is on the plane with passengers, either navigating the taxiways or flying in the air.

Question 9

Why aren't flight attendants paid for boarding?

Accepted Answer

Flight attendants are not paid for boarding to help airlines save money and lower ticket and in-flight purchases for customers. Traditionally most airlines have conducted business this way. However, Delta has recently changed its policy and started paying flight attendants for boarding.

Question 10

How hard is it to become a flight attendant?

Accepted Answer

It can be extremely hard to become a flight attendant. This is due to the highly competitive nature of the position. Each year, there are far more candidates looking for positions than available positions. In fact, less than 1% of applicants are able to obtain jobs as flight attendants.

Question 11

Is a flight attendant a good job?

Accepted Answer

Yes, being a flight attendant is a good job. As a flight attendant, you have the opportunity to travel the world and meet new people. Being a flight attendant can also be a very financially lucrative profession.

Question 12

How many hours do flight attendants work?

Accepted Answer

Flight attendants work varying amounts of hours, depending on the airline they work for, and whether or not they do international travel. Flight attendants often have a variety of working hours that can change month to month.

Question 13

What are the benefits of being a flight attendant?

Accepted Answer

The benefits of being a flight attendant are free flights, travel opportunities, and salary. Here are some details on these benefits and others of being a flight attendant:

Free flights. Many flight attendants work for airlines that allow them to accumulate flight miles through their job, and as a result, they can fly for free on their company's planes when they are not working.

Question 14

What are the pros and cons of being a flight attendant?

Accepted Answer

The pros of being a flight attendant are getting to see the world and flight benefits, while the cons are missing important life events and having difficulty sustaining relationships.

Pros:
Perhaps one of the biggest (and most obvious) pros of being a flight attendant is that you are basically paid to travel the world. If this is the right job for you, traveling the world and waking up in a different country, state, or city will be an awesome feeling that you will never get tired of.
The length of your stay in each place can vary from twenty-four hours to seventy-two hours, depending on the airline. If it is a regional or low-cost airline, you will normally have a short stopover, but you will usually have at least some time to go sightseeing or explore a fun, new restaurant.
The best part is all expenses are included. You will have a meal allowance to help you cover the cost of food, and your hotel will always be paid for (with a minimum 4-star rating). In addition to seeing the world while you are on duty, you will also be able to travel the world off-duty for practically nothing.
With your own airline and on domestic flights, most flight attendants fly for free or may have to pay a small fee like airport taxes. The only downside to these benefits is that you are typically flying on standby and will not have a guaranteed seat. The other nice part about the travel benefits is that with most airlines your friends and family get them, too.
Cons:
While these benefits are definitely enticing, it is important to consider the drawbacks to a career as a flight attendant as well. One of the biggest cons is the fact that you travel all of the time. This means that you are gone a lot and will go for long periods of time without seeing friends or family.
This can mean missing out on important events like holidays, baby showers, and weddings. Many flight attendants who have been with their company for over ten years claim that they are still working most holidays, including Christmas every year.
This is largely due to the fact that it is the busiest travel time of the year, so time off is very limited.
While you can attempt to request days off ahead of time, there is no 100% guarantee that you will get them, especially during the busy seasons (holidays and summer months). This can also mean that it is difficult to maintain relationships while working as a flight attendant.
When you are just starting out, you are on standby or on reserve for long periods of time. This can be weeks, months, or even years. This means that you are at the beck and call of the airline and you don't really know when you will be on shift and when you won't. You have zero control over your schedule or your time.
This means that making plans is pretty much impossible because you don't know when your schedule will allow for anything. It can be difficult for partners, spouses, or friends to understand this lifestyle and to accept that you are going to be gone for four to five days at a time with only two to four days off in between trips.
The bottom line is that there are a whole lot of challenges that come with life as a flight attendant, but if you are someone who loves meeting people and traveling, this may just be the perfect job for you.

Question 15

What degree do you need to be a flight attendant?

Accepted Answer

You do not need a specific degree to be a flight attendant. Most airlines only require a high school diploma or GED for the role. However, a few airlines prefer candidates that have taken college-level courses or have an associate's or bachelor's degree.

Question 16

What is a typical day for a flight attendant?

Accepted Answer

A typical day for a flight attendant involves pre-flight preparations, passenger service, and emergency situations. Flight attendants are responsible for ensuring the safety and comfort of airline passengers during flights. This means they must be able to adapt to changing situations, work well under pressure, and prioritize safety above all else.

Frequently asked questions about flight attendants

Questions about becoming a flight attendant