Who remembers that wonderfully cheesy movie View From the Top with Gwyneth Paltrow? Besides invoking some serious early 2000s nostalgia, it also had some great tips on how to become a flight attendant.
Don’t worry too much though, some of those scenarios are completely ridiculous and won’t happen in real life. Let’s go over what will. First, we’ll take a look at the prerequisites (so to speak) on what you need to possess to be considered for the job. Then, we’ll look at the actual steps on how to become a flight attendant. Are you ready? Buckle up and prepare for lots of plane-related puns. Who doesn’t want free airfare?
Requirements + Tips You Need: How to Become A Flight Attendant
There are many ways to describe a flight attendant. They’re adventurous, personable, gregarious, and resourceful. While these traits alone do not make a flight attendant, they’re a good start. Generally speaking, flight attendants must possess the following traits:
- checkNo visible tattoos
- checkBe anywhere from 4’11” to 6’4” tall. These measurements are based off various airline requirements
- checkHave excellent overall health
- checkAn overall pleasing aesthetic and well-groomed appearance
- checkVision correctable by glasses or contacts
- checkNo facial piercings or gauges
- checkBe at least 19 years old
- check Possess a minimum of a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent
- checkBe fluent in English (read, write, listen and speak it)
- checkHave a clean background (be able to pass a background check)
- checkObtain or possess valid government documents for applicable citizenship for the country you are applying to work in
- checkPossess two or more years of prior customer service experience
- checkFlight attendants cannot have serious hearing or sight impairment
Alright, Here’s How to Become A Flight Attendant
Alright, let’s get to the good stuff. Here are our best tips on becoming a flight attendant, including a few things to keep on your mind when you apply.
Prepare Your Resume As Much As You Can
First and foremost, polish up that bad boy. Your resume will need to be top-notch. Consider paying a professional to get your CV up to tip-top shape. You’d be surprised at how many typos, font errors, and other mishaps can slip through the cracks. Not surprisingly, these resumes are thrown straight into the digital trash bin.
If you decide to format your resume yourself, make sure everything is perfect. Check it ten times over for spell checking. Read it aloud. Print it out and read it to make sure there are no unexpected errors. Do this before your application process formally begins. This is critical information on how to become a flight attendant.
Talk the Talk. Walk the Walk Too.
Here’s a big tip on how to become a flight attendant. Brush up on your foreign languages. If you only speak English, we strongly recommend taking a foreign language class. This will help boost your resume closer to the top of the pile. Airlines love candidates who are bilingual and will test you on this both during the interview process and once you begin training to see how proficient you are.
Whether you need to download Duolingo, spend a few weeks in immersive learning, or take an intensive class, do it. Start brushing up on those language skills before you begin the online application process. We would personally recommend watching airline safety videos in the language of the country you want to work in. This is also a great way to learn a lot of the industry’s specific lingo in a short period of time.
Know What You Are Getting Yourself Into. There’s A Lot of Pertinent Information.
One of the most important things to do when learning how to become a flight attendant is to do your research. We can’t emphasize this enough. You need to understand what the job is really like.
For those female adventurers out there, the website and Facebook page Girls Love Travel is an incredible resource. It’s a community of over 500,000 friendly, adventurous females who are really in the know. Ask them anything, you’ll get at least a hundred helpful, informative responses and maybe even make some new friends. There’s nothing better than finding another travel companion.
Being a flight attendant requires a great deal. You’re going to have to work holidays, weekends, and maybe miss that special friend’s birthday. You’ll be working long days and sometimes even overnight. Besides flying for free to Paris and sipping delicious champagne, you’ll also have to clean up trash and be nice to cranky passengers. This job is by no means fancy and glamorous all of the time. If this doesn’t sound like something you would be comfortable with, turn around now. If you’re not intimidated (or you are and still want to pursue this career path), we applaud you. Don’t be too discouraged. This job is very rewarding too.
Pay Attention to Special Details When Doing Your Research
Let’s say you’re applying to be a flight attendant in the Middle East. Make sure that you understand the conditions are not always what they appear to be. Sometimes the accommodations the airlines provide are very far from the cities that they are based in. Not only that, the typical laws and rules protecting flight attendants in other countries may not exist or put more simply, are ignored.
Here’s another scenario to consider. If you are based in the U.S and are thinking of applying to Norwegian Air, you need to understand that you are not actually an employee of their airline. We know this sounds confusing but let us explain. You are actually an outsourced third-party employee (of OSM aviation) contracted out to Norwegian airlines. This means you will not have benefits offered to you from other airlines like you would at a traditional company. This can be a deal-breaker for some people.
Make Sure You Apply to the Right Airline
Okay, we know this sounds pretty straightforward. But it actually requires some serious thought. For example, if you don’t like being on a plane for more than a few hours at a time or you don’t like working nights, you should apply to a regional carrier. However, if you don’t like small, confined spaces, a regional carrier is definitely not for you.
If long-haul flights are your bread and butter, apply to an international carrier and prepare for a little jet lag. If you love the idea of traveling and exploring new places for weeks at a time, check out some charter companies. In short, do some heavy research about the airlines you want to apply to so you can tailor your experience at your future job to what best suits your preferences. This will set you up for success. If you’ve already done this, good job! The next step is to fill out that online application and wait to hear back.
Prepare For Your Interview As Much As You Can
Congratulations, you’ve landed (all pun intended) your interview! However, don’t get too cocky just yet. This is where a lot of applicants slip up in the process. To avoid that, listen up. First, make sure you are putting your best foot forward and presenting the most professional version of yourself. Make sure you wear a clean, spotless, well-tailored suit and your hair is tidy.
We’ve all heard that first impressions are everything. This is especially true when you are applying to represent a multi-billion dollar airline. Hide your tattoos, put some extra effort into your appearance, and look the part. Be professional, hold eye contact, and show your personality. You’ve got this.
Alright. Listen Up. It’s Training Time.
What is training like when you learn how to become a flight attendant? Courses will vary, lasting anywhere from three to eight weeks. This varies by the airline. Most airlines have a minimum GPA for testing during training.
Don’t fall below it or you’re out of the candidacy pool. You’ll be training with the same group of people the entire time and constantly under the lens of the company microscope. Basically, training time is a longer period of your interview, where you put your skills into practice. The trainers and company management will be watching your every move to assess whether or not you would be a good fit for the role. No pressure.
So, Here’s the Bottom Line About How to Become A Flight Attendant
With all of this said, if you haven’t been scared off, you’re probably cut out for the job. A lifetime career of travel awaits you and honestly, what is more exciting and rewarding than that? You will travel to places you’ve never dreamed of setting foot on and more excitingly, you’ll constantly get to meet new people. At the end of the day, you’ll appreciate all of the research you put into on learning how to become a flight attendant. Looking back, you’ll know you made the right decision. For the right kind of person, this job can enrich your life tremendously.
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