What does a Flight Attendant do?
Flight Attendants work on commercial and private airlines tending to passengers’ needs and answering any questions they have throughout the flight. They help passengers find their seats and conduct pre-flight checks to ensure the cabin is ready for takeoff. During the flight, they’ll monitor the plane for suspicious behaviors and will deescalate any disruptive situations.
They’re highly trained to respond to emergency situations and will direct passengers to evacuation areas and perform CPR or First Aid practices if needed. If any medical or safety issues occur on the flight, the Flight Attendant will report this to their supervisor.
Flight Attendant skills and qualifications
Flight Attendant applicants need to be at least 18 years old, have a valid passport and be eligible to work in the U.S. They may need to conform to height and vision requirements set by the airline. Flight Attendants may also have to pass a medical evaluation as well as complete a background and drug test. A job description for a Flight Attendant should contain the following skills and qualifications:
- Attentiveness: In addition to being attentive to passenger needs, a Flight Attendant needs to be aware of any safety or security risks during the flight.
- Communication skills: A Flight Attendant needs to be an excellent communicator and an attentive listener.
- Customer-service skills: A Flight Attendant needs to be able to handle stressful situations with tact and resourcefulness.
- Decision-making skills: A Flight Attendant must be able to make important decisions quickly in case of emergencies.
- Physical stamina: A Flight Attendant needs to be able to carry, push and pull service items, open and close overhead bins and walk and stand for significant periods of time.
Flight Attendant salary expectations
Salary expectations for a Flight Attendant can range from $7.25 to $41.65 per hour with an average salary of $16.88 per hour. This information is based on 258 anonymously submitted salaries to Indeed from employees and users along with past and present Flight Attendant job postings on Indeed within the last 36 months.
Flight Attendant salary expectations
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Common salary:
29.53 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
7.40 -66.35 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Flight Attendant education and training requirements
Flight Attendants typically need at least one to two years of experience working in the service industry before obtaining employment as a Flight Attendant. This experience may include consumer-facing positions in restaurants, hotels, resorts and sales.
Airlines provide initial training to new Flight Attendants, and this training period can range from three to six weeks. Flight Attendant training, which is required for FAA certification, typically occurs at the airline’s flight training center. Once a new Flight Attendant successfully completes the initial training, they receive the FAA Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency. Additional training may be required by the employer.
Flight Attendant experience requirements
Career advancement for Flight Attendants is based on seniority. Senior Flight Attendants may be promoted to management positions, and they are typically responsible for scheduling, instructing and recruiting new Flight Attendants.
Job description samples for similar positions
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