The opportunity to travel
attracts many Flight Attendants
to their career.
That opportunity comes with
serious responsibilities for the
safety of passengers and
other airline personnel.
Flight Attendants greet passengers,
help them find their seats
and stow their bags… serve meals…
and cope with turbulence, airsickness,
and disruptive travelers.
To keep passengers safe,
flight attendants also instruct passengers
in the use of equipment like seat belts
and oxygen masks,
and are ready to help passengers
evacuate in an emergency landing.
Flight attendants work nights,
weekends, and holidays
—especially early in their careers,
because more experienced staff
usually fly the most desirable
routes and schedules.
A high school diploma is
generally required to enter the field.
While each airline has specific requirements,
in general,
candidates should be in excellent health,
able to speak clearly,
and be willing to relocate.
Travel experience, customer service skills,
and speaking a foreign language
would all be an advantage.
Candidates could expect several weeks of
concentrated training and many months of
serving as a substitute attendant
before working full time.
This career requires confidence,
reliability and graciousness—
because for most passengers,
the flight attendant is the
face of the airline.