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.
What they do:
Provide personal services to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of airline passengers during flight. Greet passengers, verify tickets, explain use of safety equipment, and serve food or beverages.
On the job, you would:
Verify that first aid kits and other emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and oxygen bottles, are in working order.
Direct and assist passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing.
Administer first aid to passengers in distress.
Business
customer service
Safety and Government
public safety and security
Transportation
movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Arts and Humanities
English language
Basic Skills
talking to others
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Social
looking for ways to help people
understanding people's reactions
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
notice when problems happen
use rules to solve problems
Attention
do two or more things at the same time
pay attention to something without being distracted
People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.
They do well at jobs that need:
Self Control
Concern for Others
Social Orientation
Stress Tolerance
Adaptability/Flexibility
Cooperation
You might use software like this on the job:
Calendar and scheduling software
AD OPT Altitude
Arkitektia Flight Itinerary
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Computer based training software
IBM Lotus LearningSpace
some college or high school diploma/GED usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
In the Marine Corps:
Airborne and Air Delivery Specialist; Aircraft Loadmaster Apprentice; Aircraft Loadmaster Helper; Aircraft Loadmaster Superintendent; Flight Attendant Craftsman; Flight Attendant Journeyman; Flight Attendant Superintendent; Naval Aircrewman Mechanical; Special Missions Aviation Craftsman; Special Missions Aviation Journeyman
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