How To Turn out to be A Flight Attendant And Make $61,640 Every Yr

Trying to study how one can turn out to be a flight attendant?

As a flight attendant, you might be able to discover a lifelong profession that you simply get pleasure from, in addition to go on home and worldwide flights all over the world.

In line with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a flight attendant is $61,640 per 12 months, and the variety of flight attendant job openings is anticipated to develop by 30% over the following decade. That is a lot sooner than the common for all occupations.

Airways are hiring for flight attendants like loopy proper now, so it’s a nice time to learn to turn out to be a flight attendant.

At this time, I’ve interviewed Deanna Castro from Future Flight Attendant on how one can turn out to be a flight attendant.

Deanna has been a flight attendant for 16 years, and he or she can also be a flight attendant profession coach.

In at the moment’s interview, we’re going to discuss flight attendant salaries (and the way your years of labor expertise will influence your pay), job duties, what flight attendant job coaching is like, and extra.

On this interview, you’ll study solutions to questions akin to:

• How a lot does a flight attendant make?
• How lengthy does it take to turn out to be a flight attendant?
• Is it exhausting to turn out to be a flight attendant?
• Which airline has the very best paid flight attendants?
• What’s a median flight attendant shift like?

And extra! This interview is packed filled with useful info on how one can turn out to be a flight attendant.

Deanna additionally has a useful useful resource on how one can turn out to be a flight attendant – How To Land a Flight Attendant Profession course. This course goes over selecting the best airline for you, the hiring course of and interview ideas, how one can put together for flight attendant coaching, stay teaching periods, and extra.

Associated content material:

How To Turn out to be A Flight Attendant

1. Please give us slightly background on your self and the way you bought began as a flight attendant. The place have you ever traveled to?

For so long as I can bear in mind, I at all times needed to journey. My mother and father didn’t journey a lot as a result of my Dad had a enterprise that he was tied to and was afraid to fly.

Once I was 12 I took my first flight to Florida with my mother and sister, and my Dad drove the 1100 miles to fulfill us there.

I bear in mind the flight attendant, she regarded like Snow White. She smiled as she introduced us our pre departure drinks and made me really feel so comfy. 

I used to be in awe this was her job, and he or she regarded so elegant.

My favourite a part of the flight was the takeoff, I bear in mind searching the window watching every part get smaller and smaller and from that second I used to be hooked on flight.

Once I was 19 years previous, I took a 12 months off of school and I moved to Italy for six months to review artwork. My mother and father weren’t too joyful about it, however I used to be decided to go away the nation for the primary time.

I’ll always remember that flight both, again then, everybody was smoking! The within of the cabin was a giant cloud of smoke. However I didn’t even care, I used to be going to Europe, and I couldn’t wait.

I grew up on a horse farm and my mother and father at all times knew that I used to be by no means going to remain put, I used to be too adventurous.

My mother and father begrudgingly allowed me to quickly transfer to Italy, and after I acquired dwelling that they had a proposition for me.

If I might drop out of college, they’d construct me a cutting-edge driving facility and assist me get began in enterprise as a horse coach and driving teacher with the remainder of my school cash. I mentioned sure, in fact I mentioned sure! Who wouldn’t? I beloved horses and I beloved enterprise so why would’t I say sure?

After about 9 years, I couldn’t take it anymore, I needed to get out into the world. I beloved to journey and staying in a single place felt suffocating. 

I went on a solo trip to Hawaii for six weeks. I fell in love with the island, made so many mates and acquired provided a job. I went dwelling, leased my horse enterprise and moved to Hawaii. 

My mother and father weren’t pleased with my choice. I advised them I might ultimately come again, however I wanted a break and I wanted to see the world. I might take these prolonged journeys, a month within the Greek Isles, I might journey across the UK and Europe, after which return to Hawaii. 

My new employer in Hawaii inspired journey, and I used to be in my ingredient after I may fly  to completely different elements of the world.

Sooner or later I noticed an advert within the newspaper, if was for a cattle name for Hawaiian Airways, I felt that being a flight attendant and getting paid to journey the world could be a dream come true for me.

I minimize out the advert and put it up on my fridge, and ultimately threw it away. I advised myself that I didn’t have the {qualifications}. I felt like I wasn’t ok, I didn’t have sufficient coaching or the talents that they had been on the lookout for and I couldn’t have been extra improper.

I ended up leaving my job, closing the enterprise quickly and dealing for one more employer in an workplace. That workplace job was exhausting. I’m an excessive amount of of a free spirit for that and I felt caught.

Sooner or later a brand new temp worker began, it was my job to coach him and we acquired to speaking. It turned out he was on furlough (this was after 911) from his flight attendant job with United Airways.

I advised him I at all times needed to be a flight attendant, however I doubt they’d rent me. He was like “What?!? You might be excellent for the flight attendant place! It’s such a straightforward job and they’re on the lookout for customer support expertise, which you’ve got.” 

I used to be shocked. “Did an precise flight attendant simply inform me that I used to be the right flight attendant candidate?!”

He acquired referred to as again to work and what he mentioned caught with me. As quickly because the airways began hiring once more I utilized! I acquired employed on my first attempt. When the recruiter advised me I used to be invited to flight attendant coaching we each began leaping up and down and had been hugging. I feel I used to be crying, I used to be so joyful.

We carried on like that for a full two minutes after which we each felt slightly embarrassed as a result of it was like we had been finest mates separated at start who had simply been reunited! It was nice. I’ll always remember that second for the remainder of my life. 

That was when I discovered true happiness and my calling. I didn’t find yourself making use of to Hawaiian Airways so I acquired to maneuver dwelling, work half time in my horse enterprise and I acquired to FLY and I used to be primarily based at dwelling.

Issues all labored out completely. I acquired to journey, my mother and father acquired to have me again dwelling, and I lived a life I solely ever dreamed about.

I acquired to journey all over the place, particularly my first few years flying. I used to be within the UK each week, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Hawaii, everywhere in the Caribbean, and many of the United States.

I’m nonetheless a flight attendant at the moment, it’s been sixteen years now and I management my schedule much more than I used to have the ability to. I principally keep within the US and Caribbean by selection, however I nonetheless sometimes do a enjoyable worldwide journey, like Singapore or anyplace else I can discover that has an extended layover and is enjoyable.

Me, on the left, the day I graduated, January 29, 2006.

2. What’s the common day as a flight attendant like?

The common day as a flight attendant is you go to the airport and test in to your flight. There are flights which can be extra like a trip, after which there are flights which can be extra productive. 

The flights which can be extra like a trip you’ll fly to some unique or enjoyable vacation spot and spend 24 hours there. You keep in an ideal lodge, proper on the seaside or within the metropolis the place you are able to do something you need for the following 24 hours.

The productive flights are ones with a shorter layover on the airport, or perhaps only a flip (a flip is once you go someplace and fly proper again, so there isn’t any lodge, since you go dwelling on the finish of the day.)

Why these flights are extra productive is since you spend extra hours on the airplane and fewer within the lodge. You might be working and never lounging round.

There are quick journeys that aren’t as productive, (much less flight hours and shorter layovers) however I attempt to keep away from journeys that don’t have quite a lot of flight hours. I’m in it for journeys which can be both the enjoyable or take advantage of cash.

I wish to work lengthy days, 12 – 14 hours and the day simply flies by, actually! 

As a flight attendant you spend quite a lot of time speaking to passengers, easing their fears and frustrations, serving meals and drinks, and checking security gear. 

As a flight attendant you don’t usually work with the identical crew members, however once you meet your crew you’re instantly household. It’s a particular bond that every one flight attendants share as a result of we have now such a loopy life-style and solely we will perceive it.

3. How a lot does a flight attendant make? 

On the main airways begin out round $30 an hour. Contractually we get a increase yearly till we high out in pay. I’ve topped out in pay till we get our subsequent increase at about $70 an hour after 13 years. 

Many of the main airways are presently in contract negotiations and we are going to absolutely be getting raises.

A brand new flight attendant makes about $25,000 to $35,000 a 12 months relying on the airline. The key is to work for one of many high 5 airways (American, Alaska, Delta, Southwest and United Airways) and never the small regional airways if you wish to make cash as a flight attendant.

It’s very simple for a flight attendant of ten or extra years to make six figures. After 5 years, flight attendants on the high 5 airways are in a position to make $50,000 or extra a 12 months.

Despite the fact that the pay isn’t as excessive for first 12 months flight attendants, you reside 1,000,000 greenback life-style, getting paid to journey, free journey by yourself time, and also you get to remain in stunning motels and resorts in your layovers.

All the pieces is taken care of you as a flight attendant, you don’t want to search out your individual lodge or prepare transportation to and from the lodge, that’s taken care of by the airline.

4. Are airways presently hiring for flight attendants? What does job progress appear like?

Airways are desperately looking for flight attendants proper now. As soon as the pandemic hit, journey declined quickly and a few airways truly paid flight attendants a lump sum to retire. Flight attendants jumped on the likelihood to receives a commission to retire on high of their retirement plans.

Then, when journey returned, there was a scarcity of flight attendants. I’ve not seen this a lot hiring from the entire airways within the historical past of my profession. 

Not solely is there a flight attendant scarcity due to flight attendants retiring, however airways are increasing their routes and shopping for extra airplanes. They want flight attendants to workers these flights. Hundreds of flight attendants are wanted proper now.

5. How previous do it’s worthwhile to be to turn out to be a flight attendant?

Relying on the airline you might be as younger as 18, and a few airways rent at 19, whereas others at 20 and 21. American hires at 20, and United, American, Delta, Alaska and Southwest all rent at 21.

There isn’t any age restrict to turn out to be a flight attendant both. Many individuals turn out to be flight attendants after retirement. So long as you’re in good bodily situation, you’ll be able to apply to turn out to be a flight attendant. Airways worth life and work expertise of all types. 

As a result of being a flight attendant is such an ideal job, there are flight attendants which have been flying for over fifty years and haven’t any plan for retirement in sight. Why would they? They management their schedule, work when, the place and if they need, and make nice cash.

6. How lengthy does it take to turn out to be a flight attendant?

That basically depends upon the airline. Some airways can velocity up the method and it might solely be about six months. Different airways are slower and it may well take a 12 months or longer. 

Should you don’t get employed there’s a ready interval to use once more, both six months or a 12 months, relying on the airline. So in that case generally it may well take years to get employed as a flight attendant.

Everybody’s timeline might be completely different, however it may be useful that it takes awhile to get employed as a result of you’ve got time to organize. 

The competitors to turn out to be a flight attendant is so fierce that it’s important to nail the interviews to be chosen.

7. Is it exhausting to turn out to be a flight attendant? What are the {qualifications} to turn out to be a flight attendant? 

It may be exhausting to turn out to be a flight attendant as a result of airways can get a whole bunch of 1000’s of candidates and just one% to 2% get employed.

However I inform everybody to not let that quantity scare them as a result of if they’ve a need of their coronary heart to turn out to be a flight attendant, they will make it occur.

Some {qualifications} to turn out to be a flight attendant are:

• A highschool diploma or GED
• Possess and preserve a legitimate U.S. passport or international passport with relevant visas and be eligible to work and journey freely throughout the U.S. and all nations they serve, with out restriction.
• A ardour to serve 
• Customer support expertise (not essentially in a customer support place, most jobs have a component of customer support)
• Should be 18, 19, 20, or 21 relying on the airline
• Be bodily agile and have the ability to help clients. The power to face, stroll, kneel, bend, stoop, stretch, attain, carry heavy objects, and push or pull a beverage cart as much as 250 kilos
• Potential to go ten 12 months background test and drug testing
• Capable of converse, write, and talk successfully in English
• Keen to relocate or commute primarily based on operational want
• Most airways are requiring a Covid-19 vaccination

8. Which airline has the very best paid flight attendants?

It’s fairly shut between Delta, American, and United, however Southwest Airways has the very best hourly fee.

Southwest Airways additionally pads in additional time into their journeys in order that flight attendants could make slightly extra cash. Most flight attendants don’t receives a commission for boarding in order that extra cash helps cowl that point spent not being paid for boarding.

One other factor about Southwest? They permit their flight attendants to promote their journeys. If they’ve a visit they don’t wish to do as a result of they need the break day they will promote the journey and supply a pleasant chunk of change for one more flight attendant to take it.

I really feel like Southwest Airways is de facto dedicated to their staff making nice cash.

9. What are the professionals and cons of being a flight attendant? 

The professionals and cons of being a flight attendant are:

For my part the professionals far outweigh the cons, however there may be at all times a down aspect to every part.

Professionals: 

• Paid journey and free journey in your break day
• Glorious pay and advantages
• Free flight advantages to your mother and father, your kids, partner, or perhaps a buddy
• Potential to make six figures a 12 months – I personally am a six determine flight attendant earner
• Assembly all types of individuals, celebrities, politicians, athletes, you title it.
• Layovers in unique locations in one of the best motels
• Lifelong friendships
• There isn’t any age restrict for flight attendants and a few individuals turn out to be a flight attendant after retirement
• You’ll be able to’t beat the flexibleness of the job
• Reductions on every part, rental automobiles, motels, meals, and company reductions

Cons: 

• Lengthy days
• Within the very starting you don’t have a lot management over your schedule
• Being away from your loved ones for holidays
• Low pay at first
• Some passengers are unruly, however fortunately the FAA has carried out a zero tolerance coverage and people unruly passengers now should pay fines for unruly conduct as a substitute of warning letters or counseling.

10. Are you able to listing the steps wanted to turn out to be a flight attendant?

1. Fill out the applying on the airline’s web site 
2. Add your resume and canopy letter
3. Evaluation – Some airways conduct assessments which is an internet questionnaire
4. Video Flight Attendant Interview – this may be both pre recorded questions or a bunch video interview.
5. Some airways do a Phone Interview – It’s simply what it seems like, an interview over the phone.
6. Face to Face Interview – You fly out and spend a few half a day interviewing, with many different flight attendant candidates
7. Preliminary Flight Attendant Coaching – For many airways you aren’t formally employed till you go 3.5 – 8 weeks of flight attendant coaching at a coaching heart.
8. Commencement – Commencement is when flight attendants get their wings.
9. Flight Attendant!

11. Are there some other ideas that you’ve for somebody who desires to turn out to be a flight attendant?

It’s an extended course of to turn out to be a flight attendant, and there are quite a lot of steps to take to get your wings, however it’s all price it.

Being a flight attendant is likely one of the finest jobs on the earth.

12. Are you able to inform me extra concerning the course you supply?

The course I supply is known as Flight Attendant Faculty – it’s an internet studying program with 4 weekly stay teaching periods.

Passing the flight attendant interviews are the toughest elements of changing into a flight attendant. My course covers every part that it’s worthwhile to grasp the interview course of.

Not solely do you get a whole on-line course that teaches you precisely what it’s worthwhile to do to turn out to be a flight attendant however you get 4 weekly zoom teaching periods.

What can we do within the teaching periods? Flight Attendant Profession Counseling, it’s a giant bounce and a totally completely different life-style, our profession counseling session will enable you to discover one of the best airline match for you. 

We additionally do mock interviews, prep and follow so you’ll be able to look, really feel and be the a part of the flight attendant in your interviews. My college students make some main transformations in the course of the course. 

They acquire not solely data but additionally a lot confidence that they can stand out as a star in a sea of candidates.

The aviation business is completely different than some other and the Flight Attendant Course & Teaching periods assist aspiring flight attendants study every part they should know even when they haven’t any flight attendant expertise.

Do you wish to study how one can turn out to be a flight attendant?