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

Trying to study learn how to turn into a flight attendant?

As a flight attendant, you could possibly discover a lifelong profession that you simply take pleasure in, in addition to go on home and worldwide flights all over the world.

In accordance 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 predicted 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 into a flight attendant.

In the present day, I’ve interviewed Deanna Castro from Future Flight Attendant on learn how to turn into a flight attendant.

Deanna has been a flight attendant for 16 years, and she or he can 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 affect 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 into a flight attendant?
• Is it laborious to turn into 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 stuffed with priceless info on learn how to turn into a flight attendant.

Deanna additionally has a useful useful resource on learn how to turn into 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, learn how to put together for flight attendant coaching, dwell teaching periods, and extra.

Associated content material:

How To Grow to be A Flight Attendant

1. Please give us a little bit 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 keep in mind, I all the time wished 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.

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

I keep 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 comfortable. 

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

My favourite a part of the flight was the takeoff, I keep in mind looking the window watching all the pieces get smaller and smaller and from that second I used to be hooked on flight.

After I was 19 years outdated, I took a 12 months off of school and I moved to Italy for six months to check 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 all the time 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 once I acquired dwelling they’d a proposition for me.

If I’d drop out of faculty, 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 faculty cash. I stated sure, after all I stated 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 buddies and acquired supplied a job. I went dwelling, leased my horse enterprise and moved to Hawaii. 

My mother and father weren’t pleased with my choice. I instructed them I’d ultimately come again, however I wanted a break and I wanted to see the world. I’d take these prolonged journeys, a month within the Greek Isles, I’d 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 once I might fly  to completely different components of the world.

In the future 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 reduce out the advert and put it up on my fridge, and ultimately threw it away. I instructed myself that I didn’t have the {qualifications}. I felt like I wasn’t adequate, I didn’t have sufficient coaching or the talents that they had been in search of 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 laborious. I’m an excessive amount of of a free spirit for that and I felt caught.

In the future 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 instructed him I all the time wished to be a flight attendant, however I doubt they’d rent me. He was like “What?!? You’re excellent for the flight attendant place! It’s such a simple job and they’re in search of customer support expertise, which you have 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 known as again to work and what he stated caught with me. As quickly because the airways began hiring once more I utilized! I acquired employed on my first attempt. When the recruiter instructed 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 a little bit embarrassed as a result of it was like we had been finest buddies 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 based mostly 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 in all places, particularly my first few years flying. I used to be within the UK each week, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Hawaii, all around 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 wherever 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 typical day as a flight attendant is you go to the airport and test in to your flight. There are flights which might be extra like a trip, after which there are flights which might be extra productive. 

The flights which might be extra like a trip you’d fly to some unique or enjoyable vacation spot and spend 24 hours there. You keep in a terrific 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 possibly only a flip (a flip is if you go someplace and fly proper again, so there isn’t a 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’re working and never lounging round.

There are brief journeys that aren’t as productive, (much less flight hours and shorter layovers) however I try to keep away from journeys that don’t have a variety of flight hours. I’m in it for journeys which might 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 a variety 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 if you meet your crew you might be instantly household. It’s a particular bond that each one flight attendants share as a result of now we have such a loopy way of life and solely we are able to 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. 

A lot 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 earn 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.

Although the pay isn’t as excessive for first 12 months flight attendants, you reside 1,000,000 greenback way of life, getting paid to journey, free journey by yourself time, and also you get to remain in lovely inns and resorts in your layovers.

Every thing is taken care of you as a flight attendant, you don’t want to search out your personal lodge or organize 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 in search of flight attendants proper now. As soon as the pandemic hit, journey declined quickly and a few airways really 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 all the 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. 1000’s of flight attendants are wanted proper now.

5. How outdated do it is advisable be to turn into a flight attendant?

Relying on the airline you may 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 into a flight attendant both. Many individuals turn into flight attendants after retirement. So long as you might be in good bodily situation, you possibly can apply to turn into a flight attendant. Airways worth life and work expertise of all types. 

As a result of being a flight attendant is such a terrific 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 into a flight attendant?

That actually will depend on the airline. Some airways can velocity up the method and it might solely be about six months. Different airways are slower and it will probably take a 12 months or longer. 

When 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 typically it will probably take years to get employed as a flight attendant.

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

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

7. Is it laborious to turn into a flight attendant? What are the {qualifications} to turn into a flight attendant? 

It may be laborious to turn into a flight attendant as a result of airways can get tons of 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 want of their coronary heart to turn into a flight attendant, they’ll make it occur.

Some {qualifications} to turn into a flight attendant are:

• A highschool diploma or GED
• Possess and keep a sound U.S. passport or international passport with relevant visas and be eligible to work and journey freely inside the U.S. and all nations they serve, with out restriction.
• A ardour to serve 
• Customer support abilities (not essentially in a customer support place, most jobs have a component of customer support)
• Have to be 18, 19, 20, or 21 relying on the airline
• Be bodily agile and have the ability to help clients. The flexibility to face, stroll, kneel, bend, stoop, stretch, attain, raise heavy objects, and push or pull a beverage cart as much as 250 kilos
• Skill to go ten 12 months background test and drug testing
• Capable of converse, write, and talk successfully in English
• Prepared to relocate or commute based mostly 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 charge.

Southwest Airways additionally pads in further time into their journeys in order that flight attendants could make a little bit more money. Most flight attendants don’t receives a commission for boarding in order that more money 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’ll promote the journey and provide a pleasant chunk of change for one more flight attendant to take it.

I really feel like Southwest Airways is basically 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:

In my view the professionals far outweigh the cons, however there may be all the time a down facet to all the pieces.

Professionals: 

• Paid journey and free journey in your break day
• Wonderful pay and advantages
• Free flight advantages to your mother and father, your youngsters, partner, or perhaps a pal
• Skill 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 identify it.
• Layovers in unique locations in one of the best inns
• Lifelong friendships
• There isn’t any age restrict for flight attendants and a few individuals turn into a flight attendant after retirement
• You may’t beat the flexibleness of the job
• Reductions on all the pieces, rental vehicles, inns, 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 to start with
• Some passengers are unruly, however fortunately the FAA has carried out a zero tolerance coverage and people unruly passengers now must pay fines for unruly habits as a substitute of warning letters or counseling.

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

1. Fill out the appliance on the airline’s web site 
2. Add your resume and canopy letter
3. Evaluation – Some airways conduct assessments which is a web-based questionnaire
4. Video Flight Attendant Interview – this may be both pre recorded questions or a gaggle video interview.
5. Some airways do a Phone Interview – It’s simply what it feels 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 got for somebody who needs to turn into a flight attendant?

It’s an extended course of to turn into a flight attendant, and there are a variety of steps to take to get your wings, but it surely’s all price it.

Being a flight attendant is without doubt one of the finest jobs on this planet.

12. Are you able to inform me extra in regards to the course you provide?

The course I provide is known as Flight Attendant College – it’s a web-based studying program with 4 weekly dwell teaching periods.

Passing the flight attendant interviews are the toughest components of changing into a flight attendant. My course covers all the pieces that it is advisable grasp the interview course of.

Not solely do you get a whole on-line course that teaches you precisely what it is advisable do to turn into a flight attendant however you get 4 weekly zoom teaching periods.

What will we do within the teaching periods? Flight Attendant Profession Counseling, it’s a giant soar and a very completely different way of life, our profession counseling session will assist you discover one of the best airline match for you. 

We additionally do mock interviews, prep and observe so you possibly can 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 information but additionally a lot confidence that they’re able to stand out as a star in a sea of candidates.

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

Do you wish to study learn how to turn into a flight attendant?