Private and commercial airlines hire flight attendants to keep passengers safe and comfortable. They assist passengers in securing their seats, show how to operate the plane’s safety systems, and serve food, drink, and other amenities.
What does a flight attendant do?
All airlines are required by law to have flight attendants on staff to ensure the safety of their customers. Other roles include:
- Attending pre-flight briefings with the pilots to obtain flight information for each trip.
- Inspecting emergency equipment before each flight.
- Ensuring that the plane’s cabin is clean and well-stocked with food and beverages.
- Ensuring that all passengers are ready to fly and land.
- Assisting travelers with special needs, tiny children, or those who require medical attention.
- Dealing with obnoxious passengers and keeping an eye on the plane for suspicious activity.
- Assisting passengers in locating and using safety devices, putting out fires, and guiding evacuations in the event of an emergency.
- Notifying the airline of any flight-related safety or medical issues.
What are the Skills you need to Become a Flight Attendant?
Flight attendants are often people-oriented and have excellent customer service abilities. They also enjoy traveling and experiencing new locations, and they are willing to work long or irregular hours. The following are some of the skills required to be successful:
Attentiveness:
Flight attendants must keep an eye on passengers for any difficulties or suspicious behavior. They must also be diligent while inspecting equipment and individuals for safety.
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Communication:
When providing safety demonstrations and communicating with passengers and crew, they should be able to speak clearly and convincingly. They should be polite and have good listening abilities as well.
Customer Service:
A flight attendant’s responsibilities include giving hospitality. When offering services, they should be kind and patient to ensure that passengers have a pleasant flight.
Endurance:
They frequently work long shifts, deal with difficult passengers, and transport heavy goods such as bags and service carts. They are also frequently on their feet.
Efficiency:
To ensure an on-time departure, flight attendants must work quickly and efficiently to accomplish pre-flight chores. They must also provide in-flight services in the period allotted for them to be in the air.
Leadership:
In the event of an emergency, they must assume command and make swift choices to get passengers to safety.
How to Become a Flight Attendant?
To work as a flight attendant, you must undergo training and certification to demonstrate that you are capable of looking after the safety and comfort of passengers. The steps to becoming a flight attendant are rather simple and involve the following:
Get a Diploma from a High School
A high school diploma is the minimum educational qualification for flight attendants.
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Get a College Diploma
While most airlines will recruit flight attendants without a degree, a bachelor’s degree in an area like public relations may make you more appealing to employers.
Improve your Customer Service Abilities
Work in a hotel or service position for a year or two to hone your customer service skills. When looking for job positions, this experience will appear good on your resume. You may work at a restaurant, a hotel, or any other position that demands you to interact with people.
Fill out an Application for a Job
You can apply for the role with numerous airlines if you are over the age of 18 and have good health and vision.
Train
If you are hired by an airline, you will spend several weeks or months preparing for FAA certification. Safety, first aid, reacting to difficult flight or passenger circumstances, evacuation, putting out fires, survival skills, self-defense, and personal health are among the topics covered in training.
Obtain Certification
To become qualified and legally authorized to operate as a flight attendant, you must pass the FAA exam after completing initial training.
Complete Reserve Status
Reserve status is assigned to new flight attendants. You must be available to fill in for other attendants or extra flights during this time. This reserve period is usually one year long.
Take Your Career to the Next Level
As a flight attendant, you will most likely have the authority to choose your base, routes, and schedule after gaining years of experience. You may also be asked to advise, recruit, train, or manage other flight attendants, as well as assist with activities like scheduling.
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The Average Salary
There is always a demand for competent people because all airlines must employ cabin crew. Flight attendants with college degrees and years of airline experience may be able to command a higher hourly rate than those with less experience or qualifications. The average hourly wage in the United States is $25.61; some hourly wages range from $7.25 to $42.80.
