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What will the challenges I have to face?
When becoming a flight attendant I hear that scheduling is the biggest hardship they face, I want to wonder if there are anymore issues I will have to look out for?
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Doc’s Answer
Neveah Amber,
You can become a flight attendant with as little as a high school diploma. The most important qualities for a flight attendant are a courteous attitude, an efficient approach to problem-solving, attention to detail, professionalism, stamina and outstanding customer service. The training program for flight attendants is usually three to six weeks. However, it may take months or even years to get into one of these programs. This is a highly competitive field, and open positions usually fill up fast. Flight attendants often work erratic schedules, especially when they're new to the job. Schedules are referred to as lines. Each month, flight attendants bid for a new line, and these are awarded based on seniority. New flight attendants are often on reserve, which means they're on call for any flights that need additional crew members and may have only hours to get to the airport and get on their plane.
FLIGHT ATTENDANT QUALIFICATIONS
• EDUCATION: To become a flight attendant, you need a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. Though not required, a bachelor's degree can increase your employability. The most relevant degrees are those in marketing, hospitality, tourism, public relations or communication.
• WORK EXPERIENCE: Flight attendant jobs are highly coveted, and only the best candidates pass the initial interview. Relevant work experience will strengthen your resume. Many airlines require a minimum of 2-years of experience in hospitality, customer service or sales. Airlines look for work experience that proves you can spend long hours on your feet, work overtime, handle problem-solving and provide outstanding customer service.
• AGE RESTRICTION: 21 or Older
• HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS: 4’11″-6’4” tall
• HEALTH: Excellent Overall
• LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT: Ability to speak, read, write, and understand English fluently. Must be able to speak in a clear, concise, and organized manner, loudly enough to be heard in an emergency. Effectively communicate in the event of high-stress situations such as aircraft evacuation, security threats, delays, medical emergencies, severe weather conditions, and turbulence
• PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE: Excellent grooming standards, and willingness to follow uniform, hair, tattoo, and piercing guidelines.
• ELECTRONICS PROFICIENCY: Ability to proficiently operate electronic devices: phones, tablets, laptops, etc..for the completion of required tasks
• VALID PASSPORT: Must possess a valid passport prior to application with 18 months validity remaining prior to expiration.
• BACKGROUND CHECK: This is mandatory for the aviation industry in many countries, including the U.S. It also includes FBI fingerprinting to identify any past criminal activities. Some airlines also perform a credit check. This isn’t necessarily to scrutinize one’s financial status but to identify any issues that might indicate irresponsibility or instability. Pre-employment drug and alcohol screening is standard in the aviation industry. Airlines also conduct random substance abuse tests during the tenure of employment.
PROS & CONS
Being a flight attendant offers exciting travel opportunities and a chance to meet people from diverse backgrounds, but it also involves long hours, irregular schedules, and potential for stress.
PRO • TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
Flight attendants experience frequent travel as part of their job duties. Depending on your schedule, you may be able to take time to explore destination locations before your next flight begins or during layovers. Flight attendants also often enjoy pleasant views when they fly over landmarks and approach destination cities. The best part of it all is that you don’t have to pay for your tickets, as you’re getting to and from these destinations while on the job.
PRO • FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING
Because of the variable nature of flight departures and arrivals, flight attendants might work any hour of the day, any day of the week. Many airlines allow their employees to trade flights between themselves depending on factors such as seniority and the logistics of a particular swap, which can help accommodate your personal schedules and preferences. Some flight attendants might also enjoy the benefit of paid time off (PTO), provided by their employer.
CON • SCHEDULING BASED ON SENIORITY
You can’t change the fact that, as a new hire flight attendant, your life will be dictated by the demands of the airline. You won’t get much say and you will have to become accustomed to changing plans. Your quality of life is directly related to how many years you have worked at the company. Some months — you’ll only work five days a month. Until then, get ready for a worst schedule and picking up everything that nobody wants.
CON • TIME AWAY FROM HOME
The time spent away from home as a flight attendant might feel challenging at times. Flight attendants may be required to work weekends and holidays, especially when you're relatively new. Try to support your personal relationships by staying connected when you are together and making flexible plans for important gatherings and celebrations. If you work weekends as a flight attendant, consider trying to get adequate rest on your days off. Make the most of this time by engaging in activities you would otherwise do on weekend days.
Neveah Amber, every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength and the passion to touch the sky and to see the world.
You can become a flight attendant with as little as a high school diploma. The most important qualities for a flight attendant are a courteous attitude, an efficient approach to problem-solving, attention to detail, professionalism, stamina and outstanding customer service. The training program for flight attendants is usually three to six weeks. However, it may take months or even years to get into one of these programs. This is a highly competitive field, and open positions usually fill up fast. Flight attendants often work erratic schedules, especially when they're new to the job. Schedules are referred to as lines. Each month, flight attendants bid for a new line, and these are awarded based on seniority. New flight attendants are often on reserve, which means they're on call for any flights that need additional crew members and may have only hours to get to the airport and get on their plane.
FLIGHT ATTENDANT QUALIFICATIONS
• EDUCATION: To become a flight attendant, you need a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. Though not required, a bachelor's degree can increase your employability. The most relevant degrees are those in marketing, hospitality, tourism, public relations or communication.
• WORK EXPERIENCE: Flight attendant jobs are highly coveted, and only the best candidates pass the initial interview. Relevant work experience will strengthen your resume. Many airlines require a minimum of 2-years of experience in hospitality, customer service or sales. Airlines look for work experience that proves you can spend long hours on your feet, work overtime, handle problem-solving and provide outstanding customer service.
• AGE RESTRICTION: 21 or Older
• HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS: 4’11″-6’4” tall
• HEALTH: Excellent Overall
• LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT: Ability to speak, read, write, and understand English fluently. Must be able to speak in a clear, concise, and organized manner, loudly enough to be heard in an emergency. Effectively communicate in the event of high-stress situations such as aircraft evacuation, security threats, delays, medical emergencies, severe weather conditions, and turbulence
• PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE: Excellent grooming standards, and willingness to follow uniform, hair, tattoo, and piercing guidelines.
• ELECTRONICS PROFICIENCY: Ability to proficiently operate electronic devices: phones, tablets, laptops, etc..for the completion of required tasks
• VALID PASSPORT: Must possess a valid passport prior to application with 18 months validity remaining prior to expiration.
• BACKGROUND CHECK: This is mandatory for the aviation industry in many countries, including the U.S. It also includes FBI fingerprinting to identify any past criminal activities. Some airlines also perform a credit check. This isn’t necessarily to scrutinize one’s financial status but to identify any issues that might indicate irresponsibility or instability. Pre-employment drug and alcohol screening is standard in the aviation industry. Airlines also conduct random substance abuse tests during the tenure of employment.
PROS & CONS
Being a flight attendant offers exciting travel opportunities and a chance to meet people from diverse backgrounds, but it also involves long hours, irregular schedules, and potential for stress.
PRO • TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
Flight attendants experience frequent travel as part of their job duties. Depending on your schedule, you may be able to take time to explore destination locations before your next flight begins or during layovers. Flight attendants also often enjoy pleasant views when they fly over landmarks and approach destination cities. The best part of it all is that you don’t have to pay for your tickets, as you’re getting to and from these destinations while on the job.
PRO • FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING
Because of the variable nature of flight departures and arrivals, flight attendants might work any hour of the day, any day of the week. Many airlines allow their employees to trade flights between themselves depending on factors such as seniority and the logistics of a particular swap, which can help accommodate your personal schedules and preferences. Some flight attendants might also enjoy the benefit of paid time off (PTO), provided by their employer.
CON • SCHEDULING BASED ON SENIORITY
You can’t change the fact that, as a new hire flight attendant, your life will be dictated by the demands of the airline. You won’t get much say and you will have to become accustomed to changing plans. Your quality of life is directly related to how many years you have worked at the company. Some months — you’ll only work five days a month. Until then, get ready for a worst schedule and picking up everything that nobody wants.
CON • TIME AWAY FROM HOME
The time spent away from home as a flight attendant might feel challenging at times. Flight attendants may be required to work weekends and holidays, especially when you're relatively new. Try to support your personal relationships by staying connected when you are together and making flexible plans for important gatherings and celebrations. If you work weekends as a flight attendant, consider trying to get adequate rest on your days off. Make the most of this time by engaging in activities you would otherwise do on weekend days.
Neveah Amber, every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength and the passion to touch the sky and to see the world.
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Neveah Amber
Thank You Michelle. A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives roses.
Doc Frick
Updated
Emily’s Answer
Hi Neveah,
I think every job has a pain point and there are always challenges.
I would say the most challenging part can be dealing with difficult customers. You may encounter a lot of different people with different cultures and different perspectives.
In addition, it is not easy if you're not physically fit to travel overnight and long flight hours.
However, there are bright sides of the job such as you can travel and explore different cities and countries.
This will be an amazing part of being a flight attendant and there are perks from the airlines that you can purchase flight tickets with a great amount of discount.
I think every job has a pain point and there are always challenges.
I would say the most challenging part can be dealing with difficult customers. You may encounter a lot of different people with different cultures and different perspectives.
In addition, it is not easy if you're not physically fit to travel overnight and long flight hours.
However, there are bright sides of the job such as you can travel and explore different cities and countries.
This will be an amazing part of being a flight attendant and there are perks from the airlines that you can purchase flight tickets with a great amount of discount.
You rock! This advice is very helpful.
Neveah Amber
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Becoming a flight attendant is a rewarding and dynamic career, but it comes with its unique set of challenges that require resilience, flexibility, and strong interpersonal skills. One of the most significant hardships, as you mentioned, is the unpredictable and demanding nature of scheduling. Flight attendants often face irregular hours, including early mornings, late nights, weekends, and holidays, which can make maintaining a consistent work-life balance difficult. The frequent travel may also lead to extended periods away from home, which can be challenging for those with families or other commitments.
In addition to the challenges posed by scheduling, physical demands are another aspect of the job that cannot be overlooked. Flight attendants are required to be on their feet for extended periods, managing the cabin, assisting passengers, and responding to emergencies. The job can be physically taxing, especially on long-haul flights where the need to remain alert and responsive for long durations is crucial. The effects of jet lag and maintaining energy across time zones are also factors that require adaptability.
Another challenge is the emotional and psychological toll that comes with dealing with passengers. Flight attendants must remain calm, composed, and professional in high-pressure situations, such as medical emergencies, unruly passengers, or stressful flight delays. Managing conflict, de-escalating tense situations, and providing exceptional customer service under pressure can be draining and requires excellent communication and conflict resolution skills.
Additionally, there are safety and regulatory responsibilities that require consistent attention to detail. Flight attendants must be well-versed in emergency procedures, ensuring that they can respond effectively in the event of an evacuation, fire, or medical crisis. This level of responsibility requires mental clarity, quick decision-making, and the ability to stay calm in critical situations.
The physical environment on the aircraft itself also presents its own set of challenges. Cabin altitude, limited space, and the need to navigate narrow aisles can create discomfort and difficulty when moving around, especially during busy or stressful moments. In addition, the cabin environment can be stressful due to constant noise, changing temperatures, and limited opportunities for rest during flights.
You should know that despite this, many flight attendants find the role fulfilling due to the excitement, variety, and the opportunity to travel the world. If you are considering this career, it's important to weigh these factors carefully and be prepared to handle the demands while also embracing the rewarding aspects of the profession. Having a strong support system, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and developing effective time management and stress-reduction strategies will be key to managing the challenges you encounter along the way.
In addition to the challenges posed by scheduling, physical demands are another aspect of the job that cannot be overlooked. Flight attendants are required to be on their feet for extended periods, managing the cabin, assisting passengers, and responding to emergencies. The job can be physically taxing, especially on long-haul flights where the need to remain alert and responsive for long durations is crucial. The effects of jet lag and maintaining energy across time zones are also factors that require adaptability.
Another challenge is the emotional and psychological toll that comes with dealing with passengers. Flight attendants must remain calm, composed, and professional in high-pressure situations, such as medical emergencies, unruly passengers, or stressful flight delays. Managing conflict, de-escalating tense situations, and providing exceptional customer service under pressure can be draining and requires excellent communication and conflict resolution skills.
Additionally, there are safety and regulatory responsibilities that require consistent attention to detail. Flight attendants must be well-versed in emergency procedures, ensuring that they can respond effectively in the event of an evacuation, fire, or medical crisis. This level of responsibility requires mental clarity, quick decision-making, and the ability to stay calm in critical situations.
The physical environment on the aircraft itself also presents its own set of challenges. Cabin altitude, limited space, and the need to navigate narrow aisles can create discomfort and difficulty when moving around, especially during busy or stressful moments. In addition, the cabin environment can be stressful due to constant noise, changing temperatures, and limited opportunities for rest during flights.
You should know that despite this, many flight attendants find the role fulfilling due to the excitement, variety, and the opportunity to travel the world. If you are considering this career, it's important to weigh these factors carefully and be prepared to handle the demands while also embracing the rewarding aspects of the profession. Having a strong support system, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and developing effective time management and stress-reduction strategies will be key to managing the challenges you encounter along the way.
Thank you for the advice.
Neveah Amber
Updated
Dr’s Answer
I want to specifically talk about training because at least initially, and arguably overall, it might be the hardest part of the job. Of course it does differ depending on the airline. My training, for instance, lasted a month (4 weeks), not 6 weeks. After training, you're typically on probation for 6 months or so, and then by then you sort of get used to the day to day happening. But it's such a culture shock & steep initial adjustment, the training and the first few months might be the most difficult & challenging part of being a flight attendant.
It will not be easy to memorize all the new things during any flight attendant training (there's so much!), especially if it's your first airline to work for. In general, each thing to know is not difficult in itself, but just the sheer number of things can be hard to keep in mind and not get mixed up. There's a quick learning curve. You have to learn about different types of aircraft, safety and security procedures, public announcements and slew of other need-to-know procedures and facts. It's a lot and crammed into a short time, but it's doable.
A great thing is that you will be trained with many others at the same time. So, you might have like 50 or even 100 other trainees all learning the same stuff, sharing similar experiences, which means there'll be plenty of support and study groups. If you prefer to prepare for the exams yourself, that's also an option.
The best piece of advice here is to know your manual well. Every flight attendant is given a flight attendant manual. It used to be a paper binder but nowadays it's likely just an app inside a company-issued tablet. You'll study it and come to know it well during training and it becomes a valuable resource for the rest of your flight attendant career.
With my airline, we were put up in a hotel with a gender-appropriate roommate through training who was also going through the same training, so we sort of lived and breathed our training. Besides getting minimal rest, it was all about the training for that month.
There are 2 types of tests: written ones that assess your knowledge of the facts and proficient tests that measure how well you can perform a duty (like CPR, self-defense). On both types of tests, you need to ace them! That's right, you need to get a 90% success rate with everything you're tested on. If you do not, you can redo it maybe once or twice, but there's not much forgiveness or leeway there.
Also, they are very strict with you being where you need to be, early or on-time, but never late. If there's a 5 minute bathroom break, for example, and you come back to the classroom after 6 minutes (1 minute late), the classroom door might be locked and you...well, you might get kicked out of training! If you think about it, being late to an airplane can also delay things since pilots may have limited runway take-off times and being one minute late might mean having to wait for Air Traffic Control to allot another departure time that's significantly later, which means people might miss their connections, etc. Also, instructors look at your attitude and how well you get along with everyone else. Nastiness is not tolerated. You definitely need to be a people-person since you'll be dealing with all kinds of people on this job.
So, training can be stressful but it's also exhilarating. You'll probably make friends there that you'll become really close with and perhaps they'll be your lifelong friends or you might even marry someone from training. Perhaps it's the heightened emotion during training or the desire to share your experiences with someone going through the same thing, but it's certainly common for co-trainees to date each other. Yes, some have personal rules not to date co-workers and others are already spoken for, and that's of course respected too.
Flight attendant training is a wild ride and it's just the beginning of an exciting lifestyle. There are always those who do not graduate for one reason or another, and there are some who are attempting it a 2nd or even 3rd time. (Based on the airline's policy, you may be able to try training again after waiting a year.)
Besides your initial training, there's also a one-day class you must attend annually to refresh all the old stuff and learn anything new that's changed.
Good luck!
It will not be easy to memorize all the new things during any flight attendant training (there's so much!), especially if it's your first airline to work for. In general, each thing to know is not difficult in itself, but just the sheer number of things can be hard to keep in mind and not get mixed up. There's a quick learning curve. You have to learn about different types of aircraft, safety and security procedures, public announcements and slew of other need-to-know procedures and facts. It's a lot and crammed into a short time, but it's doable.
A great thing is that you will be trained with many others at the same time. So, you might have like 50 or even 100 other trainees all learning the same stuff, sharing similar experiences, which means there'll be plenty of support and study groups. If you prefer to prepare for the exams yourself, that's also an option.
The best piece of advice here is to know your manual well. Every flight attendant is given a flight attendant manual. It used to be a paper binder but nowadays it's likely just an app inside a company-issued tablet. You'll study it and come to know it well during training and it becomes a valuable resource for the rest of your flight attendant career.
With my airline, we were put up in a hotel with a gender-appropriate roommate through training who was also going through the same training, so we sort of lived and breathed our training. Besides getting minimal rest, it was all about the training for that month.
There are 2 types of tests: written ones that assess your knowledge of the facts and proficient tests that measure how well you can perform a duty (like CPR, self-defense). On both types of tests, you need to ace them! That's right, you need to get a 90% success rate with everything you're tested on. If you do not, you can redo it maybe once or twice, but there's not much forgiveness or leeway there.
Also, they are very strict with you being where you need to be, early or on-time, but never late. If there's a 5 minute bathroom break, for example, and you come back to the classroom after 6 minutes (1 minute late), the classroom door might be locked and you...well, you might get kicked out of training! If you think about it, being late to an airplane can also delay things since pilots may have limited runway take-off times and being one minute late might mean having to wait for Air Traffic Control to allot another departure time that's significantly later, which means people might miss their connections, etc. Also, instructors look at your attitude and how well you get along with everyone else. Nastiness is not tolerated. You definitely need to be a people-person since you'll be dealing with all kinds of people on this job.
So, training can be stressful but it's also exhilarating. You'll probably make friends there that you'll become really close with and perhaps they'll be your lifelong friends or you might even marry someone from training. Perhaps it's the heightened emotion during training or the desire to share your experiences with someone going through the same thing, but it's certainly common for co-trainees to date each other. Yes, some have personal rules not to date co-workers and others are already spoken for, and that's of course respected too.
Flight attendant training is a wild ride and it's just the beginning of an exciting lifestyle. There are always those who do not graduate for one reason or another, and there are some who are attempting it a 2nd or even 3rd time. (Based on the airline's policy, you may be able to try training again after waiting a year.)
Besides your initial training, there's also a one-day class you must attend annually to refresh all the old stuff and learn anything new that's changed.
Good luck!
Your advice was so helpful!
Neveah Amber