2 answers
Heidy
Student
Gainesville, Florida
6
Questions
Updated
3911 views
What is the career path and training experience of a flight attendant?
I'm interested in becoming a fligth attendant, so I have a few questions for any flight attendant.
1. What inspired you to become a flight attendant?
2. What was the training process like, and how long did it take?
3. What qualifications or certifications are required to become a flight attendant?
4. Is it necessary to attend a flight attendant school before applying to airlines?
5. What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue this career?
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2 answers
Arush Anand
Associate Architect
20
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Arush’s Answer
Hi Heidy,
Here’s how a real flight attendant might answer your questions, based on common experiences in the industry:
1. What inspired you to become a flight attendant?
Many flight attendants are drawn to the career because they love traveling, meeting new people, and experiencing different cultures. Some grew up fascinated by aviation or were inspired by seeing flight crews while traveling as passengers. Others enjoy the idea of a job that’s not behind a desk and changes day to day.
2. What was the training process like, and how long did it take?
Airline-provided training usually lasts 4–8 weeks, depending on the airline. It’s intense and highly structured, covering:
Safety and emergency procedures
First aid and CPR
Aircraft familiarization (doors, equipment, communication systems)
Customer service skills
Evacuation drills and security protocols
You’re tested often, and you must pass both written and practical exams before you’re certified to work on flights.
3. What qualifications or certifications are required to become a flight attendant?
Requirements vary by airline, but typically:
High school diploma (some prefer college coursework or degrees)
At least 18–21 years old
Valid passport for international travel
Good health and ability to handle physical demands (standing long hours, lifting luggage, operating safety equipment)
Background check and sometimes a drug screening
Completion of airline’s own flight attendant training (no external license is required in most countries)
4. Is it necessary to attend a flight attendant school before applying to airlines?
Not usually. Most airlines provide their own training, which you must complete to work for them. However, private flight attendant schools can give you an edge in interviews by showing familiarity with the role — though they are not mandatory. It’s important to research the school’s reputation before spending money, because many airlines prefer to train you from scratch.
5. What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue this career?
Develop strong customer service skills — airlines value people who can stay calm, friendly, and professional even in stressful situations.
Learn a second language — this is a huge advantage for international airlines.
Stay physically fit — the role can be physically demanding.
Be flexible — schedules can be irregular, especially starting out.
Apply widely — competition can be high, so don’t limit yourself to just one airline.
Regards,
Arush
Here’s how a real flight attendant might answer your questions, based on common experiences in the industry:
1. What inspired you to become a flight attendant?
Many flight attendants are drawn to the career because they love traveling, meeting new people, and experiencing different cultures. Some grew up fascinated by aviation or were inspired by seeing flight crews while traveling as passengers. Others enjoy the idea of a job that’s not behind a desk and changes day to day.
2. What was the training process like, and how long did it take?
Airline-provided training usually lasts 4–8 weeks, depending on the airline. It’s intense and highly structured, covering:
Safety and emergency procedures
First aid and CPR
Aircraft familiarization (doors, equipment, communication systems)
Customer service skills
Evacuation drills and security protocols
You’re tested often, and you must pass both written and practical exams before you’re certified to work on flights.
3. What qualifications or certifications are required to become a flight attendant?
Requirements vary by airline, but typically:
High school diploma (some prefer college coursework or degrees)
At least 18–21 years old
Valid passport for international travel
Good health and ability to handle physical demands (standing long hours, lifting luggage, operating safety equipment)
Background check and sometimes a drug screening
Completion of airline’s own flight attendant training (no external license is required in most countries)
4. Is it necessary to attend a flight attendant school before applying to airlines?
Not usually. Most airlines provide their own training, which you must complete to work for them. However, private flight attendant schools can give you an edge in interviews by showing familiarity with the role — though they are not mandatory. It’s important to research the school’s reputation before spending money, because many airlines prefer to train you from scratch.
5. What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue this career?
Develop strong customer service skills — airlines value people who can stay calm, friendly, and professional even in stressful situations.
Learn a second language — this is a huge advantage for international airlines.
Stay physically fit — the role can be physically demanding.
Be flexible — schedules can be irregular, especially starting out.
Apply widely — competition can be high, so don’t limit yourself to just one airline.
Regards,
Arush
Dr Fisch
Flight Attendant
79
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hi again Heidy. Here are some more answers to your questions from a real flight attendant.
What was the training process like, and how long did it take?
It takes about a month. At my airline, they actually set you up in a nice hotel & feed you lunch, all for free. It's not super difficult stuff to learn & be tested on, but it is a lot of stuff in a short amount of time. You'll learn about the aircraft types as well the safety, security & the hospitality aspects of the job. Again, not crazy hard stuff but you're expected to perform well, at about the 90% level (so an A if you want to apply a grade level result) on both written and physical proficiencies (for example, CPR or inflight announcements). The great thing about training is you're definitely not alone. The class size might be like 50 to 100 other aspiring flight attendants so you'll have each other as emotional & academic support. These people often become lifelong friends, and sometimes even spouses!
What qualifications or certifications are required to become a flight attendant?
Nothing much. Just need to be old enough to serve alcohol. A high school degree would be expected. The most important thing is, which they'll also look for in the interview, is that you're a people person.... someone who is friendly, tolerant, mature & responsible, compassionate & caring, and basically someone who people would want on their team. This makes sense because you're always working with your work group & passengers, but specific people keep changing personalities, etc. So you have to be able to work well with everyone.
Is it necessary to attend a flight attendant school before applying to airlines?
Definitely not. That's a scam. Airlines all work different & they'll train you anyway on their way of doing things. There is no benefit at all to attending a flight attendent school. In fact, it might make you look dumb to fall for such a scam. It would be WAY better if you did a CPR class or got some sort of other airline experience even if that was in a different department (for example, the ticket counter).
Best of luck to you!
What was the training process like, and how long did it take?
It takes about a month. At my airline, they actually set you up in a nice hotel & feed you lunch, all for free. It's not super difficult stuff to learn & be tested on, but it is a lot of stuff in a short amount of time. You'll learn about the aircraft types as well the safety, security & the hospitality aspects of the job. Again, not crazy hard stuff but you're expected to perform well, at about the 90% level (so an A if you want to apply a grade level result) on both written and physical proficiencies (for example, CPR or inflight announcements). The great thing about training is you're definitely not alone. The class size might be like 50 to 100 other aspiring flight attendants so you'll have each other as emotional & academic support. These people often become lifelong friends, and sometimes even spouses!
What qualifications or certifications are required to become a flight attendant?
Nothing much. Just need to be old enough to serve alcohol. A high school degree would be expected. The most important thing is, which they'll also look for in the interview, is that you're a people person.... someone who is friendly, tolerant, mature & responsible, compassionate & caring, and basically someone who people would want on their team. This makes sense because you're always working with your work group & passengers, but specific people keep changing personalities, etc. So you have to be able to work well with everyone.
Is it necessary to attend a flight attendant school before applying to airlines?
Definitely not. That's a scam. Airlines all work different & they'll train you anyway on their way of doing things. There is no benefit at all to attending a flight attendent school. In fact, it might make you look dumb to fall for such a scam. It would be WAY better if you did a CPR class or got some sort of other airline experience even if that was in a different department (for example, the ticket counter).
Best of luck to you!