How to Become a Flight Attendant: Requirements, Steps and Salary

To become a flight attendant you generally need to be at least 18 to 21, hold a high school diploma, be able to reach overhead bins, pass a medical and background check, and complete an airline’s training programme. No college degree is required. The competition is real, but the path is clear, and customer-service experience helps more than anything on paper.

The requirements

• Age: usually a minimum of 18 to 21 depending on the airline.
• Education: a high school diploma or equivalent. A degree is not required.
• Reach and health: able to reach overhead bins (airlines test this rather than a strict height rule), and pass a medical.
• Eligibility: the legal right to work, a valid passport, and the ability to clear a background check and drug screening.
• People skills: customer-service experience and, for many airlines, a second language are strong advantages.

Step by step

1. Apply directly through the airline’s careers site, with a resume focused on service and safety.
2. Assessment and interview: often a group assessment day, then one-on-one interviews.
3. Conditional offer: followed by background, medical and reference checks.
4. Training: the airline’s own programme, typically three to eight weeks, covering safety, emergency procedures, first aid and service. In the US you earn an FAA Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency.
5. Reserve: most new crew start on reserve, on call to cover trips, before holding a regular line.

What the job is really like

The work is built on seniority. It shapes your schedule, your base and the trips you can hold, so the early years take patience. In return you get a career that is rarely the same two days running, and travel benefits that include heavily discounted and standby flights for you and eligible family.

What it pays

First-year pay is modest and rises steeply with seniority. We cover the full breakdown in our guide to flight attendant salary, including how the flight-hour pay model and per diem work.

When you get the wings, make them count

Crew VIP is built for airline staff, with member rates on hotels, lounges, transport and experiences in more than 6,000 cities. Get the Crew VIP app.

Keep reading

• Flight attendant salary: how much do they make?
• Airline pilot salary
• How long does it take to become an airline pilot?
• What to do on a long layover

Frequently asked questions

What qualifications do you need to be a flight attendant?

A high school diploma, the legal right to work, a valid passport, and the ability to pass a medical and background check. Customer-service experience and a second language help.

Do you need a degree to be a flight attendant?

No. A college degree is not required. Most airlines value customer-service experience and the right attitude far more than formal education.

How long is flight attendant training?

The airline’s own training programme typically runs three to eight weeks, covering safety, emergencies, first aid and service before you start flying.

How old do you have to be to become a flight attendant?

Most airlines set a minimum age of 18 to 21. There is no upper age limit, and many people join as a second career.