Flight Attendant
A flight attendant is a professional responsible for ensuring the safety, security, and comfort of passengers aboard an aircraft. Their duties include serving food and beverages, addressing passenger inquiries, and maintaining compliance with aviation safety regulations. Typically working long hours in a fast-paced environment, flight attendants often find themselves away from their home base for significant periods each month. They must possess strong communication skills and the ability to handle diverse and sometimes challenging passenger interactions while maintaining a positive demeanor.
Before flights, attendants prepare by coordinating with the flight crew and assessing the cabin for safety. During the flight, they provide essential information about safety procedures and assist passengers as needed. The job requires a blend of interpersonal skills, poise, and knowledge of aviation and emergency protocols. Education requirements typically include a high school diploma, with some airlines preferring postsecondary education or training related to hospitality. The role can be demanding, with exposure to various health risks due to frequent interactions with the public and cabin environments.
Flight Attendant
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Interests: Aviation, travel, communicating with others, handling emergency situations
Earnings (Yearly Median): $63,760 per year
Employment & Outlook: 11% (Much faster than average)
Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent; Federal Aviation Administration certification
Related Work Experience Less than five years
On-the-job-Training Moderate-term on-the-job training
Overview
Sphere of Work. A flight attendant is an airline professional who ensures the overall security and safety of the airplane cabin, as well as the safety and comfort of its passengers. They will also attend to passengers' needs and are responsible for serving food and beverages to the passengers and crew. A flight attendant guarantees successful compliance with standard aviation safety regulations and protocols and must thoroughly understand the ways in which airplanes operate. Flight attendants report to a flight supervisor and also to the captain of the aircraft on which they are working.
Work Environment. Flight attendants spend most of their time aboard an aircraft and are assigned a home base location from which they generally operate. Generally, they are away from their home base location for at least one-third of their working time per month. Most flight attendants are expected to work nights, holidays, and weekends in addition to regular hours during the week. They usually spend sixty-five to eighty-five hours per month in flight (with shifts lasting up to fourteen hours), with the ability to request additional hours, and another fifty hours per month on the ground performing tasks such as flight and report preparation.
Occupation Interest. Potential flight attendants should be interested in learning about aviation, national and international travel, and safety and emergency regulations. They should also possess outstanding communication skills. Flight attendants must interact with diverse and, at times, difficult passengers and must project a pleasant and personable attitude, regardless of the circumstances. Individuals interested in becoming flight attendants should possess poise as well as strength of character, as these qualities will help them remain calm and effective during crisis or emergency situations aboard an aircraft.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. When a flight attendant reports for duty, they will typically meet with the captain and other crew members one hour before take-off to discuss evacuation procedures, airline crew coordination, flight duration, relevant passenger information (such as health or mobility issues), and anticipated weather conditions. Before passengers board the airplane, flight attendants take inventory of and prepare food and beverages and check first aid kits and emergency equipment. Once passengers begin boarding, flight attendants are responsible for greeting them, helping them find their seats, and assisting with the storage of carry-on luggage. Before take-off, flight attendants check the aircraft for any dangerous materials and note any passengers exhibiting odd or potentially threatening behavior. They welcome passengers aboard the flight and provide information regarding safety procedures and emergency escape routes.
A flight attendant ensures the safety and security of the passengers and attends to their comfort and satisfaction from the time they board the aircraft until they depart. This includes assisting sick or injured passengers, providing food and beverages, answering any questions passengers might have, and preparing the passengers and plane for a safe landing. To further ensure passenger satisfaction, a flight attendant might also calm the nerves of anxious passengers and supervise small children. Prior to landing, flight attendants also collect disposable earbuds and trash, as well as take inventory. Once the plane is on the ground, flight attendants assist passengers exiting the aircraft and report the condition of cabin equipment. The lead flight attendant supervises crewmembers aboard the airplane in addition to performing their own regular duties.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. The majority of a flight attendant’s work takes place inside the cabin of a clean, well-ventilated airplane. They are required to wear a uniform representing the airline for which they work and must stand for long periods of time. A flight attendant also spends time in or around airline terminals. Constant exposure to re-circulated air, repetitive lifting and pushing motions, and the lack of safety restraints as the airplane encounters turbulence all contribute to a higher-than-average rate of job-related illness and injury.
Human Environment. Flight attendants work and deal with large groups of passengers, as well as other crewmembers. They report to flight supervisors and captains. Because they interact with so many people on a daily basis, flight attendants are susceptible to airborne illnesses and other sicknesses. In spite of work-related stressors, they must maintain a visibly positive attitude when in public situations and must address passenger requests in a cordial yet authoritative manner. Increasingly, flight attendants may have to deal with air rage or unruly behavior from passengers. It is integral that flight attendants remain calm and focused on passenger safety.
Technological Environment. In addition to learning and understanding the basic functions of an airplane, flight attendants must use intercoms and public address systems, compact food and beverage carts, movie and music systems, first aid kits, microwave ovens, seating charts, demonstration equipment, emergency survival equipment and systems, and other new technology as it becomes available. When helping passengers locate connecting flights, flight attendants may utilize smartphones and tablets to guide passengers through an airport to their correct gates.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students who wish to become flight attendants can prepare by studying foreign languages, foods and nutrition, psychology, and public speaking. They should also take a basic first aid training and certification course. An understanding of the fundamentals of aviation, emergency procedures, and airplane operation and maintenance is useful. They should also participate in social clubs or volunteer groups that allow them to interact with peers and the public.
Postsecondary. Potential flight attendants are required to have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent. Certain schools and colleges also offer flight attendant training, but a postsecondary degree is generally not required; however, increasingly often, some airlines give preference to those candidates with a college degree or who have already completed some kind of related training. Flight attendants may find it helpful to study postsecondary subjects related to the hospitality industry, such as communications, travel, and tourism. Flight attendants who wish to work for an international airline are usually proficient in at least one foreign language.
Related Occupations
− Food and Beverage Service Worker
Bibliography
"Flight Attendants." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 6 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/flight-attendants.htm. Accessed 28 Sept. 2023.