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Flight Attendant

A safety job that the public thinks is a service job.

Typical pay

$30k first year to $90k senior

How you get in

Airline training academy, 3-8 weeks

Outlook

Growing, but hiring is extremely competitive

Flight attendants are on board primarily for safety and emergency response; the service is secondary. Pay is by flight hour, seniority governs everything, and the first years are reserve duty and low income.

A day in the life

  1. 4:30aHotel van to the airport, check the day's sequence
  2. 5:45aPreflight safety and equipment checks
  3. 6:30aBoarding, then the first of four legs
  4. 11:00aQuick turn, eat standing up
  5. 3:00pDelay — unpaid until the door closes
  6. 8:00pLayover hotel in a city you did not choose

How to get in

Airline hiring and training

Duration

3-8 weeks of training

Cost

$0 — usually paid a stipend, though some airlines charge for lodging

Credential

FAA Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency

  1. Apply to airlines — expect thousands of applicants per class
  2. Pass the group interview, one-on-one and background check
  3. Complete unpaid or low-paid training at the academy
  4. Start on reserve, which means on call and living near your base

Regional airline first

Duration

3-8 weeks, then 1-3 years

Cost

$0

Credential

Same FAA certification

  1. Start at a regional carrier, where hiring is less competitive
  2. Build a year or two of experience
  3. Apply to a major carrier with real experience on your resume
  4. Understand that moving airlines resets your seniority to zero

Language or specialty qualification

Duration

Same training, better odds

Cost

$0

Credential

Language of destination qualification

  1. Become fluent in a language the airline needs for international routes
  2. Apply as a language-qualified candidate
  3. Qualify for international routes with better pay and layovers
  4. Materially improves your odds of being hired at all

What people love

  • · Travel benefits for you and often family
  • · No degree required
  • · Days off in blocks once you have seniority
  • · Genuinely varied work and crews

What wears people down

  • · First years are reserve — on call, low pay
  • · Paid only for flight hours, not boarding or delays
  • · Time zones, dry air and irregular sleep
  • · Seniority controls your entire quality of life

From people doing it

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