How to Become a Flight Attendant with No Experience in 2023

Being a flight attendant can be an exciting and rewarding career. It offers flexibility, great pay, and unique benefits. So, if your question is how to become a flight attendant with no experience in 2023, then you are at the right place.

This post is for you if you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a flight attendant but are worried you need more experience to be hired.

Read this article to learn how to become a flight attendant from scratch.

There is a high need for experienced flight attendants, yet airlines are constantly hiring and training new flight attendants. Most airlines would be thrilled to have you join their team if you match the qualifications and have some other factors they look for.

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Who is a Flight Attendant?

Flight attendants are responsible for the safety of all passengers and crew members on board.

When problems happen in the air, they deal with them and make sure everyone follows FAA regulations.

If they want to keep their passengers safe, airlines must comply with the law and hire flight attendants.

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Duties of Flight Attendants

Other roles/ duties of a flight attendant include:

1. Getting trip-specific flight details via sitting in on pre-flight pilot briefings

2. Emergency gear is checked before every flight.

3. Maintenance of the aircraft’s passenger cabin, including providing food and drink.

4. Make sure everyone on board is ready for takeoff and landing.

5. Passengers who require exceptional help for children or any other reason receive it.

6. Addressing disruptive guests and monitoring the cabin for signs of trouble

7. Helping people in an emergency find and use safety equipment, extinguish flames, and navigate evacuations.

8. You must notify concerns about passenger health or safety immediately.

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Criteria to Become a Flight Attendant with no experience

To become a flight attendant, you must first have the following in place:

1. First, the FAA requires flight attendants to be qualified and receive their employers’ training.

2. In addition to having customer service expertise, flight attendants must have completed high school or its equivalent.

3. You must be at least 18 years old, able to work in the U.S. legally, have a valid passport, and pass a drug test and background check.

4. They must be tall enough for the plane and have correctable eyesight to at least 20/40. Similarly, flight attendants may be needed to pass a medical test.

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Flight Attendant Requirements

Candidates for the flight attendant position must be at least 18 years old, possess a valid passport, be able to see clearly at a distance of 20 feet or less, and pass a drug test and background check.

You may also need to be healthy and a certain height to fly on a carrier. Flight attendants are expected to provide a high level of service to passengers and should present themselves professionally.

Education

At the very least, you’ll need to be 18 years old, have a valid passport, have 20/40 vision, and pass a drug test and background checks to be considered for a position as a flight attendant.

You might also need to be a certain height and pass the airline’s medical screening process.

The best way to ensure a smooth flight is to have a friendly and helpful flight attendant.

Training

Most flight attendants need a year or two of experience in the field to develop their customer service skills. Once employed, flight attendants often undergo training that lasts three to six weeks and, in some extreme circumstances, up to six months, courtesy of the airline.

Flying attendants undergo rigorous training to be knowledgeable in various topics, including safety and emergency procedures, first aid, flight legislation, and work responsibilities. They also engage in flight training.

Every flight attendant must complete this fundamental instruction to get certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). They may need additional training courses if they want to work for a specific airline.

Certifications

To work as a flight attendant, one must hold a valid certification from the following lists.

• FAA Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency

After completing their on-the-job training and scoring high on an associated exam, flight attendants receive this certificate.

Flight attendants must be trained and certified to work on all different types of aircraft. In addition, they need to participate in annual continuing education to keep their credentials current.

• Flight Attendant Certificate Courses

The Inflight Institute, for instance, provides several training courses for various airline types (charter, regional, national, and international) to provide the highest level of safety and service to passengers.

Flight attendants applying to one of their partner airlines must first take these online courses, including aviation lingo, safety protocols, and passenger service.

Skills

Flight attendants must have excellent people skills and a genuine interest in serving others. They like seeing new locations and cultures and are used to working irregular or untraditional hours.

There are a few essential abilities for a flight attendant to have:

#1. Attention to Detail

Flight attendants have to monitor their passengers for problems and unusual activity. Also, they must be watchful while checking employee uniforms and machinery for security flaws.

#2. Communication

Flight attendants must have strong public speaking skills to persuade passengers and other crew members during safety demonstrations and everyday conversations. They need to be pleasant to be around and attentive listeners.

#3. Customer Service

Making people feel welcome is crucial for a flight attendant’s job. They must be friendly and patient with customers to make flying a pleasant experience.

#4. Stamina

Flight attendants have a tough job that requires them to work long hours, interact with angry customers, and carry heavy baggage and service carts. They spend a great deal of time on their feet.

#5. Efficiency

Flight attendants must complete all pre-flight tasks quickly and adequately to guarantee a timely takeoff. They must use that time to serve passengers when they are in the air.

#6. Leadership

Flight attendants are relied upon to take charge in the case of an emergency and make split-second decisions to ensure the safety of passengers.

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Flight Attendant Work Environment

As a Flight attendants, you can work either part-time or full-time shifts. They might be employed by various types of airlines, including commercial, corporate, regional, or even international ones.

Airlines operate around the clock, every day of the year, including holidays and weekends. This means that their employees must work irregular hours.

Although most airlines only allow flight attendants to work 12 hours daily, you may require longer shifts on international flights. The FAA mandates that flight attendants get at least nine hours off between shifts.

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How much does a flight attendant make?

First, the perks and the lifestyle of being a flight attendant may entice you to pursue a career in the field, but it will only pay the rent. That being said, how much money can you anticipate making?

Let’s be honest: being a flight attendant will lead to something other than financial success. According to ZipRecruiter, as of March 2020, the average yearly salary for a U.S. flight attendant is $59,987, but pay rates can range from $20,500 to $180,000. Earnings for flight attendants typically range from $37,500 to $62,000 annually.

Though not particularly fruitful, it is possible. Though, What makes becoming a flight attendant appealing is not the salary but the benefits. Since many of us are here because of these fantastic advantages, let’s discuss them first.

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What are some of the benefits of being a flight attendant?

#1. Free flights for you

Those of you who only came for the free flights, please raise your hands. To respond, please submit your hand. Everyone? Great. Good news: you’ve found the correct location. Free flights on the employee’s airline are a well-known perk of being a flight attendant.

#2. Free flights for your spouse/dependents/parents

However, that’s not all. Did you know your spouse, dependent children, and sometimes even your parents may fly for free on most airlines? Think about how much money you’ll save on your next family vacation if you don’t have to shell out for plane tickets. That way, your mom and dad can’t complain that you never pitched in. You’ll be working hard to provide for them, yet they’ll be relaxing on a beach or a trip to a faraway city on the house.

#3. Tax-only fares when flying other airlines

What if your preferred airline doesn’t service a far-flung locale you’ve always wanted to visit? You’ll have to pay a total price to go anywhere else. Refrain from jumping to conclusions. Find out whether other airlines have reciprocal agreements with yours. Flight perks from one airline to another are often by mutual understanding. A small tax amount beyond what would generally be in a bought ticket will be required here.

#4. Flexible scheduling

The airline business places a premium on seniority for those who don’t know. The more time you put in, the more flexible your schedule will become. Flight attendants place a “bid” for their ideal work schedule every month. Meaning you get to choose your perfect timetable.

Which days do you want to take off for your flight? Where do you like to travel the most? Which layovers or out-and-backs are you interested in? Where do you stand: international or domestic? Do you have a favorite airplane model?

You input your desired schedule into a complex computer system, and it attempts to fulfill as many of your requirements as it can, producing a timetable that closely resembles your original submission. It’s enticing to hear, no doubt. Once you’ve put in your time and earned some seniority, it is precisely the case. Depending on your level of seniority, the matching algorithm may prioritize you for certain positions. The most experienced flight attendants are paired first, so they’ll have practically ideal schedules. Those flight attendants with lower seniority receive whatever is left over, regardless of whether or not it meets their preferences, because there are fewer and fewer openings as the list goes lower and lower. Even if your schedule isn’t perfect, you can make adjustments by exchanging shifts with coworkers. Furthermore, you may change your timetable by placing a new bid every month.

How to Become a Flight Attendant with No Experience

Are you raring to go to apply for a job as a flight attendant? Great! See below for a primer on getting going:

Step 1: Make sure you meet the minimum requirements

Meeting all of the requirements renders an application moot. Here are some general guidelines that apply across the board, while individual airlines may have their own:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 21 to apply.
• Possess superior English language skills (reading, writing, listening, and communicating).
• Own a credential equal to a high school diploma (diploma, GED, etc.)
• Having a firm grasp of the fundamentals of computing and arithmetic is essential.
• Obtain the necessary height. They exist so that flight attendants may easily access the overhead storage compartments at a reasonable size for the cabin. The average human being is between 5 and 6 feet 3 inches.
• Make sure you only weigh what the airline will allow. So long as your height and weight are reasonably close, you should be able to get into a jump seat and walk freely down the aisle.
• Complete vision and hearing exams
• When in uniform, you should not display any tattoos. You should also: Possess or be able to get a valid passport and any necessary visas.
• Have a legal right to work in the USA.
• Acceptable results on a drug test, fingerprints, and criminal background check are required.
• Possess the physical fitness necessary to succeed in a medical examination.
• Capable of physically pushing or dragging beverage and food carts (up to 250 lbs)
• Must be in good enough shape to open heavy doors and heavy windows in an emergency (up to 60 lbs (up to 126 lbs)

Step 2: Polish your résumé

Jobs as flight attendants are highly sought after, and competition for them is severe. Make your resume stand out by following standard formatting guidelines and emphasizing any customer service experience you may have had since airlines often appreciate friendly faces behind the counter.

Step 3: Choose an airline and submit an online application.

Consider your needs and preferences carefully, and then choose an airline. When choosing an airline, you should think about more than just salary and benefits. Complete an online application when you’re ready to apply.

Step 4: Prepare for your interview.

Your first step after clicking “apply” should be practicing for the interview. Typically, airlines conduct a first round of video interviews to exclude unqualified applicants and then conduct second, in-person interviews with the remaining prospects.

Get the inside scoop from working flight attendants on how to ace the interview and land the job. The groundwork for both video and in-person interviews is essentially the same.

Do not casually dress for the meeting. Be presentable by opting for stylish and suitable hair and cosmetics. A manicure and some lovely jewelry may help you seem put together.

Do some research on the airline you’re interviewing with. Your goal is to amass as much information as possible. Be careful to adhere to their dress code if it is listed anywhere on their website or elsewhere before any interviews.

Make sure the lighting and setting of your video interview are appropriate for a professional environment and that you won’t be disturbed during the interview by anybody else. Get comfortable answering these questions on camera.

Step 5: Pass your background check, drug test, and physical exam.

Having made it through both the video and in-person interviews, you should be set to go. There are still procedures like a background check, a drug test, and a physical examination.

Step 6: Complete flight attendant training

You’ve successfully reached your airline’s terminal. You can become a full-fledged flight attendant once you’ve finished the training program required by your airline. This training course will teach you all you need to know to excel as a flight attendant and will run for around 6 weeks. Without any prior experience as a flight attendant, you will receive your wings on graduation day and begin your new life of adventure.

Finally, we recommend that you purchase some Aerocoast Bags. Ideal for flight attendants and other members of the flight crew. It’s better to spend a little more money on the correct bag the first time than deal with the hassle of a shoddy substitute.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the faqs on how to become a flight attendant.

Conclusion

This book will provide the background information and inspiration you need to realize your goal of becoming a flight attendant.

Keep in mind that making a profession switch can be a challenging and time-consuming procedure. A job offer may not come immediately after you apply. Possibly even the second.

But if you want to be a flight attendant, stick to your strategy and keep applying. In no time, you’ll have mastered the interview process and be on your way to a new job.

The fact that you have never held the position of flight attendant before does not indicate that you cannot do an excellent job once given the opportunity.

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References

• https://www.zippia.com/ – How to become a flight attendant.
• https://www.pilotmall.com/ – How to become a flight attendant with no experience