Few jobs appear as glamorous as that of a flight attendant. The lure of travel and the opportunity to meet all kinds of people appeal to those interested in this field.
Formerly called stewardesses and stewards, flight attendants are aboard almost every commercial passenger plane to look after passenger safety and comfort. Airliners usually carry from one to ten flight attendants, depending on the number of seats and the proportion of economy to first-class passengers. (The Boeing 747 carries up to 16 flight attendants.) Federal Aviation Administration safety regulations require at least one attendant for every 50 seats.
Before each flight, attendants check supplies such as food, beverages, blankets, reading material, first-aid kits, and emergency equipment. During flight, they instruct passengers in the use of emergency equipment; check seat belts before takeoff or landing; and help care for small children, the elderly, and the handicapped. They also distribute reading material and serve food and beverages.
The main reason planes carry flight attendants is to provide assistance to passengers in the event of an emergency. A calm and reassuring manner is very important, whether the emergency is a sick passenger or an emergency landing. Flight attendants are trained to handle many situations including evacuation of the plane.
Most flight attendants are members of either the Transport Workers Union of America or the Association of Flight Attendants.
This has always been a traditionally female career, and women still predominate. But the number of male flight attendants is increasing, and the entrance of men into this job has prompted the name change from stewardess (and steward) to flight attendant.
Places of Employment and Working Conditions
Over one-half of all flight attendants work out of Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, and San Francisco. The remainders are assigned to other cities where airlines maintain facilities.
Since airlines operate around-the-clock for 365 days a year, flight attendants must be prepared to work nights, weekends, and holidays. They usually fly 75 to 85 hours a month with about 75 to 85 additional hours of ground duties. Their workweek is not divided into neat segments, and because of scheduling and limitations on flying time, many have 11 or 12 days or more off each month. As much as one-third of their time may be spent away from their home base. Airlines provide hotel accommodations and meal allowances for these periods.
Flight attendants are on their feet during most of a flight. Poor weather can cause difficulties, as can sick or frightened passengers. Flight attendants are expected to be pleasant and efficient under all circumstances and with even the most difficult passengers.
Qualifications, Education, and Training
Anyone considering this career field should be poised and tactful, enjoy working with people, and be able to talk comfortably with strangers. Excellent health is a must as is good vision (Contact lenses and eyeglasses are acceptable on most airlines, however.) Airlines also have height and weight requirements, and all flight attendants must be at least 19 to 21 years old and have a high school diploma.
Airlines give preference to applicants with several years of college, nurse's training, or experience in dealing with the public. Fluency in a foreign language is required on international airlines.
Large airlines provide about four to six weeks of training in their own schools. Some also provide transportation to the training center and an allowance while training. Instruction includes emergency procedures, evacuation of a plane, operation of emergency equipment, first aid, flight regulations and duties, and company operations and policies. On international airlines, flight attendants also study passport and customs regulations. Practice flights complete the training. After assignment to a home base, new flight attendants begin their careers by "filling in" on extra flights or replacing attendants who are sick or on vacation.
Potential and Advancement
Employment of flight attendants is expected to grow as increases in population and income increase the use of air transportation. Air travel, however, is sensitive to the ups and downs of the economy, and job opportunities may vary from year to year. Even though employment of flight attendants is expected to grow, there will be stiff competition for jobs; the number of applicants is expected to exceed the number of job openings.
Opportunities for advancement are limited to choice of flight assignment and home base, which flight attendants are entitled to as they accumulate seniority. A few attendants do advance to positions as flight service instructors, customer service directors, or recruiting representatives.
Income
Flight attendants earn compensation for overtime and night and international flights. An attractive fringe benefit is the reduced airfare for flight attendants and their families, on their own and most other airlines.
Additional Sources of Information
Information about job opportunities and requirements for a particular airline may be obtained in writing to the personnel manager of the company. Addresses are available from:
Airlines for America (A4A), 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 1100 | Washington, DC 20004; Tel: 202.626.4000
