How Long does it take to Become a Flight Attendant

Becoming a flight attendant takes dedication and hard work, but the rewards are worth it. The process typically takes between 6-12 months, depending on the airline. You’ll need to complete an application, attend an interview, and pass a medical exam. You’ll also need to complete a training program, which can last anywhere from 4-8 weeks. With the right attitude and commitment, you can become a flight attendant in no time.

Can You Become a Flight Attendant with no Experience?

In theory, yes. But competition for Flight Attendant jobs is fierce! The major airlines (American, Delta, etc…) will announce dates for interviews, hundreds or maybe thousands of people will show up.

One time an airline received more than 102,000 applications for the Flight Attendant open positions. Slightly more than 9,000 of the applicants were called back for a second interview. In the end, fewer than 2,500 (about 2.5%) of those who applied were hired.

If only 1% to 2% of the interviewees will end up getting the job. You need to think of a way to stand out!

Click here if you would like some suggestions.

But don’t get discouraged, you can do it!

Can You Become a Flight Attendant with no Experience?

In theory, yes. But competition for Flight Attendant jobs is fierce! The major airlines (American, Delta, etc…) will announce dates for interviews, hundreds or thousands of people will show up. But only 1% to 2% of the interviewees will end up getting the job. You need to think of a way to stand out!

A Flight Attendant posted this:

“I know candidates that got the job on their first try, and they told me they were not prepared at all and didn’t perform well, yet they passed. They obviously had a great recruiter that saw something in them, they fell into the quota for that day and they had tons of luck too.”

If you’re accepted right away. You’re looking at 6 to 9 months to go through the interview process and the training.

But don’t expect that to happen.

A a different flight Attendant posted this on Quora:

“It took me 10+ tries during the course of 3 years to get my 1 st Cabin Crew job. I applied to many airlines and I attended many Cabin Crew open days/assessment days for 3 years. Rejection after another was a typical day for me. It is much more difficult to score a Cabin Crew job with popular airlines than to go for ‘’low cost’’ airlines. For example with Ryanair where the candidates PAY for the training and everything, the chances to score a job with Ryanair are high. While if someone wants to work for example Virgin Atlantic, Delta Airlines, Emirates, Singapore Airline, Qatar Airways, Cathay or Etihad to name a few, THAT’S extremely difficult.”

But don’t get discouraged, you can do it!

How Hard is it to become a Flight Attendant

Becoming a flight attendant can be difficult. There are several steps you have to go through. And the interview process is lengthy.

You submit your resume and apply online.
Then you have to get through the group interview.
If they like what they saw, you will have to go through several one on one interviews.
If you’re lucky enough to get through the interviews. You get invited to the company sponsored training. Depending on the airline, the training will be between 4 to 9 weeks. You will not be paid during the training, but the airline will pay for your hotel and meals.
During the training they will
- Do a physical and check your teeth
- Do a background check back 10 years
- You’ll have to memorize a ton of stuff
- And the emergency training is very physical
- Oh yea, you also get trained to serve meals and cokes (customer service).

Becoming a flight attendant is more difficult than what you would consider to be a “normal job”.

But it’s not impossible!

This article will give you suggestions on how to make yourself more valuable to the airline.

Flight Attendant Age restrictions

Some airlines require a minimum age of 18, but others have it as high as 21 years old.

FYI: Western (U.S., EU) airlines don’t have maximum age limits. But Asian and Middle eastern airlines may (about 30 years old).

Flight Attendant Interviewing Process and Training

Up until now, I’ve been talking about what you should do to improve your odds of getting an interview and improve your knowledge.

Now comes the airline interview process.

The interview process of any major U.S. airline is very involved and competitive. Below are the steps you’ll be going through to become a flight Attendant.

You need to write a good resume that follows the airline’s requirements.
You need to submit your resume / application to the airline of your choice. You can do this online.
If you have a good resume / application, you’ll get an invitation to attend a group interview. See what the Group interview is like here.
If you’ve successfully gotten through the group discussion. You’ll get an invitation to attend an (in-person or video) interview. This may be the first of several in-person interviews. Find out about the interview process here.
After the interview, if you are lucky, the airline will send you a letter congratulating you on your selection for training. The airlines will only accept flight attendants after passing all in-person interviews.
Usually within 2 to 3 weeks of getting the first letter. You will be told to report to the airline’s training center for your training.
Training usually takes 6 to 8 weeks. Find out about the training here
You’ll only be accepted for employment after your training is completed.
Before graduation, you will be given a choice of cities (bases) where you want to fly out of.
Then you head to your base and start your career.

Flight Attendant Interviewing Process and Training

Up until now, I’ve been talking about what you should do to improve your odds of getting an interview and improve your knowledge.

Now comes the airline interview process.

The interview process of any major U.S. airline is very involved and competitive. Below are the steps you’ll be going through to become a flight Attendant.

You need to write a good resume that follows the airline’s requirements. [see how here]
You need to submit your resume / application to the airline of your choice. You can do this online.
If you have a good resume / application, you’ll get an invitation to attend a group discussion. [8 Group discussion tips here]

If you’ve successfully gotten through the group discussion. You’ll get an invitation to attend an (in-person or video) interview. This may be the first of several in-person interviews. [Get interview questions & answers here]
After the interview, if you are lucky, the airline will send you a letter congratulating you on your selection for training. The airlines will only accept flight attendants after passing all in-person interviews.
Usually within 2 to 3 weeks of getting the first letter. You will be told to report to the airline’s training center for your training.
Training usually takes 6 to 8 weeks. [Find out about the training here]
You’ll only be accepted for employment after your training is completed.
Before graduation, you will be given a choice of cities (bases) where you want to fly out of.
Then you head to your base and start your career.

Are You Ready to Become a Flight Attendant?

With your schedule constantly changing, being a new hire can be difficult. But if you like the idea of traveling and meeting new people. And if you’re able to stick it out and get seniority. You can have an interesting career that will allow you to make a good living.

Remember, no job is perfect.. But if you love what you do, it won’t feel like work.

If you would like to know more about being a Flight Attendant, take a look at this site. There are articles on:

“A day in the life”, find out what flight attendants do during a flight.

The requirements to becoming a flight attendant

The pros and cons of being a flight attendant

The process of how to become a flight attendant (interviews, training, etc.…)

What the salary and benefits are

Even suggestions on what to pack when you go for training!

Click here to check us out, so we can answer all your questions!

Good luck!