Are you a person who is interested in travelling and wants to do this type of job which is related to travel? If yes, and search the details about jobs like a flight attendant and how to become a Flight Attendant then you are at the right place. In this article, I will discuss the details of how to become a flight attendant in the aviation industry.
A flight attendant is an aircrew staff whose duty is to provide safety and comfort to their passengers during the flight. If a passenger encounters a problem during a flight, it is the flight attendant’s responsibility to resolve it as soon as possible.
Flight attendants also provide all types of hospitality services like serving food and drink to passengers. A flight attendant is also known as a flight steward or cabin crew. Girls are also commonly known as Air Hostesses.
A flight attendant is a highly popular and demanding job around the world. A lot of young students are interested in getting a job as a flight attendant on airlines. A lot of young students are interested in getting a job as a flight attendant in airlines also because it gives an opportunity to travel the world for free with accommodation and food.
There are many airline companies all around the world that are regularly recruiting Flight attendants, Flight Steward, and Air hostesses in their company. So, The employment opportunities for these types of professions in the aviation industry are very awesome. However, the eligibility criteria required for selection as a flight attendant may differ from company to company.
Let’s look at the details of how to become a flight attendant in some countries.
How to Become a Flight Attendant in India
If you are from India and want to become a flight attendant in the Indian Aviation Industry then you have to fulfil certain eligibility criteria that are required to become a flight attendant or flight steward.
The minimum education eligibility criteria that candidates need is 12th passed from any stream. Also, candidates should be passed by a recognized board of education. There are many aviation-related institutes in India that provide many courses to candidates.
You can pursue any one course from any institute because the majority of airline companies require a course related to flight attendants. Following is the list of courses you can pursue after passing 12th:
What Courses to Take to Become a Flight Attendant
| Course Name | Duration |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Airlines Cabin Crew | 6 Months |
| Diploma in Airline and Travel Management | 1 to 2 Years |
| Diploma in Tourism Management | 1 Year |
| Diploma in Hotel Management | 2 to 3 Years |
| Diploma in Flight Attendant Services | 1 Year |
| Certificate Level Aviation Courses | 6 Months to 1 Year |
| Diploma in Aviation and Hospitality Management | 1 to 2 Years |
| B.Sc in Hospitality and Hotel Management | 3 Years |
| BBA in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism | 3 Years |
| Diploma in Airfare and Ticketing Management | 6 Months to 1 Year |
| Diploma in Air Hostess | 1 Year |
| Commercial Pilot Training | 4 to 5 Years |
Candidates must have to complete any one of these courses before applying. Every airline company releases vacancies for the recruitment of many posts. Candidates can check the vacancy notification by visiting the official website of airline companies.
Also, candidates can apply for the post of Flight Attendant on the website. Most airline companies conduct examinations and interview rounds for recruitment to multiple posts. Candidates have to qualify for the exam and interview round in order to become Flight Attendants.
If the candidate qualifies in both the test and the interview, he/she is given training for a proper cabin crew of 2 to 3 months by the company. After that candidate is ready to join the airline as a flight attendant.
Eligibility Criteria to Become Flight Attendant
| Education | Graduation Degree in Relevant Stream / 12th / Diploma in Relevant Stream |
| Age Limit | Above 18 Years and Below 27 Years |
| Height | The minimum Height Criteria is 155 cm |
| Weight | Respective to Height (Less Weight are Given More Preference) |
| Marriage Status | Unmarried |
| EyeSight | Maximum +/- 4 |
| Language | Regional and English Language |
| Look | Professional (No Tattoos) |
Indian Companies Hiring Flight Attendant (Cabin Crew)
| Name | Avg. Salary (Yearly) |
|---|---|
| Indigo | ₹2,50,000 – ₹7,80,000 |
| Air India | ₹3,30,000 – ₹9,00,000 |
| Vistara | ₹6,00,000 – ₹10,00,000 |
| AirAsia | ₹4,20,000 – ₹6,60,000 |
| Air India Express | ₹4,20,000 – ₹6,00,000 |
| SpiceJet | ₹2,00,000 – ₹8,50,000 |
| GoAir | ₹3,40,000 – ₹5,40,000 |
| Alliance Air | ₹6,50,000 – ₹8,30,000 |
Note:- Salary may fluctuate.
Top Flight Attendant Institute in India
| Institute Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Indira Gandhi Institute of Aeronautics | Nagpur |
| Universal Aviation Academy | Chennai |
| Indigo Training Centre | Gurugram |
| Air Hostess Academy | Bangalore |
| Center for Civil Aviation Training | New Delhi |
| Institute for Personality Etiquette and Grooming | Chennai |
| Bombay Flying Club College of Aviation | Mumbai |
| Jet Airways Training Academy | Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata |
| Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training | Bangalore, Delhi, Gujarat, Goa, etc |
How to Become Flight Attendant in USA
If you want to become a Flight Attendant in the USA aviation industry then you must have passed in high school diploma or equivalent course. Also, candidates are generally required to have a minimum of 1 to 2 years of customer service in any industry before applying for the Flight Attendant position in any airline.
Before becoming a Flight Attendant candidates should get training from their recruiter and the certificate must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of Demonstrated Proficiency. The duration of the training period that candidates get from their airlines is 3 to 6 weeks.
In the training period, candidates learn about company operations, flight rules, flight safety, job duties, collective management, etc. and also undergo practical training in emergency procedures such as evacuation, administration of first aid and evacuation of aircraft. At the end of the training, students also go on practice flights. Some of the other eligibility criteria that are needed to become a Flight Attendant are as follows:
- Candidates must be at least 18 years of age.
- Candidates must have a valid passport.
- Candidates must have a proper vision that is correctable to at least 20/40.
- Candidates must not have visible tattoos, body piercing, or an unusual hairstyle or makeup.
- Candidates should speak clearly.
How Long does it Take to Become a Flight Attendant
I hope you have completed your high school diploma and also done a minimum of 2 years of customer service before applying for Flight Attendant. If yes and then want to know about the duration length then the answer is that it is very difficult to tell the exact duration length to become a flight attendant because the duration of the period varies from airline to airline and also depends on the type of aircraft.
If you are allotted a flight attendant in a low-cost carrier aircraft, then you are almost sent for proper training of 4 to 6 weeks and if you get legacy carriers then you do 2 to 4 months of training.
After that, you must have to qualify for the interview. The final results come after about 1 to 1.5 months from the Interview. So, on average I would say it takes 6 to 7 months to take your initial flight as a Flight Attendant.
Airlines Hiring Flight Attendants
| Airline Name | Flight Attendant Salary by Airline (Average) |
|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | $43,958 per year |
| Southwest Airlines | $51,626 per year |
| United Airlines | $43,548 per year |
| Alaska Airlines | $40,628 per year |
| American Airlines | $37,457 per year |
| JetBlue Airways | $36,943 per year |
| Hawaiian Airlines | $59,277 per year |
| Spirit Airlines | $30,630 per year |
| Frontier | $31,893 per year |
| Allegiant Airlines | $39,000 per year |
Flight Attendant Schools in United States
| School Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Academics of Flight | Long Island City, New York |
| Atlantis Flight Academy | Pembroke Pines, Florida |
| AeroStar Training Services | Kissimmee, Florida |
| Alpha Echo Aviation School for Cabin Crew and Airport Personnel | Sterling, Virginia |
| Beyond and Above Corporate Flight Attendant Training | Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Cypress College | Cypress, California |
| Flight Attendant Career Training | Greensboro, North Carolina |
| Flight Attendant Prep Academy | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Flight Simulation Company | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Higher Power Aviation | Bedford, Massachusetts |
| Jet-Set Aviation Professionals | Beverly Hills, California |
| Pan Am International Flight Academy | Miami, Florida |
| Professional Flight Attendant Academy | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton, Ohio |
| The Airline Academy | Ormond Beach, Florida |
| The Travel Academy | Eagan, Minnesota |
Skills Required to be a Flight Attendant
- Applicants must have good Communication Skills.
- Applicants should have Customer Service Skills.
- Applicants must have high Physical Stamina.
- Applicants must have good vision and hearing ability.
- Applicants should know proper swimming.
- Applicants should have problem-solving abilities.
- Applicants must know the proper use of the First-Aid Box.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take to become a flight attendant?
The length of the training period is 4 to 6 weeks. After that, it takes 5 to 6 months of duration to take your first flight as Flight Attendant.
How much is a flight attendant paid in USA?
The average salary of flight attendants in the USA is $40,000 per year.
What is the average salary of a flight attendant in India?
The average salary of a flight attendant in India is ₹5,00,000 per annum.
Is it hard to become a flight attendant?
It’s not hard but it is competitive in nature to become a flight attendant.
What are the requirements to become a flight attendant?
In the USA, applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent and 2 years of customer service. In India, candidates require a 12th pass and a diploma in a cabin crew course.