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Can you be a flight attendant at 16?

You must be at least 18 years old to serve as a flight attendant, and more than half of all major airlines require applicants to be at least 19 or 20 years old. At 21 years old, you can apply to be a flight attendant with any airline.



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Applicants must meet minimum age requirements, typically 18 or 21; be eligible to work in the United States; have a valid passport; and pass a background check and drug test. They must have vision that is correctable to at least 20/40 and often need to conform to height requirements set by the airline.

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A high school diploma is typically required to become a flight attendant. Some airlines may prefer to hire applicants who have taken some college courses or who have a college degree. Those working on international flights may need fluency in a foreign language.

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Average Flight Attendant Pay vs. Flight Attendants earned an average salary of $62,280 in 2021.

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Steps to Take to be a Flight Attendant
It's difficult and can take a long time. Airlines can take 3-6 months to get through the hiring process, that's if your resume makes it through the first cut. Intense Competition. We estimate there are 1 – 1.5 million flight attendant applications for 5,000 – 10,000 jobs.

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Published Research. U.S. flight attendants have a higher prevalence of several forms of cancer, including breast cancer, uterine cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, thyroid cancer, and cervical cancer, when compared with the general public, according to new research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

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According to AirlineCareer.com, approximately 40% of flight attendant trainees industry-wide don't make it through training. With Harvard's graduation rate falling around 98%, it's very likely that it's also much more difficult to graduate from Delta flight attendant training school than it is to graduate from Harvard.

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Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this occupation include:
  • Foreign Language.
  • Hospitality.
  • Psychology.
  • Safety and First Aid.
  • Travel and Tourism.


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Airlines provide a three- to six-week training program for their flight attendants. You will typically attend training for eight hours a day throughout the duration of the program. This training prepares you to use airport codes, make PA announcements, perform routine job duties and handle in-flight emergencies.

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Complete the airline's training program You will complete around four supervised test flights as part of the program. You must successfully pass your training to become a flight attendant. Most airlines require a minimum grade of 90%.

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The average flight attendant age is 49 years old. The most common ethnicity of flight attendants is White (59.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (15.8%), Black or African American (10.2%) and Asian (7.6%). Flight attendants are most in-demand in Los Angeles, CA.

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Height-wise, attendants should be between 5'2” and 6'3” without shoes. They do not allow facial piercings or visible tattoos – even if concealed. A high school degree is required, with 2 or more years of college preferred.

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Based on United States strict discrimination and labor laws, there is no maximum age to become a flight attendant. In general, it's worth noting that the retirement age there is around 65 years old.

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It's a physical job, but not all flight attendants must be slim and trim. You do, however, have to fit into the flight attendant jumpseat. Flight attendants have no set weight requirements, as body types can vary even if two people are the same height and weight.

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Typically, flight attendants work 12 to 14 days and log 65 to 85 flight hours on average each month, not including overtime. Flight attendants are only paid once the boarding doors are closed. There are two types of flight attendant schedules, reserve schedules, and fine holder schedules.

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It's an often asked question. Of course, some flight attendants have no interest in flying an aircraft, so they wouldn't be a good person to ask. However, some flight attendants do indeed decide to study for their pilot's license and, therefore, could potentially help land an aircraft in an emergency.

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When it comes to new flight attendants just starting out, the highest paying airlines are JetBlue, $32,000, and Southwest Airlines, $30,000. For seasoned flight attendants looking for earning potential, JetBlue, $103,000, and Alaskan Airlines, $113,000, are the highest paying airlines.

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Slip and fall accidents. These often result in fractures, back, spinal, and neck injuries, traumatic brain injury, and other complications. Violence. Irate passengers pose an increasing danger to flight attendants.

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In the United States, many airlines had a policy such that only unmarried women could be flight attendants, as well as a mandatory retirement age of 32 for stewardesses because of the belief women would be less appealing and attractive after this age.

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