For Flight Attendant trainees, American Airlines typically conducts a rigorous six-week training program in Fort Worth, Texas, which remains unpaid in terms of an hourly wage. However, the airline provides several forms of support during this period, including complimentary hotel accommodations, round-trip airfare to the training center, and most meals. Once trainees graduate and become certified, they receive their first paycheck based on their flying hours, with starting rates currently around $36.81 per hour. In contrast, Pilot training at American is a paid endeavor, as pilots are already employees or part of specialized cadet programs when they begin their specific aircraft type rating. Regional subsidiaries like Envoy Air often offer "sign-on bonuses" of up to $2,000, with a portion paid during training and the rest upon graduation, to help offset the lack of a traditional salary during the initial month of ground school.