At 21 years old, you can apply to be a flight attendant with any airline. Minimum age requirements typically apply at the time of training completion, so candidates who will reach an airline's minimum age during training can apply for flight attendant roles. There is no upper age limit for flight attendants.

In 2026, there is no official maximum age for flight attendants in the United States, Europe, and many other parts of the world, thanks to strict age discrimination laws. As long as a flight attendant can pass the annual FAA (or EASA) safety and medical competency checks, they are permitted to fly indefinitely. This includes being able to open heavy emergency exits, perform CPR, and maneuver through aisles during turbulence. In fact, many airlines value older flight attendants for their experience and calm demeanor during emergencies; Bette Nash, the world's longest-serving flight attendant, famously flew for American Airlines into her late 80s. However, some international carriers, particularly in the Middle East and Asia, may have internal "retirement age" policies or move older crew members to ground-based roles. For most Western airlines, however, you will frequently see crew members in their 60s and 70s who are at the top of their "seniority" lists, enjoying the best flight schedules and routes while maintaining a high standard of professional safety and service.