What age should I become a flight attendant?

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.



In 2026, the ideal age to become a flight attendant is typically between 21 and 35, though the legal minimum is 18 for some regional carriers. Most major airlines (like Delta, United, or Emirates) require you to be at least 21 to ensure you can legally serve alcohol on international routes. Starting in your early 20s allows you to build seniority—the "holy grail" of the industry—which dictates your schedule and choice of layovers. However, many airlines now actively recruit "second-career" professionals in their 40s or 50s because they bring valuable life experience and de-escalation skills. There is no upper age limit as long as you can pass the rigorous physical exams and safety training. The "best" age is whenever you have at least 1–2 years of customer service experience and the lifestyle flexibility to handle on-call "reserve" shifts and frequent time zone changes.

People Also Ask

At some airlines, the minimum age requirement to be a flight attendant is 18, but for most, it's 20-21. As a flight attendant, age is just a number. You can be too young to be a flight attendant but not too old if you are in good shape and can work long hours and do some heavy lifting.

MORE DETAILS

The workforce of Flight attendants in 2020 was 110,280 people, with 76.1% woman, and 23.9% men. The average age of male Flight attendants in the workforce is 44.8 and of female Flight attendants is 46.1, and the most common race/ethnicity for Flight attendants is White.

MORE DETAILS

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

MORE DETAILS

Is becoming a flight attendant worth it? The biggest benefit of becoming a flight attendant is the ability to get paid to travel; some airlines even allow flight attendants' families and friends to travel for free. Starting wages are $18-25 per hour depending on the airline and the specific job.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Prior to Covid-19, it is estimated that there were 1,500,000 flight attendant applications for only a few thousand positions. The odds of getting hired was less than 1%.

MORE DETAILS

The training process for flight attendants can be quite rigorous and time-intensive. New hires typically need to complete somewhere between three to six weeks of initial training, where they learn on-the-job skills such as safety procedures and emergency drills.

MORE DETAILS

They can expect to spend 65-90 hours in the air, and an additional 50 hours preparing the airplane, processing passengers during boarding and performing post-flight procedures. Typically, flight attendants work 12-14 days and log 65-85 flight hours each month, not including overtime.

MORE DETAILS

According to United's “Flight Attendant Uniform Appearance Standards“, tattoos must never be visible while you're in uniform. If your tattoo is on an area covered by the uniform, you do not violate the flight attendant's requirements.

MORE DETAILS

For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, visit indeed.com/salaries .
  • Aerospace technician. ...
  • Aircraft mechanic. ...
  • Pilot. ...
  • Test engineer. ...
  • Airport executive. ...
  • Aeronautical engineer. ...
  • Propulsion engineer. National average salary:$108,286 per year. ...
  • Avionics engineer. National average salary:$152,054 per year.


MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Not only are in-flight snacks and meals provided, but many companies also reimburse crew members for outside food expenses during travel. When flight attendants land in one city and have time before their next flight, they can explore local restaurants and try new food for free.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Flight attendants work primarily in the cabins of passenger aircraft. Dealing directly with passengers and standing for long periods may be stressful and tiring. Occasionally, flights encounter air turbulence, which may make providing service more difficult and cause anxiety in some passengers.

MORE DETAILS

For aspiring flight attendants, Delta Air Lines, ranked by its employees as one of the best places to work, is also one of the most difficult places to get a job. It's harder to get invited to Delta flight attendant training than it is to get into Harvard University.

MORE DETAILS