What major does flight attendant fall under?

Although there is no specific major that will prepare you for a career as a flight attendant, degrees in hospitality, tourism, public relations, business, communications, psychology, sociology, nursing, anthropology, police or fire science, and education are all good choices.



There is no single "Flight Attendant" major, but the career typically falls under Hospitality, Tourism, or Aviation Management. Most airlines do not require a specific degree; a high school diploma is the minimum requirement. However, in the competitive 2026 hiring market, many aspiring crew members pursue an Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Psychology, or International Relations to stand out. Degrees in Hospitality Management are particularly valuable as they emphasize the "customer service" and "conflict resolution" skills that airlines prioritize. If you want a more technical path, some colleges offer a B.S. in Aviation Science with a focus on cabin safety. Additionally, proficiency in a second or third language is often treated with the same weight as a college degree. Ultimately, airlines provide their own rigorous safety and service training, so a major that demonstrates your ability to work with diverse groups of people and handle high-pressure environments is your best academic bet.

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What is a Flight Attendant? A flight attendant is a member of an airline's cabin crew who is responsible for ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers during flights.

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Many member airlines use the Inflight Institute to train their existing Flight Attendants and also to hire new ones.

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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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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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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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They often work nights, weekends, and holidays because airlines operate every day and have overnight flights. They may spend several nights per week or per month away from home. In most cases, a contract between the airline and the flight attendant union determines the total daily and monthly workable hours.

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New flight attendants typically work a reserve schedule and must be close to the airport, or sometimes wait at the airport for a call to duty. Senior flight attendants enjoy more flexibility in their schedule and choice of destinations. Both roles enjoy the same travel benefits with about 12 days off per month.

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For seasoned flight attendants looking for earning potential, JetBlue, $103,000, and Alaskan Airlines, $113,000, are the highest paying airlines. Being a flight attendant can be a great long term career path.

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Per the airline's guidelines, visible tattoos aren't allowed while wearing the flight attendant uniform, even if covered by makeup, jewelry or a bandage. The policy prohibits tattoos in areas visible while wearing the cabin crew uniform, such as the face, ears, hands, wrists and neck.

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DOT - As a flight attendant, a safety-sensitive designated position, you are subject to drug testing developed by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

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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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New flight attendants typically receive paid training after being hired by an airline, but flight attendant training schools do exist and some choose to pay for their own training before seeking a job. Training programs can take up to eight weeks to complete.

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Delta Airlines is one of the best airlines to work for in the US. They offer competitive salaries and benefits, excellent training programs, and a clear career progression path. Delta also has a strong safety record and a good reputation in the industry.

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Flight Attendants made a median salary of $61,640 in 2021.

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Do flight attendants get free hotel accommodation? Yes, flight attendants often receive complimentary hotel stays during layovers (also called a stopover) as part of their job benefits. However, this only applies when the flight attendants are on duty and are required to layover in a different city or country.

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There is a possibility that the crew might be “rerouted” and work another flight. In that case they would be paid for that new flight. Sometimes unionized employees will have some specific pay guarantees to mitigate any loss of pay in such a flight cancellation, but even then there is still some loss of pay.

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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.

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