What qualification do you need to be a flight attendant?

Flight attendants typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent and work experience in customer service. 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.



In 2026, the minimum educational requirement to become a flight attendant is a High School Diploma or GED (10+2 equivalent). While a college degree in hospitality, tourism, or communications is highly advantageous and can make an applicant more competitive, it is not strictly mandatory. Most major airlines require candidates to be at least 21 years old (though some regional carriers start at 18) and possess a valid passport with the ability to travel internationally. Physical requirements are also critical: you must be able to reach overhead bins (often a reach of 212 cm on tiptoes), pass a thorough background check, and be proficient in English. Most airlines then provide their own intensive 3-to-8 week paid training program that covers safety, emergency procedures, first aid, and service standards. Fluency in a second language is a significant "bonus" qualification that can lead to being assigned higher-paying international "Language of Destination" routes.

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

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Flight attendants typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent and work experience in customer service. 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.

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You can apply for flight attendant positions if you're over 18 years old and have good health and vision. Train. If an airline hires you, you can train for weeks or months to prepare for FAA certification.

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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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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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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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Can you make a living as a flight attendant? Yes, you can make a decent living as a flight attendant. The median salary is $61,640 per year and there are many opportunities to make more than that based on your experience level, the airline you work for and even your geographic location.

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Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and Singapore Airlines are commercial airlines that pay the highest pilot salaries.

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In 2019, American Airlines reported the highest average flight attendant salary ($69,664) among the major North American airlines, according to data compiled by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Airline Data Project. United Airlines came in second ($66,363) and Delta came in third ($61,488).

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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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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.

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Aspiring cabin crew is also subjected to drug tests and sometimes alcohol tests to discover any substance abuse issues. Speech defects are not accepted. Any candidate with anemia, epilepsy, diabetes or such will not be considered fit to fly.

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United's photography policy, which is typical for a U.S. airline, notes that taking pictures or video on its aircraft is permitted “only for capturing personal events.” It goes on to note that “photography or recording of other customers or airline personnel without their express prior consent is strictly prohibited.”

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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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Q: Will I be paid during training? A: No. However, within five working days after your Flight Attendant graduation, you will receive $1,200 Initial Training Pay minus applicable taxes and benefit deductions. During training, you will also receive a $425 meal stipend in the form of a pre-paid Visa card.

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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.

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The only math you will need as a flight attendant are basic calculations to calculate local times in different zones, time differences, local prices in different currencies. If the airline offers inflight shopping, you would be responsible to collect payments and to hand them over after the flight.

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Well, they sleep in special sleeping compartments on their aircraft. These are typically located behind the cockpit. They usually have small beds with seat belts. These compartments are accessed through a hidden stairway or ladder.

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