Flight Attendants

What Flight Attendants Do

Flight attendants provide routine services and respond to emergencies to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6a3XVIMnHE

Work Environment

Flight attendants have variable work schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, because airlines operate every day and some offer overnight flights. Attendants work in an aircraft and may be away from home several nights per week.

How to Become a Flight Attendant

Flight attendants typically receive on-the-job training from their employer and must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Pay

The median annual wage for flight attendants was $56,640 in May 2019.

Job Outlook

Employment of flight attendants is projected to grow 17 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. As airlines continue to replace smaller aircraft with new, larger planes that can accommodate a greater number of passengers, they will require more flight attendants on some routes to attend to passengers.

Flight attendants provide routine services and respond to emergencies to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers.

Duties

Flight attendants typically do the following:

• Participate in preflight briefings with the pilots, to discuss cabin conditions and flight details
• Conduct preflight inspections of emergency equipment
• Demonstrate the use of safety equipment and emergency equipment
• Ensure that passengers have their seatbelts fastened when required and that all other safety requirements are observed
• Serve and sell beverages, meals, or snacks
• Take care of passengers’ needs, particularly those with special needs
• Reassure passengers during the flight, such as when the aircraft hits turbulence
• Administer and coordinate emergency medical care, as needed
• Provide direction to passengers, including how to evacuate the aircraft in an emergency

Airlines are required by law to provide flight attendants for the safety and security of passengers. The primary job of flight attendants is to keep passengers safe, ensuring that everyone follows security regulations and that the flight deck is secure. Flight attendants also try to make flights comfortable and stress free for passengers. At times, they may deal with passengers who display disruptive behavior.

About 1 hour before takeoff, the captain (pilot) may conduct a preflight briefing with flight attendants about relevant flight information, including the number of hours the flight will take, the route the plane will travel, and weather conditions. Flight attendants check that emergency equipment is working, the cabin is clean, and there is an adequate supply of food and beverages on board. Flight attendants greet passengers as they board the aircraft, direct them to their seats, and provide assistance as needed.

Flight attendants demonstrate the proper use of safety equipment to all passengers, either in person or through a video recording before the plane takes off. They also check that seatbelts are fastened, seats are locked in the upright position, and all carry-on items are properly stowed in accordance with federal law and company policy.

A flight attendant’s most important responsibility, however, is to help passengers in the event of an emergency. This responsibility ranges from dealing with unruly passengers to performing first aid, fighting fires, protecting the flight deck, and directing evacuations. Flight attendants also answer questions about the flight, attend to passengers with special needs, and generally assist all passengers as needed.

Before the plane lands, flight attendants once again ensure that seatbelts are fastened, seats are locked in the upright position, and all carry-on and galley items are properly stowed.

Before they leave the plane, flight attendants survey the condition of the cabin. They submit reports on any medical, safety, or security issues that may have occurred during the flight.

Flight attendants held about 121,900 jobs in 2019. The largest employers of flight attendants were as follows:

Scheduled air transportation	97%
Nonscheduled air transportation	2
Support activities for air transportation	1

Flight attendants work primarily in the cabin of passenger aircraft. Dealing directly with passengers and standing for long periods can be stressful and tiring. Occasionally, flights encounter air turbulence, which can make providing service more difficult and causes anxiety in some passengers. Handling emergencies and unruly customers also can be difficult and cause stress.

Flight attendants spend many nights away from home and often sleep in hotels or apartments shared by a group of flight attendants.

Injuries and Illnesses

Flight attendants have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. To avoid injuries, these workers must follow safety procedures. For example, they must ensure that overhead compartments are closed, especially during turbulence, so that carry-on items don’t fall and present a risk to all in the cabin. Attendants also ensure that carts are properly stowed and latched during aircraft emergencies to avoid injuries to passengers and themselves.

Work Schedules

Flight attendants usually have variable schedules. They often work nights, weekends, and holidays because airlines operate every day and have overnight flights. In most cases, a contract between the airline and the flight attendant union determines the total daily and monthly workable hours. A typical on-duty shift is about 12 to 14 hours per day. However, duty time can be increased for international flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that flight attendants receive at least 9 consecutive hours of rest following any duty period before starting their next duty period.

Attendants usually fly 75 to 100 hours a month and generally spend another 50 hours a month on the ground, preparing flights, writing reports, and waiting for aircraft to arrive. They can spend several nights a week away from home. During this time, employers typically arrange hotel accommodations and a meal allowance. Some flight attendents work part time. 

An attendant’s assignments of home base and route are based on seniority. New flight attendants must be flexible with their schedule and location. Almost all flight attendants start out working on call, also known as reserve status. Flight attendants on reserve usually live near their home airport, because they may have to report to work on short notice.

As they earn more seniority, attendants may have more control over their schedules. For example, some senior flight attendants may choose to live outside their home base and commute to work. Others may choose to work only on regional flights. On small corporate airlines, flight attendants may work on an as-needed basis.

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of flight attendants.

	Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2019
	Bartenders	Bartenders mix drinks and serve them directly to customers or through wait staff.	No formal educational credential	$23,680
	Customer Service Representatives	Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and answer questions.	High school diploma or equivalent	$34,710
	EMTs and Paramedics	Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics respond to emergency calls, performing medical services and transporting patients to medical facilities.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$35,400
	Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers	Food and beverage serving and related workers perform a variety of customer service, food preparation, and cleaning duties in eating and drinking establishments.	No formal educational credential	$23,000
	Retail Sales Workers	Retail sales workers help customers find products they want and process customers’ payments.	No formal educational credential	$25,440
	Waiters and Waitresses	Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.	No formal educational credential	$22,890

For more information about flight attendants, visit the career webpage of any airline company, contact its personnel department, or visit

Association of Flight Attendants—CWA

Association of Professional Flight Attendants

Federal Aviation Administration

O*NET

Flight Attendants