So, You Want to be a Flight Attendant?
Updated: Jul 11, 2019
Scroll to bottom for practical details on each US airline, training length, bases, and hourly pay. If you are ready for not only a new career, but a lifestyle change: be a flight attendant. If you want to travel the world like a rock star, but on a very cheap budget: be a flight attendant. If you have the freedom to be away from home up to 5 nights a week, no upcoming weddings, and no hand or face tattoos begin applying to be a flight attendant now as the process can take a very long time.
To apply go directly to each airline's individual site, often I google like "Delta Careers" and it takes you to the right place. Many airlines are not hiring for Flight Attendants year round. If you want to work for a specific airline you may have to check each day to see if they have opened up for applications. My recommendation is apply for any airlines that are hiring. Once you are in the aviation industry it is easier to apply to other airlines. Take note where the bases are for that airline, because that means once you go through training (typically 1-2 months), you could be sent to any one of their bases depending on where they need flight attendants at that time. You can usually transfer to a different base within 2-6 months depending on availability. You can also commute from where you live and/or pay $100-$400 to have a bed at a crashpad in your base location with other commuting aviation people.
Once you apply, if they like you they will most likely make you do a video interview. Do not be frightened. Look like a flight attendant: wear lipstick and mascara, have your hair back and talk clearly. If you stutter keep going--it's bound to happen on the plane during announcements at some point too. Just keep talking.
If you are lucky enough to get invited to an in person interview the company will pay for your flight to their headquarters, which is usually also where training will be. Note this process can be long, expensive, and scary, but if you push through it is possible you will get the gig-- just don't lose hope.
At your in person interview be prepared to talk all day, answer many questions, walk in heels (for girls), drink water, have questions, breath, and know a drug test may be coming. If you are one of the few hired then you will get an invite to Training at the headquarters. Training is usually paid, but less than what you will get hourly in the air. All airlines will house you and some even feed you during your 1 -2 months of training. When you get hired, this may mean you leave in 2 weeks or 5 months. It all depends on how much space they have in training classes. So be prepared for this uncertainty financially. Also, you must pass the background check and that can take a considerable amount of time depending.
Be patient, but prepared. Buy black suitcases if they did not specifically say they will provide them and buy some professional clothing for training, as well as heels you can walk in.
Once that day finally comes and you are surrounded by excited soon to be flight attendants still breath and do your best. You can get kicked out of training for small reasons. They put you through a grueling schedule, because the lifestyle of a flight attendant can be grueling. Your hours will be different every day. Your weeks are different every week. Every night you will be in a different city.
It's a dream lifestyle especially for traveling spirits on a low budget. Don't give up hope and keep going--you will eventually see many of the places you have always dreamed!
Get ready to learn many acronyms that you will use everyday, and emergency procedures that you will never use.
Practicals of Each US Airline
Delta
Training: Atlanta—2months.
Bases: ATL, BOS, JFK, MSP, SLC, LAX, DTW, LGA, SEA
Hourly Pay: $29
Strict on tattoos
United
Training: Houston—2 months.
Bases: HOU, SFO, DEN, EWR, IAD, Guam, Tokyo, ORD
Hourly Pay: $28
American
Training: Dallas—2 months.
Bases: DFW, PHL, ORD, LAX, MIA, NYC, DCA, PHX, CLT
Hourly Pay: $27
Alaska
Training: Seattle—2 months.
Bases: SEA, PDX, LAX, ANC, SAN
Hourly Pay: $23
Southwest
Training: Dallas—1 month ish.
Bases: ATL, BWI, Chicago-midway, Dallas-love, Houston- hobby, LAS, LAX, OAK, MCO, PHX
Hourly Pay: $31 Highest Pay for FAs
Jetblue
Training: Orlando—2 months
Bases: MCO, FLL, JFK, BOS, LGB, Sometimes SJU
Hourly Pay: $23
Skywest (regional for Delta, United, Amerian & Alaska)
Training: Salt Lake City—1 month.
Bases: SEA, PDX, SAN, SFO, MSP, SLC, BOI, DEN, PHX, HOU, PSP, FAT, COS, TUS
Hourly Pay: $19
Hiring: Attend open interviews June 11 in BOI, June 20 in SLC, June 26 in PDX
Horizon (regional for Alaska)
Training: Seattle—1 month (?)
Bases: SEA, PDX, possibly more similar to Alaska
Hourly Pay: $22
Spirit
Training: Fort Lauderdale—1 month.
Bases: FLL, DFW, DTW, Atlantic City, LAS, ORD
Hourly Pay: $21
Allegiant
Training: Las Vegas—1 ½ months.
Bases: Ashville, Cincinatti, FLL, Indianoplis, Knoxville, LAS, LAX, OAK, MCO/SAN, PHX/Mesa, PIT, Punta Gorda, St. Petersburgh, Clearwater
Hourly Pay: $22
Sun Country
Training: Minneapolis—1 month (?).
Bases: MSP, PHX (?)
Hourly Pay: $20
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