A Flight Attendant’s Salary Doesn’t Soar, But the Perks Could Give You a Lift
ningcontentFlight attendant is one of many jobs for which a bachelor’s degree is not required; however, applicants with college degrees can easily edge out their competition. If they have customer service experience, too, they’re even more valuable. Since the first female flight attendant, hired by United Airlines in 1930, was a registered nurse, applicants with nursing degrees and/or experience would also be highly valued, as would anyone with education or experience in people-centric areas like:
- psychology
- communications
- sociology
- anthropology
- police or fire science
- travel and tourism
- hospitality
- education
People who enjoy traveling might see flight attendant as a dream job. But there’s more to being a flight attendant than traveling. It’s a demanding, treacherous profession requiring one to maintain a calm, pleasant demeanor in stressful situations; be willing to relocate; and be available to work nights, holidays and weekends.
Training is provided by the airlines. New hires can spend anywhere from three to eight weeks in training, depending on the size of the airline. While there, candidates learn how to evacuate an airplane, operate emergency systems and equipment, administer first aid and survive in the water. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification is a must before flight attendants can be cleared to work. To obtain certification, they must be able to pass tests in evacuation, fire fighting, medical emergency, and security precedures created by the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration.
Many airlines have a minimum age requirement of 18-21 years old. Applicants must meet minimum height requirements, which would allow them to reach overhead bins. Weight must be proportionate to height, and most airlines prefer that men be clean shaven and have short hair. They prefer all applicants to have no visible tattoos, piercings (besides the traditional single earlobe piercing), unorthodox hairstyles or makeup. Applicants who are bilingual or polyglots are highly desirable, especially for airlines that fly internationally, but fluency in English is a must, as is U.S. citizenship or legal right to work in the U.S.
Entry level flight attendants start out as reserve workers, called in to help on extra flights or to fill in for colleagues who are ill, on vacation or reassigned. According to PayScale.com, the average salary for flight attendants, with less than one year of experience is between approximately $24,000-$46,000 annually. Flight attendants with 20 or more years of experience average approximately $59,000 annually. Flight attendants, who are unionized, are generally paid based on seniority and the number of flight hours they work. Flight hours are counted from the moment the plane backs out of the terminal in one place until it pulls into its destination terminal. Extra pay can be earned by working on additional flights. Flight attendants can advance to become supervisors, managers or vice-presidents, which is where having a college degree can really come in handy. They can also qualify for or train to work in other areas like ticket reservations, public relations, risk management or human resources.
Some of the perks of being a flight attendant are free or discounted fares for themselves and their immediate families. They also enjoy benefits like medical, dental and life insurance coverage, paid holidays and vacations, stock options, and tuition reimbursement. Like any job, flight attendant has its share of drawbacks, too, like dealing with troublesome passengers and the many injuries that can be sustained from working while an airplane is going through turbulence, pushing heavy carts or loading and unloading overhead compartments. Poor sleeping habits, poor diet, working in a pressurized environment and continuously breathing recycled air also take their toll.
Airlines are expected to increase their demand for flight attendants as their passenger lists continue grow. But competition for these jobs is and will be tough. Airlines only want the most qualified candidates because a flight attendant’s primary concern is actually passenger safety. There are better paying jobs, but people who enjoy working with the public and who love the idea of constant travel are probably perfectly suited for careers as flight attendants.
Sources:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos171.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_attendant
http://www.payscale.com
http://www.cabincrewjobs.com/flight-attendant-qualifications.html
