Flight Attendant Requirements

Becoming a flight attendant is an exciting and challenging career choice, which requires specific qualifications and personal traits. Flight attendants must meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years old and be legally authorized to work in the United States. Some airlines in other international airlines may have a higher age limit so it is important to check with the airline.

While the benefits and perks are great, the job also requires a lot of responsibility. In order to become a flight attendant, individuals must possess exceptional customer service skills and be friendly, courteous, and helpful while welcoming each passenger aboard the aircraft. Flight attendants are responsible for greeting passengers, making sure they feel comfortable and safe, and helping them with any requests throughout their journey.

You’ll need to meet several requirements, including physical characteristics and educational and linguistic qualifications. please check the list below for more information.

Age Requirements

A flight attendant needs to be at least 18 years old as that’s the legal minimum age to work in the United States.

Educational Requirements

Flight attendants usually need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some airlines also require at least one year of college education in a related field such as hospitality or customer service. However, a bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Linguistic Qualifications

Many airlines require fluency in at least two languages as being able to communicate with passengers who don’t speak the same language is a key part of the job. Some airlines may also require you to be able to read and write in different languages too.

Height Requirements

Most airlines set minimum and maximum heights for their flight attendants. Generally speaking, you should be between 5’0″ (152.4 cm) and 6’4″ (193.04 cm) tall. This is because cabin space is limited, and you need to be able to access overhead compartments and storage.

A certain height range allows flight attendants to move around the cabin easily while performing their duties.

Weight Requirements

Flight attendants must maintain a certain weight, which depends on their height and build, for safety reasons. So please check your Body Mass Index (BMI) before applying to know if you meet the requirements. You don’t have to have six-pack abs or be supermodel thin, but you should maintain a healthy weight for your height and build.

Skin Requirements

Visible tattoos, facial piercings, and certain non-natural hair colors are often strictly discouraged. But some airline companies (in Western areas) nowadays are now opening up to these changes, so make sure to check with the company you are applying for. If you want to apply for 5-star airlines based in the Middle East (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad), be advised that they are conservative companies and follow strict guidelines and that piercings, visible tattoos while in uniform, and unnatural hair are not accepted. As for the skin, it does not need to be perfect, but you need to have a healthy skin since you are facing customers on a daily basis.

Teeth Requirements

A flight attendant must have good dental health and a pleasant smile. Some airlines may require that you undergo a dental exam before being hired to check for any problems such as cavities or gum disease. It doesn’t specifically say in most job postings that teeth must be complete, but just a thought to ponder, have you seen a flight attendant with missing teeth?

EyeSight Vision Requirements

Having good vision is important for flight attendants because they need to be able to read documents, monitor the cabin, and observe any potential hazards. Most airlines require that you have at least 20/30 vision or (20/40 depending on the airline) in both eyes with or without corrective lenses (eyeglasses okay) If your vision doesn’t meet the requirements, corrective surgery may be necessary.

Passport Citizenship Requirements

You must have a valid passport and also a valid work visa. Flight attendants must be able to travel internationally and have the necessary documents for this, some airlines may require that you pass a background check for security reasons. US airlines usually require applicants to be US citizens or permanent residents. But there are some airlines that offer the opportunity to work as flight attendants while traveling abroad and do not have this requirement. Please check with your airline first before applying.

Experience Requirements

Experience, as well as a degree in hospitality management or customer service-related fields, can be beneficial but usually, is not required. However, some airlines may require previous FA experience for higher-paying jobs such as VIP flight attendants for private jets.

Background Check

Most airlines require a criminal background check and credit score check to make sure that you don’t have any past misconduct or financial issues. You’ll also need to be able to pass a drug test since working in the aviation industry requires a high level of trustworthiness. Some airlines may ask for a physical examination to ensure your overall health and fitness.

Disclaimer

It’s important to note that airlines have different requirements for their flight attendants, so it’s essential to check with the airline you’re interested in to ensure you meet their specific requirements.

Qualities and Personal Traits

It takes more than just meeting the physical and educational requirements to be a successful flight attendant. Here are some personal traits that airlines look for in candidates.

  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  • Good problem-solving ability
  • Possess a good memory
  • Excellent conflict-resolution and customer service skills
  • Adaptability to changes

Why are flight attendant requirements so important?

Like any other customer service and frontline job, you are the face of the company and thus, you must be physically presentable and have a friendly attitude in order to successfully interact with passengers and provide excellent service.

Meeting the physical requirements ensures that you will be able to move around the cabin safely while having the right personality traits ensures that you are able to handle any situation that may arise during a flight.

An average day in the life of a flight attendant

Cabin crew act as ambassadors for their airline and are responsible for ensuring that everyone onboard has a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable journey. The life of a flight attendant is far from a predictable 9-to-5 job. Here are some examples of the duties and responsibilities of flight attendants:

  • Welcoming passengers on board and assisting them during the flight, i.e., helping with luggage, seat assignments, and safety procedures
  • Ensuring passenger safety by conducting safety checks before takeoff
  • Serving food, drinks, and in-flight entertainment to passengers
  • Attending to passengers who are feeling ill or upset
  • Resolving conflicts between passengers
  • Remaining alert and vigilant throughout the flight in case of emergency situations

Tips for the interview process and training

If you’re interested in becoming a flight attendant, here are some tips to help you to prepare for the interview process and any additional training:

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the minimum age requirement for becoming a flight attendant?

The minimum age requirement to become a flight attendant is 18 years. But please check your specific airline because some airlines may have different age requirements.

2. What qualifications do I need to become a flight attendant?

You need to meet certain educational and physical requirements, including having at least a high school diploma or equivalent and being between 5’0″ (152.4 cm) and 6’4″ (193.04 cm). Additionally, being able to speak more than 1 language other than English is an advantage.

3. What qualities should I possess to become a successful flight attendant?

You should possess strong communication and interpersonal skills, good problem-solving ability, excellent conflict-resolution and customer service skills, and adaptability to changes.

4. Is a college degree necessary to become a flight attendant?

No, a college degree is not mandatory. But, having a degree can boost your chances of being selected.

5. Do you need to be fluent in multiple languages to become a flight attendant?

It depends on the airline, but many airlines prefer candidates who are fluent in at least two languages.

Summary

If you’re an individual who loves to travel and connect with different cultures, becoming a flight attendant may be the perfect career choice. However, you must meet the required qualifications and personal traits. Ensure that you conduct research and prepare yourself for every step of the process to achieve your dream.

If you need to check the requirements for specific airline companies, please see the articles we’ve published for each organization below.