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How to become a Flight Attendant?

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Talent.com talent.com
Answered February 09 2021
Career Expert at Talent.com
The first prerequisite to becoming a Flight Attendant is that you must be 18 or 19 years old and hold a valid passport. Some airlines require Flight Attendants to be 21, but this varies across the United States. Commercial airlines employ Flight Attendants for commercial flights, although there is a market for private Flight Attendants (e.g. private charter planes or jets).   
   
Depending on your employer, the completion of training administered by the airline is required. For instance, all Flight Attendants in the United States must hold a certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). There are some schools and training centers for aspiring Flight Attendants, although many are recruited and trained at airline headquarters.   
   
Training to become a Flight Attendant depends on each airline. However, the focus is on safety and security measures. Professional instruction and training will focus on the equipment inside a plane and its uses and customer service procedures. Emergency First Aid Courses and Airway Emergencies courses are a necessity for every Flight Attendant. Most international airlines require Flight Attendants to be fluent in at least two languages, the most in-demand being English, French, Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin, and Arabic. There is still an opportunity for people that only speak one language, however.    
   
International regulations and airline policies establish that specific physical attributes must be met, such as weight restrictions and a minimum height, to reach overhead compartments and safety equipment, commonly a minimum of 1.50 meters or 4 ft. 11 in. tall.   

What can help you become a Flight Attendant?  
  • Being Multilingual
As a Flight Attendant, a key role is interacting with all passengers on board. Flight Attendants can work worldwide and cater to people of various backgrounds and languages; therefore, knowing a second language is advantageous when becoming a Flight Attendant. Although it is not always mandatory, some airlines do require an additional language.  
   
  • Experience in Hospitality  
Flight Attendants' roles and responsibilities revolve around the hospitality and safety of everyone on board. To become a Flight Attendant, you may have to go through rounds of interviews. Having previous experience in hospitality can help you stand out in what can be a competitive field. Some interviews involve questions detailing your expertise and other behavioral or situational problems that can arise.  
   
  • Interest in Aviation  
Flight Attendants get to travel the world with their work and fly on all different kinds of aircraft. Although the job focuses on passengers' hospitality, Flight Attendants should make an effort to become aviation experts to ensure passengers' safety and build up a knowledge base of the various aircraft they board.
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