Flight Attendant

Becoming a flight attendant is not for everybody. It requires the individual to be calm at all times and most importantly, be patient. It is also important for a flight attendant to be out going and compassionate.

Having knowledge of different languages is also a plus point; however it is not a necessity. Another skill that should be possessed by individuals wanting to become flight attendants is that they must be very confident and should always have a smile on their faces.

Flight attendants must be flexible, reliable, and willing to relocate. Flight attendants must also be problem solvers. Flight attendants should also be able to work in teams and have excellent coordination skills.

The main responsibility of a flight attendant is to make sure that the passengers are safe and at ease. Flight attendants work in teams to make sure the passengers have a comfortable flight on board.
At least an hour before the flight is expected to take off, attendants are addressed by the captain of the flight on such things as emergency evacuation procedures, coordination of the crew, the length of the flight, expected weather conditions, and other issues that the flight attendants may have to deal with in regards to the passengers.
They make sure that first-aid kits and other emergency equipment are on board and are working properly and that the passenger cabin has enough supplies of food, beverages, and blankets to meet the passengers needs.

As passengers start boarding the plane, flight attendants welcome them, check their tickets, and tell them where they can keep their coats and carry on baggage. Before the plane takes off, flight attendants educate all the passengers in how to use the emergency equipment and make sure that all the passengers have fastened their seat belts, and that all carry-on items are properly stowed in the above compartments.

While the plane is in the air, the most important responsibility of the flight attendant is helping passengers when there is an emergency. They also answer queries that passengers may have about the flight; hand out reading material, pillows, blankets, food and drinks. Flight attendants also help small children, elderly or disabled persons, and any other individuals that may require any assistance.

Right before landing, flight attendants make sure that all the headsets are returned, money is collected and that all the alcoholic beverages are where they should be. Major airlines are obligated by law to provide flight attendants for the safety of the passengers.

Flights attendants who are composed, diplomatic and creative, who can interact comfortably with strangers and remain calm under stress, are the ones airlines prefer hiring. The main criteria are that applicants must be at least 18-21 years old and must have exceptional health and the ability to speak clearly.

Flight attendants must have graduated from high school as well as have a college degree and experience in dealing with the public. If the flight attendant wishes to work for an international airline, then they must speak the required foreign languages spotlessly.

After the flight attendant has been hired they must go through a period of formal training which can last between 3-8 weeks at the airlines flight training center. Airlines also have physical and height requirements. Most airlines prefer those candidates whose weight and height are proportionate.

20/30 vision or better is required when the candidate wears glasses or lenses and the flight attendants are required to be properly groomed with no tattoos, piercings or wild hairstyles. Experience also counts as a large qualifier for flight attendant candidates. All flight attendants must also be certified by the FAA.

Flight attendants usually earn hourly wages based on the experience that they have accumulated over the years. For a beginner flight attendant, the salary starts from $19 an hour, earning less than $18,000 per year in the United States.

Salaries usually vary, with the most experienced flight attendants earning $42 per hour with an average yearly salary of more than $83,000. Most flight attendants however fall in the $32 per hour and, between $28, 000-$56, 000 per year ranges.

A flight attendant is paid according to her experience and the airline she works for. A fresher may earn Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 25,000 per month. A head flight attendant can earn up to Rs. 50,000 per month. Major international airlines pay Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 1 lakh per month. This can differ from organisation to organisation, and the number of hours one clocks per month

Flight attendants for some airlines are offered extra wages for working on holidays or for taking on positions with additional responsibility. Flight attendants and their immediate family are legible for discounted or free air travel on their own airlines and discounted travel on other airlines.

Flight attendants usually have to work at all times be it nights, holidays, weekends etc because airlines run all year round without any holidays. In fact, the holiday season is one of the busiest times for flight attendants.

Flight attendants usually have to be on duty for about 12 hours a day with the maximum limit being 14 hours. Flight attendants generally fly 65 to 85 hours a month and, along with that, usually spend approximately 50 hours a month on the ground preparing planes for flights, writing reports after flights are completed, and waiting for planes to land so that they may begin their duty.

Flight attendants will be away from their home base for at least one third of the time they are on duty. Airlines usually accommodate flight attendants in hotels as well as provide them with allowances for meals. Almost all flight attendants start their careers by working on reserve status or on call.

The work of flight attendants is very tiring because they have to stand during most of the flight and have to remain patient and pleasant regardless of how difficult the passengers may be. It is also a dangerous career to pursue in light of air crashes that have taken place over the years.

Sometimes, flight attendants have to deal with troublesome passengers and can be at risk for injury because they may have to perform their duties while the aircraft is moving. Along with this, medical problems may be incurred because of irregular sleeping and eating patterns, working in a rushed environment, and breathing recycled air.

A flight attendants job is very exciting because the flight attendant gets to travel all over the world while earning a reasonable income at the same time. Flight attendants get to visit many different countries and see various cultures around the world.

They are provided with many different allowances and benefits such as free accommodation and meals when they are at a stop over. They also get discounts to travel with immediate family members all over the world.

One of the disadvantages of being a flight attendant is that they have to work during the holiday seasons and weekends as these are the times when there is the greatest amount of travelling done.

There is also the task of dealing with demanding passengers are at times stressful and they have to remain patient and calm in all situations. There are also medical problems that are caused due to the irregular sleep and eating patterns.

Breathing of recycled air and having to stay in a pressurized environment which cause stress to the body is also something the flight attendant has to be careful of. Flight attendants also spend a lot of time away from home which could cause loneliness and homesickness.

The job market for flight attendants is expected to grow at a very fast rate (about 8%) between 2008 and 2018. There is a lot of competition in this field because there are many more candidates vying for the job than there are positions available. Another reason for this is that the opportunity to travel attracts many more candidates.

Approximately 98,700 jobs were held by flight attendants in 2008, and the figure is expected to increase by 2018 as mentioned above. Most attendants are employed by commercial airlines however; there are also a small number of flight attendants who work for companies that offer chartered flights.

Flight attendants are required wherever there is a major airline, which are most countries of the world.

The minimum qualification required is Class 12. It pays to be a graduate in any field or in hotel management. Knowledge of a foreign language is an added advantage. Some air hostess training academies help you train for the job