I got my wings about six months ago now, so in honor of getting off probation today I put this blog post together. Woo-hoo! Seriously I am STILL super excited! Okay, let me make a note that of course, it might be a while before airlines begin hiring again with the whole pandemic thing going on and the demand for travel being so low at the moment. Nonetheless, I want to share the process with you in case this is something you too would like to do in the future. Be aware, it can take time and it can be hard BUT do not let this discourage you. You too can get your wings.

How it all started

I spent my last year of uni applying to every airline possible. During my last trimester I received an invitation for a video interview from 3 airlines. I did the video interview for two and for the last one felt discouraged to do it because I knew if I was accepted into the next round I would probably drop out of college for it. Being so close to graduation I decided not to because it just did not make sense.

The process begins

Fast forward to summer of 2019. I applied to my current airline in July 24, 2019 and just kind of forced myself to forget about it so I would not be checking my email every minute to see if I made it to my next step. On September 17, 2019 I received an email for an in person interview in Dallas, Texas on October 3, 2019. The company flew me to the interview the day before, with my handy dandy Hilton discount I got a hotel close to their headquarters. The day of the interview I felt so nervous but so confident, the company felt like the perfect fit. Thankfully it was and I received my CJO (Conditional Job Offer) on the spot! I cried, they literally had to hand me a box of tissues lol don’t be me.

That same day of the interview after receiving my CJO I was asked what training class I would like to be a part of. There were two the following month with dates already and another one in January 2020 with no date announced yet. Everyone I met chose the closest date but I personally chose the January class in order to go back home, pick up a second job and save as much as possible for that one month of unpaid training.

I headed to training on January 7, 2020 and graduated with my wings on February 3, 2020!

Now, let me break this down to you in a timeline:

Keep in mind that this timeline may change depending on the airline as well as the interview process. Some airlines may have you apply, then have a virtual interview where you are recording your answers without talking to anyone but your computer screen, then have a live interview where you interview with someone from the recruiting team then they invite you to a face to face interview.

You may also skip some steps or attend an open house in the area. Again, the process varies with the airline and time. The most important part of the process is to not give up, keep applying, and keep attending interviews because in the end it will all be worth it!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I need a degree to become a flight attendant?

The answer is no. Most airlines simply ask for a high school diploma or GED. Also, customer service experience and to be over 19 for some airlines, however I recommend reading the specific requirements for each airline you are applying for as they all vary.

What qualifies as customer service?

Literally anything in the service industry, working at a fast food chain, movie theater, bank, hotel, etc. Anything where you are working with customers/guests.

Should I attend a flight attendant academy?

NO! Do not waste money on any “flight attendant academy” to apply for a commercial airline. Here in the U.S. airlines will train you. Even if you have zero experience as a flight attendant, each airline will train you on the planes that they fly. Therefore, I highly suggest not even looking at any academies. As long as you have all the necessary requirements you can still get the job.

How long is training? Is it paid?

The length of training varies by each airline. On average training is anywhere from 3-8 weeks. Whether it is paid or not also depends on each airline. Usually, housing and meals are provided even if you are not getting paid so it really balances out. My best tip is to start saving as soon as you decide to begin the process of applying.

As always, thanks for reading and if there is anything you would love for me to write about let me know!