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Job Description: Airline flight attendants are the personal link between passengers and airlines. It is their job to help make passengers safe and comfortable during flights. They hold one of the most important public relations positions in the airline industry. Flight attendants are aboard almost all passenger planes operated by commercial airlines. They are also called stewards and stewardesses.

Duties: Flight attendants are responsible to the captain piloting the airplane. About an hour before takeoff, they board the plane to see if everything is in order. They may perform some or all of the following duties:

• Confirm that all necessary supplies are stocked in the service area
• Survey the cabin of the aircraft for potential problems
• Attend pre-flight briefings with the rest of the crew
• Greet passengers
• Demonstrate emergency procedures to passengers before takeoff
• Give first aid
• Assist with seating arrangements and check tickets
• Check safety belts and all other emergency equipment
• Help passengers with storing carry-on luggage and personal articles
• Care for infants, children, disabled, and elderly passengers
• Serve light meals and refreshments
• Assist passengers with exiting the aircraft

For detailed information on tasks, knowledge, skills, abilities, work activities, work contexts, job zones, interests, work styles, work values, and related occupations visit the O*Net Online, a division of the National Center for Occupational Information.

Working Conditions: Flight attendants log 80 to 85 hours of flying time each month in addition to 35 hours of ground duties. Working hours vary; some evening, weekend, and holiday hours are common. They are expected to deal pleasantly with passengers of all personality types, including those who are demanding, difficult, or rude.

Educational Requirements: Employers prefer hiring individuals who have several years of college or experience in dealing with the public. More and more flight attendants are college graduates. Highly desirable educational areas of concentration include people-oriented disciplines such as psychology, nursing, and education. Flight attendants for international airlines generally must speak a foreign language fluently. Once selected, job candidates must undergo a period of formal training. The length of training, ranging from 4 to 7 weeks, depends on the size and type of carrier and takes place in the airline's flight training center. Airlines may provide transportation to the training centers and an allowance for board, room, and school supplies. However, new trainees are not considered employees of the airline until they successfully complete the training program. Some airlines may actually charge individuals for training. For related information and recommended courses to prepare for this occupation, Tennessee high school students may visit the Marketing Standards (Travel and Tourism) online.

Outlook: The estimated number of flight attendants in Tennessee is 1,022. Employment of flight attendants is sensitive to cyclical swings in the economy. During recessions, when the demand for air travel declines, many flight attendants are put on part-time status or laid off. Until demand increases, few new flight attendants are hired. In the long run, opportunities for persons seeking flight attendant jobs should improve as the airline industry recovers from the aftereffects of September 11 and the downturn in the economy. Employment of flight attendants is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2012. As seniority increases, flight attendants receive higher pay and better flying assignments. Some may advance to management positions such as flight attendant supervisor, instructor, or in-flight services. For additional information on this occupation, visit the nationally recognized Occupational Outlook Handbook online.

Salary

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee Department of Labor website
• TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development website
• Bureau of Economic Analysis website

For an explanation of salary data please visit acinet.org

Last updated on: January 22, 2008