Flight Attendants are the people responsible for passengers’ comfort and safety while onboard an aircraft. This can be a physically demanding job with a wide variety of responsibilities and tasks, from serving food and drink to providing first aid.
If you have great people skills and want a career that can take you all over the world, you might like to consider becoming a Flight Attendant.
About you:
- Excellent communicator
- Neat and presentable
- Can remain calm in pressure situations
- Organised and efficient
- Adaptable and flexible
- Polite and helpful
- Can work in teams and independently
- Reliable and trustworthy
The job:
- Preparing aircraft for passengers to board
- Checking tickets and directing passengers to their seats
- Performing safety demonstrations and checks
- Serving food and drink mid-flight
- Assisting passengers with special needs
- Helping passengers stow luggage
- Dealing with security issues and keeping passengers calm
- Performing emergency first aid if necessary
Lifestyle Impact: Moderate
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- Part Time opportunities: High – around 49% of Flight Attendants work part-time (source: gov.au).
- Average hours for full-time workers: 41 hours a week, which is around average (source: labourmarketinsights.gov.au).
- Flight Attendants’ salary (average) $55,000* per year (source: seek.com.au). *Salaries vary depending on your skills and experience.
- Future career growth: Very strong (source: labourmarketinsights.gov.au).
- You will be doing most of your work onboard aircraft, and spending a fair amount of time on your feet.
- You will most likely need to work on weekends and holidays, as this is when many people travel, as well as late nights and early mornings. You will also need to be prepared to spend some time away from home.
Flight Attendants are most in demand in these locations:
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This is a small occupation, with around 8,400 people working as Flight Attendants in Australia in 2021 (source: labourmarketinsights.gov.au). Demand for Flight Attendants is highest in New South Wales and Queensland. Most Flight Attendants work in the Transport, Postal and Warehousing industry.
How to become a Flight Attendant in Australia
Although there is no formal qualification for becoming a Flight Attendant in Australia, you will need to meet certain requirements and undergo on-the-job training.
Step 1 – Complete Year 12 with a strong focus on English and Maths.
Step 2 – Obtain a Responsible Service of Alcohol and First Aid Certificate.
Step 3 – You may also need to meet other standards, such as physical fitness requirements, height requirements, and fluency in other languages.
Step 4 – Apply for Flight Attendant roles and once through the recruitment phase, undergo full training.
Step 5 – Start working as a fully qualified Flight Attendant.
Find out more here –
http://travelcareerscouncil.com.au/
http://www.tourism.australia.com/en
Similar Careers to Flight Attendant
Pilot
Tour Guide
Air Traffic Controller
Travel Agent
Bus Driver
Train Driver
Hotel Manager
Find out more about alternative careers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What do Flight Attendants do?
Flight Attendants, also known as Cabin Crew, provide services for the safety and comfort of passengers aboard an aircraft, both on the ground and in the air.
Which industries employ Flight Attendants?
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Flight Attendants are mostly employed in the Transport, Postal and Warehousing industry.
What options are there for career progression?
You might start working on short local flights, before eventually working in bigger planes and travelling interstate, and even internationally.
Do I need to go to university to become a Flight Attendant?
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No, you don’t need to go to university to work as a Flight Attendant. However, you will need to meet other requirements and do some job-specific training.
Where do Flight Attendants work?
Demand for Flight Attendants is highest in New South Wales and Queensland, but this is a job that could take you almost anywhere in the world.
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What are 3 things I can do right now to help me become a Flight Attendant?
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If you’re in high school and you’d like to find out if a career as a Flight Attendant is right for you, here’s a few things you could do right now:
- Get a head-start on your qualifications and obtain your RSA and First Aid before you leave high school (note you may need to be 18 to undertake this training).
- See if you can find work experience or get casual work to start building on important skills that you’ll need for the job.
- Talk to a Flight Attendant to see what a day in their life is like. If you don’t know anyone, see if you can watch videos or documentaries about a career in aviation or tourism.
