Flight Attendant: Flying is probably something that touches the imagination especially when you look out the window and notice the form of the clouds as puffy clouds, or if you even think of where you would go. Really, air travel is something tantamount to freedom and adventure. Still, how would it be to see things from the other side of the window? To feel the excitement of traveling while on top of work, hovering high above the ground. Maybe being a flight attendant can offer just what one needs: fun career full of exploration and new experiences.
This article will take you through everything you need to know about being a flight attendant once embarking on your journey: requirements, training, daily responsibilities, and much more. So, seatbelts fastened, let’s take off!
What Does a Flight Attendant Do?
A flight attendant is neither only a server in the sky but also acts as the lifeline of passengers to the airline. Some major responsibility of flight attendants are safety of passengers, then excellent customer service with proper handling any issue that could arise for passengers during the flight. One can imagine them as the cabin guardians by ensuring the comfort and safety of each passenger while he or she is in the air.
Why become a flight attendant?
One of the best decisions one can ever make in life is becoming a flight attendant. This career gives you opportunities to travel around the globe to exotic destinations, meet the widely varied cross-sections of mankind, and obtain experiences that you will otherwise never have for the rest of your life. If you always considered exploring the world while earning a living, then this could be the perfect fit for you.
Qualifications Needed
Besides the smart attire, there are qualifications that you will have to fulfill. Generally, airlines will insist on an applicant being at least 18 years of age or older and holding a high school diploma or GED. Some will be in want or require a college degree and even some experience in customer service. And then, obviously, a valid passport comes in handy when traveling abroad.
Training Programs for Flight Attendant
When you get one, the real adventure goes about starting when you go for training. Here, the time for training varies from airline to airline and is around 3 to 8 weeks. In this period, you would be taught almost everything – from safety procedures and emergency situations to service techniques and communication. It’s grueling, but that’s what prepares you to tackle all that awaits you.
Day in the Life of a Flight Attendant
Most of you have probably gone through the following situation: a flight attendant should survive routine changes. One day may open with morning briefing and, following a departure, fly to a sunny-weather destination; on another, you may serve hot meals onboard and be prepared to address, for example, a medical emergency of one passenger. Here, adventure means that no shift is the same.
Key Skills for Success
Being a flight attendant requires more than just the smiling face on your face. It calls for efficient communication skills, not getting flustered during pressure situations, or problem-solving abilities. It may also contribute to your advantage in handling diverse passengers who come from different walks of life.
Importance of Safety
First and foremost, the safe carriage of passengers is an aviation flight attendant’s responsibility. Evacuations and, of course, in-flight medical emergencies are all emergency situations. Generally speaking, though, it will be safety procedures and preparation that can make a difference when every minute counts.
Customer Service Excellence
As a face of the airlines, the flights attendants play an enormous role in building up passengers’ traveling experiences. Quality customer service can easily turn out a reasonable flight experience into a memorable one. Whether it is to deliver special request-service or solve complains, attitude matters.
Benefits of Being a Flight Attendant
In addition to the adventure of travel, working as an attendant on an airplane has numerous perks. Such benefits may include free or at least significantly reduced-cost travel for you and your family, flexible scheduling, and getting to meet people from all walks of life. Many flight attendants have great health benefits and retirement plans, too.
Disadvantages of the Job
The rewards are attractive, but the job has a set of challenges as well. Long hours and irregular working schedules plus difficult passengers are just a few of the issues one will face. Physically, the job can easily lead to one’s fatigue. However, most find the rewards more than worth these disadvantages.
Career Advancement Opportunities
It can become a career: Many others use this position as a stepping stone into becoming trainers, supervisors, and even airline management. The set of skills acquired in the position—customer service, crisis management, leadership—are extremely transferable and can unlock gates in multiple industries.
A Guide to Applying for a Flight Attendant job.
Most of the time, applying for the job is made easy by following the option of giving an online application, attending interviews, and performing a background check. Crafting your resume to foreground the relevant experience and qualities would make it much better.
Life of Flight Attendant
A flight attendant’s life is hardly monotonous. With schedules that can be as hectic as they are variable, you can spend your off-time visiting new cities or staying home in between flights. Be prepared, however, to face nights and mornings that will run much later and much earlier than you ever experienced before. You might also face long hauls at a terminal waiting for another flight.
Helpful Hints for Anyone Considering a Career as a Flight Attendant
If you’ve determined that this is a career you’re interested in, here are some helpful tips to get you started:.
- Stay Fit: Its management will not only be possible through long hours on your feet but also by being physically fit.
- Practice Customer Service: Hospitality or retail experience will help to manage such situations.
- Stay Positive: A good attitude in you will enable you to handle such challenging situations gracefully.
Conclusion
Being a flight attendant is a ticket to adventure. You travel, get to know new people, and see life from a different perspective. Challenges bring it a tough time, but the successful rewards realized go beyond personal and professional gains. So if you feel prepared to take off on a thrilling career journey, don’t hold back, because the skies are calling!
Read more: Boeing Careers