To work as a flight attendant, you must:

have a high school diploma or GED;

be at least 18 or 21 years old, depending on the employer;

complete a flight attendant training program;

complete on-the-job training; and

have excellent interpersonal skills.

May work part time or full time. Schedules are usually fairly regular.

May work nights, holidays, and weekends.

Usually fly 75 to 85 hours a month. They spend an additional 75 to 85 hours a month preparing for flights, writing reports, and waiting for planes to arrive.

Usually have 11 or more days off each month. This may be due to changes in schedules or limits to flying time.

May spend at least one-third of their time away from their home base

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS will: Constantly interact with passengers, pilots, and coworkers May spend at least a third of their time away from home FLIGHT ATTENDANTS frequently:

Stand for long periods of time.

Repeat the same movements.

Walk through the cabin. May run in emergencies.

Bend or twist their body.

Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

Keep or regain their balance.

It is important that FLIGHT ATTENDANTS be able to:

Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

Understand the speech of another person.

See details of objects whether they are nearby or far away.

Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.

Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.

Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.

Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.

Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.

Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.

See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.

Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.

Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.