Flight Attendant Job Description

If you have a passion for flying and love to interact and help people, then the career of a flight attendant can surely be one of the best options for you. Flight attendant is generally referred as steward/stewardess or as an air host/ air hostess. Flight attendant responsibilities mostly comprise taking care of the passengers in the flight, ensuring their safety, and providing them with the necessary assistance, especially during emergency situations.

Key Responsibilities of a Flight Attendant

Flight attendants are responsible for making the flight of each and every passenger safe as well as making him/her feel comfortable during the entire journey. He is responsible for greeting the passengers, offering them personal services like serving food, beverages, etc., verifying the flight tickets, and guiding them on the effective use of safety equipment. He is particularly responsible for helping the passengers during emergencies. Let us get some detailed description as to what exactly are the key responsibilities that need to be handled by a flight attendant:

To conduct pre-flight checks and to attend the briefing sessions with the rest of crew so as to get detailed information regarding the needs of special passengers, weather conditions, and any other relevant issues
To conduct checks to assess the condition of the safety equipment like torches, life vests, etc., that will be used by the passengers, to check whether there is adequate supply of food and beverages, and any other relevant things
As soon as the passengers board the plane, the flight attendant greets them and guides them to store their hand baggages in appropriate places. He also provides customer service by offering food and beverages as per the demand of the passengers
To give instructions regarding the effective use of safety equipment and answer any issues that the passengers might be having. He also ensures that safety regulations are being followed appropriately
To conduct periodic checking and to closely monitor unusual smells or noises, to conduct cock pit checks to ensure safety of the passengers and the pilot
The most basic responsibility is, however, to ensure safety, especially during turbulent situations, and make the passengers calm and to provide them reassurance and confidence that they will be safe

In addition to the above responsibilities,

the flight attendants are trained in providing immediate first aid and emergency care to treat the passengers who have some kind of illness, who are anxious and aggressive, or those who have some minor injuries.
They distribute headsets, magazines, pillows, blankets, etc., and are responsible for ensuring the completion of the custom forms prior to landing.
After proper landing, the flight attendants are usually seen at exits, and they monitor the cabin and airplane as all the flight passengers disembark and escort them to their respective personnel.
They are responsible for keeping a track record of inventories like beverages, payments, headsets, etc.
They even prepare and submit reports related to the medical issues that were addressed during the flight and regard the overall condition of the cabin.

Thus, they need to carry out a wide range of duties.

Essential Skills

To ensure success and to become the best flight attendant, one must have a passion to fly and should possess exceptional interpersonal communication skills.
He/she should be able to solve complex problems, help in building a sense of confidence, and provide security and comfort to the passengers in the flight.
He/she should be quick, attentive, and alert while responding to emergencies, and should be able to hold on and remain calm even in unexpected situations.
He/she should have a caring attitude, should be eager to help people, and should have good listening skills.
He/she should also have a good vision and have an attractive appearance with good health and fitness levels.

Educational Background

A certification from Federal Aviation Administration along with a high school diploma or bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, tourism, hospitality, etc., is sufficient to make an entry in this field. They should have thorough knowledge on how to respond in emergency situations.

Work Schedule

The daily routine of a flight attendant can be quite strenuous. They do not have a fixed work schedule, but normally work for twelve to fourteen hours per day. They need to remain away from their homes at least two to three times in a week. They must be flexible and ready to report even on a short notice.

Salary Details

The average salary of a flight attendant is $39,000. Entry level candidates get a minimum starting salary of $26,000, while those with experience can get a salary in the range of $61,000 to $65,000. Additionally, they may receive health and retirement benefits along with some incentives if they work on holidays, weekends, etc.

Career Prospects

There is a stiff competition for getting a job as a flight attendant. The career prospects really look promising for those with relevant educational background, skills, and previous job experience where customer interaction was involved.

Thus, to become a complete professional, you should be able to shoulder the flight attendant responsibilities efficiently and take your career to greater heights.