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GET PAID TO TRAVEL THE WORLD
Have you ever dreamed of travelling to exotic places or foreign cities? Or maybe you’re eager to explore more of the US or Canada? It may be in your best interest to consider a career as an airline flight attendant. There are more than 80 scheduled, regional, and charter airlines across the U.S. and Canada, all of which are looking for qualified applicants all year round.
The major airlines constitute only 10% of airlines in the US and Canada. The remaining 90% consist of mid-size airlines, regional and commuter carriers and charter airlines, which continue to hire flight attendants. Moreover, corporate or executive jet flight attendant jobs have experienced the fastest growth in this sector. These luxurious private and corporate planes cater to a high-end clientele and require professional attendants as well.
Tim Kirkwood, the author of the best-selling career book, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT CAREER GUIDE, says you don’t have to be a young fashion model to be considered for this much-coveted job. In today’s market, airlines are looking for adventurous women and men, ages 18 to 60, who love travelling and meeting new people.
A broader range of applicants makes the profession more appealing to people who have never considered themselves qualified. This in turn increases competition among potential applicants. There are different requirements for every airline, and some will even look at the characteristics of the region where they fly.
GETTING A SIX FIGURE SALARY
Generally, American attendants earn higher salaries than their counterparts in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, or South America. Budget airlines are able to offer lower fares by paying attendants less than legacy airlines, such as America, Alaska, Delta, and United. The most senior flight attendants can earn six-figure salaries before overtime is factored in. As an example, a senior Frontier Airlines attendant earns roughly half the salary of a United attendant.
While Scandinavian Airlines reportedly pays the highest salaries, they are still less than their U.S. counterparts, including senior attendants at major flag carriers like Air France, British Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa.
TOP 3 REASONS TO CONSIDER BECOMING ONE
Flexibility, variety, and travel are what make this job one of the most desirable ones in America and Canada.
Flexibility: As a flight attendant, you will be able to group your flights together in a given month, and get 1-2 weeks off per month. Most people work all week, with one or two days off over the weekend. Most people get one to two weeks off per year. You can take advantage of this free time to travel, pursue an education, or run your own business, in addition to your regular vacation time.
Variety: Due to the freedom of scheduling, it allows you to escape the drudgery of the 9 to 5, Monday through Friday. Each flight takes you to a different city, with different crews, and with different passengers. You really can’t get bored.
Travel: Employees of most airlines get free or discounted passes to fly on their own airlines, and other airlines will give you discounts of 50-75%. Hotels, cruises, rental cars, and tour packages often have discount policies for airline employees as well. You have the option of travelling to a variety of places at a very low cost, making airline flight attendant careers an excellent choice.
In the first place, hours can be long and irregular. The work can be tiring, passengers can be demanding or even abusive. At altitude, the air is extremely dry. There can be snowstorms, labour disputes, or mechanical breakdowns. The storm that strands you in Des Moines may spoil your plans to attend your friends’ wedding. And there’s the constant fear of a crash, although statistics say you’re more likely to be hit by lightning than have a plane crash. The decision you are making is more than just a career change. This is a change of lifestyle that requires careful consideration.
When it comes to airline recruiters, the big word is flexibility. If you know how to work both alone and with a group of people and are flexible in your attitude and lifestyle, then you have the building blocks needed to pursue a career in aviation. Flight attendants are well paid in the United States, and there is the potential for additional earning power through overtime. It is no wonder that being a flight attendant is one of the most highly-selective jobs in the world.
Hopefully you have already started packing! For more information and verified aviation jobs, visit AeroNefs.
