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Flight Attendant

Flight attendants make sure that passengers travelling in aeroplanes are safe and comfortable.

Tasks & duties

Flight attendants may do some or all of the following:

look after passengers' comforts, needs and safety during flights
check emergency and safety equipment before each flight
prepare and check the catering, bar and cabin before each flight
greet passengers, help them stow their luggage and check that they are seated safely
demonstrate aircraft emergency procedures and safety features to passengers
serve and clear away food and drinks
hand out, and help passengers complete arrival documentation on international flights
keep in contact with other members of the flight crew
use their knowledge of first aid to help sick passengers

Specialisations

Flight attendants may work on short-haul (to destinations no more than four hours away) or long-haul (international) flights.

Skills & knowledge

Flight attendants need to have:

knowledge of flight and emergency procedures
the ability to operate emergency equipment
hospitality skills for serving food and drinks
first-aid and medical skills
the ability to assist people with special needs, such as young children or people with disabilities
organisational and time management skills
the ability to give tourists tips and guidance on their stay in Australia

Entry requirements

To become a flight attendant you must:

be a Australian resident
be at least 18 years old
hold a current first-aid certificate
hold a current passport without restrictions
undergo aviation security clearance checks

Most airlines require prospective flight attendants to attend an assessment centre as part of the interview process.

Secondary education

Flight attendants usually need to have a minimum of three years secondary education.

It is also useful for flight attendants to be fluent in other languages such as:

Cantonese
Fijian
French
German
Japanese
Mandarin
Samoan
Tongan

Training on the job

Once accepted for work on an airline, trainee flight attendants undergo a five-week training course and complete assessments before starting work as flight attendants.

Each airline has its own training programme that helps flight attendants maintain and develop their skills and knowledge on the job. Some airlines incorporate training into each staff meeting, while others require staff to take part in an annual refresher course.