Browse Flight Attendant jobs

There's a certain romance attached to the job of flight attendant, which probably has something to do with the uniforms, which may be the only working clothes anyone's ever actually wanted to wear. Then there's the travel to exotic locations and the sheer majesty of flight, in addition to the slightly performative aspect of all those safety routines, so it's no surprise that it's a highly desirable industry to break into, with job openings getting hundreds of applicants. For that reason, even though it's traditionally a semi-skilled profession with training mainly taking place on-the-job, it may be helpful to get your skills certified before applying.

Even if you're just doing domestic flights, you'll be spending considerable time away from home, so consider that aspect of the job if you've got a family. You'll also be working long shifts and spending a lot of time on your feet. Most aspects of the job are fairly routine, with rules and regulations in place for all eventualities, so it's a good profession for people who can adapt to an irregular personal life while enjoying regularity in their working life.

Responsibilities & Skills

The main responsibility of a flight attendant is taking care of the comfort and safety of passengers. This includes being aware and informing passengers of safety regulations, and distributing food, drink, newspapers and magazines. This may also involve administering first aid to passengers who take ill. In the highly unlikely event that anything goes wrong on the flight, it could also involve preparing for emergency landings and evacuating the passengers and crew. More mundane aspects of the job include checking boarding passes and travelling documents.

• Flight attendants must have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to maintain a sunny and confident disposition
• They must be good at working in a team
• They must also be able to maintain a neat personal appearance at all times, including keeping uniforms in good order and general good personal grooming
• Additionally, they must be able to cope with the physical demands of the job, such as assisting passengers with placing heavy luggage into overhead lockers
• Some airlines have minimum height requirements and may require their attendants to be competent swimmers

Required Qualifications

• Certificate II in Aviation (Flight Operations)
• If you speak any foreign language in addition to English, this will be a strong mark in your favour

Useful Links

• Flight Attendants Association of Australia (FAAA)
• Australian Government Department of Education and Training