Delta posted that they were hiring flight attendants and the applications started coming in two per minute! Why is a flight attendant career so desirable? Isn't it low pay and long hours away from home?
It definitely takes a special person who can handle the job; one who enjoys flying, is independent and can handle many different, unique situations. Those that make it past the first six months tend to have it in their blood and become what we refer to as "Lifers." On a personal note, having worked for an airline for 20 years, I am definitely a "Lifer" and find that being a flight attendant is not as much a job as it is a lifestyle.
Here are seven surprising reasons this career draws so much interest:
- You're not too old! Are you thinking about a midlife career change? Are you retired and looking for something to keep you active and social? Airlines don't discriminate against older applicants. There is no ageism with the flight attendant career. The airline industry appreciates anyone who has raised a family or has had experience in customer service. Having worked with schedules, people and handling crisis after crisis are just a few of the skill sets needed to be a flight attendant. I had a 63-year-old gentleman in my training class, a retired teacher. Who better to make an airplane full of passengers happy?