You’ve made the decision to be a Flight Attendant, you understand the demands of the lifestyle, and passed all of the interviews with a recruiter.
CONGRATULATIONS! You’re hired! Now it’s time for Training.
Flight Attendant Training is one of the most emotional, intense, stressful, exhausting, and exciting experiences you will probably have in your life. But once you earn your wings, it’s all worth it in the end. It takes a great deal of commitment, dedication, and pride in your work to be successful.
“The airline industry uses a lot of acronyms and abbreviations. It has its own language,” explained Alina Cooper, a flight attendant recruiter for CommutAir. “We really want our recruits to be successful, that’s why we provide them with a substantial study guide so they can be fluent in that language before Training starts.”
Why Do People Fail Training?
Unfortunately, some trainees are eliminated the very first week for a variety of reasons that include:
- Testing Failure
- Cheating on exams
- Being tardy for class
- Poor interpersonal skills/intolerant towards others
Want to make sure you’re still there on the last day? Here are 5 tips to be successful in Flight Attendant Training and earn your wings.
1) Understand the Requirements of Training
At CommutAir, Flight Attendant training is three consecutive weeks long in Houston, Texas. You’ll be away from your family the entire time.
During Training, the ground instructors will measure your progress by having you complete written assessments, and you will be required to perform practical tests, as well.
- STUDY. You are expected to START classes already knowing the material in your study guide.
- GROUND SCHOOL is typically Monday through Friday, but Saturday sessions are not uncommon. You’ll be in Ground School for three weeks.
- IOE: After graduating ground school, you’ll have an Initial Operating Experience (IOE). There, you’ll work with a flight attendant instructor called an (ATS) Airline Transportation Supervisor on an actual passenger flight. Your flight instructor will ensure you’re proficient and comfortable being on your own before signing you off.
2) Know Your Stuff!
Learn everything you can– about the airline, about the destinations, and most importantly, how to speak like a flight attendant.
Memorize the materials in advance. Your recruiter will provide you with a study guide to help prepare you. You are expected to know the airport codes, 24-hour clock, PA announcements, and abbreviations when you walk into class on the very first day.
3) Arrive At Training Looking the Part
Know “the look”. Think about Flight Attendants you’ve encountered and how they looked – classic, put together, and consistent. Flight Attendants don’t have visible tattoos or body piercings. Hairstyles are neat and never extreme in color or cut. They also follow specific rules for makeup, facial hair, and nails.
Follow the dress code. Classroom appearance mirrors the uniform standards while on duty. This typically means navy or black, close-toed shoes, stockings for women, and tucked in shirts with sleeves. Your recruiter will provide you with a complete dress code for class. Once in class, you’ll learn how to order your on-duty uniform.
4) Be Flexible/Reliable During Training
You’ve selected an exciting career path that is constantly changing due to weather, operational need, and scheduling updates. That begins as early as your FIRST DAY of training. You may not begin IOE on the day you are supposed to due to the airline’s operational needs for aircraft. You may have classes on Saturdays. It’s all part of the job.
5) Demonstrate Good Attitude/Customer Service Skills with Instructors and Classmates
Stay positive. You’ll have to remember a lot of important information, before, during, and after class. It may feel like a lot, but in just three weeks you’ll have an exciting new career.
Pay attention in class. Understand that the instructors are thorough and want you to do well. If they are firm, it’s because they are invested in your success.
Keep smiling! It’s part of your uniform and it’s good practice for when you’re on-duty.
If you keep these tips in mind, Training will be a breeze!
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CommutAir holds Flight Attendant Training monthly. Learn more https://www.commuteair.com/careers/flight-attendants/ or email careers@commutair.com.
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