Flight Attendant: what he does, salary, challenges and how to become one 

O flight attendant He is an extremely important professional for carrying out commercial flights, as he is the one who guarantees safety and service to passengers.

And, if you've always dreamed of having a dynamic career that allows you to visit different places around the world, this could be the ideal option.

Today we will briefly talk about the profession, in order to understand its duties, requirements to work, average salary, and much more. Keep reading to find out!

What does a Flight Attendant do?

If you travel by plane frequently, you probably admire the performance of flight attendants, as they are responsible for the flight experience.

However, anyone who thinks that the professional is a simple attendant is mistaken, since his/her duties go beyond serving water and indicating the exit.

A flight attendant is the professional responsible for the flight experience and safety, being qualified to indicate and carry out safety procedures, in addition to assisting and serving passengers in their needs..

Considering that everything must work properly during a flight, we can say that the flight attendant is an indispensable professional both for the airline, in terms of compliance with protocols, and for passengers, by ensuring good air experiences.

For this reason, the demand for professionals in the field is frequent, being an excellent career alternative for those passionate about aviation and customer service.

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What are the requirements to pursue this profession?

If you ask anyone about the requirements to be a flight attendant, you’re likely to hear some things that seem absurd, like “being attractive” and “being at least 6 feet tall, so that all passengers can see you easily.” But are these ideas really that absurd?

The fact is that the hiring of flight attendants is done by the airlines themselves, and the professional must meet strict requirements to get an opportunity.

However, these requirements are not related to the professional's appearance, but rather to the skills needed to guarantee safety and adequate service to passengers.

For this reason, it is common for airlines to require professionals to:

• Fluency in more than 1 language;
• First aid certification;
• Minimum height of 1.58m for women and 1.65m for men;
• Valid passport;
• Age 18 or older (some companies require 21 years);
• Specific courses and training.

It is worth mentioning that there is no specific higher education course to become a flight attendant, in fact, most companies do not even require this type of training.

In general, companies carry out knowledge assessments and provide intensive training for their flight attendants in order to ensure their skills.

Do I need to have a certain beauty standard to be a flight attendant?

There are several myths about the role of a flight attendant, and one of them is that the professional must meet a certain beauty standard to be hired.

Although discrimination based on appearance unfortunately occurs in any professional field, it is not common for airlines to set standards, unless it is justified by safety issues, such as minimum height, for example.

In general, this view is due to the fact that flight attendants are usually wearing makeup and have their hair well-groomed, and men always have perfectly aligned clothes and shoes.

This type of appearance usually comes from the dress code required by the company, but don't worry, because in order to make this type of requirement, the company must provide resources and conditions for the employee to comply with them.

Therefore, it is common for companies to offer uniforms and vouchers for purchases of shoes, makeup and other items necessary to comply with the dress code.

Furthermore, don't worry about weight, haircut and style, as none of these are basic hiring requirements.

What is the average salary of a flight attendant?

One of the great advantages of pursuing a career as a flight attendant is the pay, as airlines tend to offer good salaries.

However, it is important to note that earnings vary depending on the company, as international airlines may pay more. In addition, flight schedules also determine the salary.

In general, the average salary for the profession is between R$ 3 thousand and R$ 6 thousand, but it can reach much more, depending on the professional's experience and the company he works for.

How to become a flight attendant: learn about the career path

The requirements to become a flight attendant are not that simple, but with determination it is certainly possible to achieve them.

This is because, as we have seen, there is no specific higher education to work in the area, so we recommend that you follow some steps to enter the area:

1. Invest in language courses and security and customer service training;
2. Participate in airline selection processes;
3. Complete the basic training necessary to work in the profession;
4. Gain flight experience and take advantage of opportunities within the company;
5. Keep an eye on the opportunities available in the market, and continue your studies and training to evolve in your profession.

The real secret to becoming a successful flight attendant lies in taking advantage of opportunities and having a constant interest in professional training.

Remember that safety and flight experience will be your responsibility, so focus on being the best professional you can be!

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