How to Become a Flight Attendant After 50

A step-by-step guide to becoming a flight attendant later in life

Gwen Moran,

Updated May 04, 2026

AARP

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En español

Updated May 04, 2026

a woman flight attendant is putting luggage in an overhead bin

Gregg Segal/Gallery Stock

Key takeaways

If you’re interested in becoming a flight attendant, expect multiple screening steps, interviews and several weeks of training before you’re hired.
Core flight attendant requirements typically include a high school diploma (or equivalent), demonstrating customer-facing skills and passing required background checks and training exams.
From application to finishing training, the time it takes to become a flight attendant can range from a few months to about a year, depending on the airline.

Youlandar Harris, a retired police officer in her 50s from Ruleville, Mississippi, was looking for a new career opportunity. She tried nursing but didn’t find it to be a good fit. Then she began looking into becoming a flight attendant — and her path became clear.

“I have been enjoying life after 50 — going international, going to different states. I am loving it,” she says.

If you’ve ever found yourself wanting to combine your love of travel with an exciting, demanding, people-oriented career, becoming a flight attendant might be just the ticket — especially if you’re becoming a flight attendant at 50. While competition for these jobs is fierce, employment in the field is expected to grow at about 9 percent from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The field averages about 19,800 job openings per year, driven largely by workers leaving for other careers or retirement. The average annual salary was $67,130 per year in 2024, the BLS says.

Becoming a flight attendant at 50: Why airlines want ‘golden candidates’

In recent hiring cycles, Lynn Van Ort — executive director of the Travel Academy, an Eagan, Minnesota–based company that prepares flight attendant candidates to apply to airlines — has seen a shift in what airlines are looking for. She says airlines are asking for “golden candidates”: prospective flight attendants age 40 and older with life experience that will make them better at their jobs.

“Not only are they able to provide stellar service to first-class passengers, but they can also easily relate to mothers with babies or teenagers that are being too loud,” Van Ort says. She adds that more-seasoned people are prime candidates for the rigors of flight attendant training.

Deanna Castro, founder of Future Flight Attendant, a virtual coaching program for flight attendant candidates, agrees. “I always tell people, ‘There’s no expiration date on your dreams,’ ” she says. “I know people become flight attendants in their late 60s. There’s not an age limit. There’s no retirement age for [flight attendants].”

If you’re interested in becoming a flight attendant at age 50 or older, here are some basics you should know — and prepare for — as you dive into this competitive and exciting career.

How to become a flight attendant: Understand the hiring process

Mauricio Herrera, a flight attendant based in Miami, Florida, was 45 years old and had worked in information technology since the late 1990s. But the long days of sitting at his desk were taking a toll on his body, and he was looking for something new. When he and his wife took a road trip to the Delta Flight Museum during the pandemic, he had his aha moment.

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“That’s really what kicked it into high gear for me. It’s like, ‘Wow, this is really what I want to do next as a career change midlife,’ ” he says. After a stint as a ramp attendant at Tampa International Airport, he applied for a job at Frontier Airlines and began the interview process.

The process for becoming a flight attendant is lengthy, Castro says. Depending on the airline, applying and going through training could take anywhere from a few months to roughly a year. Herrera says it took approximately six months from the time he applied to the time he finished training and was hired.

Van Ort says the process includes informational screening interviews, which are typically conducted electronically, although they may be observed by a human. There also may be a video interview. If you make it past these rounds, you may be invited for a face-to-face interview. Pass muster there, and you may receive a conditional job offer that requires you to attend the airline’s training program, which could take at least a few months. Once you complete training, you must pass a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exam.

Flight attendant requirements: Background checks and eligibility

Aside from the sheer length of the process, there are some challenges and potential pitfalls along the way, Castro says. For example, you have to make sure your résumé is submitted in the proper electronic format and contains the exact keywords that the automated tracking systems use to prescreen the many résumés the airlines receive. In addition, it’s important to brush up on your interviewing skills — both on video and in-person — as airlines are looking for polished candidates who can interact well with their customers, Castro says. And if you don’t make the cut at any point, there is typically a waiting period of six months to a year before you can reapply.

One more thing to be aware of: Airlines typically require a 10-year background check. Federal rules require fingerprint-based criminal history checks for most airline jobs, with TSA guidelines outlining specific offenses — and their timing — that can disqualify an applicant. A history of criminal, alcohol or drug offenses could rule out an otherwise qualified candidate.

How long does it take to become a flight attendant? Training and the FAA exam

After you make it through the screening and interview process and are offered a conditional job, you will likely be invited to the airline’s training program, which may last from three to six weeks. “Once you’re invited to training, you’re not guaranteed a job until you have your wings pinned at the end of training,” Castro says. “It’s very grueling and very intense, and many people don’t make it all the way through. They end up going home.”

Candidates must be able to be away from home for the training period. Flight attendants typically need a high school diploma and, to work international flights, may also have to be fluent in a foreign language, according to the BLS.

From a physical perspective, training may require opening and closing heavy doors and other similar activities, so you should be physically capable of meeting the demands of the job. During the training process, the airline can release you at any time, Van Ort adds. In addition, flight attendants need good communication and negotiation skills, as well as patience and the ability to follow rules. After all, at 35,000 feet, following the rules is important, Van Ort says. Harris notes that her negotiation and people skills from her time in law enforcement have been helpful in her new career.

Some candidates who start flight attendant training ultimately change their minds. For example, America Arevalo, who went through AARP Foundation’s Back to Work 50+ program, briefly trained to become a flight attendant before deciding it wasn’t the right fit. “The training is like a boot camp. They do it in a month … It’s a lot of pressure,” she says. “That took a toll on me, and I realized this is not for me.”

How hard is it to become a flight attendant? What new hires should expect

Once a candidate completes training and is offered a job, they must be ready to travel wherever they are needed. Castro says that most airlines put new flight attendants “on reserve,” meaning they are just there to cover for anyone else isn’t available. “If there’s a flight delay and the crew can’t make it, they’re going to call you and put you on the flight. You’re not going to know your schedule ahead of time — you will know what days you work, but not where you’re going or what you’re doing. One day you could be in Paris, France, and the next day you could be in Wichita, Kansas,” she says.

But once you start gaining seniority — this point varies by airline, Castro says — you can begin picking and start “bidding” on the flights you want to work as much as a month ahead of time.

Becoming a flight attendant starts with understanding what airlines are looking for, Van Ort says, and being ready for a competitive, rigorous hiring process. Herrera adds that before you apply to an airline, it’s a good idea to talk to flight attendants about the job if possible. “Be patient and do the study you need. Do your research online,” he says. “Talk to people in the industry, because it’s a life-changing decision.”

“If this is something you really want to do, it’s going to get hard. You’re going to shed tears. You’re going to get frustrated,” Harris says. “But if you keep going and you keep pushing, you will definitely get through it.”

FAQ: Becoming a flight attendant at 50

What are the flight attendant requirements if you’re becoming a flight attendant at 50?

Typically, you will need a high school diploma or equivalent, and then will receive flight attendant employer training. After completing training, you must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Airlines also publish their own minimum requirements; for instance, United lists a high school diploma or GED, at least one year of customer service experience, a valid passport, and the ability to push and pull up to 250 pounds, among other parameters.

Many jobs also require background checks; TSA regulations include fingerprint-based criminal history record checks (CHRC) in addition to other screenings that may be requested by the airline.

How long does it take to become a flight attendant (and what is the process like)?

The hiring structure can include multiple steps — application, tests and interviews, followed by a conditional training offer, depending on the airline.

After you’re selected, initial training is typically measured in weeks; United describes a 6 ½-week program while Alaska Air provides an “intensive training program” lasting about four to eight weeks.

Because postings can fill quickly and the steps must be completed in sequence, the total timeline from “apply” to “start flying” varies by airline hiring cycle and training dates.

What is flight attendant training like — and how hard is it to become a flight attendant?

FAA rules require initial training to include topics like passenger management, crew resourcing, aircraft-specific instruction and competence checks to confirm the ability to perform duties.

Airlines often emphasize that training includes repeated evaluations. For example, United says its program includes safety and service content, emergency procedures, CPR and security. Meanwhile, Southwest notes its training requires multiple proficiency tests and memorization assessments.

What do flight attendants earn, and what benefits do they typically get?

BLS reports a median annual wage of $67,130 and projects employment growth of 9 percent from 2024 to 2034, with an average of about 19,800 openings per year.

Benefits vary by employer, but airlines commonly describe packages that include health coverage and travel privileges. For example, United highlights “competitive pay,” “comprehensive health and wellness benefits,” and “global travel privileges.”

Some carriers also publicly outline specific perks such as health coverage beginning on the first day of employment, retirement plan options/401(k) match, profit sharing and flight benefits. Southwest lists those items on its flight attendant careers page.

Editor’s note: This story, originally published March 6, 2024, has been updated with recent data and additional context.

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The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Gwen Moran is a contributing writer for AARP who specializes in business and finance. Her work has appeared in many leading business publications and websites, including Entrepreneur, Kiplinger.com, Newsweek.com, and the Los Angeles Times Magazine.