Flight Attendant | Tūmau Waka Rererangi

Flight attendants make sure that passengers travelling in aeroplanes are safe and comfortable.

Pay

• Flight attendants usually earn between $54,000 and $90,000 a year.
• Flight attendants can earn between $49,000 and $120,000 a year.
• Flight attendants may also receive meal, accommodation, uniform and grooming allowances.

Source : TEC research

Job opportunities

Chances of getting a job as a flight attendant are poor due to limited demand for their services.

Pay for flight attendants varies depending on whether they work on domestic, trans-Tasman or international flights.

Flight attendants may do some or all of the following :

Skills and knowledge

Working conditions

Travelling for work has its perks

Jacqui Chapman thrives on the constant travel involved in her job as a flight attendant. "Many times when I've been in Wellington and there's an exhibition at Te Papa, I've thought, 'I would never have got the chance to see that otherwise.'"

"If you do a six-day trip, you build up a rapport with the people you've worked with, and then you might have the opportunity to go to a Robbie Williams concert in Brisbane with four or five work buddies – it's great!"

Physical effects of working at high altitude

"This job does take a toll on your body and sleep. You need to be more proactive about your diet and sleeping habits than you normally would. So, I find out where I can buy fresh food at each stopover. You just have to be a little creative."

Watching others develop

Jacqui has moved up to the role of cabin supervisor, and helps train staff. "Sometimes I work with people who are shy, so I really enjoy seeing them gain confidence. It's not just about building up your own skills. You get an intrinsic reward from helping someone else out, and seeing them develop."

Flight steward video

Sarah Anderson talks about her career as a flight steward with the Royal NZ Air Force – 1.50 mins. (Video courtesy of Defence Careers)

You need to train on the job to become a flight attendant.

You need :

Personal requirements

Useful experience

Physical requirements

According to the Census, 3,015 flight attendants worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Advantage if you speak more than one language

Being able to speak more than one language increases your chances of getting a job as a flight attendant.

Useful languages to know include :

Air New Zealand key employer

Air New Zealand is the biggest employer of flight attendants.

Flight attendants may also work for :

Sources

Flight attendants usually progress from working on domestic flights to working on international flights, or into senior roles such as lead flight attendant or purser.

They may also choose to transfer to ground-based jobs such as check-in agent, or customer service roles.

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