What College Degree Do I Take to Become a Flight Attendant?

Many people ask me if a specific college degree is required to become a cabin crew member. The good news is that no particular degree is necessary to be a flight attendant. Any college course can provide advantages once you’re working as a flight attendant. Regardless of your degree, you will undergo the same training as everyone else.

Airlines are not particular about the degree you hold. Among flight attendants, you’ll find registered nurses, pre-law graduates, business majors, HRM graduates, those who have an MBA degree, and many who studied tourism.

While some airlines don’t require you to be a college graduate to become a flight attendant, I personally recommend completing your college education if possible. Education forms a vital part of our foundation.

As for which course to choose, airlines that require a college degree don’t prioritize any specific field. They are more interested in how well-rounded you are. Having a cabin crew with diverse educational backgrounds can be beneficial.

Each course can offer unique advantages for those pursuing a cabin crew career. I’ll highlight a few disciplines and how they can be helpful in both the short and long term of a cabin crew career:

Tourism

A cabin crew member with a tourism degree is already directly involved in the travel industry, which includes airlines. Their training in learning about different places, cultures, organizing tours, handling tourists, and historical knowledge enables them to become flying ambassadors for tourism in their country, contributing to national growth. Flight attendants with tourism degrees can also easily establish rapport with foreign tourists by sharing knowledge about the tourists’ home countries and understanding their cultures.

Nursing

The first flight attendants, including registered nurse Ellen Church, were actually flying nurses. Cabin crew members with a nursing degree are well-equipped to take care of sick passengers on board. They provide care and comfort, especially to passengers who find flying stressful. There are numerous stories of RN cabin crew members assisting passengers in giving birth mid-flight! They place a high priority on human lives, which is crucial for any airline. Their training and knowledge as nurses are invaluable, ensuring that each passenger is safe and comfortable throughout the flight.

Hotel and Restaurant Management

The job of cabin crew members includes serving meals and beverages to passengers during flights, and this is where those with an HRM (Hotel and Restaurant Management) degree excel. They have expertise in food and beverage control, including inventory management and service. As HRM involves hospitality management, graduates in this field possess strong interpersonal skills. This is a significant advantage, as they know how to interact professionally and effectively with passengers of various backgrounds, managing their expectations with ease.

Entrepreneurship

Cabin crew members with an entrepreneurship diploma bring unique advantages, both onboard and off the aircraft. In the cabin, they excel in multitasking and macro-managing. They also have a comprehensive understanding of decisions made by airline management. Cabin crew with an entrepreneurship degree typically pay close attention to detail, making quick and decisive decisions to carry out essential tasks inside the aircraft efficiently and effectively.

Off the plane, especially when traveling, these flight attendants can easily identify opportunities. They provide insights into upcoming trends and are not afraid to take risks. Entrepreneurship graduates serving as cabin crew members also tend to be very street-smart.

Law

Cabin crew members with a background in law are typically unafraid to strictly enforce airline policies, even with the most challenging passengers. Should a complaint arise, they know how to defend themselves using the airline’s policies and the country’s laws. Training as a cabin crew member won’t be too daunting for them, as they are accustomed to extensive reading. Law students spend much time reading and memorizing volumes of statutes and cases, so familiarizing themselves with materials like the Cabin Crew Operations Manual (CCOM) is nothing new to them. Moreover, they are skilled communicators, making them great conversationalists for passengers, particularly on topics related to current events.

Architecture

Cabin crew members who have studied architecture often possess a strong desire to travel and explore, especially historical sites and buildings, due to their deep appreciation for various architectural styles. Their knowledge makes them adept at engaging passengers in conversations about tourist destinations, including historic buildings, churches, castles, and more. Passengers often appreciate cabin crew members who can strike up meaningful conversations, as many find interacting with people and learning new things more entertaining than watching an aircraft’s in-flight entertainment system.

Marketing and Communications

Clear communication between passengers and cabin crew is crucial, particularly when delivering safety instructions. Cabin crew members with a communications and marketing degree can effectively communicate with passengers using a clear, crisp voice, carefully chosen words, and appropriate intonation. They also tend to be excellent conversationalists, especially if they are the type to read extensively and continually learn.

When it comes to onboard duty-free sales, a cabin crew member with a marketing background can utilize their skills to promote the airline more effectively, upsell flights, and persuade passengers to purchase onboard duty-free items. This not only contributes to the airline’s direct revenue but also boosts its ancillary income.

Is it necessary to go to a flight attendant school?

Attending a flight attendant (FA) school is not a requirement. While it has its advantages, it’s not mandatory, and you will undergo the same training with the airline regardless of whether you’ve taken aviation courses.

Is a degree in tourism the closest to becoming a cabin crew member? Degrees in tourism, nursing, and HRM are closely related, as they all fall within the service industry. The first flight attendants, known as the ‘flying nurses’ in the 1930s and led by Ellen Church, were actually nurses who flew in fixed-wing aircraft.

As for which college course to pursue, follow your heart. I’ve previously suggested entrepreneurship, but that’s just a personal preference. Should you complete college to become a flight attendant? If you have the means, I definitely recommend it, even though some airlines don’t require a degree. There’s no need to rush. As long as airplanes are being manufactured and air travel exists, there will always be a need for flight attendants.

So, to sum up, there is no specific degree required to become a flight attendant.