Eight-airline comparison · 2026

Flight attendant requirements by airline

There is no single U.S. flight-attendant eligibility standard. This comparison shows what eight airlines publish, which criteria can be checked now, and where an active job listing still controls.

Official airline sourcesReviewed Independent comparison
At a glance

Compare the reviewed minimum requirements

Read across a row for a quick screening view, then open the airline’s official source before applying. The table is a dated summary, not a live vacancy feed.

Reviewed flight attendant requirements across eight airlines
AirlineAgeEducationServicePassportHeight / reachSource
United Airlines21+High school diploma or GED12 months12 months remaining + 2 consecutive blank pagesCombined 76-in vertical and 43.5-in horizontal reach assessmentVerify
Southwest Airlines20+High school diploma or GEDCheck active listingValid, unexpired passportPublished cabin-task requirements; no stable numeric reach rule reviewedVerify
Delta Air Lines21+Check active listingCheck active listing30 months remaining when reporting for trainingCheck active listingVerify
American AirlinesCheck active listingCheck active listingCheck active listingCheck active listingCheck active listingVerify
Alaska Airlines21+High school diploma or equivalent24 monthsUnrestricted travel to served countries82-in vertical reach on toes without shoesVerify
Frontier Airlines20+High school diploma or GEDCheck active listing14 months remainingCheck active listingVerify
Sun Country Airlines20 by end of trainingHigh school diploma or equivalent24 months direct customer service6 months at training, or proof of application/renewal80-in barefoot vertical reachVerify
SkyWest Airlines21+High school diploma or GEDCheck active listingPassport and travel eligibility before training60–72 in tall without shoesVerify
The common baseline

What most applicants should prepare to verify

The wording differs, but the reviewed sources repeatedly return to a small set of practical checks. Prepare evidence for each one before an application opens.

01

Age and education

Published minimum ages in this comparison are usually 20 or 21. Several airlines also name a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.

02

Passport and travel

“Valid passport” may be only the starting point. Some airlines publish a remaining validity window, blank-page rule, or unrestricted-travel condition.

03

Cabin duties and schedule

Reach, height, lifting, water training, irregular hours, relocation, and screening can become practical blockers even after the document checks are met.

A safer application sequence

Use the comparison to screen, not to self-select out

  1. Start with the dated comparison.Identify obvious age, document, experience, or reach questions.
  2. Open the current airline source.Confirm that an opening exists and look for vacancy-specific wording.
  3. Resolve every “Check active listing” item.Unknown information is a prompt to verify, not an automatic rejection.
  4. Keep a dated application checklist.Passport validity and completed experience months can change over time.
Important:

CabinReady Fit is independent and informational. Airlines make all application, assessment, training, and employment decisions. The current active listing always overrides this summary.