How realistic is it

tizzizzailslf04 · May 9th, 2008, 00:24

To become a flight attendant after graduating college (I think every day about leaving school because I feel like i'm wasting my time there when my goal is aviation..but I know it could come in handy some stay so I'm duking it out, lol), and pay for flight training as you go, with the hope of getting to the airlines.

I have a little over $15,000 already out in school loans (Parents make waaaay too much money), and still have about 4 semesters left.

I'm majoring in criminal justice but I really want to fly (flight attendant, pilot, something in the air, haha), which is why i figured flight attendant would be the way to go. I have a ton of customer service experience, including american eagle...so yea...

Holla at a brotha!

jtrain609 · May 9th, 2008, 00:27

Flight attendants make less than I do on first year pay, I wouldn't recommend the route if you want to be a pilot.

Go get a job using your degree, pay off your loan and pay for your flight training. It'll take a few extra years, but just roll with it. I started flying when I was 16 and didn't actually get a job flying airplanes for a living until I was 23 and I'm glad that it worked out that way. It gave me time to do indoor, enjoy college, blah blah blah.

tizzizzailslf04 · May 9th, 2008, 02:47

The thing that worries me a whole lot is how the cost of training is just shooting up. 2 years ago, the price quote for a PPL at skymates was around $5500-ish. Now it's over $8000. Who knows what it'll be by the time I graduate.

DeltaAVL · May 9th, 2008, 06:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by tizzizzailslf04

The thing that worries me a whole lot is how the cost of training is just shooting up. 2 years ago, the price quote for a PPL at skymates was around $5500-ish. Now it's over $8000. Who knows what it'll be by the time I graduate.

Don't go to Skymates...

MQAAord · May 9th, 2008, 07:59

If you don't have the drive to be a pilot, then don't. It takes so much time, money and effort to make it through the ratings that if you don't really want to be a pilot then being a flight attendant is probably a fine choice. Keep in mind that flight attendants put up with a lot of #### from passengers. It's NOT an easy job! Rocket science? Of course not, but it is not the cushy glamourous life some people think it is. You must have good customer service skills, and be able to relate to and deal well with people.

It can be darn near impossible to be a full-line flying flight attendant and try to schedule flight training while working as a flight attendant. Trust me, I tried

. It can be done, but it will probably take you longer.

Flight attendants do not make a lot of money. Even at a major you'll be lucky to make $20 your first year. Some F/As fly super-high-time, and they can do okay money wise, but then there is NO time left over for anything, like flight training. (If that's what you want to do.)

So, if your long term goal is to be a pilot, then just go get your ratings and do it. It'll be easier working a regular job or going somewhere and doing the full-time training thing.

If your long term goal is not to be a pilot then go ahead and be a flight attendant. It's a lot of fun along with the hard work, and if you've got the personality for it, it can be a great career

mooneyguy · May 9th, 2008, 08:24

We ALL were created with certain desires!!! I could spot a plane in the sky and point it out in seconds, BEFORE I could even talk! It is one of the first things my mother wrote about in my baby book! However, I never knew anyone in aviation, my parents never attempted to help me get any information, so I did what most people do. I asked where can I get the best paycheck? BIGGEST mistake of my life...chasing a paycheck is not the way to live! Librarians don’t make a lot of money, Paramedics who pick you up in an ambulance and save lives every day do NOT make a lot of money (it makes first your fo pay seem ok). Yet there are scores of people who wouldn’t give those jobs up for anything!
Finally at 40 y/o I have decided to make the switch and enter the aviation field! I'm about a month away.
My suggestion to you is this...FINISH SCHOOL!!!! While you’re young go after your dream! Don’t just choose an FA spot because it's IN and airplane! If you wanna be an FA, great! If you wanna be a pilot then do that! Here in San antonio we have a police helicopter unit. After 5 years of patrol service you can apply to switch over to Helo detail and they PAY for your training. point is there are tons of career choices in the aviation field. Do some research while you’re finishing up school and narrow down what YOUR career choice is going to be!!!!

C150J · May 9th, 2008, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by tizzizzailslf04

To become a flight attendant after graduating college (I think every day about leaving school because I feel like i'm wasting my time there when my goal is aviation..but I know it could come in handy some stay so I'm duking it out, lol), and pay for flight training as you go, with the hope of getting to the airlines.

I have a little over $15,000 already out in school loans (Parents make waaaay too much money), and still have about 4 semesters left.

I'm majoring in criminal justice but I really want to fly (flight attendant, pilot, something in the air, haha), which is why i figured flight attendant would be the way to go. I have a ton of customer service experience, including american eagle...so yea...

Holla at a brotha!

Have you considered finishing your degree and applying to the Federal Air Marshals service? Would be fairly fitting considering your degree.

kellwolf · May 9th, 2008, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltaAVL

Don't go to Skymates...

Eh, just curious on the reasoning behind this. I went to Skymates and instructed there, and I had a great experience. That was back in 2005-early 2006, so it's been a while, though. I'm just not a fan of "Don't go to XYZ" without any sort of reason.

CampbellsChunkySoupra · May 9th, 2008, 09:36

finish school if you are so close to doing it. a degree is something to fall back on.

i was also going to suggest the federal air marshals. you'll be flying and providing a crazy life saving service to many people.

tizzizzailslf04 · May 9th, 2008, 14:33

Never really thought about the Air Marshal thing...I always assumed it was one of those super top secret hard to get jobs. I'll have to look into that.

killbilly · May 9th, 2008, 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by tizzizzailslf04

To become a flight attendant after graduating college...Holla at a brotha!

You must be okay with your passengers assuming you're gay...

(I keed, I keed)

DeltaAVL · May 9th, 2008, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellwolf

Eh, just curious on the reasoning behind this. I went to Skymates and instructed there, and I had a great experience. That was back in 2005-early 2006, so it's been a while, though. I'm just not a fan of "Don't go to XYZ" without any sort of reason.

...For the sole reason of it being over $8000. You can get a PPL for substantially less than that. Nothing against Skymates.

Apologies, I should have been more clear.

BillH · May 10th, 2008, 00:54

Simply do what your heart desires. If you were born a pilot, you don't have to think about it to realize your place is in the cockpit. My problem was realizing I could live my dream. Once I realized it, I haven't looked back, nothing else I want to do. Don't care if I am a flight instructor for the next 5 years. When my heart settles on a certain pilot career path, I will take it. My number one goal is to have fun, and make enough to pay off my loans and so far both have been met.

jtrain609 · May 10th, 2008, 00:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by tizzizzailslf04

The thing that worries me a whole lot is how the cost of training is just shooting up. 2 years ago, the price quote for a PPL at skymates was around $5500-ish. Now it's over $8000. Who knows what it'll be by the time I graduate.

Check it our Holmes.

Go march this summer, and look at how hard Cavies bust your butt.

If you don't want to fly more than how hard you get pushed to win finals this summer, you don't want to fly, because you're going to have to sacrifice more, and you're going to have to want it more. I never marched a Div. I corps, but if it's anything like PIW, the drive you need to do this is WAY more than what I ever put into GLP, and I spent 36 hours a weekend drumming, plus a few hours a day during the week. In short, I never practiced that hard in my life and it pales in comparison to what you need to do to do this gig.

akrand · May 10th, 2008, 01:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by tizzizzailslf04

To become a flight attendant after graduating college (I think every day about leaving school because I feel like i'm wasting my time there when my goal is aviation..but I know it could come in handy some stay so I'm duking it out, lol), and pay for flight training as you go, with the hope of getting to the airlines.

I have a little over $15,000 already out in school loans (Parents make waaaay too much money), and still have about 4 semesters left.

I'm majoring in criminal justice but I really want to fly (flight attendant, pilot, something in the air, haha), which is why i figured flight attendant would be the way to go. I have a ton of customer service experience, including american eagle...so yea...

Holla at a brotha!

I would get your degree first.

I became a FA after college (I also got my degree in Criminal Justice). While i was in college, I did look into the Navy about doing something in aviation. I knew I couldn't be a pilot for them b/c my vision is really bad. But, that didn't work out in the end.

As a FA, pay wasn't good. It wouldn't have been enough to pay off college loans and then try shell out all the money it takes to become a pilot.

It can be done to be a FA and work on the pilot stuff on the side. I know someone who is a FA right now and has been working on becoming a comm. pilot. I know he was eyeing a regional, but this person has been a FA for a while and the first year FO pay would be a good paycut for him.

In this industry, I cant stress enough to get your degree first.