Corporate Flight Attendant Jobs - An Alternative To Commercial Airlines

If you think that the major airlines are the only job possibilities for flight attendants, then you're missing out on one of the fastest growing areas in the aviation industry. In the wake of 9/11, many of the major airlines cut back on flights in reaction to the decreased demand for air travel among the general public. In response, many corporations have turned to either manning their own mini-air forces, or to hiring smaller airlines for their business and corporate trips. ...

Keywords:

flight attendant jobs, airline flight attendant jobs, united airline flight attendant jobs

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If you think that the major airlines are the only job possibilities for flight attendants, then you're missing out on one of the fastest growing areas in the aviation industry. In the wake of 9/11, many of the major airlines cut back on flights in reaction to the decreased demand for air travel among the general public. In response, many corporations have turned to either manning their own mini-air forces, or to hiring smaller airlines for their business and corporate trips. If you've never considered corporate flight attendant jobs, the differences may surprise you.

Salaries vary for corporate flight attendant jobs, but are generally better than commercial flight attendant jobs.

First, the nitty-gritty. Expect that those hiring for corporate flight attendant jobs will be looking for experienced flight attendants - two or more years in flight experience is the norm. You may need to relocate to be where the corporate flight attendant jobs are - the big jobs in corporate flying are in Los Angeles and New York. That said, the salaries for corporate flight attendants tend to run between $33,000 and $100,000 depending on the type of company for which you fly. There are several types of players in the corporate flight arena:

Fractional Operators are airlines that service several corporations, giving each business partial ownership of the airline. They'll generally pay the least of all the corporate operators, though there are exceptions. Starting salaries are in the $30,000 range, depending on flight miles logged. Many fractional operators don't require any previous corporate flight attendant training, and will train you to their own specifications. Each company has its own requirements, to which you'll have to adapt. One other advantage to working for a fractional operator is that where you live may not be as important, as they'll often allow you to airline to meet up with a plane.

Charter Operators pay a bit more as a general rule. Corporate flight attendant jobs with charter operators often offer a starting salary of $40,000. Charters let their aircrafts and crews for individual runs rather than having them on standby for part owners or full owners, therefore you're likely to log more in air hours than with either other model. The actual salary that you're offered will depend on your experience and the location of the hiring company, but the average salary for corporate flight attendants working for charter operators is $53,000.

Owner Operators are companies that own their own aircraft and staff them with their own employees. The salaries vary widely from company to company, as do the expected duties. Corporate flight attendants working for an owner operated corporate airline may make as little as $25,000 - and be expected to do everything from take dictation to serve coffee - or as much as $100,000 if they supervise other flight attendants.

One other thing that deserves mention is the possibly of flying 'contract'. Much like working long-term temp nursing or other assignments, a contract corporate flight attendant is available to work on a contract basis through an assignment agency. Pay is often $350 and up per diem when you're on assignment, and may include transportation to and from the flight's originating city and a meals allowance.

Corporate flight attendant jobs are often considered to be the elite jobs in the flight crew world. If you're interested in corporate flight attendant jobs, you'll find more information by joining a discussion forum devoted to flight attendants and crew.

Corporate Flight Attendant Career: Getting Hired

Passing through training is an all important step toward securing work as a corporate flight attendant. The next step, getting hired, has its own special challenges.

Keywords:

corporate flight attendant, cabin managers, corporate jet catering, business aviation, private jet

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So, you’ve made it through the interview process and have received an offer of an employment. Congratulations! However, there are some things to consider before accepting or rejecting an offer of employment. How you reply to these questions will determine whether the job offer is really worth it:

Is this a full time, part time, temporary, or contract position? As obvious as it seems, you may be getting an offer different from what you originally applied. Try to get in writing the official offer -- if it involves heavy-duty legal language consider contacting an employment specialist or an attorney for guidance.

Will you be paid hourly, per diem, by the job, or by an hourly salary? How many hours are you expected to work? Does the company pay overtime? Bonuses? Profit Sharing? Is this position with a “91” operator [meaning lengthy crew duty days] or with a 135 operator [with limited duty days]?

Will you be a flight attendant? A cabin attendant? A host/hostess? Titles make a difference because the level of pay and training will depend on how high the position is. Will your new company pay for initial and recurrent training, i.e., FACTS or FlightSafety? Do they even require it? What other training is offered?

What will your benefits be? Will you have full health and dental coverage? Will you be covered under an HMO, PPO, POS, or some other plan? Is your company self insured, i.e. they aren’t utilizing the services of a health care provider, but paying as they go? What portion of the insurance costs will you pay? What are the caps on insurance? Are prescriptions covered? How about family members – are they covered?

What sort of retirement plan is offered? 401(k)? Traditional pension plan? No plan? Can you afford to work for the salary offered and be responsible for your own retirement? How much vacation days will you receive? Paid holidays? Hard days vs. soft days? Personal and sick days?

Will the company reimburse you for education expenses? Eyeglasses? Out of pocket expenses? Will they provide a cellular phone, laptop computer, or PDA? What other miscellaneous benefits are offered? How is catering handled? Aircraft supplies? Uniforms? Will you have to pay for it and seek reimbursement? How long does it take to be reimbursed? Does the company offer cash advances? Will you be given a company credit card? What types of hotels do crewmembers stay in?

Be prepared to seek an upward adjustment in the salary offer if you believe that the offer is too low or if you will have to pay more out of your own pocket for benefits than what is customary.

Other considerations: Exactly whom will you be reporting to? What is the company’s policy on promotions? On layoffs (severance, notice, etc.) To whom can you go to if a problem arises?

Corporate Flight Attendant Resource Guide

So, you want to become a corporate flight attendant. Good for you! I've included several links to informative sites that can help you further your career. Please read on for detailed information.

Keywords:

corporate flight attendant, cabin managers, inflight catering, food, wine, wine service, NBAA, FAA

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So, you have decided to enter the exclusive field of business flying. Congratulations! Before you go further, have you done all the research that you can to find out all the details that you need to know about this exciting field? Some people say that business aviation is a mystery compared to working for the airlines and, in many ways, they are correct. To take the mystery out of everything, this handy little guide will help point you in the right direction.

FAA -- All that you need to know about the regulatory side of business aviation can be found on the FAA’s web site. The FAA, or Federal Aviation Administration, is the U.S. government agency tasked with overseeing much of what goes on in business aviation. FARs, or Federal Aviation Regulations, are set up to establish what can and cannot go on in business aviation. As a corporate flight attendant, FAR Part 91 and FAR Part 135 will be of the most interest to you. Visit www.faa.gov for all the details.

NBAA -- The NBAA or National Business Aviation Association is the premier voice for business aviation. The NBAA has several over site committees in place which are tasked with guiding companies and personnel. The NBAA’s Flight Attendant Committee is an important voice for business flight attendants. Please visit www.nbaa.org for more information.

Corporate Flight Attendant Community -- Established in 2002, the Corporate Flight Attendant Community is an independent resource center for private flight attendants. The community pulls together articles, links, training sources, food and wine information, and much more into one centralized area. The community also includes a resume posting service, forums, and catering information. Visit www.corporateflyer.net for more information.

Cabin Manager -- As part of the Corporate Flight Attendant Community, Cabin Managers is a top performing forum for members of the business aviation community. General Discussion, Stress and Health, Inflight Services, Just For Newbies, and Safety and Security, are some of the chief subforums on this site. Visit www.cabinmanagers.com for more information; read, start or respond to a thread for direct contact with members of the community.

Corporate Jet Catering -- Another subsection to the Corporate Flight Attendant Community is this site particular site which features in-flight caterers from around the world. Visitors to the site list comments about catering experiences and share recommendations and tips. Articles related to food and wine service are also included.

Women in Corporate Aviation -- An offshoot of the Women in Aviation International group, Women in Corporate Aviation was established in 1993 to promote networking and mentoring opportunities for women in business aviation.

Lastly, there are several business aviation training companies that have been established to help corporate flight attendants to further their careers. For a list of some of the top companies out there, please visit http://www.corporateflyer.net/IndustryLinks.html for all the details. Business aviation is a rewarding field…getting established takes a lot of pluck and determination and not everyone has what it takes. How about you?

Corporate Flight Attendant Job Hunting Tips

Finding employment as a corporate flight attendant takes a certain amount of drive and determination that few people possess. Still, if you are sensing that working on a private jet is your "calling" then the following information shall be helpful to you.

Keywords:

corporate flight attendant, business aviation, cabin attendant, corporate flight attendant community

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I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic to write about. In fact, my knowledge of how one finds work as a private flight attendant is based chiefly on what others have shared with me. You can find some useful tips within the many threads written on the Corporate Flight Attendant Community forum, but to save you from culling through hundreds of threads I will highlight various standout points and include others that have been shared with me over the past several years by industry insiders:

Cold calling. Time honored and time tested this is an important method for finding work and it is also one of the hardest for the majority of people to do. If you do not have the skills to contact strangers you will find an important avenue for securing work omitted. Even the unskilled can accomplish much by attempting this step...practice, practice, practice and you will get the hang of it. You many never feel comfortable doing it, but you accomplish much by trying. Always keep this in mind: every person that you meet is a potential contact for helping you find work; conversely, you may also be able to help someone out too.

Attend conferences/meetings. Attending NBAA related conferences and events will get your name and face out there. Preferably, you would also attend events where a lot of pilots hang out, especially pilots of cabin class jets which include the Global Express, G-V and Falcon Jet 2000. The NBAA's annual conference is a very important venue for networking as well as are their one-day regional conferences.

If you are an NBAA member you get a copy of their directory which lists many companies that fly these very same jets. In addition, membership will give you access to their message boards and other important information on events that they host.

How about attending the annual NBAA Flight Attendant Conference? Yes, it can be an important place to learn more about the industry, attend seminars, and network. Many of the newer folks find it helps them gain a better understanding of private flying, while some veterans will tell you to save your money for the big conferences. Your call: conference fees, hotel and transportation charges can add up significantly. Not many people have the luxury of attending every event.

Local airport events. Is your airport hosting a seminar? Is an important industry leader speaking? Well, why not attend? Sure, aircraft de-icing/anti-icing may not be the most exciting topic, but it is to pilots. Guess what? Some of the same people you want to fly with will be attending. Guess what? There is usually a social time afterwards. After the recent crashes involving corporate jets you certainly do want to be knowledgeable about industry best practices involving ice. Oh, by the way, have several copies of your résumé with you and copies of your business card to hand out. Yes, get business cards made up and be prepared to share them liberally.

Consider joining your local airport's advisory board, helping out with special community outreach programs, organizing an airport wide event, etc. Anything that you like to do and that helps get your face and name out there is a plus. In this business your name is golden. Promote it and protect it for all that it is worth! Become an expert self marketer/promoter.

The internet. Do Google searches and start reading and bookmarking every page that interests you pertaining to business aviation. The internet has more information then any library and it is updated frequently.

The Corporate Flight Attendant Community [please click the link in the resource box below to be taken there]. This website was created by me to be a resource center for private flight attendants, for those who aspire to become one, and their supporters. I draw upon industry leaders as well as the private flight attendants themselves to communicate what is going on in the industry, particularly from the cabin crewmember's point of view. Helpful articles, relevant links, catering information, résumé posting, and message boards are some of the more important features of the community. This is truly a niche community one that has gained the attention and respect of many in the industry.

Of particular importance for learning/growing/networking are the message boards. Mostly everyone who participates is already working in the field as a crewmember either full time or on a contract basis. Others are working on the skills they need to enter the industry, while still others offer important help or guidance to the industry. Let me say this: your screen name is your business and I do not reveal who you are if I happen to make the connection between your screen name and true identity. Many business relationships and friendships have been made between our members because of the message boards. By participating in our Open Chat time or via p.m. [private message] contact you can "meet" our members.

Job sites. There are many sites on the internet listing aviation related jobs. They include: Skyjobs, Plane Jobs, AviaNation, Climb to 350, AEPS, and the Aviation Employment Board. This last community, the Aviation Employment Board [please click on the appropriate link featured in the resource box below] is run by me and is a companion to the Corporate Flight Attendant Community. Naturally, it is my preferred method but some of the other sites are helpful too. Unlike the Aviation Employment Board, most will charge you a monthly fee to register. A big hint: if you do sign up check out the jobs listed on the "pay sites" with the free sites. See if you notice any difference in jobs listed. If you are a corporate flight attendant, do not expect many jobs to be listed publicly in any case. There just aren't all that many available at any given time and most companies do not want to publicly advertise their openings.

Agencies. AirCareCrews; Integrity Flight Crews, LLC; Jet Professionals, Inc.; J.S. Firm; Turner Services are all some of the names out there associated with providing hiring services. Expect to pay a fee in most cases; do not expect many opportunities. Your call.

As one of our message board members has advised: build your own sources. You may find that something works better for you than another person. Much depends on your own initiative; I find that those individuals who do the most exploring have an easier time finding work. If flying corporate is something that you want, be persistent. Another good trait: be flexible. This includes having a willingness to relocate and being available to work 24/7/365.

Flight Attendant Hiring Outlook

The hiring outlook for flight attendants hasn't been this good in five years. Please read on to see who exactly is hiring and what you can do to launch your new career right away!

Keywords:

flight attendants, corporate flight attendant, Aviation Employment Board, aviation jobs, jet jobs

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The hiring outlook for flight attendants has brightened considerably over the past few months. Led by United Airlines’ recent announcement that they would immediately begin to hire up to 2000 new flight attendants, this news has sparked the most attention. If you are interested in becoming a flight attendant, the market is the best it has been in five years. Let’s take a look at who is hiring or who can be expected to hire over the next year.

Legacy Carriers – Beaten up by high employee costs, surging fuel prices, competition from low priced carriers, and overall inefficiency, two legacy carriers [defined as those air carriers who have helped shape the US airline industry] are turning the corner and are hiring flight attendants. United Airlines and Continental Airlines are hiring for various bases within the US.

Discount Carriers – Southwest, AirTran, Mesa, and Alaska Airlines are all hiring right now. In fact, across the board hiring is taking place at virtually all discounters right now as they seek to strengthen their footing in the marketplace.

Regional Carriers – Chautauqua, Comair, Champion Air, and Air Wisconsin are all hiring. Like the discount carriers, most regional carriers are awash in cash and are expanding their routes. More routes means additional employees needed to fill the increased capacity.

Charter Carriers – Air Miami and several other airlines that fly unscheduled flights are hiring.

Start Up Carriers – The two newest air carriers, EOS Airlines and Maxjet Airways, have recently hired flight attendants and are expected to hire again.

So, if winging your way to Peoria or Paris is the kind of lifestyle you want to lead, then working as a flight attendant is certainly one of the ways to do just that. Air carriers are hiring and the pickings are good for the right candidates. Contact your desired airline directly for up to date hiring information and open houses.