There are several career paths that a person can take to become a corporate flight attendant. One option is to start with commercial airlines and then seek private work. It's also possible to apply directly to a company that offers corporate flight services and receive training through them or to take an independent training course to get a certification. Legal requirements for flight attendants can vary by country, and people might want to consider researching the requirements in their region when they prepare for careers in this field.
Many corporate flight attendants have backgrounds in commercial aviation. Someone who chooses this method to become a corporate flight attendant applies to work for a specific airline and receives full training and certification through that airline's flight attendant program. Flight attendants usually need to meet basic physical requirements to work for the airline, and a regulatory agency might have additional requirements. Training includes not just customer service skills but emergency preparedness and instruction in first aid as well.
With commercial experience, a commercial flight attendant can apply for a corporate job. He or she might work with a staffing company that supplies personnel or as part of a charter that provides aircraft, a staff and all necessary services to people who need to hire corporate aircraft. It might be necessary to periodically recertify in certain skill areas; first aid certifications, for example, often require periodic renewal. Skills such as the ability to speak a second language can be very helpful.
Another option is to attend a training program to become a corporate flight attendant. The program should meet any government requirements for flight attendants. Some programs offer job placement or referral, which can be valuable for attendees, but others do not. Before attending a training program, it can be a good idea to compare the cost, location and type of training offered by several different programs. It also can help to look up reviews to get an idea of the program's reputation and the desirability of graduates.
Some companies that offer staffing services for private flights also provide their own training. To become a corporate flight attendant with such companies, it can help to have a college degree, although this is not necessarily required. Customer service experience might also be beneficial. In exchange for training to become a corporate flight attendant, the company might require employees to give a certain number of years of service to compensate it for the initial investment in training.
