A career as a flight attendant at Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, or Horizon Air is fast-paced, responsibility-filled and deeply rewarding. Every flight brings new destinations, meaningful connections and opportunities to deliver exceptional care.
Embrace the flexibility and excitement of a role that demands resilience and adaptability every day.
Being a flight attendant is more than a job – it’s a lifestyle.
Join our Flight Attendant Talent Community to be the first to hear about our next opening.
How we hire
Applications will only be accepted during posted hiring windows. Below is what you can expect during the hiring process:
Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines
The application process includes answering screening questions based on minimum qualifications that candidates are required to answer successfully to move forward. Candidates are advised to apply once and avoid creating multiple profiles.
The screening process includes two separate phases and are required to pass the first assessment before the second.
- Online Screening Assessment – during this phase a candidates’ skills, behaviors, and problem-solving abilities are evaluated in a way that simulates real job scenarios.
- Online On-demand Interview – a video interview that you complete online at your convenience, rather than scheduling a live session with a recruiter.
The interview stage takes place at an in-person hiring event. This will typically be done at one of our corporate offices, and candidates should expect the experience to last a full day. Please note that a reach test and tattoo check are completed upon check-in.
Successful candidates will receive a conditional job offer at the end of the in-person hiring event.
Alaska Flight Attendants will go through 6 weeks of in-person training and Hawaiian Flight Attendants will go through 8 weeks.
Candidates must pass the training.
Horizon Air
The application process includes answering screening questions based on minimum qualifications that candidates are required to answer successfully to move forward. Candidates are advised to apply once and avoid creating multiple profiles.
Online On-demand Interview – a voice only interview that you complete online at your convenience, rather than scheduling a live session with a recruiter.
- Virtual Group Orientation (with required participation) - groups of candidates will attend an informational session about the role with Q&A. Attendance is required to move to the next step.
- Virtual 1:1 Interview – video interview with a member of the inflight leadership team.
- In-Person Group Interview - This will typically be done at one of our corporate offices, and candidates should expect the experience to last a half-day. Please note that tattoo checks are completed upon check-in.
Successful candidates will receive a conditional job offer at the end of the in-person hiring event.
4 weeks of in-person training that takes place in PDX. Candidates must pass the training.
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants
Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants provide remarkable service for our mainline carriers.
Training
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines provide between 6 - 8 weeks of intensive training programs for each class of flight attendants. After training, flight attendants are equipped to fight fires, save lives and take on any obstacle. Trainees also spend time in the air working alongside current flight attendants for on-the-job experience.
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines FAQs
Alaska Airlines
- Minimum age of 21 years
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- 2 years’ customer or community service experience
- Must be able to fly unrestricted in and out of all countries within which Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines operates.
- Reach 82 vertical inches while standing on toes but without wearing shoes - approximately 5’2” in height
- A love for travel and a tolerance for unpredictable schedules in the beginning of your career
- Comfortable being in a swimming pool with a life vest during emergency training and in water during an inflight emergency
- Ability to attend our unpaid training for 6 weeks at our training facility in Seattle, WA (transportation and accommodations are provided)
- Ability to relocate and/or work from any of the current or future Alaska Airlines flight attendant bases, including but not limited to: Los Angeles, CA; Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; San Diego, CA; Anchorage, AK; San Francisco, CA
Hawaiian Airlines
- Minimum age of 21 years
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- 2 years’ customer or community service experience
- Must be able to fly unrestricted in and out of all countries within which Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines operates.
- Reach 82 vertical inches while standing on toes but without wearing shoes - approximately 5’2” in height
- A love for travel and a tolerance for unpredictable schedules in the beginning of your career
- Comfortable being in a swimming pool with a life vest during emergency training and in water during an inflight emergency
- Ability to attend our unpaid training for 8 weeks at our training facility in Honolulu, HI (transportation and accommodations are provided)
- Ability to relocate and/or work from any of the current or future Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant bases, including but not limited to: Los Angeles, CA; Seattle, WA; Honolulu, HI
Yes. Candidates who accept an offer at the hiring event will complete an on-site drug screening. Please note: this includes testing for marijuana, regardless of state laws or legalization status.
Hawaiian Airlines applicants must pass a tuberculosis test. It is required for employment in the State of Hawaii for any roles where food handling will be part of the job. This is not a requirement for Alaska Airlines applicants.
Alaska Airlines
- No visible tattoos on face, front of neck or chest.
- One tattoo the size of a quarter or smaller allowed per hand. No uniform piece will cover a hand tattoo.
- One tattoo per arm/leg/foot/back of neck/behind ear. Tattoos on the back of neck and behind the ears are only permitted as long as they're not visible when looking directly at a person.
- Tattoos may only be covered with a uniform piece or approved jewelry/watch. Bandages, makeup or compression sleeves cannot be used to cover tattoos.
Hawaiian Airlines
- No visible body art while wearing standard uniform pieces of your choice which include short and long sleeve shirt/blouse or dress/skirt.
- Flight Attendants may not have visible body art, either temporary or permanent, when wearing the uniform.
- Tattoos must not be seen performing natural movement such as reaching (lifted arms above the head), bending, sitting, etc.
- attoos cannot be covered with makeup (concealer/foundation), bandages or jewelry.
We will be doing a Professional Standards check at the in-person hiring event during check-in. If your tattoos are out of compliance, we will not be moving forward with the interview process.
Training is unpaid. You will receive a per diem of $40 for the duration of training.
Training is intense, condensed, and very comprehensive. Typically, expect to work 9 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. A sizable portion of your time will be spent studying and preparing for exams after class is over. Traveling home on days off may be challenging.
- Alaska Airlines training is 6 weeks long and takes place in Seattle, Washington.
- Hawaiian Airlines training is 8 weeks long and takes place in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Hotel accommodation will be provided during training.
Flight Attendants are paid once a month at Alaska Airlines and twice a month at Hawaiian Airlines.
Alaska Airlines
Pay starts at $32.00/TFP (TFP is a formula based on a combination of miles flown and block time). You will receive pay increases annually.
Below is an estimate of what you can expect in the first few years of employment under the current contract:
- Year 1 - $50,000
- Year 2 - $53,600
- Year 3 - $55,300
Hawaiian Airlines
Pay starts at $28.96. You will receive pay increases annually. The pay structure is block to block, which means flight attendants are compensated when the aircraft first moves from the gate (i.e. the parking brake is released, and the aircraft begins taxiing) and ends when the aircraft comes to a complete stop at the gate of the destination (i.e. parking brake is set again).
You will be assigned your base during training. Flight Attendants must be open to relocating to ANY of our bases.
- Alaska Airlines bases are in Anchorage (ANC), Los Angeles (LAX), Portland (PDX), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO) and Seattle (SEA).
- Hawaiian Airlines bases are in Honolulu (HNL), Los Angeles (LAX) and Seattle (SEA).
Commuting is allowed but not recommended, since flight loads are full and a seat is not guaranteed.
No, the company will not offer relocation assistance. It is the responsibility of the new hire to relocate to their assigned base. We encourage new hires to plan ahead and seek housing options.
Crash pads can often be found online or via networking with other airline employees. Linking up with classmates and finding temporary housing can be a great way to navigate this new journey together!
You will not have the opportunity to choose your schedule as a new Flight Attendant. Schedules can and will change, especially due to Irregular Operations and all Flight Attendants must be prepared to work any schedule including nights, weekends, overnights, and holidays.
Schedules are awarded based on seniority.
All Flight Attendants will be guaranteed a minimum of twelve days off per month.
Horizon Flight Attendants
Horizon Air is the regional carrier serving communities in Alaska, The PNW and beyond!
Horizon Flight Attendant FAQ’s
- Minimum age of 21 years
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- 2 years’ customer or community service experience
- Must be able to fly unrestricted in and out of all countries within which Horizon Air operates.
- Uncompromising dedication to safety.
- A love for travel and a tolerance for unpredictable schedules in the beginning of your career
- Ability to attend 4 weeks of paid training in Portland, OR (transportation and accommodations are provided)
- Ability to relocate and/or work from any of the current or future Horizon Air flight attendant bases, including but not limited to: Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Boise, ID; Spokane, WA; Anchorage, AK; Everett, WA; Las Vegas, NV.
Training will be held in Portland, OR for four (4) weeks.
Yes, training is paid. Horizon Air Flight Attendants are employees beginning the Sunday before class starts.
We have 7 bases: Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Boise, ID; Spokane, WA; Anchorage, AK; Everett, WA; Las Vegas, NV
You do not get to choose your base assignment. It is best to mentally prepare for any base knowing that there are opportunities to put in transfer requests.
No. The company will not offer relocation assistance. It is the responsibility of the new hire to relocate to their assigned base. We encourage new hires to plan ahead and seek housing options.
Yes, commuting is allowed; however, it can be challenging. Flight Attendants who commute rely on standby travel, which is not guaranteed. Finding housing is important particularity in the first year of employment. Employees are responsible for finding and paying for their own housing.
A crashpad is a shared, temporary living space near an airport base where flight attendants stay when they are on reserve or have layovers and don't live in that city.
Being on reserve as a flight attendant means you're essentially on call during the days you are on reserve.
It is difficult to determine how long someone will be on reserve. Some people are on reserve for just a month or two and some for several years. It depends on many factors.
You will have 12-13 days off every month with at least one four-day stretch.
Reserves are guaranteed a minimum of 75 block hours. Pay is $20.66 per block hour. So, if employees don’t fly AT ALL during a year, they would at least be paid $18,594 yearly in base pay. Per diem is $2.25 an hour. Flight attendants are paid per diem for every hour away from your base. Pay is complicated and can vary widely but a first-year flight attendant can expect to make $25,000. Flight attendants can pick up flying on days off, fly for other flight attendants for extra money, sell credit cards during flight, earn bonuses and incentives, etc. During training there is a 2-hour module dedicated to crew pay!
We are unable to accommodate days off for pre-planned travel or events in the first few months from the training start date. The best option is to apply when the timing is right.
Horizon Air Flight Attendants are represented employees (union employees). Visit afahorizon.org/ to view the latest collective bargaining agreement between Horizon Air and the AFA.
Our tattoo policy for this role is the following: No visible tattoos on face, front of neck, or chest. One tattoo the size of a quarter or smaller allowed per hand. Tattoos in other areas cannot be larger than a credit card or offensive. Employees can have one tattoo per arm/leg/foot/back of neck/behind each ear. Tattoos on the back of neck and behind the ears are only permitted if they’re not visible when looking directly at a person. Tattoos may only be covered with a uniform piece or approved jewelry/watch (covering with makeup is not allowed).
Please note that if you arrive to training with a non-compliant tattoo we reserve the right to terminate employment.
Tattoos may only be covered with a uniform piece or approved jewelry/watch (covering with makeup is not allowed).
We will be doing a Professional Standards check in the hiring process. If your tattoos are out of compliance, we will not be moving forward with the interview process.
Embraer 175
Our bases
While we serve more than 115 destinations, your “home base” will be the airport where all of your trips begin and end. After training, your base will be assigned based on operational needs and cannot be selected in advance. You’ll need to either relocate or commute to your assigned base. As you gain seniority, you’ll have the opportunity to bid for a different base, though the timing for transfers can vary and is not guaranteed.
