Spirit Airlines is an ultra low cost airline and is also the 9th largest airline in the United States. If you are thinking about applying to become a flight attendant and live in an area they service, you should consider applying with them
This article is a guide to applying for a job with Spirit Airlines and will give you some background on them, the salary they pay, their scheduling, their hubs, and other needed information to become a flight attendant for them. This article will also show you how to become a flight attendant for Spirit Airlines if you’ve never been a flight attendant before.
Spirit Airlines
Spirit is one of the largest low cost airlines in the United States. They have an impressive fleet of over 150 aircraft. They operate throughout the United States as well as some international destinations. They offer service to 77 destinations. They also currently employ over 8900 aviation professionals including hundreds of flight attendants. Their headquarters is in Miramar, Florida (which is in the Miami metro area).
Spirit Airlines has been in business since 1983 has annual revenues of over $3 billion.
How to Become a Flight Attendant with Spirit Airlines
In order to become a flight attendant with Spirit Airlines, you’ll first have to meet the basic requirements of a flight attendant. Although some of the requirements are set by the FAA for all flight attendants, there are also some that are specific to Spirit.
Here is a list of these requirements specifically for Spirit Airlines:
- Must be 21 years of age
- Must be fluent in English
- High school diploma or GED
- The ability to legally work in the United States
- Ability to fly both domestic and international routes (valid passport)
- Be at least 5’0″ tall (without shoes)
- Flexible schedule (flights are 24/7/365)
- Ability to pass a background check and drug test
- Vision correctable to 20/40
- Meet physical requirements of the job (reach overhead bins, stand for long periods of time, etc.)
Although these are the requirements to be considered, Spirit considers the best candidates to also have these qualifications:
- A college degree
- fluent in a 2nd language (preferably Spanish(
- Hold a valid drivers license
If you meet these requirements, you should go ahead and submit an application on their employment website found here.
Getting Hired
If this is your first time applying to be a flight attendant, make sure to check out our guide to help people just like you. It’s a guide to help you become a flight attendant with no experience.
Spirit Airlines Flight Attendant Salary
The pay for flight attendants at Spirit Airlines is in line with other regional and low-cost airlines.
The starting range for a new flight attendant is in the range of $13-16/hour according to self-reported numbers from previous flight attendants as reported to Glassdoor and Payscale.
As you gain more experience and seniority you can expect to make much more. Flight attendants with over 5 years of seniority with Spirit Airlines can expect to make more than $30/hour.
You can expect to make over $50/hour once you’ve been there for over 10 years.
Bonuses, Commission, and Profit Sharing
Like most airlines, Spirit Airlines flight attendants also have the ability to earn additional income.
There are many variable that affect your ability to earn this additional income. This includes things like the profitability of the company and your own performance as a flight attendant.
Spirit Flight Attendant Training Program
Spirit Airlines offers a training program for all newly hired flight attendants.
This program lasts for 4 weeks and is located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It includes a variety of topics like safety procedures, aircraft specific training, company policy, customer service, first aid, and more.
Attending a flight attendant school can cost thousands of dollars. Being able to go through their program is not only a huge cost savings, but give you some very valuable skills you can use in your career.
Spirit Airlines Hubs & Home Bases
Spirit Airlines Headquarters is located in Florida. Below is a list of their current hubs:
- Atlantic City
- Chicago (O’hare)
- Dallas – Fort Worth
- Detroit – Metro
- Fort Lauderdale
- Las Vegas
- Orlando
You can expect to be based out of one of these hubs as a flight attendant for Spirit Airlines.
Spirit Airlines Flight Attendant Schedule
Like most airlines, seniority for flight attendants is very important in determining your schedule. When you finish the training program you will start out in the reserve program. (If you aren’t familiar with how this works, read more about it here).
It’s also common that early in your career as a flight attendant you’ll have to take flights that might not be your first pick. This includes flights on weekends, at night, and on holidays.
Once you have more experience and seniority you’ll be able to get scheduled for flights on a more regular schedule. As you progress in your career you’ll not only be able to pick more desirable shifts but you’ll also earn more money.
For more detailed info on how flight attendant schedules work, see our guide on it here: Flight Attendant Schedules
Is Spirit Airlines a Great Place to Work?
There are a few very popular job-related sites that allow employees (current and former) to rate their experience working at said company. We’ve taken the time to these scores for Spirit Airlines and a few of their competitors as well as some of the largest airlines. Here is a compilation of those scores:
- Spirit Airlines – 4.2/5.0
- Delta Airlines – 4.1/5.0
- United Airlines – 4.0/5.0
- Southwest Airlines – 4.3/5.0
- American Airlines – 4.0/5.0
- Jet Blue – 4.1/5.0
How to Apply
According to Spirit Airlines themselves, the best place to apply is directly on their website. You can view positions and apply directly on their jobs site.
Summary
Spirit Airlines is a great airline and a great place to start your flight attendant career. They offer a training program, have many happy current and former employees as well as a fantastic reputation. They also offer a very competitive compensation package compared to many smaller airlines.
If you’re interested in joining the team, make sure to check their website for openings.
Good luck!