Do flight attendants move between airlines often or do they tend to stay with one airline for a long time?

I was a Flight Attendant for 28 years, and recently retired. Flight Attendants typically do not move from airline to airline. Scheduling, pay, vacation are usually based on seniority, and therefore, it makes sense to stay with one airline for an entire career.

I was 21 back in 1969 when United Airlines breezed through my town of Kansas City looking for "Stewardesses". I had applied at TWA but they were not interested. Back then...they were looking for the girl "next door". My have times have changed. I guess I wasn't the girl next door for TWA but United Airlines snapped me up in a heartbeat. During the initial interview, the interviewer asked some questions..pretended to drop a pencil off of his desk..which I promptly picked up and then I took a paper test covering math. He hired me on the spot. I was off to Chicago within weeks for a 4 week training program. After that..myself and 2 other trainees arrived in New York. And so began a 34 year career that was the time of my life. I'm pretty sure applying and advancing through the current training program is markedly different than what I was exposed to. But it shouldn't be insurmountable. Truthfully, I have no idea what challenges you are put through. You do not have to put yourself thru those "Flight Attendant Schools". When you are hired..that airline will train you. And lastly..when they ask you why you want to be a Flight Attendant...plz don't say.."Because I love people". Say something like.."I want to experience the world. I want to see what is out there ..I want to meet people from different Countries. I want to experience a global world where I have a place in it. I want to make a difference in this world by being humanly connected. I trust I have given you some valuable info. BTW..you need to be refreshing, alert, connected, considerate, upbeat, comfortable in your own skin, owning your desire to help others, giving of yourself with no limitations, knowing your limitations and lastly..patting yourself on the back many times because that was what we had to do. Good Luck to all of you. I wish all of the best to you.

Flight attendants working for airlines receive their pay increases based on seniority, therefore it is not good to be switching around, as you start at the bottom of the totem pole every time you change companies. Flight pass benefits are also based on seniority, so it is harder to get a space on a flight when you are at the bottom of the ladder. It is best to get on with an airline you like and remain with them over the course of your career.

Everything in the airline industry is based on seniority. We bid for the trips we are going to work and receive our choices in order of our seniority. You receive more vacation time the longer you have been with the company and are able to take that vacation time based on bidding and seniority. Pay is better, quality of life is better the longer you are with an airline. Hopping airlines does happen, but normally in the beginning to get into a better company or one that fits your lifestyle better (has flights to places you would like to go, or the overall pay structure is better for a career)

Most flight attendants tend to stay with one airline... Seniority is everything with an airline