If your friends describe you as “always planning the next trip,” this might be your moment: Delta just opened applications for its 2026 flight attendant classes. The airline is scouting people who love meeting new faces, keeping cool under pressure and making even a long-haul flight feel a little special.
“Delta’s flight attendants are the heart of our onboard experience,” says Rachel McCarthy, the company’s VP of In-Flight Services. Translation: this isn’t just a gig handing out ginger ales. You’re the calm voice during turbulence, the first smile passengers see and the one who makes sure everyone’s safe while cruising at 30,000 feet.
Who Can Apply
Delta Air Lines is looking for both English-speaking candidates and bilingual hires, known internally as Language of Destination (LOD) flight attendants. LOD team members help customers in the language of the country they’re headed to, which means speaking, reading and writing another language is a serious plus.
To get started, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED and be legally allowed to work in the U.S. A valid passport (with plenty of time left before it expires) is also essential. And you’ll need to be cool with a schedule that includes overnights, weekends, holidays and flights to more than 300 destinations worldwide.
How to Get the Job
The hiring process requires applicants to first submit an application through Delta’s careers site. From there, you’ll take an online FitMe assessment, followed by a Virtual Job Tryout where you’ll get a feel for everyday scenarios on the job.
If you make it through, you’ll record a video interview and then you could be invited to an Event Day at Delta’s Atlanta headquarters. Pass that, and you’ll get a conditional job offer and head to a seven-week, in-person training (also in Atlanta) where you’ll learn everything from safety drills to creating a smooth customer experience.
Delta has been flying for nearly a century, and its crew members get to be part of that legacy while seeing the world firsthand. There are bases all over the U.S., and bilingual flight attendants get even more opportunities to connect with travelers in their own language. If you’ve ever wanted a career that mixes adventure, service and a seriously good view, this could be your boarding call.
