What Southwest Requires Before You explore

Southwest hires flight attendants through a formal recruitment process that starts with meeting baseline requirements. You must be at least 20 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and hold a valid passport. You also need a Social Security number and the legal right to work in the United States. Southwest does not sponsor visas for flight attendant positions.

The airline requires you to pass a background check, which includes criminal history and employment verification. You must also pass a medical examination and drug screening. If you have a criminal record, a DUI, or other serious violations, Southwest will likely reject your process. The background check looks back several years, so disclose any issues upfront rather than hoping they won't surface.

Physical requirements are less restrictive than many people assume. You do not need to be a certain height or weight. However, you must be able to reach overhead bins, move through narrow aisles, and perform emergency procedures. You also need correctable vision (20/100 or better with correction) and hearing within normal limits. If you have a disability, Southwest evaluates your ability to perform the job's essential functions, not the disability itself.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be at least 20 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, a valid passport, and legal work authorization in the United States.
  • Southwest's online process asks about your work history, availability, and willingness to relocate; incomplete or dishonest answers disqualify you before the interview stage.
  • The interview process includes a group event where Southwest evaluates how you interact with other candidates, followed by individual interviews that focus on customer service scenarios and safety awareness.
  • After a conditional job offer, you attend a five-week training program in Dallas, Texas, where you learn safety procedures, airline policies, and customer service standards; you must pass written exams and practical demonstrations to graduate.
  • Southwest does not hire flight attendants who have worked for competing airlines within the past two years without a formal release letter from that airline.

The Online process and Initial Screening

Southwest posts flight attendant openings on its careers website. You create an account, upload your resume, and answer a detailed questionnaire. The questionnaire asks about your work history, availability to work any schedule (including nights, weekends, and holidays), and willingness to relocate to one of Southwest's crew bases. Be honest about your schedule flexibility—Southwest operates 24/7 and needs attendants for early morning and late-night flights.

The process also asks about your customer service experience and how you have handled difficult situations. Southwest looks for people who have worked in hospitality, retail, or other customer-facing roles. If you have no direct customer service experience, explain how your background demonstrates the ability to stay calm under pressure and treat people with respect. Southwest screens out applications with spelling errors, incomplete sections, or inconsistent information, so proofread carefully.

If your process passes the initial review, Southwest sends you a video interview link. You record answers to pre-recorded questions—you do not speak to a person in real time. You typically have one or two attempts to record each answer. Keep your responses concise, maintain eye contact with the camera, and speak clearly. This step eliminates candidates who do not meet basic communication standards.

The Group Event and Individual Interviews

Candidates who pass the video interview are invited to a group event, usually held at a Southwest office or hotel conference room. You will be in a room with 20 to 40 other candidates. Southwest staff observe how you interact with strangers, whether you listen to others, and how you handle group activities. They are not looking for the loudest person in the room—they want someone who is friendly, respectful, and collaborative.

The group event typically includes icebreaker activities, a group discussion, and a brief presentation about Southwest's culture. You may be asked to introduce yourself, share why you want to work for Southwest, or discuss a time you provided good customer service. Be genuine. Southwest has a strong company culture centered on fun, respect, and hard work. Candidates who seem like they are performing rather than being themselves often do not advance.

If you move forward, you attend individual interviews with Southwest managers or senior flight attendants. These interviews are behavioral—they ask about specific situations you have faced. A typical question is "Tell me about a time you had to deal with an angry customer" or "Describe a situation where you had to follow a rule you disagreed with." Prepare examples from your work history that show you can stay professional, follow instructions, and prioritize safety and customer needs.

The Conditional Job Offer and Background Check

After the interviews, Southwest extends a conditional job offer. This means you have passed the interview stage, but the offer is contingent on passing a background check, medical exam, and drug screening. The background check includes criminal history, employment verification, and driving record. Southwest contacts your previous employers to confirm your dates of employment and job performance.

The medical exam is straightforward. A doctor checks your vision, hearing, blood pressure, and overall health. You will be asked about any medications you take and any medical conditions you have. Be honest—Southwest is not looking for perfect health, but it needs to know you can safely perform the job. If you have a condition that might affect your ability to work, disclose it and let the doctor determine whether it is a barrier.

The drug screening is a standard urine test. Southwest has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs. If you test positive, your offer is withdrawn. Some prescription medications may show up on a drug test, so bring a list of any medications you take to the screening appointment.

The Five-Week Training Program in Dallas

Once you pass the background check and medical exam, you are assigned a start date for training. All Southwest flight attendants train at the Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Training Center in Dallas, Texas. The program runs five weeks and covers safety procedures, emergency equipment, airline policies, customer service standards, and company history. You live in Dallas during training—Southwest does not cover housing, so you need to arrange your own accommodations or stay with family.

Training includes classroom instruction, hands-on practice with emergency slides and evacuation procedures, and role-playing scenarios. You learn how to operate doors, deploy oxygen masks, use fire extinguishers, and information passengers with medical emergencies. You also learn Southwest's boarding process, beverage service, and how to handle difficult passengers. The training is intensive and fast-paced. You are expected to retain a lot of information in a short time.

You must pass written exams on safety procedures and company policies. You also complete practical demonstrations—for example, you may be asked to evacuate a mock aircraft or explain how to use emergency equipment. If you fail an exam or practical, you may have one opportunity to retake it. If you fail twice, you are dismissed from the program and your job offer is withdrawn. Graduation from training does not may provide a permanent position—you enter a probationary period where your performance is monitored closely.

Crew Base Assignment and Your First Year

After training, you are assigned to a crew base. Southwest has bases in cities including Dallas, Houston, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Phoenix, and Chicago. Your assignment depends on seniority, base staffing needs, and your preferences. As a new hire, you have limited choice, but you can request a transfer after you have been with the airline for a certain period. Some bases are more desirable than others because of cost of living, weather, or proximity to family.

Your first year is probationary. You work under close observation, and Southwest can terminate you without cause during this period. After probation, you gain more job security and seniority rights. You begin building seniority when ready, which determines your schedule, pay, and ability to bid for preferred trips. Senior flight attendants get first choice of schedules and trips; new hires work whatever is assigned.

Pay starts at an hourly rate for flight time plus a per diem for time away from your base. The exact amount varies by year and contract, but new flight attendants typically earn between $28,000 and $35,000 in their first year, including per diem. As you gain seniority and experience, your hourly rate increases. Southwest flight attendants are represented by the Transport Workers Union of America, which negotiates contracts on their behalf.

What Disqualifies You or Slows Your Hiring

Southwest has specific policies that can disqualify you or delay your hiring. If you have worked for another airline as a flight attendant within the past two years, you need a formal release letter from that airline before Southwest will consider you. This policy exists because of training costs and industry agreements. If you left an airline on bad terms, getting a release letter may be difficult or impossible.

A felony conviction, DUI, or history of violence will likely disqualify you. Southwest also scrutinizes gaps in employment history and reasons for leaving previous jobs. If you were fired or quit without notice, be prepared to explain what happened. Southwest values reliability and professionalism, so a pattern of job-hopping or conflict with employers raises red flags.

Tattoos are permitted as long as they are not visible when wearing the Southwest uniform. Visible tattoos on the neck, face, hands, or lower arms may be an issue. Piercings are allowed, but you must remove them during flights. Hair color and style are not restricted as long as they are neat and professional. Southwest's appearance standards are less strict than some airlines, but they still expect a professional look.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the entire hiring process take?

From process to training start date, the process typically takes three to six months. The timeline depends on how many candidates are in the pipeline and how quickly Southwest schedules interviews and background checks. Once you receive a conditional job offer, the background check and medical exam usually take four to six weeks. Training starts on a set schedule, so you may wait several weeks between passing your medical exam and your training start date.

Do I have to relocate to work for Southwest?

Yes, you must be willing to relocate to one of Southwest's crew bases. You do not have to move when ready, but you must be able to commute to your assigned base for every trip. Some flight attendants live in a different city and commute to their base, but this is expensive and exhausting. Most flight attendants move to their crew base or a nearby city within the first year.

What is the schedule like for a new flight attendant?

New flight attendants work whatever schedule Southwest assigns. You may work early mornings, late nights, weekends, and holidays. Schedules are built in monthly bidding cycles—senior attendants bid first and choose their preferred trips, and new hires get what is left. As you gain seniority, you have more control over your schedule. Most flight attendants work four to five trips per month, with each trip lasting one to three days.

Can I transfer to a different crew base after I am hired?

Yes, but not when ready. You must complete your probationary period and build some seniority before you can request a transfer. The exact timeline depends on Southwest's staffing needs and your seniority number. Once you are may be able to access, you can bid for open positions at other bases. Transfers are not may provide—you compete with other flight attendants who are also bidding for the same position.

What happens if I fail the training program?

If you fail a written exam or practical demonstration twice, you are dismissed from the training program and your job offer is withdrawn. You cannot reapply to Southwest for flight attendant positions for a set period, typically one to two years. If you fail training, you are responsible for your own travel and housing costs to return home. This is why it is important to take training seriously and study the material thoroughly.