Many people dream of becoming a flight attendant but worry that not having strong math skills will hold them back. The good news is that while math is used in some flight attendant duties, it is not a significant part of the job for most. Flight attendants are primarily focused on passenger service, safety, and following airline procedures. With the right training and temperament, you can absolutely succeed as a flight attendant even if math is not your strongest subject.
What are the math requirements to become a flight attendant?
The basic math skills needed to become a flight attendant are:
- Addition and subtraction – for example, to make change for passenger purchases
- Unit conversions – converting between metric and imperial measurements
- Basic fractions and percentages – for example, to mix drinks
- Mental math and memorization – for example, remembering door distances
During initial flight attendant training at an airline, you will be taught all the math skills specifically needed for the job. This includes things like:
- Calculating aircraft weights and balances
- Converting altitudes and temperatures
- Metric conversions
- Time zone math
The math taught will relate directly to the operational requirements of working as cabin crew on that particular airline. The training will cover any math skills you need to operate safely and effectively day-to-day.
What math skills do flight attendants use on the job?
While flight attendants are trained in aircraft weight and balance calculations, this is not something cabin crew themselves regularly calculate. The aircraft weights are actually determined by the ground operations team or the cockpit crew before each flight.
The most common day-to-day uses of math for cabin crew involve:
- Making change – calculating local currency conversions and giving change to passengers who purchase items on board.
- Measuring – estimating distances between seats or galleys when demonstrating safety procedures.
- Telling time – coping with multiple time zones.
- Metric unit conversions – converting between imperial and metric measurements.
- Simple food preparation – for example, doubling a recipe quantity or dividing a carton of milk between multiple cups of tea or coffee.
None of these tasks involve anything more complex than basic arithmetic. Flight attendants certainly don’t need trigonometry or calculus!
Do airlines test math skills before hiring?
Math skills are rarely directly tested as part of the flight attendant selection process at major airlines. Here are some examples of common tests and assessments:
- Personality questionnaires – assessing if you have the right soft skills and temperament.
- English language tests – assessing verbal fluency and comprehension.
- Customer service scenarios – roleplaying interactions with passengers.
- Safety knowledge tests – testing recall of safety procedures.
- Reach tests – demonstrating you are tall enough to access overhead bins.
Airlines want to make sure new hires have the friendly, helpful attitude needed for the job, not advanced math skills. During training is when they will teach you the specific numeracy required.
Some airlines do have applicants fill out basic math questions on job applications. But these are very simple, just testing for proficiency with fractions, percentages, measurement conversions, time zones, etc. There are no complicated calculations required.
As long as you passed high school math, you have all the numeracy skills needed to get hired. Advanced math is not a prerequisite to start training.
What if you struggle with the math portion of flight attendant training?
It’s very rare for trainees to fail the math section of flight attendant school. Airlines are invested in you succeeding – they want to produce qualified attendants, not eliminate candidates unnecessarily.
If you do struggle with the math, the airline will provide extra support. They may assign you a one-on-one math tutor or give you additional practice tests until you can demonstrate proficiency.
The math curriculum is designed for the average person. While being comfortable with basic arithmetic helps, you do not need to be a math genius. With practice, most trainees pick up the skills without issue.
Here are some tips if you struggle with the math:
- Practice daily leading up to training – go over sample test questions and flashcards.
- Learn to use a calculator quickly and accurately.
- Ask for help early – don’t let embarrassment stop you from getting support.
- Focus on the reasoning behind how to solve each problem – not just getting the right answer.
- Get a study buddy who’s strong at math.
- Remember that as long as you put in the effort, the airline wants you to pass.
While an intuitive grasp of numbers helps, it is perseverance and a willingness to learn that matters most. Airlines will provide math support if needed to help you successfully complete the course.
What aspects of the job involve math?
To understand the level of numeracy needed day-to-day, let’s look at some specific flight attendant duties that involve math:
Aircraft weight and balance calculations
As mentioned, flight attendants do not actually need to perform weight and balance calculations themselves. This is done by ground operations teams and input into the aircraft computer system.
However, flight attendants do need a conceptual understanding of aircraft weight and balance. This ensures they do not load or unload the aircraft in a way that could make it unsafe.
For example, attendants should not allow passengers to shift seats on a small commuter plane as that could significantly change the weight distribution and center of gravity.
Taking payment onboard
On some flights, flight attendants will sell duty free items and other goods to passengers. Attendants may accept payment in multiple foreign currencies.
They need to be able to quickly calculate currency conversions and give the correct change. This involves mental arithmetic and potentially using a calculator.
Measuring door distances
During safety demonstrations, attendants point out emergency exit doors and their distances apart. For example, “There are two doors in the front separated by 40 feet.”
While the distances are pre-measured, attendants still need basic mental visualization and estimation abilities. They need to be able to look at the length of the cabin and roughly judge distances in their safety briefings.
Mixing drinks and managing inventory
Flight attendants who work in first class cabins often prepare drinks for passengers, like cocktails or specialty coffees. This requires measuring and combining ingredients accurately.
They may need to double recipes or scale ingredients up and down. Stocking and counting inventory also involves math.
Converting time zones and temperatures
Since flights cross multiple time zones, flight attendants must be comfortable making quick time zone calculations.
They also give the temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit at the destination airport when making their arrival announcements. Being able to flip between the two units is essential.
As you can see, while flight attendants use math regularly, it is focused on simpler tasks. There is no need for complex computations beyond basic arithmetic and unit conversions.
How much math is on the flight attendant exam?
The flight attendant exam required by most major airlines does test some basic math concepts but it is a small component overall. Of the 100-200 questions on the exam, there will typically be:
- 5-10 questions about making change
- 5-10 questions about metric conversions
- 5-10 questions about calculating time zones
- 5-10 questions about fractions/percentages
So out of a 150 question exam, you can expect around 30 math-related questions. The rest of the exam focuses on memory, safety, customer service, and situational judgement.
As long as you are comfortable with the math you learned in high school or your GED program, you should have no issues passing the numeric sections.
Some sample math questions on the flight attendant exam include:
| If a passenger gives you $10 for a $4.75 sandwich, how much change should you give back? |
| How many centimeters are in 48 inches? |
| If you depart Los Angeles at 2:15 pm and the flight time is 11 hours, what local time will you arrive in Sydney, Australia (which is 16 hours ahead)? |
| If you can make 3 cocktails from 2 liters of juice, how many cocktails can you make from 3 liters of juice? |
This level of basic arithmetic and practical numeracy is all that’s required to pass.
What math skills are needed during flight attendant training?
Airlines provide 2-8 weeks of intensive training to prepare new hires before they can fly. This covers both classroom learning and hands-on practice.
Some parts of flight attendant training that involve math skills are:
Aircraft weight and balance
You will be taught:
- Definitions of aircraft weight measurements like maximum takeoff weight, zero fuel weight, etc.
- How weight and balance factors affect aircraft safety and performance.
- How loading distribution affects center of gravity.
- How to read weight and balance charts and graphs.
The classroom learning focuses on the concepts and regulatory requirements more than calculations.
Emergency procedures
You will memorize important measurements relevant to emergency situations. For example:
- The distance each exit row is apart from the next.
- The height of door sills from the ground.
- The width of aisles and emergency paths.
- How many feet per second cabin pressure is lost in a decompression.
This involves memorizing numbers, not complicated formulas.
Service procedures
When learning beverage service, meal service, and duty free sales, you will practice skills like:
- Using the point of sale system and calculating local currencies.
- Pouring precise liquid measures.
- Estimating ratios when mixing drinks.
- Calculating inventory and restocking supplies.
These are based on your proficiency with practical math rather than textbook theories.
The training will fully prepare you for any math skills needed on the specific aircraft you’ll be working on. You don’t need to study anything in advance.
What if you have dyscalculia or math anxiety?
Some prospective flight attendants experience severe math anxiety or dyscalculia, a learning disability that affects mathematical abilities.
This does not have to deter you from becoming a flight attendant. Here are some tips:
- Be honest about it – let your airline know so you can get accommodations.
- Ask if you can substitute easier sections of the math exam.
- Get tutoring to refresh even basic math skills before training.
- Ask to take math tests orally rather than written.
- Request more time, use of a calculator, or other aids when testing math.
- See if you can schedule the math portions over multiple shorter sessions.
Most airlines will do everything possible to set you up for success. If math is truly not possible for you, look for flight attendant roles with regional carriers that may have less rigorous math requirements.
The most important qualities in flight attendants are hospitality, empathy and composure – not being a human calculator. With perseverance and a positive attitude, you can make your dream take flight even with math challenges.
Conclusion
If you have the passion to work in the aviation industry, don’t let math anxiety hold you back from becoming a flight attendant.
Airlines hire candidates with a wide range of math abilities – as long as you have mastered the basics, you can be taught the specific skills needed for the job during your training.
While flight attendants do use some math day-to-day, it is focused on simple tasks like giving change, unit conversions, estimating measurements, and time zone math.
There is no need for complex calculus or algebra. You will be fully prepared for any required numeracy through the airline’s practical training program.
With a positive attitude and willingness to learn, even those who have historically struggled with math can pass the flight attendant exam and training. Airlines will provide tutoring and accommodations if you need extra support learning the math concepts.
The most important requirements are not math grades, but rather qualities like kindness, level-headedness, and professionalism. Don’t let math anxiety stop you from reaching for the skies and embarking on an amazing career as cabin crew.