If you’ve been checking Alaska Airlines’ careers page waiting for a flight attendant posting to appear, you’re in good company. The Seattle-based carrier is one of the most popular choices for flight attendant hopefuls on the West Coast, helped by a contract that locks in annual pay rises through 2028, as well as its recent expansion into long-haul, international service.
At a Glance
Applications are closed today, but not for long. Alaska Airlines is set to reopen flight attendant recruitment on October 8, 2026, for both Alaska and Hawaiian.
- The window: Opens at 8 am Pacific Time on October 8 and closes at 7 pm Pacific Time on October 10, 2026.
- Applied in July? There’s something you need to know before the new window opens.
- What to do now: Finish your resume today. You’ll have less than three days to apply.
Is Alaska Airlines hiring flight attendants right now? Not quite, but it’s about to. Alaska is set to reopen applications at 8 am Pacific Time on October 8, 2026, and the window closes at 7 pm Pacific Time on October 10.
Here’s what we know and what it means if you’re planning to apply.
How Alaska’s Hiring Windows Work
Alaska doesn’t run open-ended, evergreen recruitment for flight attendants. Applications are only accepted during posted hiring windows, and each window is a single job posting with a fixed closing time. Once that time passes, you have to wait until the next short window opens.
The current posting covers flight attendant roles at both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The two airlines still run separate contracts, separate seniority lists, separate bases, and separate training, so which airline you apply for matters. Horizon Air, Alaska’s regional partner, hires separately again.
Worth knowing: Apply once, and don’t create more than one candidate profile. Alaska specifically asks candidates not to. If you’ve previously applied and were rejected, you can reapply six months after that rejection.
Where Things Stand Right Now
Alaska last opened flight attendant applications on July 20, 2026, and that window closed just three days later. At the time, we believed it would be Alaska’s last flight attendant hiring window of 2026.
In a surprise twist, though, a new window is on the way. Applications are set to open at 8 am Pacific Time on October 8, 2026, and close at 7 pm Pacific Time on October 10.
Why is Alaska reopening so soon? Our read is that this isn’t about growth plans. It’s more likely that the shortlisting process from the July window has whittled down the applicant pool further than Alaska expected, and the airline now wants to widen that pool before it fills its upcoming training classes.
Insight: If you applied in July and are still in the process, pay attention to this. Candidates who haven’t yet reached the face-to-face interview report being told by Alaska that their existing application will be closed out (or “dispositioned”, in recruiter terms) when the new posting goes live, and that they’ll need to apply again. We expect those candidates to keep their place in the hiring pipeline rather than start from scratch, and it’s unlikely they’ll have to record another video interview.
Pay is part of the draw. New Alaska flight attendants currently start at $32.96 per TFP, which Alaska equates to roughly $36.59 an hour, with a further 3% rise scheduled for March 2027. Our Alaska Airlines flight attendant salary and benefits guide explains how the TFP system works and what a first-year Reserve month pays.
How Likely Is Alaska to Open Hiring Soon?
Recent Alaska Flight Attendant Hiring Windows
| Date Opened | Duration Open | Posting Type |
|---|---|---|
| October 8, 2026 | Scheduled to close 7 pm PT, October 10 | Alaska and Hawaiian |
| July 20, 2026 | Three days | Alaska and Hawaiian |
Minimum Requirements
Before you start preparing, make sure you meet these minimum requirements:
- Age: At least 21 years old at the time of application
- Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Experience: Two years of customer service or community service experience. Previous flight attendant experience is not required
- Reach: Able to reach 82 inches vertically on tiptoes, without shoes. That works out at roughly 5'2" and up
- Language: Able to read, write and speak English proficiently
- Passport: A valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining when you start
- Travel eligibility: Able to fly unrestricted in and out of every country Alaska and Hawaiian serve
- Right to work: Legally authorized to work in the United States
- Water: Comfortable in a swimming pool wearing a life vest during emergency training
- Screening: A background check and a drug test, which screens for marijuana regardless of the law in your home state
Alaska's tattoo policy can stop an application on the day. A Professional Standards check covering tattoos and appearance takes place at check-in for the in-person Assessment Day, and arriving with a tattoo that doesn't comply isn't something you can talk your way around. Review the policy in our full guide to Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Appearance and Grooming Standards.
Worth knowing: Two things catch new hires out. First, initial training is six weeks in Seattle, and it's unpaid. You get a $40 daily per diem and a hotel room, but no salary until you're flying. Second, you can state a base preference, but you can't choose your base, and the cost of relocating is yours.
Our Alaska Airlines flight attendant bases guide covers what each base is like.
How to Apply and Stay Ready
Applications go through the official Alaska Air Group careers site. From there, the process runs through an online values-fit assessment, an on-demand video interview, and an in-person Assessment Day in Seattle, where the final interview and a conditional job offer typically happen on the same day.
Your resume needs to be tailored to Alaska's four values and the flight attendant role before you submit. Our Alaska Airlines flight attendant recruitment guide walks through every stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not today, but a new window is about to open. Alaska is set to accept flight attendant applications from 8 am Pacific Time on October 8, 2026, until 7 pm Pacific Time on October 10, 2026. The posting covers both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.
The last window opened on July 20, 2026 and closed on July 22. The next one is set to open on October 8, 2026.
No. Alaska doesn't require previous flight attendant experience, but it does require two years of customer service or community service experience.
New hires currently start at $32.96 per TFP, which Alaska equates to roughly $36.59 an hour. Initial training is unpaid, with a $40 daily per diem.
This page is part of our ongoing coverage of Alaska Airlines flight attendant recruitment, covering pay, the application process and what to expect at each stage. If you're getting ready to apply, here's where to go next.
