American Airlines Careers & Jobs – Application, How to Apply, Requirements & Interview Tips
Last Updated: May 12th, 2022 by
With an American Airlines career, you’ll be part of the largest airline in the world!
American Airlines was founded 93 years ago. It has its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. It’s also part of the Oneworld airline alliance.
The airline is considered the largest because of how many planes it has. Currently, it has around 941 aircraft as part of its fleet! These planes fly to 350 destinations in the United States and all over the world!
This guide will show you everything you need to know about getting a job at American Airlines. Here, you’ll find out what jobs there are, the salaries they offer, and even possible interview questions!
At American Airlines, you could work as a Flight Attendant, Customer Service Manager, Baggage Handler and more!
American Airlines Jobs & Careers
To find jobs and apply to them, you can use the American Airlines career website. On this site, you can also find out more about the company’s history and culture as well.
American Airlines offers jobs like:
Flight Attendant
As a Flight Attendant, you’ll get a chance to travel a lot for work. You’ll be taking good care of passengers.
This means helping them as they board the plane and as they disembark at their destination.
While in the air, you’ll help to keep passengers safe and comfortable. You’ll serve meals, secure carry-on luggage, and help passengers with their needs.
You’ll love this job if you enjoy creating positive experiences for customers. It also helps if you’re okay with working on your feet most of the time.
Most importantly, it would help if you were comfortable following a flexible work schedule.
Sales Representative
As a Sales Representative, your responsibility is to promote American Airlines to companies that travel!
Usually, these are companies that book flights for their employees to travel for work.
Your job is to convince them that American Airlines is their best choice for their travel needs.
When you reach out to these companies, you’ll be speaking about why American Airlines is the best choice. While you do that, you’ll also be promoting the airline’s loyalty and rewards program.
This job will be great for you if you enjoy sales. You’ll go a long way if you can handle rejection and learn from your mistakes. Above all, you’ll do well if you have a pleasant personality.
Customer Service Representative
As a Customer Service Representative, you’ll be helping customers with any problems they’re facing.
Sometimes customers may be pleasant, but other times they may be angry or tense. That’s why your job is always to represent the airline with a smile on your face.
In some cases, you may be helping customers over the phone. Customers may need your help to get up-to-date information on flights, and you’ll be the one to give it to them.
This job will be great for you if you enjoy working closely with customers.
You’ll go a long way if you can keep your cool, no matter how difficult the challenge might be. It also helps if you’re okay with working on your feet most of the time.
Senior Analyst
As a Senior Analyst, you’ll help the airline run more efficiently.
You’ll be assigned to a specific department like Maintenance or Finance, for example.
Once here, your job will be to help find solutions to problems that the department might be facing.
As an Analyst, you’ll also be helping to put new changes into effect. If the department is starting on a new project, you’ll help to make sure it’s staying on track and on time.
You’ll enjoy this job if you prefer working in an office environment.
As an Analyst, you’ll go a long way if you enjoy problem-solving. It’s also important that you’re a team player, since you’ll be working closely with your teammates and other departments.
Programmer Analyst
Airlines depend on high-tech systems to run smoothly.
As a Programmer Analyst, you’ll be working as both a systems analyst and a computer programmer.
Part of your job will be to develop software that will help American Airlines work more efficiently.
Your job will also be to help fix any systems that aren’t working properly. In this job, you’ll be a specialist in the systems and software that airlines use!
You’ll be great at this job if you’re always keeping up-to-date with the latest in tech. It’s also important that you’re a team player, since you’ll be working with people in different departments.
Manager Jobs
At American Airlines, there are many Manager jobs that you can apply for. These include jobs like Operations Manager and Quality Assurance Manager.
As an Operations Manager, you’ll be on the ground at the airport, making sure everything runs smoothly. You’ll be working closely with many different teams to help flights arrive and take-off on time.
As a Quality Assurance Manager, your job is to make sure that employees are following the standards set by American Airlines.
You’ll be keeping an eye on how things run to make sure it’s done efficiently. Most of all, you’ll make sure that people are doing their jobs safely.
How Much Does American Airlines Pay (Hourly & Salary)?
At a minimum, you could make $15 an hour as a Customer Service Representative at American Airlines, 6% below the national average for similar jobs. To get a better idea of what you could also make, here are a few other examples
- Supervisor ($15 an hour)
- Flight Attendant ($42,000 a year)
- Sales Representative ($35,000 a year)
- Programmer Analyst ($96,000 a year)
- Senior Analyst ($89,000 a year)
- Quality Assurance Manager ($105,000 a year)
- Operations Manager ($77,000 a year)
Working at American Airlines gives you access to competitive pay and benefits.
These benefits include health, dental, vision and wellness support. It also includes financial benefits like 401(k) contributions.
As an airline, they also offer you travel benefits for you and members of your family that qualify.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At American Airlines?
You have to be at least 18 years of age to work at American Airlines.
At 18, you could apply for entry-level jobs such as:
- Staff Assistant
- Flight Operations Coordinator
- Customer Service Coordinator
Some jobs may require you to be older, such as Flight Attendant where you need to be at least 20 years old.
Does American Airlines Drug Test?
Yes, American Airlines does conduct drug tests. Past applicants have shared that their drug tests were in the form of a saliva test and a urine test.
Whatever the odds may be, it’s always safer to assume that a drug test will take place.
Possible American Airlines Interview Questions & Tips
Here are a few questions that a recruiter may ask you during your interview.
Why Do You Want To Work With American Airlines?
This is a standard question that most recruiters will ask. The reason they ask you this question is that they want to see what your motivations are.
Recruiters want to see if your motives are a good fit with the company’s priorities.
A good answer is one that highlights your strengths. Pick a strength that you have, and tell them how you’d like to use it to benefit the airline.
For example, if you’re good at working with customers, tell them that. You can say that working with the airline is a chance for you to put your strengths to good use.
Do You See Yourself Having A Future With American Airlines?
Recruiters might ask you this question to see if you have a long-term plan for yourself. They also want to know if you plan on staying with them for a long time if you get the job.
A good answer would show that you’re aware of how you might move up the ladder in the company.
So, do your homework about American Airlines. You can tell them that you see yourself as a Supervisor or Manager of your department in the future.
What Would You Do If…
This is a ‘scenario’ or ‘pretend’ question.
Recruiters might ask you this question to see how you think when you’re faced with a challenge.
A good answer depends on the scenario they give you. Whatever that scenario might be, you should always keep your cool no matter how difficult it is.
Your answer should also show that you’ll ask others for help if you need it.
This shows the recruiter that you’re a team player and that you’re humble enough to ask for help when you need it.
American Airlines Hiring Process
Overall, past applicants have shared that the hiring process is a positive one. Other applicants have found it to be challenging, but not too difficult.
On average, the hiring process can take over a month.
The process sometimes starts with a phone call from a recruiter. This is followed by an interview on-site. Depending on the role, you may be interviewed with other candidates as a group.
No matter what position you’re applying for, it’s always good to look at your best. Be sure to dress in business casual or a formal outfit for your interview.
Does American Airlines Do Background Checks?
Yes, American Airlines does background checks.
This happens most of the time. The background check may add more time to the overall hiring process.
The background checks usually go back as far as ten years.