The Southwest Airlines flight attendant interview process has two interviews: a virtual one-way video interview, then an in-person session at headquarters in Dallas that ends with an individual panel interview with a recruiter and a current Southwest flight attendant. Southwest says it does not run group interviews. The questions test hospitality and fit with Southwest’s culture, most often “why do you want to be a Southwest flight attendant,” “tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer” and which Southwest value you relate to most. Ramp and customer service agents report a phone interview or information session, then a one-on-one with STAR questions.
Southwest pays flight attendants by the trip, not by the hour, and training is unpaid with a $1,200 stipend at graduation.
Southwest Airlines interview process
- Flight attendantApplication, one-way video, Dallas info session and panel, screening
- Ramp agentPhone interview or info session, one-on-one or virtual interview, drug test
- Customer service agentHiring event or phone screen, one-on-one, drug test and fingerprints
| Role | Steps reported | What they check |
|---|---|---|
| Flight attendant | Application, one-way video, Dallas info session and panel, screening | Hospitality, customer stories, culture fit, physical requirements |
| Ramp agent | Phone interview or info session, one-on-one or virtual interview, drug test | Physical work, overtime, conflict, leadership, why Southwest |
| Customer service agent | Hiring event or phone screen, one-on-one, drug test and fingerprints | Frustrated customers, coworker issues, last-minute overtime |
Southwest Airlines flight attendant hiring process
Southwest’s careers site lays out the steps:
- Apply during an open hiring window. You must apply to an open posting on careers.southwestair.com. Southwest notes it never charges for an application or training.
- One-way interview (virtual). Invitations go out in batches, so this can take longer for some candidates. 2026 candidates report self-filmed answers with three attempts per question, done from home.
- Face-to-face (in person, Dallas). An information session with other candidates, a Q&A with the Flight Attendant Interview Team, then an individual panel interview with a recruiter and a current flight attendant. A March 2026 candidate said 50 or more people waited at headquarters and names were called one at a time. Another said the day took about five hours.
- Employment screening. Glassdoor’s flight attendant reports list drug tests (13%) and background checks (12%) among the common stages.
- Training. Four weeks in Dallas.
Glassdoor users rate the flight attendant interview 2.7 out of 5 with 78% positive experiences and an average of 148 days to hire.
Southwest flight attendant requirements
- At least 20 years old when you apply
- Authorized to work in the US, with a valid, unexpired passport
- High school diploma or GED; college coursework preferred
- Lift and lower up to 20 pounds into and out of overhead bins without help, and up to 100 pounds (such as a life raft) with help
- Reach overhead with arms fully extended, and kneel with knees on the ground to arm and disarm a door or do CPR
- Jump into water with a life vest and climb into a raft
- Carry a full drink tray down the aisle and stand and walk for long periods
- Fit quickly through the overwing window exit, and fit a jumpseat harness without modification or a seatbelt extension
Southwest flight attendant interview questions with sample answers
Q: Why do you want to be a Southwest flight attendant?
The most reported 2026 question, sometimes the first one. Make it about Southwest, not just flying: “I have flown Southwest since college and I remember a flight attendant who sang the safety demo. I have worked in restaurants for five years, and I want a job where hospitality and a sense of humor are part of the work.”
Q: Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer.
Reported in Chicago and Dallas in 2026. Use STAR with a clear result: “A regular told me she was eating alone on the anniversary of her husband’s death. I asked the kitchen to plate his old favorite dessert and the staff signed a card. She still comes in every week.”
Q: What are Southwest’s core values, and which one do you relate to most?
Asked at a January 2026 Dallas face-to-face. Southwest’s values are Warrior Spirit, Servant’s Heart and Fun-LUVing Attitude. Pick one and give proof: “Servant’s Heart. At the hotel I covered a coworker’s shift so she could see her son graduate, and I did it without being asked.”
Q: What part of Southwest culture do you connect with the most?
Asked on a 2026 on-demand video. Name something specific (the humor in announcements, employees treating customers like guests) and tie it to how you already work.
Q: Tell me about yourself.
A July 2026 hire said this was the first question. One minute: current job, years in customer-facing work, one personal detail that shows warmth, and why Southwest.
More STAR answers are on the Southwest Airlines behavioral interview questions page.
What to wear to the Dallas face-to-face
Southwest’s careers page does not publish a dress code. 2026 hires say to dress professionally and get there early. A business suit or a professional dress with comfortable closed-toe shoes is the safe choice, since the session can last around five hours.
Southwest ramp agent and customer service agent interviews
Glassdoor rates both the ramp agent and customer service agent interviews 2.4 out of 5. Ramp agents average 33 days to hire and customer service agents 31.
Ramp agents report an information session or phone interview, then a one-on-one, sometimes virtual. A Denver candidate who started in May 2025 filled out a 15-minute application, had a virtual interview and was offered the job halfway through it. Reported questions: why do you want to work for Southwest, tell me how you took leadership on an issue at work, how you dealt with conflict with others, whether you are OK with overtime, questions about physical ability, and whether you are willing to go through the six-month probation.
Customer service agents describe hiring events with a group presentation and one-on-one conversations; a Phoenix hire said that after two HR representatives approved, candidates were drug tested and fingerprinted on the spot, with an offer within ten days. Questions cover frustrated or yelling customers, coworker disagreements, a coworker doing something wrong, your biggest weakness, going above and beyond for a customer, and whether you will stay late when a flight is delayed.
How to prepare for a Southwest Airlines interview
- Know the values. Have one story each for Warrior Spirit (you pushed through a hard day), Servant’s Heart (you helped someone without being asked) and Fun-LUVing Attitude (you used humor to make a bad moment better).
- One-way video: use the three attempts, film with good light, and speak as if to a friend; hires say the uninterrupted time lets you show personality.
- Dallas face-to-face: arrive early, be friendly to every candidate and employee you meet, and prepare for a one-on-one with a recruiter and a flight attendant, not a group exercise.
- Before training: start memorizing airport city codes and the Public Announcements as soon as you have access; you are tested in week one.
- Ramp and agents: be honest about lifting, overtime and staying late on delayed flights, and bring a leadership or conflict story.
Southwest flight attendant pay and training
| Item | What Southwest publishes |
|---|---|
| New hire pay | $32.62 per trip after passing training |
| What a trip is | 243 nautical miles, or about 55 minutes of flight time |
| Monthly minimums | At least 78 trips on reserve, at least 80 trips holding a line |
| Estimated first-year pay | $38,000, based on reserve and line minimums |
| Per diem | $3.04 an hour domestic, $3.63 an hour international |
| Training | 4 weeks in Dallas, unpaid; $1,200 Initial Training stipend within five working days of graduation |
| Training tests | Airport city codes and Public Announcements, word for word, tested in week one |
| Bases | 13: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Chicago Midway, Dallas Love Field, Denver, Houston Hobby, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix |
Bases are assigned during training by operational need and seniority. Southwest also lists a 401(k) match of up to 9.3% of eligible earnings, profit sharing and free standby travel for employees and eligible dependents.
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Airlines interviews
What is the Southwest Airlines flight attendant interview process?
You apply during an open hiring window, then qualified candidates are invited in batches to a virtual one-way interview. Those selected attend an in-person session in Dallas with an information session, a Q&A with the Flight Attendant Interview Team, and an individual panel interview with a recruiter and a current Southwest flight attendant. Southwest says it does not run group interviews. Candidates who pass the employment screening are invited to four weeks of training.
What questions does Southwest ask flight attendant candidates?
The most reported 2026 questions are why do you want to be a Southwest flight attendant, tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer, tell me about yourself, what part of Southwest culture you connect with most, and what Southwest’s core values are and which one you relate to most. Answers are expected in STAR format.
How much do Southwest flight attendants make?
Southwest says new hire flight attendants are paid $32.62 per trip after passing training, where a trip is 243 nautical miles or about 55 minutes of flight time. Reserves are scheduled for at least 78 trips a month and line holders at least 80, and Southwest estimates first-year pay at $38,000. Domestic per diem is $3.04 an hour and international $3.63.
Is Southwest flight attendant training paid?
No. Southwest’s four-week training in Dallas is unpaid, but graduates receive a $1,200 Initial Training stipend, minus taxes and deductions, within five working days of graduation. Trainees must memorize Southwest’s airport city codes and Public Announcements word for word and are tested on both in the first week.
What are the Southwest flight attendant requirements?
Southwest lists: at least 20 years old at application, authorization to work in the US, a valid unexpired passport, and a high school diploma or GED. Physically you must lift 20 pounds into overhead bins alone and 100 pounds with help, reach overhead, kneel to arm doors, jump into water for a water evacuation, fit through the overwing window exit and fit a jumpseat harness without an extension.
How long does Southwest take to hire flight attendants?
Glassdoor lists an average of 148 days to hire across 416 flight attendant reports, much longer than the 65-day company average. A March 2026 candidate waited over three months for the face-to-face, and another heard back a month and a half after the video interview.
What does Southwest ask ramp agents?
Ramp agent reports describe an information session or phone interview, then a one-on-one or virtual interview with STAR questions. Reported questions include why do you want to work for Southwest, tell me how you took leadership on an issue at work, how you dealt with conflict, whether you are OK with overtime, and questions about your physical ability.
Sources
- Southwest Airlines careers: Flight Attendant Opportunities
- Southwest Airlines history: Our Philosophy
- Glassdoor interview reports: Flight Attendant, Ramp Agent, Customer Service Agent