Onboarding plan

Passenger Attendant Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

A practical, printable plan to take a new passenger attendant from first day to full productivity.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Passenger Attendant onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

  • Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
  • Verify required credentials: Passenger assistance training, CPR and first aid (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: wheelchairs; radios; carts; PA systems
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Passenger Attendant training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Lift safely
  • Lock wheelchair brakes
  • Follow security rules
  • Know emergency exits
  • Shadow an experienced passenger attendant through a full shift
  • Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

  • Supervised practice: push an airport wheelchair passenger
  • Supervised practice: help an unaccompanied minor
  • Supervised practice: assist in a travel emergency
  • Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
  • 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

  • Help passengers board: independently
  • Push wheelchairs: independently
  • Answer questions: independently
  • Serve food and drinks: independently
  • Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
  • Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
  • 60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

  • Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
  • Begin cross-training on a secondary task
  • Agree on a credential goal (for example, Passenger assistance training)
  • Discuss the career path: Attendant → Lead Attendant → Supervisor
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Push an Airport Wheelchair Passenger
Help an Unaccompanied Minor
Assist in a Travel Emergency
Passenger assistance
Wheelchair handling
Customer service
Safety procedures

How to measure onboarding success

  • Units per hour or stops per day versus target
  • Pick, scan or delivery accuracy
  • Incidents and equipment damage
  • 30- and 90-day retention

How Passenger Attendant training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Passenger Attendant Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Passenger Attendant Vocabulary
  4. Core Duties and Responsibilities
  5. Common Tasks, Step by Step
  6. Tools, Equipment and Technology
  7. Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
  8. Skills Employers Look For
  9. Launching Your Passenger Attendant Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
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