This story is based on an interview with Craig Celek, 56, a flight attendant from Brooklyn. It has been edited for length and clarity.
In February 2026, I embarked on what I call “act three” of my career.
Right out of college, I worked for a publishing company in Hong Kong for 15 years before becoming a store manager at New Balance, and then taking a leadership role at Saks Off 5th.
My 15 years in retail were amazing, but I started to get itchy feet. I started looking for my next opportunity, and a job on an airline was attractive to me.
Friends my age are flight attendants
I have a lot of friends my in their late 40s and 50s who have turned their second or third act into becoming flight attendants. They encouraged me to apply in November 2025.
I knew that the main US airlines — American, United, and Delta — were open to hiring older people, especially those with a background in customer service.
Each offered me a job, but I was most impressed with Delta’s interview process. It felt reassuring that half of my tryout group was over 45. One was 62.
So I took the training in early February. I’m sure my time in retail was the most important factor. Still, I think one of the reasons Delta hires Gen Xers is because we know how to work.
Age often comes with patience and wisdom
We have life experience, which translates into the ability to understand people’s needs and respond in emergency situations.
I came into the business seasoned, and I leaned into listening first rather than reacting. Age comes with patience and wisdom.
The skills I developed during some of the most difficult days in retail have helped me every day in my new job. If the customer finds something not up to standard, your first thought is, “How do I get them to where they are happy?”
I was once on a flight that was supposed to be only from Atlanta to LaGuardia, which should have taken no more than two hours. Some terrible weather came in, and the journey was 11 hours altogether.
My team and I managed to keep 250 passengers happy throughout. Not many people can claim to do that.
One of the secrets is, to quote the late, great Dolly Parton, “A little sugar is better.”
At Delta, we work all classes, and they’re all fun. What I love about the two upper classes is that you can provide different levels of service. The customers are open to talking and having a really good time.
I’m getting to know new places
Then there are the destinations, both domestic and international. I’ve traveled a lot in the past, but going somewhere as crew is different.
My favorite layover is Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which has a cool, creative vibe. I feel the same way about Colorado Springs and Bozeman, Montana.
I’m getting to know the American West. The towns and cities all seem familiar now. I’m big into learning about the food and art scene.
It’s the same with world capitals such as Lisbon, Rome, London, and Athens.
Schedules are flexible, but we generally get blocks of three days off. My father is 92, still extremely vital and healthy, and can fly with me free of charge.
We recently went to Dublin and Paris. Nothing makes an employee feel more valued than seeing their dad in first class eating an ice cream sundae.
The base salary is only part of your earnings package. It’s increased by boarding and reroute pay. During the hiring process, they said, depending on your shifts and hours, you could earn up to $80,000 in your first year of service.
Since April, I’ve flown 209 flights, 29 of which were long-haul. I can honestly say that I’m having the time of my life.
I might be in my mid-50s, but I relish change and the adventure of it all.
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