Can a single mom become a flight attendant?

Everyone thinks that flying is for young single adults. That couldn't be further from the truth. Flying is for anyone that meets the qualifications and is willing to commit to the travel lifestyle, including moms.



Absolutely; being a single parent is not a disqualifier for becoming a flight attendant. Airlines focus on your ability to meet safety requirements, your customer service skills, and your schedule flexibility. However, the lifestyle is famously demanding for parents. As a new recruit, you will likely start on "Reserve," meaning you are on call and must be able to report to the airport within two hours, often with little notice of where you are going or how long you will be away (sometimes 3 to 4 days at a time). To succeed, you must have a very robust childcare support system—such as family or 24-hour daycare—since your shifts can start at 4:00 AM or end at midnight across different time zones. Many single moms in the industry find that once they gain seniority and can "bid" for specific routes, the job offers more days off per month than a traditional 9-to-5, allowing for significant quality time with their children between trips.

People Also Ask

It's difficult and can take a long time. Airlines can take 3-6 months to get through the hiring process, that's if your resume makes it through the first cut. Intense Competition. We estimate there are 1 – 1.5 million flight attendant applications for 5,000 – 10,000 jobs.

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Flexible schedule
Airline companies want crew members to be well-rested to ensure safe travel, so a company might limit the hours crew members can work. Many flight attendants work three days per week. This can be a great benefit for some people, as it allows more time for travel, family or personal interests.

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For aspiring flight attendants, Delta Air Lines, ranked by its employees as one of the best places to work, is also one of the most difficult places to get a job. It's harder to get invited to Delta flight attendant training than it is to get into Harvard University.

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Airlines provide a three- to six-week training program for their flight attendants. You will typically attend training for eight hours a day throughout the duration of the program. This training prepares you to use airport codes, make PA announcements, perform routine job duties and handle in-flight emergencies.

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Can you make a living as a flight attendant? Yes, you can make a decent living as a flight attendant. The median salary is $61,640 per year and there are many opportunities to make more than that based on your experience level, the airline you work for and even your geographic location.

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At some airlines, the minimum age requirement to be a flight attendant is 18, but for most, it's 20-21. As a flight attendant, age is just a number. You can be too young to be a flight attendant but not too old if you are in good shape and can work long hours and do some heavy lifting.

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Average Flight Attendant Pay vs. Flight Attendants earned an average salary of $62,280 in 2021.

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“I can think of so many female flight attendants who have met their spouse on a flight.” Melissa, a flight attendant who blogs and asked us not to use her full name, says that she has dated a passenger just once, but has a collection of business cards given to her by flirtatious passengers.

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How many flights can I expect to fly on a typical day? The number of flights will vary based on the trip assigned. However, as an Endeavor flight attendant, you can expect to fly from one to six flights in a day.

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Most airlines require a 90% passing grade on all exams during new hire training. Only 60% of new-hire flight attendants make it through new-hire training. Only 50% survive the first year of employment.

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Job Outlook
Employment of flight attendants is projected to grow 21 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 18,100 openings for flight attendants are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

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Each year, there are far more candidates looking for positions than available positions. In fact, less than 1% of applicants are able to obtain jobs as flight attendants. The requirements for becoming a flight attendant are not difficult to complete.

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“The fact that you're away from home, you're away from your social support, you miss your holidays, you miss your weekends. You're isolated a lot. It's going to be very, very lonely.

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Which airlines have the happiest flight attendants?
  • Alaska Airlines.
  • Delta Air Lines.
  • American Airlines.
  • United Airlines.
  • Southwest.


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She explains that the airlines consider their flight attendants and cabin crew as a PR 'product', which they polish to make sure people think that their airline is good. “Some airlines have grooming/image 'checkers' at the airport,” Ms Brown explains.

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Typically, flight attendants work 12 to 14 days and log 65 to 85 flight hours on average each month, not including overtime. Flight attendants are only paid once the boarding doors are closed. There are two types of flight attendant schedules, reserve schedules, and fine holder schedules.

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Applicants must meet minimum age requirements, typically 18 or 21; be eligible to work in the United States; have a valid passport; and pass a background check and drug test. They must have vision that is correctable to at least 20/40 and often need to conform to height requirements set by the airline.

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