Pros and Cons of Being a Flight Attendant Mom

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.

The Pros & Cons of Being a Flight Attendant Mom

The Pros of Being a Flight Attendant Mom

  1. Traveling the Globe

    Before flying my family and I would take a few trips a year.  Now that traveling has become my profession, I get to do what I love and get paid for it.  I mostly fly domestic but occasionally I’ll work a great international trip.  New Orleans is one of my favorite cities in the US and surprisingly I enjoyed Moscow a lot.

  2. A Flexible Schedule

    I’ve never been a fan of 9 to 5 work hours with only two days off a week.  As a flight attendant, I have more control and flexibility over my schedule.  I can change trips to fit my busy lifestyle.  If I don’t want to report for a trip in the early morning, I can change it to an afternoon trip.  If I need time off for a vacation, I can put all my trips back to back to have more days off in the month.  I typically work 15 days in a month.

  3. Meeting Great People

    To enjoy being a flight attendant you must love people. Interaction with passengers and crew is constant.  I’m a people person and I get a lot out of meeting good people. Unfortunately, in the ever-changing world of travel, not everyone is happy and smiling when they come on board your flight. And you gotta just roll with it!

  4. Alone Time

    When I check in for my 3-day trips, I get to spend two quiet nights at a nice hotel.  I workout, lounge, dine, explore the city, read a book and sleep with minimal disturbance.  Of course I’m flying all day but instead of the endless pile of laundry and dirty dishes, my room is spotless and my plush hotel bed is made up and inviting.

  5. World Class Flight Benefits

    My family and I get to travel around the world and pay close to nothing.  It is however standby travel, but well worth it.  We save thousands of dollars using our flight priveledges.  We travel for birthdays, holidays, weekends, or for no reason at all.  There’s not a destination too far to too close to fly.  We’re seeing the world and are becoming more aware of other cultures, people, places, and languages.  This is the biggest benefit of being a Flight Attendant Mom.

Check out: Everything I Love About Being A Flight Attendant Mom

The Cons of Being a Flight Attendant Mom

  1. Getting Time Off on a Holiday

    Holidays are the busiest time for flying and the hardest time to make plans to be with my family.  Imagine all the other flight attendants that also want to be home for the holidays.  Some of us have to be there to work or else our customers don’t make it to their families.  I’ve learned to adjust and accept this by planning our time on an alternate day.  If I can’t get Thanksgiving Day off then maybe I can get the day before or the day after and we enjoy it just the same.

  2. Peak Season Flying

    During the summer and Christmas Season, the operation increases and so does my schedule.  This time of year I am constantly on the go, I hardly have time to unpack my bags.  My home is a disaster with piles of laundry and my kids and husband miss me. I’ve made adjustments by hiring help and requesting vacation during this time.

  3. Missing School Functions

    I can’t be there for every important event that my children may have.  I’ve missed honor roll dinners, award ceremonies, and many other special moments because I have to work.  I do try and work around these days but sometimes there could be so many that it’s nearly impossible to be home.  We recently decided to homeschool so thankfully, this is no longer a problem.

  4. Booking Appointments

    My work schedule changes monthly and is not available to me until the middle of the month. On the 19th to be precise.   I can’t book doctors appointments, dentists visits, or anything to far in advance and if I do I usually have to change it.  Sometimes I have to rely on someone else canceling their appointment to get in a specialist visit.

  5. Missing Family and Friends

    It’s so easy for me to get caught up with flying and planning my schedule and layovers that I forget to connect with family and friends.  Thankfully I’ve learned how to balance my lifestyle a lot better.  I don’t worry too much about the cities I fly or how long my layover is.  I focus on the amount of hours I’m away from home and the days that I work.  This lets me focus on my family and friends while I’m home.

Want to know more about being a Flight Attendant?   Check out A Day in The Life of a Flight Attendant Mom.

 

71 thoughts on “Pros and Cons of Being a Flight Attendant Mom”

  1. I literally just applied for a FA position with United. I am a mother of 3 and a wife. This would be a big career move for me and I was just a little worried on how it would impact my family. I live in Hawaii so I would be commuting. Any advise would be awesome!

    1. First off, congratulations!! I love being in the air. Please let me know if you have any specific questions about flying and balancing family. Would love to be of assistance.

      1. Dear Katrina, I came to find My Mommy Flies. Com searching for flexible jobs for single mothers. I really would like to learn more about being a flight attendant and am wondering if there is any advice or resources you might suggest. May we exchange emails?

      2. i just applied to delta and this is something i always wanted to do but im not excited because im scare about leaving my husband and 2 kids

        1. Hi Bridget, how old are your children? Do you live in a base station? Atlanta, NYC, Detroit, etc. Your family will need lots of support while you are training and when your are gone. We relied heavily on my in-laws and great sitter!

          1. Omg ! I truly need advice on this subject! I just applied to Republic and I have a interview. My boyfriend is not for it we have a 2 year old little girl. Reading all of these comments. I don’t know if I should truly go through with this yet… any advice would be great. I scared now..

          2. I think being a flight attendant is a great career choice for moms. I know many mommy flight attendants that can attest to this. It mostly depends on your company and how flexible they allow your schedule. I spend a lot of time at home and when I work its a real treat to explore and see the world. Not too mention my private room at a very nice hotel!

    2. Jennifer, just wondering the outcome…I too am in the middle of the application process with United. I have 2 kids. While I am ecstatic at the prospects ofthis career, I also have so much apprehension about how this could possibly work with a family. How is it working out with your family?

        1. I just got a job in check point JFK and I met someone that told me to go online and he would let them know so they can check my resume this is my life dream this is my passion ✈️For me ✈️

  2. I’m married..
    My kids are pretty much grown
    My youngest is 17 .. She’s a junior in high school.. I applied with several airlines.,but how do you balance family and flying., you said you don’t fly international.

    1. Thats correct. I mostly fly domestic. I work 15 days out of the month. I try to work the weekends so I can be home for carpool and school activities. Please let me know if you have any specific questions.

      1. Thanks for sharing your story Katrina! I just received my email for the digital interview. I have 2 vibrant boys, 5 and 13mths. Upon being hired, are new FAs allowed to tailor their schedule to their lifestyle or does that need to be determined during the interview process?

        1. For airline I work for, our schedule is determined month-to-month based on the operation. Most US carriers work this way. Best of luck to you!

        1. Yes, most everthing in air travel is worked by seniority. I still get high hours after years of service but it all depends on the season, month, or time of year. One month could be 75 hours average the next could be 85 or more. It changes monthly. Hope this helps!

  3. I just applied last week 6-3-16 and on the 4th I received the on-line video interview. I am a little scared how this is going to impact my family so I don’t know if I should go with it or not. I have a 4 year old, 15 and 17 and a husband. I am scared I won’t spend enough time with them. How will this work?

    1. Firstly. Congratulations!! Believe me when I tell you, you can do it and enjoy it. It will take some getting use to in the beginning because it is a lifestyle and not a only a job. I have a strong support system and my kids are in school. Some how it all balances out. Please reach out to me if you have any specific questions. Good luck to you!! katrina@mymommyflies.com

      1. Hello! 🙂 I stumbled upon your post after receiving the e-interview request. I as im sure many, am wondering how you balance everything? I am not a mother but I do live with my boyfriend and do sometimes have to make one doctors apnt a month. I don’t know how doable it actually is…any tips?

        Thanks girl!

        1. Hey there, well if I could make it work with 3 kids, a hubby, and scheduling multiple apts. a month, and school events, you certainly can to. Its very doable. I usually let the doctors office know that my schedule isn’t available until a few weeks prior. They work with me and sometimes I tell them that i’m a flight attendant and they are even more flexible. Best of luck to you!

  4. Was training rough on your family? I know all airlines have their own training lengths, I’ve seen as short as 2-3 weeks all the way to 8weeks. The training itself I have read is fast paced and I am a quick learner with a great memory so I am not too worried about that. I have 2 children ages 6 and under 1. I can’t imagine the impact not being able to see them for so long.

    1. Apologies for the delayed reply. Yes training was the roughest part of becoming a flight attendant for me. It was very intense and required lots of hours and day. With that being said you will need extra support from family and friends during your training. I hired a sitter/nanny who helped us get the kids to school and pick them up. It was huge investment but well worth it in my opinion. Best of luck to you and please let me know how everything works out! hope to see you in the skies.

  5. I’m applying today with Southwest. I’m a bit nervous at the thought of balancing this type of career with a 2 year old and my love of being a mommy. Would love any tips!

    1. Hey there. I tell everyone this is the best mommy job ever! just as long as you have support for your child. I’ve had several careers prior to flying and its the most flexible I’ve had that give me time at home and great mommy breaks. *wink* Best of Luck to you and please keep me posted!

  6. I am expecting a baby girl in a couple of days. I have a great support system with my side of the family and my boyfriends. However, he wants to join the Air force in January so I’m thinking it would be impossible for me to be a flight attendant with a baby. I wanted to wait about six months before applying as well. Also, I am deaf in my left ear but fine in the right, would that hinder me?. I actually wanted to be a flight attendant right out of high school at eighteen but my father said they wouldn’t hire a half deaf person . I’m 23 now and I see great benefits of being a flight attendant for my family. I want that flexibility as well as for my daughter to have travel experience and exposure to cultures all over. Its also a dream job but I will underatand if it doesnt suit reality. Any advice would be greatly appreciated even though I found this late. Thank You and God bless you and your family.

    1. Hi Amelia, congratulations on your baby girl. You will absolutely need a strong support system especially if you don’t live in a city where your future airline is based. I don’t know the specific requirements for flying or if your hearing loss would prevent you from being considered. I do know that flight attendants are not the only ones that experience the benefits of travel. I worked as a customer service agent for many years and my family and I traveled the world during the time. My daughters first international trip was to Dubai, she wasn’t even one years old at the time. Don’t listen to what other people say that are not in control of the hiring. Do some research and apply and see what comes of it. If you don’t like it then you can quit, but at least you tried!

  7. Hi! I stumbled upon your page and absolutely love the tips you give. I’m a recently single mother of two girls who aren’t even in school. I am looking to start a new career as a FA. How do you think the transition will be from stay at home mom to a FA? Thanks in advance!!

    1. It will be a challenge for your children to get use to you not tucking them in at night. But, like my children your’s will adjust. How old are your kids? Mine was 4 and 6 when I started. They love the benefits of my job but lets be honest, what kid wants their mom to work? LOL!! They prefer you at home with them. This job does give you the flexibility to have a SAHM lifestyle when your not traveling and the relief all moms want and need from household duties:)

      1. Thanks for replying! My girls are 2 and 10 months. They are definitely the “attached” children I’m so afraid of missing out, but I know I want a career that would let us travel as a family and experience new things. I’m applying online right now. Really hoping this goes well. (Crossing my fingers)

  8. Hi my name is theresa ….. I just had my video interview with united on 11/1/16 now I’m doing the waiting game seeing and hoping I get to have a f2f . I also am a mother I have 3 boys 8,11,13 years old , and I’ve been with my current employer for 10 years customer service based so I’m hoping that will help me get in …. I’m just ready for something new and exciting…. and I would love to show my kids the world! Any advice you can give would be appreciated. Thanks

    1. Thats wonderful! I wish you the best of luck. It will be a great opportunity for you and your family. 3 boys?!! WOW!! I REALLY hope you get this job!! Please keep me posted!

  9. Hello! For the last month I have been researching becoming a flight attendant and came across your page. I am a married mother of a 4 year old. My husband himself does not work a normal 9-5 job and at times works 9am-9pm and also on Saturdays with very little to no flexibility. I struggle with trying to become a flight attendant and having our daughter not have at least one parent home to get them to bed and also burdening my husband while I am away especially with instances if she is sick and has to get picked up early. How is your husband able to juggle things while you are away and what type of resources do you use to help? TIA!

    1. Hi Jen, fortunately my husband has some stability with his work hours and my children are involved in after school activities. My in-laws are also extremely helpful when it comes to scheduling conflicts between my husband and I. I also make sure I know his travel dates (he happens to work in corporate travel) before I request my work schedule and plan according. My schedule is typically planned based on the kids program activities at school and his work. I mainly work the weekends because I know he will be home and available. Hope this helps!

  10. Hi! I’m a mom of 4 and just got accepted to work for a regional airline.. I heard the pay will be bad for the first 2 years so I was wondering if I’d be able to take a LOA from my current position and possibly still work after the FA training and while working reserve? Do you think that would be possible ? I’m also waiting to hear a response from Delta as I just finished a second video interview with them… do you think it’s better to wait to get into a mainline than regional? I’m so confused!

    1. Hi Ree, I really dont know how other carriers operate. I know a few regional flight attendants that think they would be happier with a larger carrier. I would recommend going with the regional and go with mainline when they call. Hope to fly with you!

  11. Hey there! I have a sweet 5 month old baby boy and just got a job as a flight attendant! I am ecstatic and just wanted to say thank you. Your blog was one one of the few out there that talked about life as a flight attendant mommy, and you really encouraged me to apply. Now I am flying with my first choice and decided to try blogging on my days off and layovers. I would be thrilled if you would give it a look and let me know what you think/any advice would be appreciated! http://www.mommytakesflight.tk
    <3 Kiana

    1. Hi Kiana!! Mommytakesflight!! I absolutely love your blog and your photos. Would love to do a collaboration. So glad that my post inspired you to fly. It really is the best job for moms when you have all your pieces together. Glad there’s another Flight Attendant Mom Blogger inspiring other moms. Best of luck and please lets keep in touch!!

  12. Hi!
    I just got hired by an airline and I leave in2 weeks for my 4 week training class I have 2 girls 2and1/2 and 6 I have a great support system to help me out while I’m gone. I guess I just feel I need some words of encouragement. I hope this is right for my family and kids. The pay is a lot better for me so I will be able to do more things with kids while I’m home. Sometimes I feel I am being judged by family even though they are willing to help while I’m gone they have some doubts like saying they are raising my kids and stuff but my older one goes to school an younger one gets watched by family every day so I feel that won’t change. I just want to make sure I’m not being selfish and not thinking about my kids. Any advice would be great! Thank you!

    1. Girrrrl….yes you will absolutely get side eyes from family and friends!!! They dont know. Most of the public is misinformed about what it takes to be a flight attendant. Hence the reason I created this post. So glad you have a strong support system. You will need them to hold you down. You will have so much more time with your girls than working a 9-5 and getting home tired and stressed everday to turn around and do it agian the next. And a short 2-day weekend that turns to house work and running errands. Don’t fall for it Stephanie!! Right now I just came home from an easy 3 day trip and I have 4 days off until I go back out. 4 DAYS OFF this week and thats nothing compared to the 16 days I had off last month. They’ll get over themselves. Your girls are about to have Birthdays in Paris! Field Trips to Cuba and so much more. Brush your shoulders off and see you in the skies!! They’ll be begging you for a buddy pass soon enough 🙂

  13. You’re great!!! Ty for making yourself available for questions and opening up to us.

    Is it unrealistic to believe that as a new flight attendant to get “turns” so I could be home nightly majority of the time? I see your schedule (and it looks ideal) but I’m thinking you’re seasoned. Question 2. Do you working a regional is better for a “turn” schedule vs. mainline? Question 3. What are some airlines you have heard or know of that have worked great with moms. 16 years I’ve been wanting this. I’ve not done it for common reasons marriage, kids etc. so I’m desperate trying to see what airline would give me the best option for my life. I would love to travel 24/7 but with a traditional minded husband (he’s not antiquated and wants me to be happy career wise but definitely not down for what he would think is a traditional FA) and a 10 & 8yo that you’re heavily involved with mommy. I know it’s a give/take I just want to fulfill my desire in customer service, traveling and being a happy mommy. Thank You soooo much

    1. Hi Cocktails and Chatter!! You’re welcome! Depending on the airline. With a major airline you will likely not get turns at your start. I would even suggest not getting stuck on a specific schedule because with travel, everything can change. When they conduct interviews they are checking for flexibility in everything you say.

      When I first posted my sample schedule I was flying for only a year. I can’t compare my company with a regional because I dont know what their schedule looks like.

      I too was nervous when I introduced the idea to my husband. In fact, I applied and got my interview scheduled before I ever told him. He suprised me and was happy to support me.

      I think the larger the airline the better support for moms. You have more employees to share and swap schedules with and you’ll likely have a diverse work group with more concerns beyond children at home. If you want to get your feet wet in the travel industry first, you should consider applying for ticketing or customer service. That experience also helps with transitioning to In-Flgiht. Hope I answered all your questions. Feel free to follow up if you have more!

  14. This is amazing to get to read. My dream career is to be a FA. I have been a single parent for almost 10 years. I work a full time job and two part time jobs. I thought I would wait until a few more years to start the process of being a FA but after reading your blog. I’m going to start the process and applying. I’m first going to obtain my passport and than in the mean time do more research. My kids are 12 and 10. Their father and step mom will care for them during my dream career. Great support system. I have worked in the medical field for 9 years. And I dream of traveling.

    I live about less than 2 hours away from a major airport. So I’m going to start there applying and see what happens.

  15. This is exactly why I am considering a career change. I am currently a 9-5er, and I feel like I barely get to see my daughter during the week. I leave the house with her at 7:30 and get home at 5:30. I basically have enough time to either heat up leftovers or cook a very very quick dinner while she plays and asks me to sit with her 25 times (but I can’t!!), get her fed give her dinner and get her to bed by 8pm. So no quality time. I understand it would be hard to be away from her for a few days at at time, but like you said right now my weekends are spent cleaning, running errands, doing laundry, etc. Rarely do we get to just spend quality time together. So, the thought of having say 4 days off straight with her make my heart happy. Can you direct me to the post that you mentioned with your schedule? Also any advice? I have been researching airlines and can’t find any openings at any of the ones I am interested in. Do you know how often they hire? Is my best bet to just wait until they have openings? Do most airlines allow for the ability to commute to their home base? I currently live in TX, but my entire family is in NY and am considering a move to NY for at least part of the year, so my vision is to live with family in NY for part of the year and have that as a homebase, and come back to TX for part of the year and commute. Does that sound reasonable? Thank you SO much. I enjoyed this post a lot!

    1. I pray everything worked out for you and you’ve found your ideal career in airline. Please keep me posted!

  16. I have a husband that is not supportive of my dreams and I just spent almost eight years in the navy. So now I am trying to find schools with before and after school care so that I can give that info to him. I really want this job so bad, interviews are tomorrow and 23-24 May. I am going to the interviews and will just have to keep trying with everything else later. I just can’t be a stay at home mom. I love my sons and I enjoy them so much but I feel like I have no value because I’m not financially contributing.

    1. I pray everything worked out for you and your family. Please update me on the interview. There are lots of careers in the airlines if you choose something else. Best of luck to you!!

  17. Hi Katrina,

    I’m recently just applied to become a flight attendant and I’m a single mom with a 10 year old son. I’m not a fan of a 9-5 job and I love to travel so figured why not turn it into a job I can do where I get more more pros God willing than cons. I’m more so scared of the training but figured since it’s summer it gives me more time to figure it out before my son starts school.

  18. I’m 23 and have dreamed of becoming a fa for some time now recently I applied for a few different airlines and I now have a interview with spirit airlines. I’m not sure how I feel at this moment because I’m so excited yet I’m so scared! I have a 4yr daughter I currently work a 9-5 off Friday-sunday. My biggest worry is we don’t have a base here in new Orleans so I would have to base out of fl,tx,detroit. How does commuting work? how hard will it be? will I have less time with my daughter? I have a great support system who are willing to help but I’m just not sure how hard it will be to be a commuting new fa! please give me some advise my email is lauriemarshall8@gmail.com if you would like to email me.

    1. Hi Laurie, congratulations on your upcoming interview. Commuting is very common in airlines. I suggest checking how many flights per day your airline has scheduled from your home city to your base during regular season to gauge the difficulty in commuting. Keep in mind though flight attendants can jumpseat on other carriers BUT your priority will be lowest for standby on other carriers. As long as you have someone helping you with childcare its worth a shot. If you don’t like it you can always apply to another airline with more flights from your city!! Hope this helps!

  19. Just wanted to say kudos on your blog it really helped, but most of all…wow
    you answer to everyone and celebrate everyone! first time I see this.

    1. Hi Alex, thanks for reading. I updated your comment so it doesn’t list your email. Let me know if you’d like me to edit further. I appreciate your feedback! 🙂

  20. Hello Katrina! Thank you for having this awesome blog with lots of great info! I read from one of your replies that your working hours can range from 75-85 a month. I’m retired in the military, and currently I’m a new grad nurse as my second career, in which I’m still learning a lot. If I’d like to keep my current job, I don’t think I’ll be able to work that long hours in a month. Thus, I’m wondering if it will hurt my chances for the FA job . Any advice on how I can sell myself to get hired and fulfill both of my dreams at the same time? Thank you in advance.

    1. Hi Eva! Congratulations to you on your new career as a nurse. Being committed to the job is one of the expectations when you interview. I recommend if you are not able to fully commit your schedule, then to wait and apply at another time that is convenient. Training alone can be 40plus house a week. Best of luck and thank you for checking out my post.

  21. Hi Katrina,
    I am a 29 year old small business owner in the beauty industry and I have full control over my schedule. I have always wanted to be a FA and recently applied with delta and got invited to do the video interview. My questions are 1) if you are hired, does Delta allow you to choose your training class/push you date out? 2) How hard is it to drop a trip or two each month as a new FA? I am willing to work weekends/any day. Would just need to make sure I have enough time in the month to see clients in my home city and also calculate time in for commuting to a base. Any info would be great. Thanks for writing this blog- super helpful.

    1. Hi Roxanne,

      My apologies for the delayed reply. In some cases new hires have been able to request a training start date though you may have very little to know control over the training schedule. The sooner you begin training the more seniority you have, so i advise anyone to start as soon as possible. This matters when it comes to Adays, Vacation , and holidays.

      Once your’e on the line, customizing your schedule can take work and is totally possible. Working weekends is a plus as many people are trying to Not work the weekends.

      Hope this helps and I hope to see you in the air soon!

  22. Hi again,
    how long was your initial training?
    What location was it at?
    were you able to go home on weekends, on your flight benefits? or at all?
    Thank you so much!

    1. HI Silvia, My initial training took 6 weeks. From my understand the time has been extended. If you live outside a set distance than you will get shared hotel during your training period. I believe the flight benefits do not begin until after training when you officially get your wings. But I could be wrong. Hope this helps!

  23. Hello, how does it work if you live where you are not based? Do you be on standby for a flight to return home? On your A days is your hotel paid for if you do not live where you are based, to be able to report in two hours to work?

    1. HI Shon, many flight attendants commute and use the “jump seat”. You can also use your standby benefits. The airline does not cover hotel when you’re on Adays and not used. Many FA’s will get a hotel for the night. There are several hotels nearby that have pricing for crews. Hope this helps!

      Safe Travels

  24. Hi love your blog. I found your blog because I am planning to apply to Etihad as a cabin crew. I have 5 years experience as a crew and also have two kids 9 and 5 years of age. Have a great support system too.
    Do you think I should take that chance, it’s my dream

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