If you’re considering a career as a flight attendant, one thing you might be curious about is if it’s a job that you can do part-time. This is a common question for many reasons.
For some people, having the ability to work less hours than a full time job is appealing because it allows them to earn money while also taking on other responsibilities like taking care of a family or running another business.
Being able to do a job part time can provide flexibility while also allowing you to earn some extra money.
Can you be a part time flight attendants?
Yes, you can be a part time flight attendant.
While there is no reason you cannot be a flight attendant part time, there are some details you need to know. This includes which airlines have part time flight attendants, what experience you’ll need, and more.
In this article we’ll take a look at all of these details so you can decide if being a flight attendant part time is the right career for you.
Airline Specific Policies
Like many aspects of scheduling for flight attendants, being a part time employee will depend a lot on the specific policies of each airline. While it is absolutely possible to do the job on a part time basis, some airlines will still not allow it.
The ones that do allow for it will also still have some policies around details like the number of shifts, flight hours, and which shifts you take.
The main reason for this is to ensure that the airline has all the necessary staffing to effectively run their airline and ensure passengers are taken care of.
Training is Full Time
Like many other professional careers, becoming a flight attendant takes time, training and dedication.
If you have never been a flight attendant before you will have to go through substantial training to become a flight attendant. This is not the kind of job that you can just train while you do it for a few days. Most airlines have a training program for flight attendants and that training is a full time commitment.
If you choose to attend a flight attendant training on your own, you should know that while they will help you get hired, most of those programs are full time as well.
So, even if you expect to become a part time flight attendant in the future, you will at least have to go through a training program that requires you to work full time.
Can a New Flight Attendant be Part Time?
While being a flight attendant part time is definitely a possibility, it can be hard to achieve as a brand new flight attendant. One of the reasons is that as mentioned above, the training program to become a flight attendant is very much a full time commitment. In addition, once you complete training and you are a new flight attendant you will have to work on reserve as you gain experience.
As a new flight attendant you’ll have less seniority than the other more experienced flight attendants. Since shifts are often chosen based on seniority, it can be hard to make sure that you are only choosing the ones that would fit your schedule.
The airline that hired you and paid for training will also expect that you work as much as you can. Since they put the time and financial investment into training you, they want to get as much work from you as possible.
Finding a Part Time Flight Attendant Role
If you are already an experienced flight attendant and would like to work part time, there are 2 ways to go about it.
The first option is to go to your current employer and ask them if they allow you to cut back to part time. Each airline has their own policy on how they handle this. Some airlines will let you go part time while others might decline your request.
If the airline you work for does let you go part time, they might have policies around how many hours/flights you still have to work as well as which shifts you can take. Make sure to have this conversation with your manager so you fully understand what you can and cannot do.
The other option to go part time is to apply to another airlines. This might be the route you choose if the airline you currently work for does not allow for part time flight attendants.
The fact that you are trained as a flight attendant and have experience will help you quite a bit. You should take a look at airlines that currently have openings for flight attendants and submit an application. That will allow you to be in touch with someone from the airlines who can explain their specific policies around schedules, shifts, and working part time.
*Related: Flight attendant job directory
Does the FAA Require Flight Attendants Work Full Time?
No, there is no FAA or regulatory requirement for a flight attendant to work full time. This decision is between the airline and the flight attendant. Since there is often a shortage of flight attendants, this can work in your favor if you would like to be a part time flight attendant.
Conclusion
While it is possible to be a part time flight attendant, there are some important details to keep in mind. This includes that each airline has specific policies for flight attendant schedules and that it is much easier to go part time once you already have some experience and seniority.
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