Our skin must glow. Teeth must align perfectly. While serving meals or explaining safety rules, hands must look graceful. When weighing ourselves, that 17th grape must not add any extra weight. Every few minutes, we have to measure ourselves. A slight bulge or even a single pimple can keep us grounded. Being a flight attendant is akin to walking a tightrope over a deep abyss. One deep breath, and it’s over.
Originally, the role of a flight attendant was held by men. Mostly homosexuals, their job was to cater to the affluent travelers. In the thirties, women entered the field, and their numbers grew.
Today, according to the International Air Transport Association, 80% of flight attendants globally are women, between 18 to 24 years old. The job might seem simple: wear snug outfits, smile, and serve. It brings good pay and travel opportunities.
But are the stories of flight attendants as golden as they seem? Or is there a hidden bitterness in this journey above the clouds?
aajtak.in made several attempts to investigate. Flight attendants share their woes on social media, but primarily foreign ones, and under anonymity or post-retirement. Domestic attendants rarely speak out. The same happened with us. People spoke only under the condition of anonymity. One agreed to share her identity as she had left the flying industry.
Chahak Dhingra says, "I flew for about four years."
Source: aajtak
She has worked on both A320 and A321 aircraft. Travelers believe that attendants only apply makeup, make routine announcements, and serve food. However, that’s merely 10% of our task. We have extensive training and exams where the pass mark is 90%. Failing means a long wait before reexamination.
Once through this phase, there’s further training. We must know the in-flight first aid kit and its uses. If someone goes into labor mid-flight without a doctor, it's our responsibility. We are trained for emergency evacuations on land and water.
The next part is being presentable. Our faces should look healthy, hair neat, and movements graceful even when collecting leftovers.
A single pimple can send you to ground duty. This has happened to me.
At one point, I became so obsessed with looks that I lived on Vitamin A instead of regular meals. From apples to carrots, I consumed everything for radiant skin. This led to autoimmune hepatitis. My condition worsened to the point of hospitalization, forcing me to leave this career.
Source: aajtak
Even at this stage, testing doesn't end. Whether heading to Hyderabad from Delhi or New York, passengers constantly test your patience. If someone doesn't get their desired seat or is denied alcohol, they fly into a rage.
Many believe that the ticket’s price includes the right to mistreat the crew.
Physical abuse is commonplace. My colleague once faced backlash when people started rising after landing. Her announcement for them to stay seated met with anger, leading to an inappropriate touch. She was young, around 19, unable to react in time. This wasn’t an isolated incident.
People opt for aisle seats to make contact as we walk past. Predatory gazes fix on us as we drag food trolleys. Some go even further. Yet, we must maintain a smiling face and soft voice.
One mistake, and there's a red mark against your name.
This sentiment is echoed by a senior Mumbai flight attendant who has been flying internationally for years.
She states, “In international flying, people often want to get personal. Some frequent flyers even give personal invites on tissues. My friend declined without causing a fuss, ending the matter there. But in reality, it was just the beginning. When we reached our hotel, someone knocked with an invite to join them, clearly having been given access by hotel staff.
On foreign soil, she had no choice but to comply.
Source: aajtak
The distress for this "friend" was palpable, even during our phone conversation.
Passengers often make inappropriate gestures, with business-class ones leading the way.
They watch porn on laptops while requesting drinks. You have to serve. Summoned again, a new demand awaits. If they puke after drinking, you hand them warm tissues—without emotion.
Should you frown or raise your voice, the flyers can lodge complaints. Until the inquiry concludes, you're grounded. Should the complainant have influence, the job might be lost.
For reasons such as this, this senior crew member prefers anonymity, fearing job loss. In a few years, she plans retirement and a new venture. Training offers exist, but exposure would mean no jobs.
Through her, another attendant shared her story. Married mother of two. She hardly sees her kids, sometimes once a month. Even when home, the children seem indifferent, attending school and cared for by a nanny more than by her.
Does it not bother you? Have you considered changing careers?
This probably came off as too direct. After a brief pause over the phone, she replies, “What else can I do now? Coming from a small village in Jharkhand, without even fluent Hindi, Mumbai was a shock. Villagers had terrible things to say about my family.
Source: aajtak
Despite securing my job, colleagues mocked my thick accent and lips. Now, I have made a home and name, seemingly impossible to give up.
My husband occasionally expresses frustration. He wishes I wear a saree for festivals, but doesn’t mind me traveling abroad in skirts. As an engineer, seeing other wives, my profession perturbs him. Initially vocal, he’s now silent. Like the kids, my absence isn’t bothersome.
I heard casual flings are common in this profession!
Surely it’s not exclusive here. However, we are part of it. Long hauls and meeting new people daily, post-flight parties—these prevent us from staying rooted. Commitment is burdened by partner expectations. After a 14-hour shift, sleep demands take precedence, but the phone keeps buzzing. Rejection spurs anger.
Time differences are often deal-breakers. Even committed girls distrust distant partners. So why enter a doomed relationship?
Source: aajtak
This flight attendant with nearly a decade in the skies also faces darkness in her routine.
Recently, serving drinks in business class, something brushed my knees. Was it the traveler’s hand? I winced, spilling the drink. He yelled. Unable to explain, the elder flyer’s tirade didn’t stop. On landing, he lodged a complaint, believing the ticket had earned him the liberty to harass the skirt-clad staff.
Intoxication!
Answer follows even before it’s asked. Yes, drinking starts subtly to blend in at parties. Soon, it turns habitual. Beyond alcohol, travelers indulge in drugs. Many rely on weight-loss drugs; others on fatigue deterrents. Checked thoroughly, you'll find more pills or alcohol than meals, alongside insufficient sleep.
When does flying retirement happen?
Wrinkles define our off-ground permanence. Regardless of age, looking under 20 is crucial. Cross 30 visibly, and you're immediately grounded. Protest all you want about your proficiency in serving passengers or navigating emergencies, no one will listen. As freebies with tickets, we’re disposable, much like in-flight meals.
