Selection Stories
Until 2025, I had never traveled by flight. But this year, I got the chance to fly 3–4 times—and with every journey, something shifted in me.
Like many others, I used to see the life of cabin crew and flight attendants as glamorous and exciting from the outside. But once I experienced air travel myself, I realized there’s much more beneath the surface.
That curiosity led me to dig deeper—not just for my blog, but also for my own understanding. And that’s when I came across Anshul, who has been a cabin attendant for over 7 years. She started her journey at the age of 19 and has seen this industry from all angles.
In our conversation, Anshul shared a completely different side of aviation—one that’s rarely talked about. Her insights, discipline, and grounded perspective opened my eyes to the realities of the profession.
I hope this conversation offers you the same value and perspective it gave me. Let’s begin.
Q1) Can you introduce yourself and tell us how your journey as a flight attendant began?
Anshul: I’m Anshul, a Lead Cabin Attendant with IndiGo Airlines, and I’ve been in this profession for over 7 years.
It all started quite randomly. Someone once said to me, “You’re not ambitious enough to do something good in life.” That day, I made up my mind to prove my worth.
One day, I was at a café with friends, and one of them was talking about his brother who’s a pilot. He said to me, “Why don’t you apply to be a cabin attendant? You’d be perfect for it.”
Initially, I ignored the suggestion—I come from a conservative family—but the idea stayed with me. I discussed it with my brother, who directly informed my father. Surprisingly, he agreed. We were shocked but excited. I attended a walk-in interview and got selected in one go. Before that, I hadn’t even heard of any airlines. I was just 19 when I joined this profession.
Q2) What inspired you to become a cabin crew member?
Anshul: I was never specifically inspired to become a cabin attendant, but I always knew I wanted to be independent from an early age. So, I embraced every opportunity that came my way, and this path led me here.
Q3) What’s a day in the life of a flight attendant like—beyond the glamour?
Anshul: Beyond the glamour, the role demands discipline, presence of mind, and a generous spirit. You can’t afford to be late. You must strictly follow safety protocols and airline guidelines. We’re required to pass various exams—like safety drills and service standards—and remain constantly alert to ensure the safety and comfort of all on board.
Q4) How do you manage your health while constantly traveling?
Anshul: Health is wealth, as we all know.
This profession requires us to be present at odd hours, which impacts our health. What I try to follow is eating the right food, at the right time, in the right quantity.
For example, if I have to wake up at 3 AM for a flight, I make sure to have my dinner around 7 PM. It’s not a heavy meal—maybe just khichdi, dal-rice, or daliya.
If I land late at night, I try to eat something light post-flight and then go to sleep.
During layovers, while many go for fancy cuisines, I prefer simple meals like dal, rice, sabzi, roti, and salad.
I also try to carry my own food from home and avoid airline food as much as possible.
Q5) What skills or qualities are must-haves to become a successful flight attendant?
Anshul: Apart from physical criteria like height and weight set by airlines, becoming a flight attendant doesn’t require rocket science.
What truly matters is strong communication skills, confidence, and the ability to carry yourself well.
Patience to handle difficult situations, quick and sound decision-making, and empathy to genuinely care for others are key.
Being generous and helpful makes all the difference on every flight.
Q6) How many hours do you usually sleep?
Anshul: It varies from person to person.
I’m a light sleeper, so even before early morning flights, I manage to get some rest. Sometimes just 2–3 hours.
On average, I sleep about 6–7 hours a day.
Q7) How much water do you drink in a day?
Anshul: I don’t keep a strict count, but the first thing I do after waking up is drink at least 1 liter of water.
By the end of the day, I probably drink around 3 liters.
Q8) What’s your advice to someone dreaming of joining the aviation industry?
Anshul: If your only reason for joining is to travel and explore, this may not be the right profession for you.
People often think it’s glamorous—we stay in nice hotels and get to travel the world—but the reality is far different.
This job requires sacrifices—your health, sleep, and missing important occasions.
So, if you’re ready to make those sacrifices, go for it. Otherwise, it’s very difficult to survive in this industry.
Q9) What’s the weirdest or funniest request a passenger has made?
Anshul: One time, we were flying at 38,000 feet, and a passenger rang the call bell.
He looked a little worried and was staring out the window. I asked, “How may I help you?”
He replied, “Yeh plane chal nahi raha.”
I was confused and asked again, and he said, “Plane ruk gaya hai.”
He genuinely believed the aircraft had stopped flying mid-air!
I smiled and assured him, “Don’t worry sir, we are still flying.”
Q10) What’s the difference between a flight attendant and cabin crew? Or are they the same?
Anshul: They’re the same. The terminology just varies by region. Earlier we were called air hostesses; now, “cabin crew” or “flight attendant” are the modern terms.
Q11) Whenever there’s unfortunate news like a plane crash, how does your family react knowing you fly so often?
Anshul: Recently, there was a horrifying plane crash in Ahmedabad, which is my home base.
As soon as the news broke, my family started calling me to check if I was okay. They didn’t know which airline was involved; they just knew it happened in Ahmedabad.
Since then, they’ve become more cautious. They keep track of my schedule and make sure to call me before and after flights.
They don’t always show it, but I know they’re very tense every time I fly.
Q12) Do you ever feel scared before flights? How do you emotionally process aviation accidents as someone in the industry?
Anshul: Of course, I do. I’m human. When I hear about an aviation accident, I get scared and think—that could have been my flight.
But then I remind myself—aviation accidents are still far less frequent than road accidents.
It’s not every day that a plane crashes into a building, right?
Also, I live in a building over which planes fly every five minutes.
If I start fearing that, I can’t even live in my own home. So, I go to work with positivity and trust the destination that God has chosen for me.
Q13) What’s one thing you wish every passenger knew that would make your job easier?
Anshul: I wish passengers knew that if something unusual happens on board, we find out at the same time as they do.
We don’t get prior information about delays or technical issues.
Also, many passengers think we get paid extra when a flight is delayed. But that’s not true.
Delays mean longer hours, more stress, and additional responsibilities for everyone on board.
Q14) What’s something people often misunderstand about your profession?
Anshul: People often think cabin crew don’t have brains or aren’t well-qualified, just because the eligibility criteria aren’t academically rigorous.
But take an Airbus A320, for example—with 180–186 passengers, and just 4 crew members managing everything mid-air. That’s no joke.
The truth is, we’re trained for entirely different skill sets.
At 38,000 feet, if something goes wrong, it’s only the cabin crew that passengers rely on.
We’re not just here to serve food—we’re trained to ensure a safe, smooth flight for everyone.
Q15) What is your biggest realization in life so far?
Anshul: I realized long ago that life is temporary. Nothing is permanent.
———–Thank You———