Cabin Crew Reality: Deepali Riya on Training, Salaries, Sleepless Nights and Airline Secrets

New Delhi: The cabin crew profession is often presented as a glamorous career filled with international travel, smart uniforms and opportunities to see the world. But behind the polished image is a demanding job that requires extensive safety training, irregular working hours, physical endurance and the ability to handle unpredictable situations.

In a candid conversation with Shwetank Pandey on the Think Podcast, cabin crew professional Deepali Riya discussed the realities of working in aviation, from training and salaries to homesickness, standby duties, passenger behaviour and the challenges faced by people trying to enter the industry.

Drawing from her own experience, Riya also spoke about coming from a small town, facing rejection and eventually building a career in an industry she had wanted to enter.

Cabin Crew Training Is About Much More Than Service

According to Riya, aspiring cabin crew members need to understand that the job is not simply about serving food and looking after passengers.

Training involves a significant emphasis on aviation safety and emergency procedures. She described the learning process as intense, with trainees expected to study extensively and meet demanding assessment standards.

Among the areas discussed were first aid, firefighting, security procedures, ditching exercises and swimming or pool-based assessments.

Riya also described a strict passing requirement in some training modules. She said that, in the First Aid module she experienced, trainees needed to achieve 90%, meaning an 89% score could result in failure of that module.

The emphasis reflects one of the fundamental realities of cabin crew work: although customer service is visible to passengers, emergency preparedness is one of the profession’s most important responsibilities.

Why the 90-Second Evacuation Standard Matters

One of the most striking details discussed during the podcast was the 90-second evacuation standard.

Riya explained that cabin crew training prepares members to evacuate an aircraft rapidly during an emergency. The widely used aviation certification standard requires an aircraft evacuation demonstration to be completed within 90 seconds under specified conditions.

For cabin crew, this means emergency procedures have to become instinctive. In a serious situation, there is little opportunity to stop and think through each instruction individually.

The training therefore focuses on repetition, discipline, communication and the ability to remain functional under extreme pressure.

How Much Can Cabin Crew Earn?

Salary is one of the biggest attractions for people considering aviation as a career, but Riya stressed that cabin crew income is not necessarily a simple fixed monthly figure.

During the interview, she discussed different earning levels based on airline type, experience and flying patterns.

For freshers on domestic operations, she mentioned a starting basic salary of approximately ₹30,000 in the context of the airline experience she was discussing.

She also spoke about international flying and said earnings can vary considerably depending on flying hours and other components of compensation. The interview included figures ranging from around ₹60,000 or more in some circumstances to substantially higher amounts.

However, these numbers should not be treated as a universal cabin crew salary chart. Compensation can differ significantly according to the airline, country, rank, allowances, flying hours, layovers, taxes and employment contract.

Cabin Crew Pay Can Change From Month to Month

Unlike a conventional office job where an employee may receive largely predictable monthly compensation, cabin crew earnings can include variable components.

Riya explained that factors such as active flying hours, number of sectors and layovers can influence monthly income.

This can make aviation financially attractive in some circumstances, but it also means that aspiring crew members should examine an airline’s complete compensation structure rather than relying on a headline salary figure.

The Less Glamorous Side of Cabin Crew Life

Travel is one of the most visible benefits of being cabin crew, but it can also create some of the profession’s biggest challenges.

Riya spoke about sleep disruption and fatigue, particularly for crew members who regularly cross time zones. Irregular schedules can make it difficult to maintain a conventional sleep routine.

For international crew, the problem can become particularly pronounced because working hours are dictated by flight schedules rather than a traditional day-night cycle.

Homesickness Can Be Difficult

Riya also discussed the emotional cost of spending extended periods away from home.

For someone from a close-knit family, missing birthdays, festivals, family functions and other important occasions can be difficult. The excitement of travelling to different destinations does not necessarily remove the feeling of being away from loved ones.

That aspect of the profession is often less visible than the glamorous photographs associated with aviation careers.

What Does Home Standby Mean?

Another part of the discussion focused on standby duty.

Riya described situations in which cabin crew can be placed on home standby and subsequently receive a call requiring them to report for a flight at short notice.

She gave an example involving a late-night call where a crew member could be required to report within a limited period.

Such arrangements demonstrate why flexibility is essential in aviation. A cabin crew member’s schedule can change because of operational requirements, crew shortages, delays or other circumstances affecting an airline’s network.

The exact standby rules, reporting windows and scheduling practices, however, differ between airlines.

Are Seats at the Back of an Aircraft More Dangerous?

Airline passengers often debate whether sitting at the rear of an aircraft is more dangerous, particularly when turbulence occurs.

During the conversation, Riya addressed the common perception that turbulence is uniquely severe or dangerous at the back of the aircraft.

The broader safety point is that turbulence can affect an aircraft throughout the cabin, and passengers should follow crew instructions and keep their seat belts fastened whenever required.

Rather than concentrating on which section of the aircraft is supposedly “safest,” passengers should pay attention to official airline safety guidance.

Bomb Jokes and Smoking Can Have Serious Consequences

Riya also warned passengers against behaviour that might seem like a joke but can have serious consequences in an airport or aircraft environment.

She specifically discussed bomb-related jokes and attempts to smoke secretly on an aircraft.

Aviation authorities and security agencies treat threats and security-related statements seriously. Depending on the circumstances and jurisdiction, making such statements can lead to questioning, removal from a flight, legal action or other penalties.

Similarly, smoking is prohibited on commercial flights in many jurisdictions, and attempts to circumvent onboard restrictions can create serious safety concerns.

The lesson for passengers is straightforward: behaviour that might appear harmless in another setting can be treated very differently in aviation.

How Cabin Crew Deal With Unruly Passengers

Cabin crew are also trained to manage disruptive or aggressive passengers.

Riya described an escalation process in which crew members may initially attempt to address problematic behaviour verbally before moving to stronger measures when necessary.

In serious cases, trained crew may need to use approved restraint or self-defence procedures until the aircraft lands and authorities can take over.

The precise procedure varies by airline and situation, but the principle is that crew safety and passenger safety remain the priority.

Deepali Riya Warns Aspirants About Expensive Institutes

For people hoping to enter the aviation industry, Riya had another important message: do not assume that paying a large fee to a private training institute guarantees an airline job.

She spoke critically about institutes that charge substantial amounts—she referred to figures such as ₹2 lakh—while making placement-related promises.

According to Riya, aspiring cabin crew members should be cautious about spending their family’s money based on claims of guaranteed employment.

She argued that communication skills, confidence, presentation and personality can also be developed through self-learning and experience, rather than assuming that an expensive institute is the only route into the profession.

Her broader advice was to research recruitment requirements directly and assess an institute’s claims carefully before paying fees.

From Small-Town Dreams to an Aviation Career

Perhaps the most personal part of Riya’s conversation was her account of her own journey.

She spoke about coming from a small town with ambitions of building a career in aviation and acknowledged that the path was not straightforward. Rejections were part of the process before she eventually achieved her goal.

Her story highlights an important reality for aviation aspirants: getting selected may require persistence, preparation and the willingness to face setbacks.

Rather than viewing rejection as the end of the road, candidates can use unsuccessful interviews to identify weaknesses and improve their communication, presentation and interview technique.

The Reality Behind the Cabin Crew Glamour

Deepali Riya’s conversation offers a more grounded picture of cabin crew life.

The profession can provide financial independence, travel opportunities and meaningful interactions with passengers, but it also comes with irregular schedules, demanding training, fatigue, time away from family and considerable responsibility during emergencies.

For aspiring cabin crew members, perhaps the biggest takeaway is that aviation is a safety profession first and a glamorous profession second.

The polished appearance passengers see inside an aircraft is supported by extensive preparation that most travellers never witness.

Riya’s message is ultimately one of preparation and self-belief: understand the demands of the industry, avoid unrealistic placement promises, develop the necessary skills and remain persistent even when the first few attempts do not work out.

Source: Deepali Riya’s conversation with Shwetank Pandey on Think Podcast / Think Exclusives.