An IndiGo cabin crew member shared a video that laid out the unseen demands of working at 35,000 feet. The clip, posted by Gunjan Barman, has resonated with viewers for its frank account of the profession.

In her post, Barman appeared in her airline uniform with text across the screen reading: “Reality of cabin crew life that people don’t post on Instagram.”

She accompanied the video with a caption listing ten truths about the job.

“Here’s the reality of our job in 10 truths,” Barman said as she listed them in the caption of her post.

1. We deal with 200+ people in one flight – and still have to smile.
2. We do 4 flights a day – and if a flight gets diverted, it becomes 5 flights a day.
3. Meals and hydration happen only if time allows – sometimes after 6 hours.
4. Our eating schedule is chaos – dinner at 3 AM, breakfast at 2 PM.
5. Layovers aren’t always glamorous – often it’s just hotel–sleep–airport.
6. No guaranteed holidays – birthdays, anniversaries and festivals often happen while we’re in the sky.
7. Always on standby – you can be called at 2 AM or 2 PM and must be ready to report within hours.
8. Rosters change at the last minute – so “plans” are basically a gamble.
9. Medical leave isn’t “just a call” – expect verification, paperwork and sometimes even a base check-up.
10. We smile through it all – even when our body is screaming for rest.

Watch the video here:

Her honesty struck a chord with many social media users. “Even after all this I still want to become cabin crew. If you are working with your heart, nothing feels bad,” said a user, while another added, “And still those heroes of the sky always shine.”

See the comments here:

For many, the video was a reminder that the polished smiles seen on flights often mask the sheer resilience behind the role.

– Ends