Hollywood hotshot Ralph Fiennes’s alleged hook-up with an air-hostess in Mumbai has spurred debates on the fall-outs of the profession.
Hollywood hotshot Ralph Fiennes’s alleged hook-up with an air-hostess in Mumbai has spurred debates on the fall-outs of the profession. Odd working hours and a very high-stress lifestyle have affirmed susceptibility of the profession to sex and drugs. But many argue that it is high-time these stereotypes are shunned.
“Every job has its shortcomings and being an air-hostess can be difficult. You may encounter passengers who are drunk and do misbehave, but it all depends on how you handle the situation. The passenger has to be clearly told he is crossing his limits,” says jewellery designer Bhavna Pandey who used to be a flight attendant for a year.
Though most air-hostesses might face a situation like this at some point, they say tactfully handling the person will avoid many problems.
“Many times during night flights passengers do try to make a pass at you or ask for ‘extra’ favours, but you have to put your foot down. You have to diplomatically handle the person, but if he goes overboard there is no option but complain to the in-flight executive,” says air-hostess Asha Menon (name changed).
As far as involvement of a celebrity in something like this goes, the airline lays strict rules for air-hostesses about rumours of their linkages with celebrities. Says an ex-airhostess from British Airways on conditions of anonymity, “An air-hostess was once seen hand-in-hand with actor Jackie Shroff and she was immediately sacked.”
They are nonetheless trained to handle issues like these, which allow them to tie the person up and make an in-flight announcement about alerting other passengers about misbehaviour.
Adds TV producer and ex-air-hostess Shobha Kapoor, “There were people who made passes at me when I was an air-hostess, but that is no reason to shy away from the job. Plus it is a personal choice you make about staying in your limits. There are girls who get involved by choice and they have to face repercussions.”
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