The battle between cabin crew and air hostesses has been going on for far too long. On one hand, air hostess is a female-exclusive role, and on the other hand, cabin crew includes both genders, which in turn created this rift between which line is best for female seekers. And as for our male counterparts, well, they have little to no choice but to go for the latter. So, which one is right for you? What is the difference between cabin crew and air hostess? Or is it the other way around? Well, just stay tuned and learn all about these.
Definition of Air Hostess and Crew Cabin
This much is certain: the word “Hostess” often refers to a female role. So does that mean there is no room for male candidates? Well, there are, and the male air hostess is called an Air Host or Steward. But as for cabin crew, that is a broad term that covers both male and female roles under a single name. Just like software engineers, where that same term categorizes new, old, experienced, inexperienced, male, female, etc., in one go.
In reality, there isn’t much difference between both of them, other than that the Air Hostess are seen as a luxury experience that mostly serves in first and second class. Meanwhile, the cabin crews can be assigned to first class, second class, and also the economy class. So, if we had to summarize it. It will be something like this:
- Air hostess:
- Outdated term
- Mostly referred to the serving aspect of flight attendance.
- Female-only term.
- Only includes the flight attendant role.
- Hospitality first.
- Cabin Crew:
- Modern term.
- It refers to the entire staff, including flight attendants, pursers, in-flight service managers, senior cabin members, and so on.
- Gender-neutral term that includes both male and female.
- Is not limited to flight attendants.
- Safety first.
So in short, the cabin crew and air hostess are same and equally benefited, at least to a certain degree. Do not think that cabin crew is an insignificant term; in reality, the air hostess should be considered that. It peaked around the mid-80s when this specific term was advertised heavily in place of Stewardess. (The real term of air hostess)
Air Hostess vs. Female Cabin Crew
Air hostess is a singular term used only for female attendants, while "female cabin crew refers to a broad spectrum, like female senior crew, female flight attendants who are basically air hostesses, female directors, and even female pilots. There is only one part that acts as a big barrier between these terms, and it is their way of service.
Air hostess mostly refers to providing service first, like food, drinks, and other forms of personal services. Which makes it a glamorous term that VIP jets often like to use for marketing. And it goes without saying, an air hostess role fully utilizes the physical attributes of their employees. The air hostess must be attractive; otherwise, their career will be in danger. In fact, most airline companies will even take a step further and only hire unmarried female candidates. Which only shows how outdated and exclusive this term is.
But that doesn’t make it bad or anything. Since it is an exclusive and gender-specific role, an air hostess salary is often higher than a regular female flight attendant's. But that doesn’t mean it can outrank other roles. For example, a female cabin director will earn two to three times more than an air hostess any day, and the cabin director role falls under cabin crew.
Is cabin crew a good career?
It 100% is. The cabin crew is more than a term; it is a family that doesn’t distinguish between gender or roles. It counts all as one big part of the windbreaker, which takes care of security, comfort, safety, and service simultaneously. On the other hand, an air hostess only includes the comfort and service part and leaves the safety and security part to the cabin crew. So, here’s a small comparison that should make it clear which role is suitable for whom:
| Key Points | Air Hostess | Cabin Crew |
| Terminology | Outdated term | Modern age term |
| Scope | Every single employee inside the airplane | Female flight attendance |
| Focus | Hospitality and comfort | Security, safety, hospitality and comfort |
| Training | Significantly harder | Far less than cabin crew |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the major difference between cabin crew and air hostess as a whole?
Ans. The biggest difference would be the scope of their work. Air hostess has always been a female-only role reserved for glamorous needs. Meanwhile, the cabin crew is a category that has multiple terms in it, from security officers to flight attendants; all are referred to as a singular body.
Q2. What is the average salary of air hostess in India?
Ans. It is around 5 lakh, which can go up and down both ways depending on where they are serving, and for how long. Like serving a VIP will always reward more, and if that same VIP likes your service, make it double. But overall, the average salary of air hostess in India is seen to be around 5 lakh per annum.
Q3. What is the average salary of cabin crew in India?
Ans. The range will vary, since the cabin crew does not represent a single position. So, the lowest amount would be around 3 lakh; meanwhile, the highest-ranked cabin crews can earn up to 10 lakh per annum, if not more.
Q4. Between air hostess and cabin crew, which role should I aim for?
Ans. If you don’t know which role is best for you, take career counselling to make it clear. Because the training facilities are massively different, so based on your needs, physical attributes, and willingness to learn, either one of them would be good. But in most cases, cabin crew is the preferred choice, since it doesn’t distinguish between genders or faces.
Q5. Is air hostess a good career in 2025?
Ans. For the time being, being an air hostess is a fantastic career for beautiful individuals. But that doesn’t mean it will remain the same. Remember that this line prefers physical attributes like a good-looking body and face over anything else. In the same way, older air hostesses will always get outclassed by younger ones, and the same goes for their pay. In short, air hostesses retire much earlier; meanwhile, experienced cabin crews can get a promotion and more benefits.
