I went inside the secret airplane rooms where flight attendants and pilots sleep. I'd much rather be a pilot.

Monica HumphriesMar 27, 2024, 19:42 IST

Business Insider's author spotted the differences between the rest areas for pilots and flight attendants on an Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

On a long-haul Air New Zealand flight, I toured the secret rooms where pilots and flight attendants rest.
The Boeing 777-300ER has a room with two beds for pilots and an eight-bed area for flight attendants.

For years, I boarded long-haul flights without thinking twice about whether pilots and flight attendants rest during the ride. Where they would rest never crossed my mind.

Then, I learned that airline workers have required breaks on long-haul flights, and the aircraft are designed with hidden rooms for these much-needed rest periods.

In 2021, I saw the rooms firsthand when I boarded Air New Zealand's Boeing 777-300ER.

I explored two rooms — one where pilots rest and another for flight attendants. Perhaps the difference shouldn't have surprised me. Co-pilots, who make a median salary of $120,700, had more amenities. Meanwhile, flight attendants, who make closer to $85,500, had a much more basic room. Take a look.

Before takeoff on an Air New Zealand flight from New Zealand to Los Angeles, I toured the hidden rest areas for pilots and flight attendants.

An Air New Zealand flight attendant walks through the cabin on Air New Zealand's Boeing 777-300ER.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

These crew areas are designed for one purpose: rest. Both flight attendants and pilots receive breaks during long-haul flights to refuel and recharge.

Behind the entrance are eight beds for the flight attendants.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Their breaks, which are legally mandated and typically about two hours, happen in shifts, an Air New Zealand rep told BI. That means there are always pilots in the cockpit and flight attendants in the cabin.

The area has two leather seats and two beds.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Their breaks, which are legally mandated and typically about two hours, happen in shifts, an Air New Zealand rep told BI. That means there are always pilots in the cockpit and flight attendants in the cabin.

As I explored the two rooms, which are typically off-limits to passengers, I spotted some drastic differences — from size to amenities.

Side-by-side images of the rest area for pilots and flight attendants on an Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The first clear difference I spotted was the location of each area. Both rest areas are located above passengers' seats, but they're on opposite sides of the plane.

Arrows point to the approximate location of the rest areas on the Boeing 777-300ER.Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty Images

I walked to the front of the plane to access the pilots' rest area. Here, a hidden door near the cockpit led to a room above business class.

The door to the pilots' rest area is in the front galley.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Next, I walked the length of the plane to get to the flight attendants' rest cabin near the tail. A hidden staircase led to a room stationed above economy class.

The beds are located in the very back of the plane in the galley.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The doors to each area were identical and designed to blend into the galleys. This helps protect from unwanted visitors, an Air New Zealand flight attendant explained.

Side-by-side images of the doors to the hidden bedrooms.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The doors to each area were identical and designed to blend into the galleys. This helps protect from unwanted visitors, an Air New Zealand flight attendant explained.

Both rooms also required a passcode.

A flight attendant unlocks the door to the secret plane bedrooms for flight attendants.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Once the doors were unlocked, the entrances were also similar. A set of steep, small steps led up to each room.

Side-by-side images of the staircases in each rest area.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Both sets of stairs were coated in a non-slip tread.

A view of the stairs the flight attendants take to get to their beds.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

But this was where many of the similarities stopped. Once I entered the rooms, I noticed the pilots had more space than the flight attendants.

Wide-angle images of both the pilot and flight attendant rest areas.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The rest area for pilots is designed for two people.

The area has two leather seats and two beds.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

While eight flight attendants can fit in their designated rest area on the Boeing 777-300ERs.

A view of the two rows of beds.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The pilots also have multiple options for resting. At the front of the room, there were two large leather recliners. Behind them were two beds.

A chair pilots use to rest in.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The flight attendants only had bunk-style beds in their room.

The author in the secret bedroom area for flight attendants.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The pilots also had an entertainment option. Stationed near each recliner was a TV similar to the ones travelers had in business class.

Each pilot has a TV in their secret rest area.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I didn't see any TVs in the space for flight attendants. Instead, the entrance to their room had a mirror and some storage.

The entrance of the flight attendants' rest area has a mirror and some storage.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Both flight attendants and pilots had privacy curtains and bedding for their beds.

Both the pilots and flight attendants had privacy curtains near their beds.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Everyone was also able to control the light in their rest area.

Both bed nooks had individual lights.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

And both pilots and flight attendants had temperature controls for the rooms.

Both hidden rest areas allow the pilots and flight attendants to control the temperature in the room.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

In the bedroom nooks, I noticed that pilots had more amenities. For instance, there were multiple cupholders and overhead storage near their beds.

Pilots have cupholders and storage in their bed areas.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The flight attendants had two smaller storage compartments and a mirror.

Each bed area in the flight attendants' space had small storage compartments and a mirror.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

There were also phones stationed in both rooms so pilots and flight attendants could communicate with each other and their colleagues.

Both rooms had phones for emergencies.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Each room also had a closet for uniforms. This way, the flight attendants' and pilots' clothing wouldn't get wrinkly while they slept.

The flight attendants and pilots both had access to storage spaces for their uniforms.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Overall, it seemed to me that the pilots had more amenities. If I had to pick a place to rest, I'd much rather be a pilot with their comfy lounge chairs and TVs.

A view of the rest area for pilots.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

But ultimately, I was happier with the fewer responsibilities and the luxe amenities I had in my business-class seat below.

The author in her business-class seat.Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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I went inside the secret airplane rooms where flight attendants and pilots sleep. I'd much rather be a pilot.

Before takeoff on an Air New Zealand flight from New Zealand to Los Angeles, I toured the hidden rest areas for pilots and flight attendants.

These crew areas are designed for one purpose: rest. Both flight attendants and pilots receive breaks during long-haul flights to refuel and recharge.

Their breaks, which are legally mandated and typically about two hours, happen in shifts, an Air New Zealand rep told BI. That means there are always pilots in the cockpit and flight attendants in the cabin.

As I explored the two rooms, which are typically off-limits to passengers, I spotted some drastic differences — from size to amenities.

The first clear difference I spotted was the location of each area. Both rest areas are located above passengers' seats, but they're on opposite sides of the plane.

I walked to the front of the plane to access the pilots' rest area. Here, a hidden door near the cockpit led to a room above business class.

Next, I walked the length of the plane to get to the flight attendants' rest cabin near the tail. A hidden staircase led to a room stationed above economy class.

The doors to each area were identical and designed to blend into the galleys. This helps protect from unwanted visitors, an Air New Zealand flight attendant explained.

Both rooms also required a passcode.

Once the doors were unlocked, the entrances were also similar. A set of steep, small steps led up to each room.

Both sets of stairs were coated in a non-slip tread.

But this was where many of the similarities stopped. Once I entered the rooms, I noticed the pilots had more space than the flight attendants.

The rest area for pilots is designed for two people.

While eight flight attendants can fit in their designated rest area on the Boeing 777-300ERs.

The pilots also have multiple options for resting. At the front of the room, there were two large leather recliners. Behind them were two beds.

The flight attendants only had bunk-style beds in their room.

The pilots also had an entertainment option. Stationed near each recliner was a TV similar to the ones travelers had in business class.

I didn't see any TVs in the space for flight attendants. Instead, the entrance to their room had a mirror and some storage.

Both flight attendants and pilots had privacy curtains and bedding for their beds.

Everyone was also able to control the light in their rest area.

And both pilots and flight attendants had temperature controls for the rooms.

In the bedroom nooks, I noticed that pilots had more amenities. For instance, there were multiple cupholders and overhead storage near their beds.

The flight attendants had two smaller storage compartments and a mirror.

There were also phones stationed in both rooms so pilots and flight attendants could communicate with each other and their colleagues.

Each room also had a closet for uniforms. This way, the flight attendants' and pilots' clothing wouldn't get wrinkly while they slept.

Overall, it seemed to me that the pilots had more amenities. If I had to pick a place to rest, I'd much rather be a pilot with their comfy lounge chairs and TVs.

But ultimately, I was happier with the fewer responsibilities and the luxe amenities I had in my business-class seat below.