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.