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

Monica HumphriesFeb 23, 2023, 23:07 IST

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/Insider

On a 12-hour Air New Zealand flight, I saw 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.

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/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/Insider

Their breaks, which are legally mandated and typically about two hours, happen in shifts, an Air New Zealand rep told Insider. 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/Insider

Their breaks, which are legally mandated and typically about two hours, happen in shifts, an Air New Zealand rep told Insider. 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/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 pilot's rest area. Here, a hidden door near the cockpit led to a room above business class.

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

Next, I walked the length of the plane to get to the flight attendant's 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/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/Insider

Both rooms also required a passcode to enter.

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

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

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

The pilot's rest area is designed for two people.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the bedroom nooks, I noticed that pilots had more amenities. Near their beds, for instance, there were multiple cup holders and overhead storage.

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

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

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

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

Both rest rooms had phones for emergencies.Monica Humphries/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/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 pilot's rest area.Monica Humphries/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/Insider

I rode on one of Europe's fastest high-speed trains in first class from Amsterdam to Paris for $160. It easily beat flying.

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

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 Insider. 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 pilot's 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 attendant's 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 to enter.

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 that the pilots had more space than the flight attendants.

The pilot's rest area 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. And 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 flight attendant's space. 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. Near their beds, for instance, there were multiple cup holders and overhead storage.

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.