What is the Crew Rest and Where Do Cabin Crew Sleep?

Crew Rest: the secret corner where cabin crew sleep like in Narnia

Have you ever wondered where cabin crew sleep during long haul flights? Do you picture the whole crew tucked in among the suitcases in the hold, or taking a nap in the cockpit? Well, you are not that far off (although the hold one is a myth we are about to bust). Get ready, because today at Crew Factory we are opening the door to one of the best kept secrets on board: the crew rest.

What is the crew rest?

The crew rest is the crew rest area on long haul flights. Think of it as the cabin crew's quarters, compact edition. This is where crew members can grab some sleep between one service and the next.

Because yes, even though it may look like we spend the whole flight serving coffee and collecting trays, we are also entitled to rest. And it is in the regulations, by the way.

Where is it? Why does nobody ever see it?

The magic of the crew rest is in its secret location. Every aircraft has it somewhere different, depending on the model:

• On many Boeing 777s and 787s it sits above the passengers. Yes, like a secret attic. You climb a little staircase that feels straight out of Hogwarts and there you are: beds.
• On aircraft such as the Airbus A330 it is below the passenger cabin, in a space that looks like it came out of a spy film.
• On smaller aircraft with no crew rest, we make do with a blocked seat and a curtain. Glamour level: hospital curtain, five star hotel attitude.

And what is it like inside?

Picture a tiny train compartment with no windows, dim lights, perfect temperature and upholstered bunks in spaceship style. It is narrower than a photo booth, but after six hours of service it feels like a floating spa.

Some of them have:

• Individual curtains for privacy (bless them)
• Interphones for emergencies (in case someone snores too loudly)
• Reading lights, blankets and even slippers

And believe it or not, after serving 250 passengers those bunks turn into paradise.

Can you visit it?

Sorry, curious minds of the world, but the crew rest is crew only territory. It is part of the safety equipment of the aircraft and it is completely off limits to passengers. So if you were thinking of asking for a private tour, that is not going to happen.

Little secrets of the crew rest

Here is some cabin gossip for you:

• There are crew members who sleep with an eye mask, headphones and even a face mask. Self care at altitude.
• Others bring a mini speaker to wind down with lo fi music (at a low volume, of course).
• And yes, sometimes you wake up with a dead arm, one leg tangled in the curtain and a look on your face that says "what year is it?"

The point: the crew rest is not a luxury, it is a necessity (and it is in the regulations)

Long haul flights are no stroll. The crew also gets exhausted, dehydrated, jet lagged, and still needs to perform at 100 per cent.

The crew rest is not a whim, it is an obligation regulated by international rules. Why? Because cabin crew are not there only to serve drinks: we are safety personnel on board. And if an emergency happens, we have to be rested, alert and ready to act within seconds.