Have You Ever Wondered Where Flight Attendants Disappear To Mid-Flight?
IT WAS THERE THE WHOLE TIME!
Have you ever wondered where flight attendants disappear to on international flights?
Contrary to what you may or may not believe, flight attendants are designed to be passenger-serving robots. Like all other humans, flight attendants need sleep too, and they're definitely not about to plop their butts down among the other economy class passengers and try to take a nap.
The crew of larger internationally traveling airplanes like Boeing 777s and 787s actually have their own secret bunk quarters. If you're like me, you probably had no idea you were sitting under a secret sleeping cabin compartment for for an eight-person crew the entire time you were on that international flight.
It's amazing how many simple things we don't know. Thank God for the Internet.
So where does the flight crew rest on long, international flights?
They actually have their own cabins for sleepin' and chillin' above the first class cabin
In this see-through diagram of a Boeing 777, you're looking at the cabin door (left) and the first class seats (right). Above first class is a set of two business class seats and a luxury bed cabin for the pilots.
At the back of the plane there is a secret compartment with a set of stairs.
Like me, you probably just assumed it was a bathroom.
When you reach the top of the stairs, you see a confined cabin full of single bunks.
Depending on the plane, there's anywhere from 6-10 bunks. Each bed has a blanket and a pillow, and a curtain for privacy. There are strict warnings of "one per bunk" posted throughout the cabin.
Here's a closeup of two beds.
Seems like it would feel as though you were sleeping in a CT scan, but it's better that taking a nap in a middle economy class seat.
The beds may seem tiny, but a 6'3" pilot can sleep comfortably.
But hopefully he's not spending too much time sleeping.
The style and layout of the crew cabin can vary greatly by airline and plane. Some have "luxury-style" beds.
Others have stacked bunks.
And some have beds in rows.
And that's where flight attendants (and even pilots) disappear to on long flights.
Hey, they gotta sleep too... even though these women seem too busy reading Hemispheres and drinking coffee to get some shut-eye.
Planes are interesting!
