If you have ever taken a long-haul flight, one question may have crossed your mind: when passengers fall asleep, what do flight attendants do? They must feel tired too, and naturally, they would want to rest—but
where do they sleep? Recently, a flight attendant shared a video on social media revealing that aeroplanes have a hidden space where passengers are not allowed.
This is the very place where flight attendants rest during long journeys. Most passengers assume that air hostesses and pilots remain awake throughout the entire flight, but the reality is quite different.
Long-distance air travel can be exciting for passengers, but it can also be extremely exhausting. However, the people who work the hardest during these journeys are the cabin crew, especially flight attendants. While passengers eat their meals, watch movies, and eventually fall asleep, the crew’s duty continues without interruption. This often raises a common question: on flights lasting 15 to 17 hours—or even longer—how do flight attendants manage to rest? A flight attendant has now lifted the curtain on this mystery. Brian, a flight attendant with around 5,000 followers on Instagram, recently shared a video showing a special section of the aircraft where passenger entry is strictly prohibited. The video was titled, “A place where no passenger is allowed.”
In the viral video, the flight attendant opens a small, almost unnoticeable door. Behind it is a very narrow staircase. After climbing the steps, he reaches a room lined with beds arranged in a row. There is enough space for crew members to lie down comfortably and get proper rest. This compartment is equipped with curtains for privacy, soft lighting, air conditioning, and essential emergency equipment. The space is designed exclusively for crew members to rest during the flight.
View this post on Instagram
Aircraft operate under strict safety regulations. Allowing passengers into this area could disturb the aircraft’s weight balance and compromise the crew’s privacy.
The compartment is deliberately kept hidden so that, in case of an emergency, crew members can remain well-rested and perform their duties efficiently.
In large aircraft, known as wide-body planes, this special area—called the Crew Rest Compartment (CRC)—is usually located either above the ceiling or below the floor. Interestingly, the entrance to this compartment is often near the passenger seating area, but the door looks so ordinary that most people never notice it.
After the video went viral, social media users were left amazed. One user commented, “I’ve been travelling for years, and I never knew someone could be sleeping right above me!”
Another user jokingly asked, “Can we rent this space too?” Many such reactions have flooded social media, with viewers expressing surprise, curiosity, and amusement at this well-kept secret of air travel.
