I went inside the secret room where pilots sleep on long-haul flights. It was the best seat on the plane.
September 24, 20240
Business Insider’s author toured the room where pilots rest on Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER planes.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Pilots take shifts on long-haul flights. When they’re not flying, they rest in hidden rooms.
I toured the secret room stationed above business class on an Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER.
It was the nicest spot on the aircraft, with two beds, two recliners, and plenty of space.
Twelve hours is a long time for anyone to be on a plane.
But when you are responsible for flying the aircraft, it’s an even tougher role. That’s why pilots take shifts on long-haul flights.
When pilots aren’t in the cockpit, they’re resting in secret rooms on board the aircraft.
On a 12-hour Air New Zealand flight from Auckland, New Zealand, to Los Angeles, I toured this part of the plane that most people don’t see.
On the day of my flight, I boarded the Boeing 777-300ER early, and Sarita, the flight’s in-service flight manager, welcomed me aboard the Air New Zealand aircraft.
The business-class section on Air New Zealand’s Boeing 777-300ER planes.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
From the galley, I could see the aircraft’s cockpit. As I looked around, I didn’t spot any door or signs indicating the pilot’s rest area.
The door to the pilot’s rest area is in the front galley.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Sarita entered a secret code and opened the latch. Behind the door was a narrow, steep staircase. I climbed up and was immediately shocked by the room’s size.
The pilot’s secret rest area on an Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
She said that on most long-haul flights, four pilots split time between the cockpit and the rest area. Rules require that at any point during the flight, there be at least two pilots in the cockpit.
Two beds have pillows and blankets.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Regardless of where they were resting, each area had seatbelts for safety.
Each pilot has a TV in their secret rest area.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Between the seats, the pilots had a phone to communicate with the cockpit and flight attendants in the cabin.
Two beds are located in the pilot’s rest area on the Boeing 777-300ER.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
The narrow beds each had a curtain to block out light and allow for privacy.
The pilots have pillows and blankets to use while they rest.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Along the edge of the bed, I spotted more cupholders and a control panel for lights and airflow.
The pilot’s rest area has a closet for storing uniforms.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
I felt spoiled in my business-class seat, but the pilot’s room was even more luxurious. They had privacy, space to stretch out, and a larger bed than my lie-flat seat.
Air New Zealand pilots arrive at the Sydney International Airport.
