Flight attendants may sleep in secret hideaways during long flights, and they usually stay in hotels during multi-day trips. But what happens between their shifts is truly fascinating.
Before, after or between trips, many airline crew members sleep in what they refer to as "crash pads." These converted houses, apartments or motels near the airport can fit dozens of airline employees, who often squeeze into spaces as tight as an overhead bin. Airlines are not involved with the wild world of crash pads; crew members set up these living situations on their own accord. The Huffington Post spoke with two flight attendants to get all the details on what have been called "voluntary barracks."
Between work trips, flight attendants usually sleep in 30-person dorms. Or attics. Or worse.
"Starting out, I stayed in a sleazy motel with about 10 of my classmates," says flight attendant Sara Keagle. "Can’t forget the strip joint across the street. And our airport driver smelled of urine."
If it's not a motel, a crash pad can also take the form of a converted house or apartment.
"Crash pads are kind of like dorms, but worse," says Abbie Unger, who formerly worked as a flight attendant with three major airlines. "I used to stay at a crash pad in Newark, where 37 people lived in one house. I slept in the attic, which was converted to hold 10 single beds."
Flight attendants likely don't know WHO they're sleeping next to.
In crash pads, flight attendants rent either a "cold bed" (aka a bed with their own sheets on it, where no one else is allowed to sleep) or a "hot bed" (aka a "first-come, first-serve" bed). In the case of a "hot bed" arrangement, flight attendants keep their sheets in a cubby and find an empty bed when they arrive.
Yes, some hookups have been known to happen there.
Flight attendants are a tight-lipped crew, but it's confirmed: crash pad hookups are a thing. How could they not be when 30 strangers shack together under one roof? "I've never seen a crash pad hookup," Keagle says. "But I could tell you stories!"
And even though sleeping quarters can be low-quality, crash pads are expensive.
Of course, flight attendants don't sleep in these pads every night. They rent a spot, usually by the month, and crash in the house or motel when they need to.
"Crash pads can be like a cheap motel room all the way up to a beautiful apartment... it depends what you're willing to pay," Keagle says. Even though a flight attendant might only sleep there one or two nights a week, a bunk spot runs anywhere from $200 to $400 per month. That's a hefty price to pay for an overnight on a flight attendant's salary.
Oh, and if the weather's bad, don't count on getting a bed.
It's usually easy to find an empty bunk in a crash pad... but when there are weather delays, don't expect to sleep on a mattress. "If there's a snowstorm, crash pads are awful," Unger says. "My attic looked a little like an orphanage."
But at the end of the day, it's all about that flight attendant community.
It's not all hookups and strip-club smells, Unger says. She has fond memories of cooking spaghetti in the communal kitchen and making friends over wine.
"In many crash pads, you’ll just find flight attendants resting up, hanging out, doing laundry and getting ready for their next trip," Keagle says. "The best part is the camaraderie. I have friendships that will last a lifetime."
Well, that's just plane adorable.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.