See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (2024)

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Stephen Jones and Taylor Rains

2022-07-20T09:18:38Z

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (1)

Aviation regulators set the total hours pilots fly and how much sleep they must get between flights.
During ultra-long-haul flights, pilots sleep in special cabins, which passengers can't access.
Insider recently toured a Qatar Airways Boeing 787-9 and saw where pilots sleep — take a look.

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It matters how much pilots rest.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (2)

Country aviation regulators govern the amount of sleep that flight crews must get between flights and the maximum amount of hours they can work per day.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (3)

Source: Federal Aviation Administration

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This requires multiple pilots for ultra-long-haul flights, so one crew can be flying while the other rests.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (4)

Carriers like Singapore Airlines and Australia-based Qantas operate the world's longest flights, which stretch upwards of 19 hours nonstop.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (5)

Singapore Airlines just relaunched the world's second-longest flight which connects the country to NYC — see the 'wellness meals' the carrier serves onboard the 19-hour flight

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To ensure that the crew are comfortable and have somewhere to properly rest in privacy on the ultra-long-haul journeys, planemakers, including Boeing and Airbus, equip widebody jets with sleeping compartments.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (6)

Inside the secret plane bedrooms where pilots sleep on long-haul flights

Insider toured one of Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliners at Farnborough International Airshow 2022 and spoke with a pilot to learn more about the secret room — see inside.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (7)

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According to the pilot, the cabin is accessed via a small stairwell in the crew galley behind the co*ckpit. It's restricted to crew only and is locked to passengers during flights for security.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (8)

It's prohibited to use the room during takeoff and landing for safety reasons, but also because all pilots are required to be in the co*ckpit during those critical phases of flight.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (9)

Instead the resting crew sit on two jumpseats in the back of the co*ckpit.

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The Boeing 787 compartment has two bunks, each with a private curtain for privacy.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (10)

The compartments are different on other plane models. The 777 for example has seats.

There are also reading lights, drinks holders, and areas for pilots to store their personal belongings.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (11)

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Pilots are not allowed to store drinks during takeoff and landing, however.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (12)

In case of emergencies, each bunk has a phone that enables pilots to speak directly to the co*ckpit.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (13)

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Seatbelts also protect anyone snoozing through turbulence.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (14)

If pilots don't feel like lying down, there is a seat they can relax in, which comes with an emergency phone.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (15)

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Rest time is split equally between the two crews during the flight, the pilot explained to Insider.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (16)

Qatar Airway's longest route is Doha to Auckland non-stop, which typically takes around 16 hours and 30 minutes.

During that flight, each of the two crews will typically spend seven hours resting and seven hours on duty in the cabin, with an additional hour an a half in total spent on the flight deck during take-off and landing, the pilot said.

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It's not just pilots that need rest, flight attendants have their own dedicated sleeping cabin located in the aft, or rear, section of the plane.

See inside the secret Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin where pilots sleep during long-haul flights (17)

Here's an example of the cabin on a Boeing 787, not visited by Insider. Like pilots, cabin crew split their shifts evenly during long haul flights.

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However, some airlines do not have a separate room for flight attendants, but rather a specific row of reclining seats, like on United's Boeing 767. The seats can be closed off using a curtain.