Do airline pilots sleep in hotels?

A long-haul pilot might work four trips in a month with each trip necessitating one night in a hotel. This comes out to only four hotel nights in a month, but also consider that they likely spend part of the second night in a crew rest area onboard the plane during augmented crew operations.



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Pilots typically stay in a hotel near the airport after a flight. Depending on their airline's policy, they may be required to rest for a certain amount of time before flying again. During this downtime, pilots often take advantage of the amenities offered by their hotel such as swimming pools and fitness centers.

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In terms of actual days, some publications say most short-haul pilots will either travel home every day if possible or work for five days and then spend three or four days at home. Long-haul pilots are said to spend more time away from home, although they do get 10 to 15 days off per month to see their families.

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The simple answer is yes, pilots do, and are allowed to sleep during flight but there are strict rules controlling this practice. Pilots would only normally sleep on long haul flights, although sleep on short haul flights is permitted to avoid the effects of fatigue.

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Pilots “lay over” in other cities and are provided per diem and a hotel for the time they are there. It is a great opportunity to see a place you may never have been, enjoy time with your crew, and rest for the next day of flying.

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Family members may fly free when space is available or at discounted rates. Flying stand-by is a common benefit, but it can be challenging when there is a group. Some airlines provide “buddy passes” to pilots to share with friends and families.

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Pilots at both majors and regionals typically get twelve days off per month when they are new to the airline and until they build some seniority. There is not set amount of days off per week, but it usually varies from two to three days off weekly.

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Flight times within the duty periods are restricted to a maximum of 8 hours for flight crews consisting of one pilot and 10 hours for flight crews consisting of two pilots. The 8-hour and 10-hour flight time limitations include any additional commercial flying performed by the flight crew during the period.

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The short answer is yes – the majority of airlines offer free flights as an employee benefit for pilots and often for their immediate family members. Before applying to an airline for a pilot position, be sure to ask about employee benefits in addition to pilot salary.

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Pilots have to check certain mechanical and digital parts of the plane before and after each flight. The check-list is important and helps to make sure that everything on the plane is in working order and that any problems before, during or after the flight are recorded.

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But truth be told, we're the exception to the rule. While there are many pilot and flight attendant couples, and many flight attendants married or committed to other flight attendants, and many pilots with the same connections with other pilots, several factors have made those connections less likely.

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Flight attendants on long-haul flights are provided with spaces to rest. Here's a photo of the crew rest area on a Boeing 787. Crew rest areas exist on all airplanes, but what these rest areas look like depends on the airline, aircraft and the length of the flight.

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Airline companies typically pay for food reimbursement per hour. For a long trip, flight attendants receive more money to spend on food. Airlines may pay employees for these expenses up front or use a reimbursement system such as checking receipts to pay employees back.

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The most important point to clear up is that airline employees do pay for their travel unless they are commuting for work. Even though they may not be responsible for covering the airfare that you would normally pay to fly, they are responsible for paying the taxes and fees on their tickets.

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More than two pilots
Generally, if the flight is longer than eight hours, a third pilot (second officer) is required onboard. That requirement may vary slightly between operators.

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