Crash pads are another option for flight attendants. They are temporary unofficial homes where they can stay for short periods. These pads vary in quality and price and depend on their location. If the temporary destination is where a flight attendant's home is located, then they can also sleep at home between flights.

Whether a flight attendant sleeps at home depends entirely on their specific flight schedule and "base" location. Most flight attendants are assigned to a specific "hub" or home base airport; if they live in that city, they sleep in their own beds whenever they are not on a multiday "trip" or "pairing." A typical schedule might involve a 3-day trip where they stay in airline-provided hotels in various cities, followed by several days off at home. For those who "commute"—meaning they live in a different city than their assigned base—they may sleep in a "crash pad," which is a shared apartment near the airport used by multiple crew members between shifts. On long-haul international flights that exceed 14 hours, flight attendants also sleep on the aircraft in hidden, tiny compartments known as crew rest areas, which contain bunks for taking required breaks in shifts. Ultimately, while they spend a significant portion of their lives in hotels and airports, the goal for most is to maximize their "off" time in their own homes.