When flight attendants are on a "layover" (staying overnight away from their home base as part of a work trip), the airline employer pays for the hotel. This is a standard contractual obligation in the aviation industry. Not only does the airline cover the full cost of the room and taxes, but they also typically provide a per diem—a small hourly stipend paid from the moment the crew member checks in for their flight until they return to base—to cover the cost of meals and incidentals. Airlines usually have long-term contracts with specific hotel chains near the airport or in city centers that meet strict safety and amenity standards (such as 24-hour security and blackout curtains for daytime sleeping). For the crew, these hotels are strictly for rest between shifts; if a flight attendant travels for personal reasons (using their "non-rev" flight benefits), they are responsible for their own lodging costs just like any other traveler.