British Airways Allows Flight Attendants to Rest in First and Business Class on Long-Haul Flights

British Airways has updated its rest policy for flight attendants, permitting them to rest and even sleep in empty seats within the business and first-class cabins on select long-haul flights. This new policy applies to a limited number of aircraft in the airline's long-haul fleet, including Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners and some Boeing 777-200ERs, which were delivered without dedicated crew rest compartments. Previously, attendants on these aircraft had to use less comfortable jump seats located near the galley, behind curtains.

The change follows discussions between British Airways and the British Airline Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA). The airline emphasized that crew members will only use seats that remain unoccupied after boarding and that no paying passenger will be moved to accommodate crew rest. A British Airways spokesperson said, "This small change will help ensure our crew are refreshed on long flights so they can continue to provide the high level of service they are known for."

Flight attendants will use bedding and blankets from the cabin class in which they rest and must cover or remove any visible uniform items during rest periods. While many long-haul aircraft have optional crew rest compartments, British Airways’ Boeing 787-10 and some 777-200ERs lack these facilities, necessitating this new approach.

The decision has sparked mixed reactions among passengers, with some finding it unusual to see crew resting in passenger cabins, while others welcome it as a practical solution. One forum user noted concerns that passengers might mistakenly believe they can disturb resting crew members if needed.

Looking ahead, British Airways plans to implement a "soft block" system on selected Boeing 777 and 787-10 aircraft, where certain economy seats will remain available for sale but can be allocated to crew rest if unsold after boarding. However, the airline’s booking systems currently do not support this arrangement. The policy complies with UK flight time regulations requiring approved rest facilities for crew on long-haul flights, aiming to improve crew comfort without affecting passenger seating or service quality.