DO PILOTS GET FREE FOOD? Yes, for the most part, at decent airlines, pilots get free food on board their flight. However, there are some instances at some airlines where pilots and crew are required to pay for food and even water that they drink on board.
So, pilots often bring their own food on board. Regardless, flight attendants can heat the food in the oven for them so that they can still enjoy a hot meal while in the air. Moreover, those on shorter routes often bring snacks on the aircraft to maintain their energy levels.
"Usually the pilot gets the first-class meal and the co-pilot the business class meal. This is just in case one of the meals might cause food poisoning."
FAQ » Careers, General FAQs » Do pilots fly for free? 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.
As well as eating different meals from one another, airline pilots (and cabin crew) are often offered different meals from passengers. Failing that, they can usually get something from the premium menu – so don't bother moaning to them about your disappointing economy class stew.
Do pilots eat airline food? Yes, usually the pilots have the same food as passengers. On long flights there are dedicated crew meals, but they are very similar to the food served to passengers.
“The captain is responsible for ensuring that, wherever possible, the operating pilots eat different in-flight meals,” said a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson. “If both pilots request the same meal, the cabin crew must bring this to the attention of the captain who will approve or deny the request.”
The airline handles and pays for accommodations for crewmembers when they are on a trip. Many pilots do not live where they are based and choose to commute. Generally, if pilots need to travel and stay away from home when they are not on a trip, they are responsible for their own accommodations.
Free Flights
As well as ID90 travel, some airlines offer their pilots a number of 'confirmed tickets' for free every year. This will usually guarantee a seat on the aircraft and would usually be for a seat in First or Business Class.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median U.S. pilot salary at $211,790 in 2022. This means 50% of pilots earn more than this, and 50% earn less. However, there are pilots working for major airlines making more than $700,000 per year.
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.
Most long haul aircraft have bunk beds available for both the Pilots and Cabin Crew. These are generally hidden out of view from passengers. If no bunks are available, commercial passenger seats in business or first class are set aside for the pilots to ensure a good standard of rest can be achieved.
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.
Pilots may not use alcohol “while on-duty or within 8 hours of performing flight crew member duties.”
Airline pilots take turns using the bathroom nearest the cockpit during a flight. There are no bathrooms installed in the cockpit. For airplanes with a single pilot, diapers, catheters, or collection devices are used if they are unable to land to use the airport bathroom.
The FAA prohibits the ingestion of any alcohol within 8 hours of flying as a pilot crew member, be it general or commercial aviation. For most of us who are not heavy and regular drinkers, if we follow the 8 hours rule, we would assume that we should not generally be busting the 0.04% rule.
It costs $96,995 to become a pilot when starting with no previous experience or $75,995 when starting with a private pilot certificate. Both prices include the flight training and certification necessary to become a commercial pilot with flight instructor certificates.
Instead, pilots are paid per flight hour. Meaning a pilot is only paid while their airplane is running. A pilot's salary is calculated by multiplying the number of flight hours by their hourly rate.
(Here is a map.) But many pilots choose to live elsewhere and commute to work. They do so by hopping a free ride on their airline, or even in a jumpseat on the flight deck.
Yes, pilots have free time. Junior pilots have a minimum of 12 days off per month, whereas the average pilot gets 15 days off per month and a senior pilot can enjoy up to 20 days off per month.
The amount of time spent away from home depends on a crew member's seniority, preferences, and aircraft. The most labor-intensive schedule might place a pilot out of base for 12-15 nights in a month. An entire month's schedule for a "line holder" commonly includes four 4-day trips.
Airline pilots fly an average of 75 hours per month and work an additional 150 hours per month performing other duties, such as checking weather conditions and preparing flight plans. Pilots have variable work schedules that may include several days of work followed by some days off.
Once a pilot is working for an airline, their life is sure to include significant time away from family and friends. This includes holidays, which can be some of an airline's busiest times for transporting passengers, which translates into a higher demand for pilots to operate those flights.
Pilots, especially on longer flights, need breaks just like passengers do. But flight duties, regulations, and security all weigh on a pilot taking an in-flight break.
Typically, short distance sectors are manned by two pilots, while long-haul flights can have three or four pilots. One of the two pilots manning the cockpit is allowed to take rest or sleep inside the cockpit by sliding the seat back and locking the harness. This practice is known as “controlled rest”.