SkyGuide for Crews
Flight Attendant Rest and Duty Questions
How Much Rest Does a Flight Attendant Get Legally?
For many U.S. Part 121 flight attendants, the federal baseline is at least 10 consecutive hours of scheduled rest after a duty period of 14 hours or less, without reduction.
Reviewed against primary U.S. sources - July 15, 2026
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Contract answer preview
"What facts matter before I ask about this contract issue?"
Short answer
For flight attendants in U.S. domestic, flag, and supplemental operations, the FAA rule requires at least 10 consecutive hours of scheduled rest when the preceding scheduled duty period is 14 hours or less. That 10-hour period may not be reduced. Longer duty periods and unusual operations can involve additional rules, and a collective bargaining agreement may provide greater protection.
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My contract is supported - sign up Not listed? See the waitlist and progress optionsThe 10-hour rule is a federal floor
The FAA changed the prior nine-hour standard to 10 consecutive hours and removed the former reduced-rest option for the covered duty periods. The key words are scheduled rest and consecutive hours: the rule describes a protected block between duty periods, not a promise that every minute will be sleep.
Your contract can be better than the minimum
A union agreement may add hotel, transportation, report, release, domicile, or rescheduling protections. Federal legality and contractual compliance are separate questions, so a trip can be legal under the regulation while still raising a contract issue.
Facts that can change the answer
Record the scheduled and actual release time, the next report time, whether the duty period exceeded 14 hours, where the rest occurred, and any reassignment or transportation delay. Those timestamps are what let a representative or a cited contract tool test the correct rule.
This page provides general U.S. educational information, not legal advice or an individual legality determination. Regulations, agreements, side letters, policies, and facts can change the result. Use current official channels for safety decisions, discipline, medical or leave issues, and grievance deadlines.
Primary sources
Use the current regulation, agency guidance, and your current collective bargaining agreement for an individual decision.
- FAA: Flight Attendant Duty Period Limitations and Rest Requirements Final Rule
Federal Aviation Administration - FAA: Rest Periods for Flight Attendants Extended to 10 Consecutive Hours
Federal Aviation Administration
Related crew questions
What is the minimum rest between flight attendant trips?
The U.S. federal minimum is commonly 10 consecutive scheduled hours for covered flight attendant duty periods, but contract and operational details still matter.
FA rest and dutyCan flight attendant rest be reduced?
For the covered 10-hour federal flight attendant rest requirement, the FAA eliminated the former reduced-rest provision.
FA rest and dutyWhat counts as flight attendant duty time?
Flight attendant duty is broader than flight time, but the exact report, release, training, deadhead, and reassignment treatment depends on the governing rule and contract.
FA rest and dutyDoes the FAA rest rule or the flight attendant contract control?
Federal rules set a safety floor; a collective bargaining agreement can provide greater rest or remedies but cannot authorize conduct below the applicable legal minimum.