How do bunk beds work?

When finding a Crashpad, the idea of staying in a bunk bed can be daunting to many. There’s a lot of confusion about how bunk beds work, especially in the airline industry! Many assume that you will be in a different bunk every night, surrounded by loud snoring with no privacy but, Crashpads are incredibly organized! There are ways to get around the lack of privacy and loud snoring!

If you have never lived in a Crashpad before and are curious about staying in a bunk bed, here’s a quick guide that explains how they work, and advice on how to make the most out of your bunk!

Most Crashpads are set up in a shared room environment, which typically consist of bunk beds in each bedroom.

These are especially common in cities with a higher cost of living. They are typically less expensive than private rooms or single beds. Bunk beds are a smart choice since Crashpad hosts can keep the price per bed as affordable as possible. Hosts can also set prices based on demand, for example, charging more for a bottom bunk as opposed to a lesser priced top bunk. The cost difference is based on factors such as people preferring a bottom bunk over top bunk, not having to climb up into your bed each night, however, many Crashpad owners operate on a first come, first serve basis with bottom and top bunks being the same price. Or, they can choose to allow people with the highest seniority in the Crashpad and airline to have preference over top or bottom bunk. If you are a guest, check with your Crashpad host about the specific rules on top or bottom bunk, since every host has a unique system set in place.

Many are concerned that they will be in a room filled with 8 or more people every night if they stay in a room with a bunk bed, but this is not always the case. Since airline employees are often working different schedules, it’s rare that you will be in the same room all at once at night! While it does happen, it is a rare occurrence and most of the nights you will there you will only share the room with a handful of people, if any at all.

With the bunk bed setup and more people being in one room, privacy can often be of concern, especially with coed spaces.

When you’re around more people, you may have a roommate that snores loud, comes in early in the morning or late at night, or even sets an alarm that wakes you up. Although these are just issues that every Crashpad faces and ones that can’t necessarily be resolved, we have options to lessen the impact of these downfalls! If your host has the standard bunk bed from IKEA, you can easily use this tent product. Have you seen anything like this? Don’t let night owls bother you with the light walking in and out of the room – these tents will block out light perfectly! If you are an owner, you could also rent these out for an additional monthly cost. Another popular option is making a DIY curtain that covers your bunk bed out of sheets or blankets. There truly are many ways to get more privacy when you are staying in a bunk bed!

There are many items that will make sleeping in a bunk bed easier for you.

If you like to read before bed, a great addition to the tent or DIY curtain is a bed lamp! You can purchase this one here that connects directly to the railing of your bed so you can turn it on and off as you wish. This is especially useful if you want to continue reading after everyone has gone to bed, however, we only recommend this is you have the tent or curtain set up! Combined with the privacy of the tent or curtain, you can easily make your bunk your home away from home!

One of the biggest hacks to living the bunk bed life is having an extension cord! While your bunk bed may not necessarily be near a wall outlet, you can purchase an extension cord and be able to charge your necessities such as your phone, work tablet, laptop, or e-reader. They are inexpensive to buy and work if you are either on a top bunk or bottom bunk!

Another perk is having your own designated space underneath your bunk bed! With two people living in a top bunk and bottom bunk, you can each easily split the space in half and use it as additional storage space! Various storage containers can be bought online to help organize your space underneath the bed. We personally recommend these storage containers!

On a rare occasion, Crashpad owners may have a trundle storage space that fits under the bed. Sometimes an extra pull out bed can be stored underneath, but it’s usually for extra storage space. This is useful for storing extra clothes, shoes, and personal belongings. It’s exceptionally useful if you don’t have a lot of closet space. If your host doesn’t offer a trundle storage space, it may be a good idea to offer!

If you happen to notice a bed number on your bunk, this can be incredibly useful in determining where to store your belongings!

Often, Crashpad owners will have designated storage space in the closet, pantry, and fridge determined by the bed number that you are assigned. This is especially useful so that nobody gets their space confused with other people’s designated space, and also so you don’t confuse your belongings for someone else’s.

Mattresses are typically provided by Crashpad owners.

It’s rare that they are not provided, however, each person has their own unique preference for their mattress type. The mattresses provided range in thickness and firmness, so it’s a good idea to purchase extra padding to put on your mattress so you can get the best night’s rest possible! They can be easily purchased from Target, Walmart, or Amazon!

While mattresses, the bed, and basic necessities are typically provided in your Crashpad, your bedsheets and towels are not provided if you are staying in a cold bed.

Use this as an opportunity to add your own personal touch to your space – get creative! You can find inexpensive, colorful bedsheets from Amazon or Target. You can also add your own pillows and comforter to make your bed your own. This is the biggest opportunity for you to personalize your space and make it as homely as possible!

Have any extra space next to your bunk bed? It may be a good idea to get a small nightstand, or a plastic container drawer set so you can keep more belongings near you! You can keep your phone by your bedside, or put a lamp on top to add some extra lighting. They are inexpensive and can be found at Walmart or on Amazon.

While staying in a Crashpad with bunk beds seems scary at first, we reccommend trying it out! You can save money, and there’s many ways to get around the downsides of staying in a bunk bed! Each situation is different, but there’s many ways to get the most out of staying in a top bunk or bottom bunk.