• I toured the secret rooms where pilots and flight attendants rest on long-haul Air New Zealand flights.
• The Boeing 777-300ER had a room with two beds for pilots and an eight-bed area for flight attendants.
• Both rest areas were tight, but I noticed that pilots had more amenities than flight attendants. 

For years, I boarded long-haul flights without thinking twice about where pilots and flight attendants rest.

That's not the case for aircraft designers, who build secret areas on planes where these airline workers can take their mandated breaks.

I finally had the chance to see these hidden rooms when I boarded a long-haul flight on Air New Zealand's Boeing 777-300ER in 2021.

I explored two rooms — one where pilots rest and another for flight attendants — and noticed that the pilots had more amenities than the flight attendants. Take a look. 

Before takeoff on an Air New Zealand flight from New Zealand to Los Angeles, I toured the hidden rest areas for pilots and flight attendants.

 

These crew areas are designed for one purpose: rest. Both flight attendants and pilots receive breaks during long-haul flights to refuel and recharge.

An Air New Zealand rep told Business Insider that the breaks, which are legally mandated and typically about two hours long, happen in shifts. That means there are always pilots in the cockpit and flight attendants in the cabin.

As I explored the two rooms, which are typically off-limits to passengers, I spotted some drastic differences — from size to amenities.

The first clear difference I spotted was the location of each area. Both rest areas are above passengers' seats but on opposite sides of the plane.

The doors to each area were identical and designed to blend into the galleys. This helps protect from unwanted visitors, an Air New Zealand flight attendant explained.

Both rooms also required a passcode.

Once the doors were unlocked, the entrances were also similar. A set of steep, small steps led up to each room.

Both sets of stairs were coated in a non-slip tread.

But this was where many of the similarities stopped. Once I entered the rooms, I noticed the pilots had more space than the flight attendants.

The rest area for pilots is designed for two people.

Eight flight attendants can fit in their designated rest area on the Boeing 777-300ERs.

The pilots also had multiple resting options. At the front of the room were two large leather recliners, and behind them were two beds.

The flight attendants only had bunk-style beds in their room.

The pilots also had an entertainment option. A TV similar to the ones travelers had in business class was stationed near each recliner.

I didn't see any TVs in the space for flight attendants. Instead, the entrance to their room had a mirror and some storage.

Both flight attendants and pilots had privacy curtains and bedding for their beds.

Everyone was also able to control the light in their rest area …

… as well as the temperature.

In the bedroom areas, I noticed that pilots had more amenities. For instance, there were multiple cupholders and overhead storage near their beds.

The flight attendants had two smaller storage compartments and a mirror.

Phones were stationed in both rooms so pilots and flight attendants could communicate with each other and their colleagues.

Each room also had a closet for uniforms. This way, the flight attendants' and pilots' clothing wouldn't get wrinkly while they slept.

Overall, it seemed to me that the pilots had more amenities. If I had to pick a place to rest, I'd much rather be a pilot with their comfy lounge chairs and TVs.

Ultimately, I was happier with the fewer responsibilities and the luxe amenities I had in my business-class seat below.

Top Trump officials included the editor of the Atlantic in a Signal group chat discussing plans to strike Houthis in Yemen. We explore Washington's reaction in this video collaboration between Politico and Business Insider.

• Jigyasa Grover credits 'The Secret' for leading to her career success in AI and tech roles.
• The book influenced her to set ambitious goals and visualize achieving them.
• Grover emphasizes combining visualization with hard work and collaboration for success.

Twenty-nine-year-old Jigyasa Grover interned at Meta and worked at X for over four years as a senior machine learning engineer. She was hired as a senior data scientist at the San Francisco startup Faire before taking on her current full-time role as the lead of AI and research at Bordo AI.

She's also on Google's Developer Advisory Board and is an AI advisor at Diem. She achieved all this since graduating with her computer science degree in 2018.

Alongside her hard work, Grover told Business Insider that Rhonda Byrne's best-selling 2006 self-help book "The Secret" has influenced her approach toward achieving higher career goals.

Grover read "The Secret" in 10th grade

She said "The Secret" had a "profound impact" on her approach to professional goal setting and overcoming self-doubt.

"It's not about magically manifesting things but about developing a powerful mindset that fuels action," Grover said. "The book was particularly helpful in teaching me to establish specific, realistic goals and then make them a reality."

Here are three strategies Grover leveraged from "The Secret" to improve her mindset and reach big goals on her Big Tech career journey.

1. Focus on far-fetched dreams, not just on what seems realistic

Before reading "The Secret," Grover's approach to goal-setting focused only on what felt "realistic." She said that Byrne's book encouraged her to dream bigger and set goals based on her true desires, even if they initially seemed far-fetched.

In addition to her interest in working with AI and machine learning, Grover had another goal she felt she couldn't reach anytime soon: Writing a book.

In 2019, using techniques she learned from "The Secret," she began "really focusing" on her vision of being a published author. She often thought about it during her daily walks.

"I visualized not just holding the finished book but explaining complex machine-learning concepts in clear, accessible ways," Grover said. "I pictured myself breaking down the data preparation process I'd learned through my work at Twitter and my research at UC San Diego."

After starting this visualization practice, Grover said an opportunity for book publication presented itself much sooner than she expected. She moved from the initial concept to the self-published book "Sculpting Data for ML" in less than a year.

"Since I had this at the forefront of my mind, I was quick to notice and pursue opportunities to author, and the universe truly presented me with a path that I couldn't have imagined," Grover said.

That path involved finding a coauthor with complementary expertise and unexpected time to bring a book project to fruition. While Grover had been contacted by a few publishing houses in 2019 about possible book projects, she lacked the time and bandwidth to pursue the opportunities then.

"When the pandemic hit, the resulting shift in my schedule and circumstances created the perfect window for me to self-publish on my own terms," she said.

2. Visualize yourself already achieving your goals

Grover explained that a critical part of "The Secret" is imagining you've already reached your desired outcome. "Before every project, I make sure I have a strong belief in my ability to deliver the project," she said.

Whenever she's faced with an opportunity, whether in a fast-paced startup environment or a challenging engineering environment at Big Tech, she makes sure to visualize herself performing well in that role. "This really helps to calm my nerves, stay the course, and reach my final goal," Grover said.

She used this Secret-inspired method once during the post-acquisition chaos at X, where she worked from 2019 to 2023.

"This presented a huge challenge: massive layoffs, uncertainty about the future, and key stakeholders were gone, threatening the entire product road map," Grover said. "Seeing my talented teammates go was tough, so to navigate this, I started visualizing myself emerging stronger."

Grover stayed at X for several months after the acquisition and through the bulk of the layoffs. "I saw it as an opportunity to lead through change, support my team during an incredibly difficult time, and prove my resilience," she said.

With a focus on deep breathing and "this too shall pass," Grover pictured leveraging the situation's turbulence: Becoming more adaptable, building stronger relationships with the few remaining teams, and learning to navigate constant curveballs.

She sets aside 15 minutes every night before bed to disconnect from the day's work to focus on a particular challenge, trying to see the bigger picture and envisioning the impact she can make.

She writes down three specific technical or creative challenges she wants to tackle, breaking the large chunk of work into bite-sized pieces. She then visualizes herself solving each one, focusing on the positive impact and celebrating the accomplishment of each milestone.

If doubt creeps in about tricky areas, Grover creates plans to tackle them the next day and reinforces her belief in her plans through her focused vision.

3. Go beyond mere visualization to inspire your efforts

Grover said the secret to maximizing these methods should go beyond visualizing your desired outcome. She suggests you believe things can be done and use your visualization as a springboard to work hard, collaborate well with others, and maintain a strong vision.

"I truly believe it's the combination of the technical expertise — with the mindset to deliver on those skills — that made all of my success possible," Grover said.

Grover believes the balance of practical machine-learning engineering skills — with her unwavering belief in the project's success — ultimately led her to publish her book. She believes that "The Secret" also played an indirect role in landing her current job.

She said that when she applied, Bordo AI was a very early-stage startup building a new type of AI solution."The Secret" inspired her to envision the company succeeding in revolutionizing data analysis with AI. "It helped me cultivate a mindset that allowed me to see opportunities where others might see risks," Grover said.

• 2024 has been a fascinating year for true crime fans.
• Shows like "Baby Reindeer" and "The Asunta Case" dramatized shocking true stories.
• Documentaries including "American Nightmare" and "Quiet on Set" gave viewers fresh insights into stories.

2024 has been a big year for true crime.

The genre has grown to new heights in the past decade, as streaming services and podcasts feed audiences' fascination with the darker side of humanity. This year that has included stalking in "Baby Reindeer" to child exploitation in "Quiet on Set."

Here are the best true crime shows and documentaries so far this year.

1. 'American Nightmare'

Netflix started 2024 strong with "American Nightmare," which tells the story of a bizarre kidnapping.

Denise Huskins was forcibly taken from her boyfriend's house in Vallejo, California in 2015 and reappeared two days later over 400 miles away near her family home in Huntington Beach.

Using interviews with Huskins and her boyfriend, Aaron Quinn, the gripping three-part docuseries explains how the authorities suspected she faked the kidnapping in a move similar to the plot of the 2014 movie, "Gone Girl."

But the case takes an even stranger turn when a police officer stumbles onto a disbarred lawyer, Matthew Muller.

2. 'Lover, Stalker, Killer'

Mechanic Dave Kroupa had no idea what he was getting into when he started dating Liz Golyar in 2012.

"Lover, Stalker, Killer" explains how the Nebraska couple enjoyed going out and drinking, but things turned deadly when Kroupa called things off and started dating computer programmer, Cari Farver.

Farver went missing just two weeks into their relationship.

The documentary explores how Golyar killed Farver and impersonated her online to evade the authorities.

3. 'Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV'

"Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" is a shocking four-part Investigation Discovery docuseries about kids TV channel Nickelodeon and the abuse faced by some of its most famous actors.

The show is based on Business Insider's reporting and explores the allegations that producer Dan Schneider created a toxic work environment at Nickelodeon.

It also sees actor and musician Drake Bell talk publicly for the first time about being sexually assaulted by dialogue coach, Brian Peck.

4. 'The Asunta Case'

Spain was shocked when the body of 12-year-old Asunta Basterra Porto was discovered near the city of Santiago de Compostela in 2013.

It was later discovered that her adoptive parents, lawyer Rosario Porto and journalist Alfonso Basterra, murdered her after their divorce.

The tragic death is dramatized in Netflix's "The Asunta Case," which gives audiences an insight into what happened to the couple in the immediate aftermath of the murder.

5. 'Under the Bridge'

Hulu's "Under the Bridge" dramatizes Rebecca Godfrey's true crime book of the same name about the 1997 murder of Canadian teenager, Reena Virk.

What makes the show more interesting than a typical crime drama is that it puts Godfrey in the middle of the mystery. The author is played by "Mad Max: Fury Road" star Riley Keough.

Although Godfrey didn't help the investigation in real life, it adds an extra layer of drama to the show, helping to keep viewers invested.

6. 'Baby Reindeer'

"Baby Reindeer" dramatizes the show's lead actor and writer's experience with stalking, and became a huge talking point after it was released in April 2024.

Richard Gadd plays a fictional version of himself, Donny Dunn, an aspiring comedian who is stalked by a woman called Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning) after he shows her a moment of kindness at the pub where he works.

Gadd also uses the show to also tackle subjects like sexuality and sexual assault. But it became a global phenomenon because audiences tried to track down the "real Martha" online.

In May, 58-year-old Fiona Harvey came forward as the woman the character is based on, but challenged Gadd's depiction of her and has taken legal action against Netflix.

7. 'Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult'

"Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult" dives into the murky world of TikTok dancers and content creators. It starts by looking at Miranda Derrick, a dancer who cut ties with her family after joining the controversial Shekinah Church in Los Angeles.

From there, the compelling three-part series introduces the audience to Shekinah Church pastor Robert Shinn, and explores allegations of abusive behavior and coercion within the church.

Derrick denied being in a cult in June 2024, and said that she has received death threats because of the Netflix docuseires.

8. 'How to Rob a Bank'

Scott Scurlock's life sounds like something out of a Steven Spielberg movie.

In the 1990s, he lived in a huge tree house on his own property and started robbing banks in the Seattle area using makeup and prosthetics to disguise himself.

He even earned himself the nickname "The Hollywood Bandit," because of his techniques.

Scurlock's free-spirited life is the focus of Netflix's "How to Rob a Bank," and features surprisingly honest interviews with his fellow bank robbers and friends.

9. 'Perfect Wife: The Disappearance of Sherri Papini'

Another docuseries with some striking similarities to "Gone Girl" is Hulu's "Perfect Wife: The Disappearance of Sherri Papini."

As the title suggests, it revolves around Papini — who went missing after she went for a run in Redding, California, in November 2016. She was found three weeks later in Yolo County, California, 150 miles from home.

The docuseries explains how it took authorities six years to arrest her for faking the kidnapping, while also looking at the ramifications the hoax had on her family.

10. 'The Man with 1000 Kids'

Audiences learn the jaw-dropping story of prolific Dutch sperm donor, Jonathan Jacob Meijer, in "The Man with 1000 Kids."

Meijer does not appear in the three-part docuseries, but five families who used his sperm to conceive share how they discovered the truth about how many children he has and the subsequent dangers.

Meijer has not been convicted of a crime, but the show bears the hallmarks of the true crime genre.

Meijer confirmed he has over 550 children worldwide, and was banned from donating sperm to new families in 2023.

11. "I Am a Killer"

While many true crime shows on this list focus on the victims, "I Am a Killer" revolves around perpetrators.

Each episode features interviews with a convicted killers in the United States, as they explain the reasons for their crime, their mindset at the time, and how they feel about their actions.

The fifth season arrived on Netflix in October, and features several complex, heartbreaking cases — including that of Ashley Morrison, who was convicted as an accomplice when her boyfriend murdered his grandmother in 2014.

12. "Until I Kill You"

In November, British network ITV released "Until I Kill You," which dramatizes the life of Delia Balmer (Anna Maxwell Martin), a nurse who survived two brutal attacks by her ex-boyfriend, John Sweeney (Shaun Evans).

The authorities later learned that Sweeney was a serial killer, known as the "Scalp Hunter."

The intense four-part drama charts their relationship and how Sweeney went on the run for several years before he was caught. It also looks at the way the legal system treated Balmer, and the trauma she endured when testifying against Sweeney in court.

13. "The Kings of Tupelo"

"The Kings of Tupelo" is another Netflix docuseries featuring a case that almost seems too wild to be true. It revolves around Paul Kevin Curtis, an Elvis impersonator who claims he discovered a fridge full of body parts when he was working as a janitor in a Mississippi hospital.

He claimed that the fridge was part of an illegal organ-harvesting operation, and was trying to publicize his theory when he started feuding with a local Taekwondo instructor, James Everett Dutschke.

The three-part docuseries explains how and why Dutschke went on to frame Curtis for attempting to assassinate Barack Obama with ricin in 2013.

• My Gen Alpha sister sent me her Christmas list, and some of the items surprised me.
• Her wish list is a snapshot of what teens at her Texas high school are coveting this holiday season.
• Nike, Apple, and Lululemon remain popular among teens, according to her list and a recent survey.

Every holiday season, my family expects to receive an extensive Christmas list from my 14-year-old sister — in true youngest-sibling fashion.

Usually, I (a practically vintage 25-year-old, to her at least) expect to get a few hints about which trends appeal to the next generation of consumers. This year, I was surprised to find some old names among her gift ideas.

While her Christmas list includes unsurprising entries from brands that have recently done well with young people — think Stanley and Lululemon — she also asked for items I didn't expect to be on a high schooler's radar.

Piper Sandler got input from over 13,000 teens in the US for its semi-annual Generation Z survey published in October. While Nike was teens' favorite brand, Lululemon ranked third in apparel brands.

IPhones are still king in the smartphone market for teens, with 87% telling Piper Sandler they own one. It's not totally shocking that Apple, Nike, and Lululemon made it on her list, but her reasons and a few other entries seemed surprising.

From TikTok to the classroom, my sister — who my mom asked to remain unnamed — told me her inspiration comes from online and offline. She gave me an "important disclaimer" that items on her list are suggestions we adults can choose from — we aren't required to get them all, of course.

Some fun honorable mentions from her list: Robux (currency for the game Roblox), a Stanley tumbler, and luxury beauty products from Dior.

Here's what else my sister said she and her Gen Alpha friends are coveting this holiday season.

Victoria's Secret products are making a comeback with her friends.

Victoria's Secret thrived in the 2000s as a lingerie brand, along with popular teen brand Pink. It raked in billions and was a hit during my teenage years, but struggled to adjust to apparel trends.

Almost 10 years later, my sister and her classmates are eyeing Pink loungewear sets, perfume, and Victoria's Secret makeup bags not unlike the ones I begged for in high school. That's reflected by its shares, which have gained 85% in the last year.

It buys into young people's recent obsession with Y2K fashion trends. Victoria's Secret even brought back its famous fashion show this year.

It's certainly earned a new customer in my sister.

She wants an iPhone 16, but not for the reason you'd think.

When I asked my sister if she knew about Apple Intelligence, she had no clue what I was talking about. So it was surprising to see the iPhone 16 — a phone Apple has touted as being made for AI — on her wish list.

About 30% of teens surveyed by Piper Sandler said they planned to upgrade their iPhones in the coming months because of Apple Intelligence.

It's not the writing tools, Siri, or Genmojis that have her looking to trade in her iPhone 12 Pro Max. She said she's mostly interested in having the photo-editing features — which she wasn't aware were made possible by Apple Intelligence.

Apple is launching its AI software on a rolling basis with new features expected to be released on Monday as part of iOS 18.2 — just in time for Christmas.

Everyone at school is wearing Jordans and Dunks.

She said she sees "a whole bunch" of retro Jordan sneakers and Nike Dunks — two styles that Jim Duffy, a Nike analyst for Stifel Institutional, previously told BI that Nike has come to rely on too much for sales.

Although Nike has released signature shoes with several professional athletes over the years, my sister says she mostly sees Jordans and Dunks at her high school in Texas.

Nike has struggled recently — revenue was down 10% in the fiscal-first-quarter earnings reported in October. I wasn't sure if teens were giving the brand much attention these days, but it seems like young people remain interested in the sports giant.