Saw this at Jeddah airport, kinda surprised… normal?

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johnnybgood96@reddit

Lots of people in the comments saying this is extremely normal. And although it may be, I work at an airport as well, and if I had to take my break laying down on the asphalt, myself nor any of my co-workers would be working there.

Airports need to make better accommodation to ground crew workers. This is unacceptable in my opinion. It’s pathetic that billion dollar companies can’t provide a little break room or some fans for their workers.

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WhoKilledArmadillo@reddit

Sleeping in the shade vs sleeping in the sun. Yes it's quite normal to pick the shade.

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No-Strawberry7@reddit (OP)

Fair enough, but Jeddah heat is no joke, it’s around 40°C (104°F) during the day. That’s why it surprised me they’re resting outside instead of in some AC space.

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senorblueduck@reddit

Having spent many years in the Middle East courtesy of Uncle Sam, the people who’ve lived there all their lives are well acclimated to the heat. Going in and out of the A/C all day may actually make it feel worse than just finding some shade and grabbing some ZZZs

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RandomObserver13@reddit

Truth. Probably half the population doesn’t have home A/C, or if they do it’s only in the bedroom. I’ve spent a ton of time in Indonesia where it’s not as hot but the humidity is far worse and that’s just how they live. And it’s rare to see someone wearing shorts or a short sleeve shirt either. Muslim modesty.

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greystonian@reddit

Long clothing blocks the sun from your skin (mostly) which helps a lot too!

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hansolo-ist@reddit

Long cotton clothing wicks moisture away from skin and feels cool in tropical weather.

Not great when sweating though as it can't dry fast enough

[-]

RandomObserver13@reddit

Yeah, in desert conditions of high heat and no humidity that’s what you want, especially because it can get cold at night. Add humidity and I don’t know how they do it, I’m dying. But I’ve turned into an American desk job fat ass that struggles with it nowadays. I put in my time though.

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Jaggedmallard26@reddit

I remember my first time in the humid part of the tropics, having all of my loose but skin covering clothing with desert scarf and finding it took about 15 minutes for that clothing to adhere to my skin and become a wetsuit where I promptly overheated.

[-]

UnicornFarts1111@reddit

I have read that if it is hot and windy, black loose clothing will keep you cooler than white loose clothing.

If there is no wind, then go for the white clothing, if it is windy, go for the black.

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Dramatic-Good9888@reddit

Saudi here

Most homes have an ac unit in every room.

I just bought a house and i paid around 1500 SAR per unit.

I got around 10 units and installation costed me around 3300 SAR for all ten.

Its not as bad what my parents / grandparents paid back in the day.

For the migrant workers they usually stay in company owned logging and all need to have acs as per legislation but the rooms are shared.

[-]

RandomObserver13@reddit

Fair enough, I overestimated on that point. My main point is that if you live in a place like that and work outdoors, you get used to it to a certain degree. Like I said, most of my travels have been in SE Asia and they are surprisingly used to it, at least from my perspective as someone from the US who grew up without it but now couldn‘t live without it. But it makes sense that in a place that is that hot you’d need it more.

I am curious, for the migrant workers, are all the interior spaces airconned or just sleeping? The latter arrangement is something I’ve seen a lot in working class SE Asia, and sometimes even in high end housing.

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Dramatic-Good9888@reddit

Tbh its usually apartments that they share with their coworkers,, sometimes it’s literally rooms with bunk beds. Depends on the company and management.

Theres an ad that i get on tiktok. Its a company that does worker accommodation for businesses. Its pretty barebones.

Search mnzil on tiktok to get an idea.

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RandomObserver13@reddit

Interesting, thanks. Sounds similar to Singapore. In Indonesia and Malaysia a lot of lower and working class homes are somewhat modular with an open living space and individual bedrooms, usually with attached bathrooms, but whole families live in one room, and that is often the only space that has aircon. Bathrooms are usually fed by rooftop plumbing (i.e. a big bucket). How sewage is handled is a question you don’t ask, lol.

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Maleficent_Sector721@reddit

To say ‘half the population’ is a wilddd overstatement. Apart from my acquaintances (none of whom live without air conditioning), I am pretty sure that it is illegal to build houses without any sort of air conditioning units due to the intense and extreme heat. Source: lived in the gulf for nearly two decades

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Dramatic-Good9888@reddit

Correct ,

In saudi it’s code to have prepared the wiring/ ductwork for an ac to be installed in every room.

With that said the buyer sometimes needs to buy the units separately. It all depends on the developer but alot of them preinstall the ACs as an incentive to buy from them.

[-]

Shadowthatifear@reddit

there isnt a single house without ac units, and i mean SEVERAL

[-]

Shihaby@reddit

What? No. I don't know a single home in the GCC doesn't have air conditioning in every single room. Heat waves here are incomparable to SEA, you'd pass out from heat exhaustion without AC.

[-]

SlagathorTheProctor@reddit

My building in Abu Dhabi lost AC due to a fire in the control panel, they told us it would take four days to get a new one flown in from Germany. I figured that I could handle that (concrete buildings warm up slowly) but by the second evening I was checking into a hotel. Being inside a 30°C (86°F) apartment was completely unbearable.

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imoverthisapp@reddit

the people who’ve lived there all their lives are well acclimated to the heat.

No we’re not lol, why do you think our sidewalks are shitty? Nobody wants to walk. And this is why we have a huge night life culture, nobody wants to go outside in the sun unless they have to.

Surprisingly, i see americans and Europeans more accustomed to this weather than us, i see them with their sun hats and glasses walking around in the street at 1 pm, glowing red obviously but still they seem to tolerate it better than we do.

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BillytheBloxian@reddit

this is jeddah. it's humid, which makes it worse than it seems

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RoninBelt@reddit

Going in and out of the A/C all day may actually make it feel worse

Oh ain't that the truth, I haven't been sick much in the last 5 years, but both times must have been a direct result of stepping into rooms with 16C air con then walking back out into 35C+ weather. Dubai and Hong Kong.

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Aexibaexi@reddit

Once flew with AA from London to Charlotte. That 777 was cold as Antarctica. Caught myself a cold in the summer with 25-30° C weather. Same with buses in North America: there usually is a difference of 20° C from inside and outside. I like AC, but they use it excessively on the other side of the pond. Cooling down the room to about 22°C is more than enough.

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fishymamba@reddit

Yup, gave my parent's gardener in the UAE some room temperature water and he said it was way too cold and let it sit in the sun for a bit before drinking it.

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Correct_Audience_206@reddit

choices are to maybe have slight discomfort laying in the shade or go into an air conditioned building ,run into your manager/supervisor only to be sent back out into the heat to move/fix/change something which unsurprisingly will extend way more energy.. The choice is yours. : )

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Snatchamo@reddit

It's also one of the few perks of being ground crew. You have a specific job, no planes means chill time. It's not like they're gonna make you pick up a broom and start sweeping the runway.

[-]

Correct_Audience_206@reddit

ACTUALLY!!! i now know that you have never served in the US military.

Since i have extensive experience in this field i will enlighten you..... it is entirely possible... bleep that... it is entirely probable that any ex aircraft crewmember that served in the US Army knows somebody who was made to do this or has been threatened with this. LMFAO

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southernwinter@reddit

I grew up in Saudi. Everywhere is air conditioned so inside sometimes feels like the arctic and it is literally a relief to go outside for a bit lol. There are photos of me wearing a sweatshirt outside in May lol

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bigfatfun@reddit

For a little while, in Phoenix, AZ, I was driving a truck for a construction company in the very typical 110F summer. If I arrived at a site during a break time I would have to wait to be unloaded and I would offer the air conditioned cab of my truck to the crews that were out in the sun all day because we never turned the trucks off. Most of them would decline because they said it was easier for them to acclimate and stay acclimated if they avoided the air con.

[-]

Maleficent-Drive4056@reddit

It is not around 40 degrees during the day at the moment. In the summer it's hotter.

[-]

pipic_picnip@reddit

As someone who has lived in 45C for a period, it’s okay if you are in AC all day, but if your job requires frequent in and out, then it’s better to avoid AC as it causes health issues due to frequent temperature differences and also makes one more prone to heat strokes. Body finds it harder to adjust to heat quickly after suddenly stepping out from 19-25 to straight 40+ and quickly overheats as a result because it doesn’t sweat fast enough to regulate the temperature, causing something akin to hot flashes for a short period which can be very uncomfortable. whereas staying outside in the breeze while being in shade, drinking plenty water and sweating a lot can actually regulate the temperature better. But again this comes with experience. Someone not used to heat randomly sitting in the shade outside like this can still get a pretty bad heat stroke.

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no-but-wtf@reddit

Working in 40+ heat sucks, but having a little nap outside in the shade is so sweet. I’ve never been to Jeddah but I live in a part of Australia where mid 40s are pretty common in summer. Nothing beats a hammock in the shade outdoors on a day like that, AC is like sleeping in the fridge when you could be sleeping in the warm 😅

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UpstairsPractical870@reddit

A lot of these guys would probably be south asian, they are used to the heat, but it will less humid than back home as well.

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WhoKilledArmadillo@reddit

Agreed, plenty of reasons, which k have no answer to. But the shade beats full sun blast.

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Declanmar@reddit

Are they not allowed inside?

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gojira303@reddit

Less noisy, can be cooler and fresher with a good breeze, and, of course, less likely to run into managers and supervisors who'll give you busy work for no reason

Source: Worked on the ramp in my younger years

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Toastman89@reddit

I also worked on the ramp in my younger years (YVR).

I can say with experience you are 100% correct. There were all sorts of out of the at places to have a break. You never took a break in the actual break room

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gojira303@reddit

Ah shit, no way!

I worked YVR, too! Gates B18-21, so you can take a guess which airline lol

Moved up to YZF for a year flying right seat and working ramp, now at YXY with the aforementioned airline!

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Toastman89@reddit

Blue and white 737s all day!

I was there before WJ had their own people. I worked for the we-do-everything-that-isn’t-AC company. 2000-2004

Working 9/11 was a trip

[-]

Izan_TM@reddit

I'd love to hear that story tbh, that sounds like a super interesting perspective on the day of the incident

[-]

Toastman89@reddit

I can give you the short version.

I was working noon-midnight shift (PST) so I got to the airport for work like 5 hours after it happened and flights started diverting. But, because I was 21 and slept in I didn’t even really know what was going on. I heard about the towers getting hit but not all of the flight diversions and cancellations.

So I get in my car, put my music on (iPod nano!) and drive to work. As I’m crossing the last bridge before getting there, there’s a nice view of the airport from the top of the bridge, I see plane after plane that wasn’t supposed to be there, and a massive traffic jam in front of me. I switch to the radio and learn what was actually there.

I get into work (late) and there is no schedule. People are just going out and doing what they can. Planes are being parked wherever there is space, with all the passengers still on board. None of the planes are being allowed to offload because none of the passengers have been cleared so they wait until the lists have been customs’d or whatever.

In the meantime we’re refilling water tanks and draining lavs. We’re pulling cargo on some flights, and bags on another. Nobody is following any ‘critical’ safety rules. (Can only pull 4 carts at a time, I was pulling 10 once).

Customs hall and baggage claim is slammed. I went in to clear belts and people were asking me why this wasn’t LAX/SFO/PDX/SEA/PHX/DEN…. None of them have been told anything. Many people didn’t speak English. Airport staff were slammed, customs and passport control slammed.

And right in the middle of the chaos, we’d get normal come through. Any flight that was more than halfway through their regular journey was allowed to continue, so her comes the BA 1800hrs arrival from LHR. Right into the gate, pax and bags offloaded like normal, in through customs and out the door. Cathay from HKG was totally normal as well, but the Cathay flights that weren’t coming to YVR were stuffed on the ramp/taxiways with people still onboard.

I don’t remember participating in any of the feel-good stories that you hear from the small east coast towns that took in diversions. It was very much a big-city ‘welcome’ of get-out-you-are-your-airlines-problem…

I had the next four days off, and by the time I returned it was mostly back to normal. It took another few months before the downturn become apparent, airlines went under, and people started getting laid off

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ShortKingKLR@reddit

I find myself distrusting your story on the simple premise that iPod Nano wasn't released until 2005 and iPod as an entire product didn't exist until October of 2001. I know there are other mp3 players before iPod but even they were fairly difficult to come by in mid-2001. You made it such a specific note in your comment, otherwise I wouldn't have noticed. If it indeed true, it's a pretty cool story to hear and I appreciate you for sharing!

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Loon_Here@reddit

Serco?

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Brillek@reddit

Man. Working in TOS, medium/small sized airport, and comments like these are so wild to me. We do everything everywhere and have to know how to do it on 13 different aircraft, (I'm including variations), for 9 companies.

Is it true you got guys that only load, only pudh etc.?

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gojira303@reddit

Load, push, and bicker with PSA's and cargo managers over the radio where pax can hear everything

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Castun@reddit

Out of sight, out of mind!

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Sleep_adict@reddit

Also traffic is way down due to the USA/israel war so they probably have less going on

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Special-Source-267@reddit

lol Jeddah is way busier now due to the conflict.

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RandyWatson8@reddit

I would figure Jeddah would be busier. Just had to ship some freight to Riyadh and couldn’t. had to have everything flown to Jeddah and then trucked to Riyadh.

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MergenKurt@reddit

Might be because of cost. Our freight transits from RUH everyday. Muscat also became hub for trucking in the area.

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kelter20@reddit

I too worked on the ramp for a long time and definitely laid on the ground once in a while.

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BusyAtilla@reddit

This. Naps are beneficial.

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WhiskeyMikeMike@reddit

Daily equipment checklists haha

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Kanoa@reddit

If the temperature difference between inside and out is large enough, it can actually suck. Here in Texas, I’ve taken the shade over air conditioning when working outside because I’m literally soaked in sweat. Wet clothes in the AC feels terrible.

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Bluishdoor76@reddit

We're encouraged to not be in the terminals for too long but not prohibited at my workplace at Dulles. Primarily to mot disrupt passengers too much. Break rooms can get overcrowded depending on how many agents that company has and how many break rooms they have.

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chalk_in_boots@reddit

Never worked airports, but speaking from spending too much time in retail, if someone recognises you as an employee, it doesn't matter if it's remotely your job, or if you're in your area (or even your store), someone will decide it is now absolutely your job to help them with whatever mundane problem they've encountered.

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Castun@reddit

Can't tell you how many times I've been asked questions when shopping at Home Depot because my orange hi-vis vest means I must bleed orange.

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4E4ME@reddit

Based. I was at an airport last year, dressed for work but I don't actually work at the airport. So many people came up to me to ask me for directions. I was like "well, I do know the answer and I don't have anything to do at the moment, so 🤷 " lol. I guess I just have that look about me.

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smarmageddon@reddit

This! So much this! Also, this OP comment feels (perhaps unintentionally) elitist in that low-wage workers would want/need a break or a rest, whether it be mandated or not.

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Bluishdoor76@reddit

Oh absolutely, I literally look like I work outside the terminal and not for the airline they just came with but people will still come up to me and ask where can they find their luggage or where's an information booth or what do they do if they missed their flight...

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caller-number-four@reddit

We're encouraged to not be in the terminals for too long

I volunteer as part of the canine crew at Charlotte and my pup and I love it when ramp crew come by. Y'all are fun to talk too!

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UandB@reddit

Hello fellow IAD badge holder

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Bluishdoor76@reddit

Ayyyy!!!!

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RecordEnvironmental4@reddit

I work ground crew, in my experience it’s always better to be outside because in the terminal you just have passengers coming up to you asking questions you don’t have answers to. A couple months ago I had a passenger come up to me complaining about how a TSA agent treated her, like why are you complaining to a guy in a high visibility vest who you just watched come up from the ramp, I have nothing to do with TSA.

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According_Swimmer427@reddit

You’d be surprised how many companies have no break rooms at airports 😂

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skyvector@reddit

Slave labor.

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Redfalconfox@reddit

Do they look like house employees to you? No, they’re outside employees

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Bluishdoor76@reddit

We're encouraged to not be in the terminals for too long but not prohibited at my workplace at Dulles. Primarily to mot disrupt passengers too much. Break rooms can get overcrowded depending on how many agents that company has and how many break rooms they have.

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CollectionExotic1498@reddit

The screen above them is on so theyre probably waiting for an aircraft to come into their stand.

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WhoKilledArmadillo@reddit

That was not the question was it?

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Dragonogard549@reddit

and the sleeping part?

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damnthatwtf@reddit

Quick nap after lunch hits different,

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Sleep_on_Fire@reddit

I am a prolific napper.

Nap with a fed belly? Perfect.

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CrankyGrumpyWombat@reddit

Quite normal for people to sleep sometimes i must add

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Philly514@reddit

four guys just got beheaded, thanks OP

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Exotic_Pay6994@reddit

This is why I always find hiding spots at my jobs so this kind of reasonable behaivier doesn't end up on the internet.

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Ok_Ordinary_7568@reddit

I work at this airport. About 75% of the ground floor is dedicated to baggage claim and ground service personnel, while the remaining 25% is used by line maintenance, security, customs, etc.

That said, I don’t think anywhere in the world would allow you to sleep right outside your supervisor’s or manager’s office—so if someone wanted to do that, they’d have to find a place elsewhere. Like this in the picture.

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Kaslorin@reddit

Reminds me of working at a factory, looks like a premium chill spot away from the boss is prying eyes .

If I were them I'd actually slightly boo you for exposing the hiding spot ( 😂 now I remember the odd times the boss would stomp through typical hiding spots to check on people who weren't working/resting for too long)

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White0ut@reddit

Man their are a lot of stupid people in this world, and I'm sorry OP, but you are one of them.

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mustardlydoom@reddit

Very normal, especially on really hot days! haha

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LookinRealSaucy@reddit

These are TCNs working slave wages. Laying down in the shade without being yelled at is a blessing.

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westbrodie@reddit

Stop snitching

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1nVrWallz@reddit

First time in the middle east or Africa? When its hot enough to make the devil cry people usually seek shade

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Significant_Ad2045@reddit

If the photo is recent the weather is definitely not an issue, today riyadh got a ton of rain, and jeddah is probably pretty cool rn

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Sulticune@reddit

"Hot enough to make the devil cry" hahaha

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DanDaMan97x@reddit

Uncommon but totally solid choice if you're waiting for your next inbound

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axlqhs@reddit

Just workers resting in the shade no wonder why they do this it’s like an oven in Jeddah

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Reasonable_Host6199@reddit

Siesta? It’s pretty brutal heat -wise there. They need a break, & hopefully plenty of water.

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HeshaMagdi@reddit

It is a normal nap, those gentlemen work under the sun and extreme heat for many hours that they can even sleep on nails if it is the option available.

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Apprehensive-Mud6157@reddit

Hiding from incoming missiles

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TumbleWeed75@reddit

Chilling on breaks is normal.

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WhiskeyMikeMike@reddit

Just another spot in the office to them

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Rainbow__Mountain@reddit

I lived in Japan for a couple of years and those guys know how to nap and will do it all over. It’s normal to take naps wherever you are in lots of places

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Aquur@reddit

Ramp naps just hit different after loading a flight, lying down in the shade with the wind blowing and the sound of a plane taxiing far away.

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tdgarui@reddit

Damn almost want to apply just to experience that nap

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plife23@reddit

10/10 you’ve never napped better

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sm3xym3xican@reddit

It’s pretty top tier

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MergenKurt@reddit

You may regret after loading one aircraft :)

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knewbie_one@reddit

Just manually load a large plane in warm weather with jet fuel fumes before going to bed, works everytime for me (source : was a baggage handler in my younger days during summer to pay for the remainder of the year)

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PozhanPop@reddit

This happened.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/airport-worker-takes-nap-in-cargo-hold-wakes-up-as-la-bound-flight-departs/

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jimirs@reddit

They'll need some turbofans ASMR to sleep when retiring...

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AutistiPyry@reddit

Sounds similiar to the naps I had in the military. Lie down under a tree in the summer and just take a nap while waiting for the next orders.

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ChestyTugger@reddit

Never a better nap. Until somebody abruptly tells you to wake the fuck up.

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woodsy900@reddit

-tries to grab rifle - FUCK YOU SARGE -KICKS SHINS-

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Atankir@reddit

I need an asmr of this to sleep on lol

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callsignmario@reddit

Can confirm... have slept under an aircraft for the shade while software engineers were working on their systems. Manuals, inlet plugs, etc. all fair game for a pillow.

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fdokinawa@reddit

Had to go to our city office here (Japan) a couple months ago, it was around lunch time and half the workers were asleep at their desks. I could never get the balls to do that, even if it was "acceptable".

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Positive_Living_4025@reddit

The Japanese really took their naps seriously too.

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dvlrnr@reddit

https://youtu.be/Yv6shy_9KVM

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velosnow@reddit

Salarymen feel seen.

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Affectionate_Ice2243@reddit

In Australia, your face is upside down due to gravity

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GreenBush_WOOKIE@reddit

It’s also Jeddah can’t imagine they are very busy right now

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Special-Source-267@reddit

They are super busy actually. A lot of airlines reduced operations in Riyadh/Damman so people are using Jeddah to leave.

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Realistic_Line_7971@reddit

Also while outside no work can be assigned to you.

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FlyingKamaro@reddit

When I worked the ramp I spent 80% of the day trying to not get bored, and 20% loading/unloading

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PozhanPop@reddit

Extremely normal. With a water bottle at their side.

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lukemia94@reddit

As someone who spends a lot of time on construction sites, the difference between what is and what is not seen as acceptable behavior during down time varies wildly across nationalities.

Main example is sitting. Most Americans in white color positions (engineer/Inspector) will never sit down outside on a Jobsite they are visiting, if you need to sit go to the office or your company vehicle, while all my middle eastern inspector friends will happily pop a squat wherever.

That and personal space meaning VERY different things to different cultures. America needs to bring back 4" of separation whilst talking as normal XD

That said lying down like this would get you a warning at my job, even during down time :(

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PozhanPop@reddit

I've worked in gulf countries so when it gets super hot they are not allowed to work certain hours when the sun is at is peak. Most of them retire to a shady area with a bottle of water which is supplied in plenty in good job sites. But again I've seem large temperature displays on top of buildings that never go over a certain temp so that work does not stop.

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_litz@reddit

Better there than waking up halfway to another continent

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uncle_Trill@reddit

Get off their dick

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Frooske@reddit

We used to nap in random places like that when i was doing military service and trust me it's the comfiest.

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imverynewtothisthing@reddit

They are vigilantly watching for unidentified flying objects

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deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

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[-]

Long_Membership1401@reddit

Same as having a break at university and you are looking for a quiet and secret place to lay at

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wordsmith7@reddit

There needs to be a 'sleeping policemen' joke somewhere here...

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Equivalent-Age8846@reddit

I worked for an aviation company a very well known one. The problem here is people are treated as just a staff number. These ppl will have shifts and minimum in numbers and work so hard in the heat. You know when we were taking naps in the locker rooms during our break times , they put security personnel in the locker rooms and started snatching our ids , ppl who slept were presented with warning letters. Mf’s i was angry i still have that circulars with me and i want to post it. This is just one example i have a lot of such proofs. And it is common in middle easts lot of places ppl find shade to just sit down or sleep , they do not care about the temperature . Somebody said they get used to the temp , no they don’t they ignore the heat for few moments of rest.

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CompleteSavings6307@reddit

If you ever need to find a worker on their break, find the spot with the most readily available shade. 😊

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woodsy900@reddit

Why stand when you can sit, why sit when you can lay down, why only lay down when you can nap

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Vertigo_uk123@reddit

Best naps as ex maintenance are on the wings in British summer. Nice and cool below from the fuel warming sun from above. Nacelle naps are comfy too.

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Myuvrican_2019@reddit

Well i'm not surprised because everyone did this to if they didn't have any work to do

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Signal_Rutabaga6180@reddit

the heat 🔥

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Agitated_Sandwich_49@reddit

As a person who lived there for quite a while, it appears to me as foreign workers from certain nationalities who typically fill these kind of positions there. And they’re suffering from bad job conditions with no consideration of extreme heat sometimes over 57 celsius and getting payed under the minimum wage which doesn’t even exist. So I think it’s normal not to be normal in such a not normal at all situation.

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latedescent@reddit

Lmao you should see a UPS ramp at 3am

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Derpin357@reddit

Hell, I remember some of my guys bringing actual pillow and blankets to sleep on the tables in the break room, it was so quiet and boring waiting for planes to arrive.

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Derpin357@reddit

You gotta understand that a lot of what we ground crew guys do is hurry up and wait. There has been many times I've slept on a tug, waiting for planes to come or for my supe to come up and tell me to do something.

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__bee_07@reddit

Why are you questioning it?. This is pretty normal.

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phil_style@reddit

Do not do this without a particulate mask on. Flightline air quality is abysmal.

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Imaginary_Grade_1716@reddit

Yeah

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hitty710@reddit

F you let them folks rest.

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A_storia@reddit

Did a stint at Jeddah airport for a month and my pale skin was looking for shade the moment we stepped outside on the ramp. Underwing, if there were no aircraft steps or jetty at door 1

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DiverDownChunder@reddit

If they are on break its fine imo.

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tabspaces@reddit

Top tier nap, but this looks like russian roulette if they ever overslept and the Jeddah sun of +50deg blast them off

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realasdfhero@reddit

they work hard, let them rest

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Jacob2891@reddit

It's their peaceful nap spot don't expose them like this , they'll be taken for a ride if any of their superior sees this. Remove it now.

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Downtown_Captain_135@reddit

Outside temp, very high ...

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shittyfoureyes@reddit

You know what snitches get

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FistMyPeenHole@reddit

Bitches?

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madlyhattering@reddit

So close

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Coding-Freakist@reddit

yet so far

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MagnetHype@reddit

Fishes?

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Pretty_Aside_7674@reddit

Dishes bro trust

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Spiritual_Feed_4371@reddit

Wow reddit is rough... take an upvote my friend

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FistMyPeenHole@reddit

It's all good. I downvoted myself for this comment 🤙🏼

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yzerman88@reddit

Kisses

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Long-Lettuce3146@reddit

Why did I read this in Mike Tyson's voice

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grain_farmer@reddit

We are not French

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Scott2G@reddit

If that were the case I'd do much more snitchin

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ThrownAway17Years@reddit

A promotion to lieutenant of detectives.

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WankaBanka9@reddit

Food vouchers

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Jor6lez@reddit

I use to nap outside at Nice airport when I was a ramp dispatcher.

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OntarioBanderas@reddit

delete this, nephew

we do not stich

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Gasping_Cadaver@reddit

He's sew wrong for posting this

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ArctycDev@reddit

he should delete this thread

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jello_sweaters@reddit

It's a pretty thimble request.

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MalleDigga@reddit

color me surprised

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CHAT_OPT@reddit

Seamstressful

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lujimerton@reddit

Not something I ever saw, also not something I wouldn’t have cared about. Might have joined them after shutting down though if they didn’t mind. Looks breezy.

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TH3_COMMANDO@reddit

Lots of downtime as a rampy.

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ko51bay@reddit

Yes, people taking a break is normal!

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angelHOE@reddit

Stop snitching.

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Pedrosian96@reddit

Sorry. That was mr. 47. They were in the way. But relax, he's going for a No Casualties score, those folks will return to their senses soon.

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hamuutpls@reddit

Looks like a vibe

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Duct_TapeOrWD40@reddit

Many fields of opertaions and maintanance have dead times (between schedued events like flights). I worked on the telecommunication industry where my boss said:

"I don't care if you take nap if you prepared everything, and wait for the schedule".

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CartographerOk3922@reddit

Americans when they see someone not being productive for 5 seconds

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heynavt1@reddit

You have no idea. Very normal for that part of the world.

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0xSnib@reddit

Airports

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Purp1eMagpie@reddit

What a weird post. Why wouldn't it be normal?

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liquidio@reddit

Yes, as others have said, it can be crazy hot, so napping in the shade and breeze is much more normal and culturally acceptable.

This is particularly the case in Ramadan when people may be fatigued and dehydrated during the day.

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Realistic_Line_7971@reddit

While outside no work can be assigned to you. Also, airports have peaks where a lot of flight handling happens and dips where there is almost nothing to do, especially at smaller airports.

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BoyFromSpace_@reddit

"if you have time to lean you have time to clean" McDonald's CEO Ray Kroc

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Icy_Huckleberry_8049@reddit

YES, normal to be taking breaks between flights.

It happens at every airport

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nuke740824@reddit

I saw this picture and thought "GSX is acting weirdly again".
It took me some time to confrm that we are not in r/flightsim

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alex1b@reddit

Better than these chillers at Mumbai intl. 😂

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John_Bloodborne99@reddit

WOW WORKERS ARE RESTING??? WHAT!!!???

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redditscraperbot2@reddit

I'm conflicted. Well not really, but I don't think it's cool to post people who clearly need a break like this along with the name of the airport.

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specialsymbol@reddit

This is normalny behaviour. I used to sleep on the baggage carts with the rain cover tied down. Was very comfortable and you didn't have to sleep on the ground.

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Sandro_24@reddit

"Hey, we got 20min until the next flight comes, let's sit in the shade"... "What if we lay down?"

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calum326@reddit

Reacher: "sleep when you can"

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Inspi@reddit

Not weird. Used to work with Cruise Ships. Once fell asleep standing up leaning on a bollard at a dry dock facility, woke up when it was time to walk across the no-handrail temp gangway that was just a few 2x4s over to the ship.

Later that day it was a race to find a good spot on the top deck to sleep since the A/C was off during maintenance, it was the Bahamas, and it was Hot AF inside. Fell asleep again slumped over at the poolside bar, with no alcohol, since it was closed.

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thitmeo@reddit

In Saigon I've seen them crashed out in the shade of remotely parked aircraft, with their bicycles parked next to 'em. Get some rest when you can, out of the sun.

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springboks@reddit

Hey I've slept on luggage racks in terminal 3 arrivals at Heathrow. Beats going home when you have a double shift.

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dvd102k@reddit

The jet engines aren't a bother it's white noise, I once fell asleep in a herky with it's APU for an hour

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CaptainChris1990@reddit

I see people kickin it all the time in the cargo bins when I’m doing my walkarounds. Can’t blame them, they work in -10 during the winter and 90 in the summer. Pretty brutal, under appreciated work

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TbonerT@reddit

It’s normal to be surprised by things in a different country.

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Extension-Figure2011@reddit

Clearly OP has never put in a hards day work in the Sun. That's OK, congratulations, I hope you never know the feeling. This is a very common sight in most of the world. Laying down on concrete shaded ground is a great relief from the Sun and hot concrete.

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Castun@reddit

I'd be afraid to take an actual nap even if I'm clocked out for lunch because I don't know if I would wake up rather than sleep for hours and not clock back in...if I'm tired enough to actually fall asleep I wouldn't remember to set a timer on my phone.

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xosnxo@reddit

Why is everyone taking this so defensively??

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bennyboy_@reddit

Right? What the fuck are these comments. There's are hot sunny places in the states and this doesn't happen. Fucking Redditors.

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iswhyouhavenofriends@reddit

OP wasn't criticizing. They were wondering why they can't go inside

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tapacx@reddit

Still plays in to the point of the comment

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simp_sighted@reddit

Only thing that would make it better is a nice patch of grass to lay on.

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Winter_One7968@reddit

Fellow ramper, completely normal to take naps and chill. At my specific airport we’re not allowed to sit or lay down on the ground but anywhere else is okay.

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NoSklsRabdWhor@reddit

Normal. And well deserved. Good rampers will slay a flight or multiple flights at a very high level of physical intensity. All the respect to them and they deserve (and need) all the rest they can get.

Or this is just a bunch of slackers, but ya gotta give them the benefit of the doubt.

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soapsuds202@reddit

deadass delete this post. saudi at noon is hot, the streets empty out

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AirForceJuan01@reddit

Low blow. Let the people rest. They can be on an actual break. There are too many bosses in this world that would try to get them to work even on a break.

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CheapSoldier@reddit

Careful now, hopefully no firey stuff nearby otherwise u will be jailed

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EpiphyticOrchid8927@reddit

Just some dudes catching up on some rest.

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call_me_caleb@reddit

I don’t work in aviation but love this sub. This is normal worker nap time.

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call_me_caleb@reddit

Also napping in the best conditions you work in is way better. Don’t go into AC and try to nap if you’re working in the sun

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bdiamond143@reddit

They are taking a break, let them be. I have seen it here in the US too

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deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

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aviation-ModTeam@reddit

This content was removed for breaking the r/aviation rules.

This subreddit is dedicated to aviation and the discussion of aviation, not politics and religion. For discussion of these subjects, please choose a more appropriate subreddit.

If you believe this was a mistake, please message the moderators through modmail. Thank you for participating in the r/aviation community.

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Dragon12Wolf@reddit

me and the bois at the airport

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UltraFungusmane@reddit

Out of sight, out of mind.

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ModeatelyIndependant@reddit

In Japan napping at the during your downtime is seen as a sign of hard working.

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Kauffman67@reddit

You’ve never seen a nap before?

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Flashy_Worldliness98@reddit

Let them rest. Delete this. Quit taking photos of people resting, don’t be a creep.

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RobotPhoto@reddit

way to be a snitch op.

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multic94@reddit

When you arent a corpo bootlicker that can only see dollar signs, yes this is completely normal.

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crashbandit556@reddit

Are breaks not a thing where you're from?

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LowEmergencyCaptain@reddit

Yes nothing to freak out over.

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JusSayING_Mi@reddit

Lunch time time to nap

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clovertime766@reddit

Sleeping without top hat and monocle is unacceptable

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Specialist-Yak7209@reddit

Delete this, you even specified the airport

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Spenny_All_The_Way@reddit

Four rampers taking a break in the shade. Very normal

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royonquadra@reddit

Safety meeting

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Dont_Care_Meh@reddit

Lolol, absolutely normal. I worked the flight line, and there is an art to not being seen. If your jet is up there and off doing pilot stuff, then your work and problems are up there with them. Relax. For sure as rain, the jet is going to come back home broken as hell, so enjoy the downtime while you can. I'm sure these guys will have work for them arrive momentarily.

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seanakachuck@reddit

used to make wind breaks from ammo cans on the flightline after doing uploads 😅

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seanakachuck@reddit

worked flightline for nearly a decade, sleeping under the plane, on the plane, in the hell hole, up on the cargo ramp, behind a reventment anywhere comfy away from pro sups' eyes is a suitable napping spot, especially when its this kind of work just catching and releasing birds all day

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oklifer@reddit

Tarmac heat

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littlebitafraid@reddit

If they get in trouble because of this, youre a dick.

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jello_sweaters@reddit

Looks like Jeddah tops out at 38C / 100F this week, so yeah, if the next ramp move isn't for half an hour, nap in the shade isn't shocking.

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_Baphomet_@reddit

Bro, the Jedi just needed some rest. Saving the galaxy and whatnot.

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belashe@reddit

Normal - I slept with the nose wheel of an F-15 as a pillow. Worked great.

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BagAway2723@reddit

It’s a sad reality. Many workers are from underdeveloped countries(like Nepal) and they work 12 hour shifts in a hot and humid environment for terrible pay, and often coerced into working. I was walking through Singapore the other day and saw 15 or so workers who looked quite exhausted, napping in the shade under a bridge during their lunch break. Heartbreaking to even imagine

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CoffeeFox@reddit

I have seen napping ramp workers in the US, too.

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Brekiniho@reddit

Used to work at JED 2014-2016 and this is actually the correct answer.

Mostly indians and bangladeshi guys kinda lived at the airport.

They used to gather at the bottom of the stairs on arriving flights at the hajj terminal and when the crew was gone they rushed up to get what ever was left of the catering.

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Bluishdoor76@reddit

There's nothing sad about this man, it's just brothers having some downtime between flights an using it to rest. I work at dulles and very often you'll see ramp agents just taking a quick nap on their open trolly carts or just eating their launch near the jet bridge base. The ramp is our work place and a lot of the time the break rooms can either be overcrowded, or be just as uncomfortable as outside. I a lot of the time eat my lunch in my van and or take a quick nap in the driver seat of my van while waiting between banks.

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Professional_Eye1857@reddit

its disgustingly unprofessional. Seems demeaning for the people doing it; having to lie down like dogs on the ground during their break (in full view of public).

But yes, explain it away man

"they just need naps because they get plenty of breaks too! Not slaves!!"

"Sometimes I eat in my car! See? Totally the same thing!!"

disgusting people tbh.

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RandomObserver13@reddit

There are some people out there who have never had a blister or splinter or bloody knuckle or jammed finger in their lives. God bless ‘em, but they usually are not fun people.

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Several_Hospital_129@reddit

I worked the ramp at DEN. It was too much hassle to go all the way up to the employee lounge in the airport. I can remember resting and eating right there in the luggage 🧳 loading area.

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BagAway2723@reddit

I think what makes this specific situation sad to me isn't the nap itself, but the lack of worker rights. Workers in the US have labor protections, they might have harsh conditions or low pay but they can quit. Whereas migrant workers in these regions are often trapped in harsh labor systems for pennies/ against their will. It’s the context behind the photo that hits hard for me.

If you're curious, here is a bit more context :

https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/08/08/gulf-states-inadequate-heat-protection-putting-workers-peril

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/11/saudi-arabia-migrant-workers-behind-the-riyadh-metro-system-subjected-to-decade-of-devastating-abuse/

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RandomObserver13@reddit

Yikes. I guess it’s hard for folks who’ve had pampered lives to understand, but most people can work in heat and humidity just fine. I’ve spent plenty of days in S’pore-like conditions working my butt off. It’s not exactly fun but a paycheck is a paycheck. Good for you if you’ve spent your whole life in an office chair, I guess. If you find it that heartbreaking I’ll give you my address and you can send me a check, lol.

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Jober36@reddit

Yeah this dude had me laughing my ass off "heartbreag" like for real? My guy im a GSE mechanic and have taken more naps than I can count under a tug just like them. Its freaking life you dont have to he dramatic about it

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Extension-Figure2011@reddit

This is very common in developed countries also

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Expensive_Pattern528@reddit

That's what slavery does to you

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CoffeeFox@reddit

Hell I saw someone sleeping in the cargo bay of the Delta plane next to mine at SEATAC

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sephkarlo@reddit

As a ground handling staff member, I wish I could do this here in Japan haha.

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Pineapple_Success_33@reddit

You thought you had to get to the airport early?

They got there at 4:30am.

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Viechiru@reddit

We do this all night in line maintenance, we wait for ac, pick a nice spot and zzz

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KeynoteBS@reddit

Yes, underneath all the glamor and glitz, its migrant laborers whose passports have been locked away and are not allowed to bring their families and only allowed to see them once per year, approved by a very strict chain of order.

This is how it is in most nearly (all?) countries in that region. And the laborers all live in dormitories or shared apartments where they're required to (can't just go and rent your own place or you're forbidden from owning property. You also have to use the company car, but if you're blue collar, its a company bus you have to get on). So there's no break rooms, and they're going to nap where they can.

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