Passenger rest compartments may be incorporated into remote areas of an aircraft, either in the overhead crown region or in lower lobe cargo decks. Each passenger rest compartment includes two-way audio communication with the flight deck and non-intrusive non-visual monitoring of the compartments and surrounding environment to determine passenger presence, absence, and general well-being as well as environmental safety. Rest compartments may be integrated into rest cabins in the overhead or lower lobe areas, the rest cabins accessible from the main passenger cabin via an entry vestibule providing dedicated enclosed paths to the overhead and lower cabins. Additional deployable egress hatches may allow passengers to rapidly return to the main deck from the overhead and lower lobe cabins in the event of an emergency. Selected passenger seats (e.g., partitioned or other premium seats) may include private access to passenger rest compartments.