Nick Gray, whose commentary I often much like, suggests that the reason passengers are told to use the lavatory in their ticketed cabin is to (1) reduce work for flight attendants, and (2) convince you to buy up to the more expensive cabin. This does not make sense.
I guess now is a good time to tell you my conspiracy theory about First Class bathrooms on airlines and why they are a scam
The forward bathrooms on commercial aircraft were never designed to only be used by first class passengers
They are actually a scam by the unionized… pic.twitter.com/C7GjpUNOLi
— Nick Gray / How to Make Friends (@nickgraynews) October 6, 2024
First, it’s not even the rule across the board. Second, it doesn’t actually reduce flight attendant workload in any meaningful way (it’s not as though flight attendants are cleaning the lav between uses on U.S. carriers). And third, for the most part those forward lavs on domestic widebodies aren’t sufficiently better to warrant a buy up.
If you want to search for an explanation, then there’s some exclusivity element and some (stretched) security element. Mostly, like the American flight attendants who created a makeshift barrier to keep passengers out of the back galley recently, cabin crew make up their own rules in the air and there’s little oversight or enforcement.
Now, which lavatory should you be allowed to use on your flight? If you’re a coach passenger, can you use the bathroom up front in first class? What if a flight attendant’s drink cart is blocking the aisle and you can’t make your way to the back and you really have to go? In general the correct approach ought to be,
- Passengers should use the lavatory in their ticketed cabin first
- First class passengers should have priority for the forward lavatory
- However during drink service on a single aisle aircraft passengers blocked from walking back to the lavatory should be able to use the closest lav.
- And in an emergency you use whatever is available.
American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX Lavatory
American Airlines does not have a policy against coach passengers using the first class lavatory for domestic flights, or for flights departing the U.S. of course in the moment ignoring crewmember instructions not to leave your ticketed cabin isn’t likely to end well even when that order is contrary to company policy.
Other airlines – and jurisdictions – treat the matter differently! For instance a coach passenger was arrested for using a business class lavatory on a Vienna – Abu Dhabi flight.
Then again, on some foreign carriers there’s actually a reason to try to use the lav up front! Like Qatar Airways on their Airbus A380:
And the Emirates spa shower in their Airbus A380 first class lavs:
But domestic airlines flying domestically? When you gotta go, you gotta go.
And there’s planes like SAS’s A330s, where on transatl flights reserve the forward biz lav for themselves and the pilots.
“Makeshift barriers” are not a problem .
“Miniskirt barrier” would be a problem .
This is a rule that was in place at certain airlines from international destinations back to the states. The PA was “please use the lavatory in your ticketed cabin.” For most airlines that is no longer a requirement, but most F/A’s simply don’t read their manuals, or impose their personal rules. Can’t get in the way of their Candy Crush game.
Gotta go? Go to jail, do not collect $200 or a free drink coupon. Jail? For peeing? Geez !!!
If I “have to go”, I will use whatever restroom is available.
Please ignore all the rules when it comes to the bathroom. Go when you have to, to any one and at any time. It’s far worse for everyone involved when a person goes in their seats or in the aisle because of an ignorant FA.
Alaska Airlines said on a recent flight to use the lav in the cabin in which you are seated, but if the cart is blocking the aisle, you can use the forward lav…if it’s occupied, you just need to wait by “row 6” (behind the last row of first class) until it’s available. Because…you know, that rule about “no line may form at the forward lav” for security reasons. I’m glad they make this exception now, since all of the other lavs are in the back of the plane. One time I tried to go back there from my seat a few rows behind First, not realizing the cart was in the way as I couldn’t see it from my seat. I ended up standing in the aisle for several minutes before I could head on back to the lav. The flight attendants hadn’t mentioned being able to use the forward lav on that flight, or I would have tried going there. I think maybe they decided to change things because too many passengers were standing a long time in the aisle, which could be dangerous if the plane encounters turbulence. I’m not sure, though…just my guess.
So if I *need* to go in Six Decks to Darwin* cattle class and can’t get to the facility, and can’t use 1C, is it okay to use a Feminine Urinary Director?
*Six Decks to Darwin – song about live cattle hauling.