Two New Lounges for Amex Platinum and New Doors Mean Even Less Room in American’s Lavs

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Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. Unsurprisingly, you failed to mention that the bi-fold door on the MAX lav only results in “less room” in the lav when getting into it: you get the exact same room once you close the door! Realistically, this is only an issue for persons of size (not sure the exact measurements, but you’re certainly talking 300 lbs plus). Which is why AA is also keeping the OTHER lav door exactly the same (swings out). The reason for the change is so that the two doors don’t hit each other and block aisle access. Seems like a sensible solution. But probably not those who like to demagogue this trivial matter.

  2. And Chopsticks must work for AA, since the rest of us totally understand that these absurd tiny lavs can’t afford *any* less space. I mean really, do we need to explain this for you?!? It isn’t rocket science.

  3. Re American’s reliability focus, FlightGlobal.com reports that Delta was the most on-time airline in 2018. For the tenth year running. American has some work ahead of it!

  4. AGAIN. . .Southwest, Alaska, United. . .use the same lav. layout, not just AA. Also DL has equally small lavs on their new A321 and refurbished A320/A319s. I understand you don’t like Parker, but report fairly, that this is an industry trend which was started by DL 3 years ago on their A319s and Boeing and Airbus continue to support the shrinking restrooms.

  5. Enough about the lavs, Gary.

    Other airlines use the same lavs. The change in doors doesn’t actually result in less functional space when using the lav – unless you are in the habit of using the facility with the door open.

    “Thought leadership”

  6. @Bob sorry but when you’re standing inside the lav and opening the door inward that’s less space. What I wrote is accurate. As for other airlines offering the same lav — Southwest has it in their 737 MAXs but isn’t retrofitting their entire fleet with ’em… Plus Southwest offers more room in their actual seats.

  7. Gary — Your response to Bob isn’t exactly compelling. First you change the definition of what “room” is, you then make a tangential comment about WN’s fleet that avoids the central fact that ALL airlines are rapidly deploying these exact same lavs, and then you finish with a non sequitur about WN’s legroom. If this is “thought leadership,” I’d hate to see the alternative. As the adage goes, when you complain about everything, nobody listens when you have a legitimate concern.

  8. @chopsticks I have written extensively about my view of how these lavatories fit into overall passenger experience, and how American is making them part of a package of overall reductions in passenger comfort across their full domestic fleet which is why you cannot say simply “other airlines have the same lavatory so they’re just as bad” when they aren’t.

  9. Regarding the smaller use of the lavs then need smaller people using them NOT fatter Americans. Why is this just a problem on USA planes and not on Asian, Oceanic or European planes ? Because the average american is overweight on a BMI scale. I am talking FAT not big boned. If a guy can not see his feet looking down then lose the gut.

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