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Home » United Airlines » Entitled United Airlines 1K Member Has “Meltdown” When Economy Class Passenger Tries To Use First Class Lavatory
United Airlines

Entitled United Airlines 1K Member Has “Meltdown” When Economy Class Passenger Tries To Use First Class Lavatory

Matthew Klint Posted onOctober 21, 2024October 21, 2024 51 Comments

a group of people on an airplane

There’s a lot of entitlement in this world, but there is a unique entitlement exercised by some frequent flyers who are loyal to one airline. A United Airlines 1K member had an “absolute meltdown” when he noticed an economy class flyer coming forward to use the first class lavatory. That’s pathetic enough in any circumstance, but particularly pathetic under the specific circumstances of the flight.

United 1K Loses It When Economy Class Passenger Tries To Use First Class Lavatory

The raconteur is again 757FO, now a captain, who flies the Boeing 757 and 767 for United Airlines and is a contributor on FlyerTalk. He tells of a recent incident onboard one of his flights:

Deadheading to work and had the displeasure of watching a 1K member have an absolute meltdown when a passenger from row 10 dared to use the first-class lavatory. The drink cart was out in the main cabin, and this poor soul in need of the bathroom came up from the back.

OMG, this idiot 1K Member went bonkers, and told the woman the upfront bathroom was exclusive to first class only, and she should wait until the bathroom in her cabin class was available. Unfortunately, me in uniform and desperately trying to not get involved while I enjoy the latest episode of Tulsa Kings gets sucked into the mele, when Mr. 1K tells me to remind the offending passenger she is not allowed up here.

I explain to Mr. 1K that when you gotta go, you gotta go, and this particular passenger could not reach the rear lavatory due to the aisle being blocked. This logic was unacceptable to him, and I politely told him that while the airline appreciates his business, the aircraft was owned by United Airlines, and not him.

I felt sooo bad for the passenger in Row 10. She looked like a deer in headlights.

Some days, I envy my friends flying boxes at FEDEX….

You really have to wonder what would possess a passenger to butt into a situation like this.

Actually, I know the type. They think the flight attendants are not doing their job by policing the cabin and protecting the lavatories so they take it upon themselves to do it. He would have also barked if the first class cabin had an economy class passenger placed her bag in the overhead bin in first class, even if first class had already fully boarded.

The key fact here is that the economy class lavatories were blocked by the bevreage cart. United does not have a rule (any longer) that specifies you must use the lavatory in the cabin in which you are seated. That used to be the case, but United loosened that rule years ago for exactly these types of situations.

I understand that part of paying extra for first class is having access to an exclusive lavatory. But as the pilot mentioned, when you gotta go, you gotta go…

And I see this as nothing more than pathetic entitlement by a passenger who should have minded his own business.

Do you agree? What if the beverage cart had not been blocking the aisle?

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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51 Comments

  1. Chi Hsuan Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 11:09 am

    Maybe the 1K was about to take a massive dump when the woman from row 10 cut him off? Did you ever think of that Mr. Judgement?

    • Deacon Reply
      October 21, 2024 at 2:41 pm

      Maybe the woman had to take a massive dump or change her menstrual pads. Ever think of that Mr small boi judge mental?

      • Chi Hsuan Reply
        October 22, 2024 at 12:17 pm

        You can eat my next massive dump

  2. D.A. Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 11:22 am

    The entitled 1K’r probably got his status from his employer paying for all his tickets….

    Maybe the woman also couldn’t physically fit in the Max’s aft lav?

  3. Jason Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 11:30 am

    Honestly, if you’re going to insist on posting clickbait that really means nothing, the least you could do is a quick proofread to ensure that there are no spelling errors or other grammatical issues. Meltodwn is not a word, and there are a few other things that are just sloppy.

    • Brad Reply
      October 21, 2024 at 11:52 am

      Every article has that an annoying Jason that can’t resist.

    • Joshua-James Pentz, III Reply
      October 21, 2024 at 7:39 pm

      …touché!
      (seasoned thirty-five year Manhattan corporate travel agency owner).

    • Steven Reply
      October 22, 2024 at 1:14 pm

      You must fly first class all the time. The bathroom in first class is the same size as economy. It doesn’t matter who speaks gooder English. Stop being so picky try to enjoy life and be humble. The next time you hear or see broken English instead of berading the offender just keep it to yourself and think how unfortunate they are and you are blessed that you speak English well.

      • John Reply
        October 23, 2024 at 5:10 am

        Not on Qatar A380. The first class bathrooms are HUGE! So maybe they’re the same on some crappy USA airline, but not all airlines are hideous as that.

  4. JoeMart Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 12:24 pm

    I’ve lost the count on how many times individuals in a hospital complain to the health care team about bland food,non smiling personnel,room temperature,slow insurance company approval,bed linens quality and not being serviced within seconds of pressing the call light. Unless you work in a legally constrained environment you don’t know the pressures and limitations.

    • Alert Reply
      October 21, 2024 at 5:13 pm

      @Joe … Depends on the hospital’s quality and staff quality . I’ve never had any problems at my two quality hospitals .

      I am so extremely grateful for their good care , I would likely forgive any lapses . When I went in most recently for same day emergency surgery , and the emergency room male nurse couldn’t find a suitable vein for an IV , I told him to “just stick it in my brain” . The funny part was he actually first looked at my head .

      • Maryland Reply
        October 21, 2024 at 6:47 pm

        Apply a self heating pad to the area a vein is required well in advance of the IV. I’ve had enough I can do it myself because it has been necessary.

        • Alert Reply
          October 21, 2024 at 9:08 pm

          Thank you very much . I shall try it . Cordially .

          • Maryland
            October 21, 2024 at 9:12 pm

            Anymore IV tips, And I have plenty, please let me know

  5. Maryland Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 12:54 pm

    When you must use the lavatory, and the aisle is blocked, best to ignore the drama and continue on. Nothing to be gained, or explained to someone focused on being a bathroom monitor.

  6. Santastico Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 1:02 pm

    Ok, I get that the passenger was an ass. But I also understand that many times FAs make a very specific announcement that first class lavatories are for first class passengers only but passengers don’t care and FAs don’t enforce it. Thus, maybe better to not say anything and make it free for all. Why make a rule and announce it if it won’t be enforced?

    • Alert Reply
      October 21, 2024 at 5:02 pm

      @Santastico … If one is traveling from India or Mexico , one will likely need a quick run to the nearest lav , wherever it is .

      Best to stay out of the way .

  7. Cbono Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 2:05 pm

    I am Global service and I find that terrible to be entitled to tell anyone what to do. I think that may be the time for the 1k to stop traveling and pause and act themselves what’s important in life : decency / education or being a total loser for a status.

    • Alert Reply
      October 21, 2024 at 5:04 pm

      @Cbono … +1 . Basically , none of the 1K’s business .

  8. walter Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 2:09 pm

    Airlines should put the lavs between the cabins
    so steerage doesn’t have to walk through first.
    One up front, two in the middle, two in back

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      October 21, 2024 at 2:21 pm

      Thankfully, most new aircraft have this, but the entire Airbus A320 fleet does not have this.

      • Alert Reply
        October 21, 2024 at 5:03 pm

        747s had them .

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          October 21, 2024 at 5:37 pm

          I was speaking about United, which no longer has 747s in fleet.

          There were many 747 LOPAs with different lavatory configurations.

          • Alert
            October 21, 2024 at 5:56 pm

            Air Force One ?

  9. Cam Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 2:10 pm

    Hope Mr 1k urinates in his pants, wet farts in his pants and has mad fast runny stool while flying 1st/business during moderate turbulence. Some people are horrible.

  10. MatttyM Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 2:50 pm

    Urine trouble if you don’t want doodee free!

  11. Michael Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 4:25 pm

    Just curious how the pilot new he was a 1k?

    • Dave W. Reply
      October 21, 2024 at 7:11 pm

      It’s like the joke “how do you know when a coworker buys the newest iPhone: “they’ll tell you.” I suspect this was part of the rant: “well I’m 1K and I never …”

    • Paul Reply
      October 21, 2024 at 7:21 pm

      I thought the same thing. Perhaps the pilot heard the FA thank the 1k for his loyalty…since it didn’t sound like the 1k was screaming about being a “1k.” Personally, I don’t care what lav someone uses since when we gotta go, we gotta go. But the way the pilot wrote this, it feels like he does not care for 1ks in general…since he chose to identify the FC jerk by his status versus another way…i.e. “Mr. Jerk.”

    • Don Reply
      October 22, 2024 at 2:39 am

      The 1k status shows up in the apps on the pilots device.

      • Matthew Klint Reply
        October 22, 2024 at 3:38 am

        *bingo*

  12. Robb Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 8:02 pm

    United just doesn’t care if economy passengers use the FC lavatory at all. I have been in FC many times and had to wait 10-15 minutes for the economy passengers to use the lavatory ahead of me. Isn’t that what I am paying extra for? So I don’t have to wait a super long time to use a lavatory? The 1K was probably just fed up with this practice. And I don’t blame him.

  13. Maryland Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 8:39 pm

    So sorry you’ve had to wait. Perhaps you can ask for maybe $20 for compensation? I’m sure your grudgeful self needs it. All love Maryland

  14. DFW_Scott Reply
    October 21, 2024 at 10:30 pm

    SLC AMS….Our Delta flight had front cabin blocked off from coach andcould not even walk back into coach.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      October 21, 2024 at 10:33 pm

      With what? Just the curtain or the rope too?

  15. Goforride Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 9:40 am

    That’s right. He is entitled. When one does whatever it is that the airline requires to be in first class, one of the things that one is entitled to is a dedicated and exclusive lavatory.

  16. Paula Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 12:30 pm

    I thought segregated bathrooms were outlawed in the 60s. A first class passenger is entitled to a normal size seat and free alcoholic drinks, not a segregated restroom.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      October 22, 2024 at 12:31 pm

      Not quite…

  17. Alexia Gatesch Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 1:39 pm

    Passengers can use the restroom of their choice on domestic flights. Mr 1k and his instant upsell in to buiz doesn’t make him special. If he wants a dedicated restroom fly private. I’m so glad the airlines are devaluing loyalty programs the amount of entitlement is cumbersome.

  18. Brian Burns Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 3:25 pm

    I have been on many flights where the pilots make an announcement for passengers to use the lavatory in their respective cabin. Seems odd that this pilot (when not behind the cockpit door) thinks that passengers can use any lavatory they want.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      October 22, 2024 at 3:26 pm

      We are specifically talking about United here and United no longer has that rule – it is a suggestion/request, not a rule.

  19. Steve Ross Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 3:58 pm

    I def understand the 1K flyer.
    On a recent flight in Business class on Ethiopian from Addis to Capetown,a constant line of economy passengers used the back lavatory in C class.One of the reasons i fly C class is due to the immediate availability of lav usage.When i realized the FA had no intrest in enforcing any order i challanged the Y class guy about to enter the lav in C class, he answered ” We share brother”, i answered ” when we share what i paid to fly in C class, then we can share”.At that point the purser ordered him to go and use Y class toilet.Trolleys in the cabin are no excuse, fa happily or not will reverse or go forward to allow your passage to the lav of the class you paid for.

  20. Edward Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 4:41 pm

    The way you do it is you smile and tell Mr. 1K, “F. O.” and continue to the bathroom.

  21. Samus Aran Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 4:50 pm

    Since the 1K Karen (or should I say 1K Kevin) has such an easily triggered temper even when in a public setting, I’m worried that he might one day go postal at work.

  22. Mike Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 5:53 pm

    I agree with the 1k passenger percent. Americans passengers have a nasty habit of entering areas where they are not allowed and think they are entitled to do so. This only happens on US carriers because the flight attendants allow this behavior. They are afraid of tell the passengers not to. Don’t give me that oh he or she is disabled excuse. I also blame the airlines for not having ample amount of lavatories in the main cabin. I tried that once on a Swiss flight and the flight attendant said please return to your cabin and use the lavatory in your respective cabin and yes I did with out arguing with her.

  23. Robert Reply
    October 23, 2024 at 2:18 pm

    Yes, it’s nice when it’s enforced but if the aisle is blocked by service, just use an available one seems more reasonable, less inconvenient and just all around a better idea. Particularly on short flights. The only thing I think they should absolutely enforce is no lines in the First Class cabin. Need a bathroom/aisle blocked/etc. and it’s empty? Go for it. If it’s full though, no lines.

  24. RareBus A380 Reply
    October 23, 2024 at 4:59 pm

    I remember when I was flying from NAS to MIA and some beautiful Asian woman urgently needed to go and all I could think about was golly why couldn’t I offer her to sit or stand on my lap? Initially the flight attendant said please return to seat but when the passenger said she couldn’t hold it access was granted. I think it would have maybe worked this time too or he would have gotten socked in the mouth by someone who didn’t wanna deal with his shish.

  25. Andrew Reply
    October 23, 2024 at 11:11 pm

    If I don’t pay for 1st class I don’t use those bathrooms. If I wanted to save a buck and sit in a cheaper class I use what i paid for. Not so sure why someone would think they’re entitled to use a bathroom not in their paid section. Pretty simple if you think about it. Honestly, I think this is more about cheap people wanting the benefits of the higher fare folks. Like i said, it’s common sense.

  26. Voice of reason Reply
    October 24, 2024 at 1:27 am

    They let normies use the toilets??!! That messes them up for the 1k/GS people. They should have to pay the 1k people per use!! I miss the days when there were full flights and they would pull a guy off the plane to make room for frequent fliers–they got to stay on and now they want to use the bathroom??!!

  27. David427 Reply
    October 24, 2024 at 7:29 am

    Having to use the lav, somewhat understandable.

    Overhead bin – no. Buy a 1st class ticket.

  28. Frustrated FA Kay Reply
    October 26, 2024 at 12:46 am

    United FA here… 1K entitlement has gone too far and this is just one small example of it. I DO tell passengers that their bathrooms are located in the back of the aircraft and some will move to the back but most complain that there is a line and say it’s an emergency and some just sneak in when my back is turned. We have always been required to allow the elderly, handicapped and small children use the FC lav and recently we were instructed by United Inflight that the lavatories can be used by any passenger in any cabin. I personally hate the traffic flow in FC and I promise that I TRY to discourage this behavior but when a passenger gets upset about it all they have to do is write to United and say that I refused to allow them to use the lav and then I will get a call from my supervisor and I will have “discipline points” added to my work history for two years. So an argument is not worth it. I make a suggestion and have to leave it at that because my hands are tied.

    Let me just tell you that some of the worst offenders of this policy happen to be the IK’s who didn’t get upgraded and are sitting in economy. When I tell them their lavatories are in the back, they ALWAYS reply, “But I’m a 1K” and completely ignore me. I would bet that the IK in this post probably does this on flights too!

    I could write a book on bad 1K behavior! I’m so over their entitlement!

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