A friend of mine was traveling from Washington to Munich on United Airlines earlier this week and shared with me a concerning story about how pilots monopolized a lavatory in business class. I haven’t seen this myself before, but wonder if this is standard protocol?
United Airlines Pilots Lock Business Class Lavatory For “Security” On Transatlantic Flight
While onboard, he sent me the following text:
You will not believe this. On a 767-400. There are two toilets in the rear. After dinner, I went to wait for the bathroom. Both were full. One of the pilots came out and locked the toilet. I asked what’s up as I was waiting for it. He said, “This is reserved for the pilots due to security.”
I was speechless. I asked the flight attendant what he was possibly talking about as this leaves one toilet for the entire cabin and she said it’s a security thing because there is none in front. Huh? It was open at the start of the flight but they said it’s something to do with when the relief pilot is resting. This is unbelievable. What’s next? The entire business class cabin is blocked off for the pilots?
Unlike the United 767-300, the 767-400 has only two lavatories in the rear of business class (none in the very front of the aircraft). With 34 seats in business class, the lavatory ratio is not great.
The 767-400 also does not have a dedicated crew rest area for pilots like on other, larger aircraft. Instead, one of the business class seats is blocked for pilot rest during the flight (typically the first seat on the port “A” side, 1A) and has a curtain that closes around it.
But what I’ve never seen before is pilots taking over one of the lavatories, especially in a cabin in which there are only two lavatories…
In this case, there were people were waiting to use the lavatory…it takes a lot of audacity to come out of the lavatory and lock it in front of those people waiting to use it.
My friend told a flight attendant, “I guess $400K a year and the luxury of relief pilots on an eight-hour flight is not enough. Now they also require their own toilet…”
I find that question to be fair. One of the perks of traveling in business class is that you can generally avoid the line for using a toilet. Apparently not so on the 767-400, at least on this flight…
He sent me one more text before landing:
Was waiting for ten minutes for the one bathroom 30 minutes before landing to change out of PJs. Pilot came back and unlocked the bathroom. Still waiting when he came out. He locked it again seeing everyone standing there. So I asked innocently….”There’s a problem with this bathroom?” “No, this is blocked for pilot rotational duties.” I replied, “But there is one toilet for business class”. He said…” There are toilets in economy as well”. I said, “Yes, that you could use.” He was not happy and walked away.
Ok. I’m willing to listen to why I am wrong, but I am going out to say that this is a totally unacceptable policy. The pilots should not lay claim to a lavatory…it is ridiculous that business class passengers who pay for the huge salaries pilots make are forced to wait 10+ minutes to use a lavatory. I’m not opposed to pilots cutting in line…that may make sense…but to occupy one of two lavatories is a step too far.
We’ve asked United whether this is offical policy or not and will update this post if we hear back.
CONCLUSION
United pilots on a 767-400 transatlantic flight took over one of the two business class lavatories, forcing 34 business class passengers to share a single lavatory. If this is indeed policy or within the discretion of the captain, I think it needs to change. Pilots should be able to “cut in line” but they should not be able to take over a lavatory, especially when there are so few onboard…
What are your thoughts on this?
Pilots, like many people nowadays, are too full of themselves and not held accountable. I don’t think it is hard to bypass the lock.
Bless your heart.
Simple solution, don’t fly or buy your own plane. Otherwise you come off as an entitled A-hole. Let me guess, you are “important” and need to fly for “business”. Trust me, you aren’t that important or needed by your company.
Stop drinking so much on a plane and learn bowel control.
Seriously? Since when is it acceptable to inconvenience passengers that pay the pilot to fly a plane?,A Company that provide you a nice hotel to do whatever you want, while away from home, shuttle you to an from airport, expedite you through security etc. This Pilot is a Power Tripper who needs emotional support before he messes up on duty. Clearly he has problems. Maybe alcohol related.
Seriously ? Where on earth did you get all those tidbits of mostly false information . And you assume he/she has an alcohol problem … the internet produces dumb every day and you are a prime example
Dave, you must be out of your mind. Customers pay a premium price for a premium class of service which includes the restrooms. I would have reported that entire crew to United customer service. Feel free to sit in the back of the plane in basic economy. The CEO of RyanAir was thinking about installing coin-operated door locks on their 737s. I hope that you don’t need change when you have to pee.
Just because you’re too spineless to stand up for yourself, you’re lashing out at someone who did… and did with great restraint.
Grow up and blame the correct entity: the airlines. If “security” is an issue here, they should have demanded a configuration that gives pilots their own shitter.
If you’re going to sit back and let the rest of us fight for better, the least you can do is STFU, ingrate.
Utterly stupid comment.
Thank you for saying what many think about some business and first class passengers. What I’ve learned is that they either are pathologically unable to realize the depth of their self-entitlement (and claims of victimization at the slightest inconvenience) , or are so arrogant they don’t care. In either case, its more than time for them to be publically called out for their attitudes and trouble they cause cabin crews and fellow passengers.
This is hilarious. The ones that pay your salaries…Wow. Such entitlement and it ain’t the business class passengers…
Wow. Look in a mirror when calling others entitled. Take a step back and realize that most complaints you and other “elite” flyers make about airlines are ridiculous in the grand scheme. Entitled is the most appropriate label to aplly to inane complaints about slights to your status or spending.
I don’t mean this as a personal attack against you. I love your website. All I’m trying to say is that abuse of cabin crews, gate agents and pilots by elite members who believe their status should permit such behavior is increasing. I’m routinely less concerned with msnaging economy class passengers than I am business passengers. Our next contract negotiation will hopefully allow more freedom to blacklist problematic business class passengers.
How entitled of you to think you can take customers’ hard earned money and act as a petty tyrant. Given the lofty promises made by airlines’ advertisements of Z products, the lazy, malignant attitudes of incorrigible FAs/gate nazis amounts to theft from customers.
Sounding a bit pompous, aren’t you?
Probably the most asinine comment I have read on an Internet forum, which is saying something. Remember your own words when you’re at 36kk ft, and urgently need the lavatory but it is locked.
See how you feel when you’re bowel control is falling you because of a g.i. problem and you have to sit in shit for the remainder of your $4k journey.
Dave Edwards, I’m so sorry, but you’re missing the point, & that’s pure stupidity & ignorance
You are the one sounding like an entitled A-hole
YTAH
Wild take, defending a company that charges a pretty penny for expensive seats in a cabin that has a bathroom and randomly decides to cut that off mid-flight. Sure, a company is entitled to charge what they want for as crappy a service as they want to provide. It’s strange to defend it as a consumer. But I guess you are fine with whatever service you get from anywhere.
United, airline pilots and flight attendants are loudmouth arrogant jerks in most cases. Their airplanes are filthy. And you pay the price of a used car to ride one way first class.
In you moron are just like them. United Airlines sucks.
You sound like a Russian troll.
Full of hate and disrespect. No need to agree with what the guy above said but your answer is simply unacceptable.
Your response was spot on
Wow! I enjoy business class for all of the same shallow reasons we all do. But do you know what I love? Well-rested, happy pilots. Don’t get me wrong either. I think flight attendants deserve a level of respect reserved for royalty, as well, but pilots literally have our lives in their hands. And I like to fly. It’s more efficient than travel by ship. I am disappointed that as an experienced traveler and a travel writer you wrote this article
Do it wiseguy, and find yourself in cuffs.
Jawohl, mein Fuhrer!
FYI. Flight attendants have pass keys to the lavs.
They don’t have keys to the lavs. All lavs can be unlocked from the outside, without a key. That key you see is for a locking overhead bin
I agree that too many folks these days definitely are so full of themselves that they’re blinded to the needs of others.
And in some cases, these people who are so abundantly full of themselves most likely dance to the same drummer as the Mr Orange… Or could that actually be me. Orange himself? Too full of himself.
Definitely would be helpful to place a placard on the door stating what is going on with the locked lavatory. Passengers might have health issues that require more frequent trips to the restroom, and it is easier to send the passengers to the back if they know that only one lavatory is for passengers up front. The amount of anxiety over this subject definitely suggests that a need is not being met, and United should rethink how it figures out how many lavatories to install on their planes.
It is possible to unlock and even remove the Lav door
The pilot was full of it. Any lav that is locked out in fight. Impacts the duration the plane can fly.
It’s call the MEL and DDG.
Oh by the way, our son is a captain for a major airline. I won’t use up space to state my qualifications.
You’re not wrong here. Monopolizing an entire bathroom when it leaves 1 for 34 people is absurd. Further, there is the always shifting mandate that you can only use the lavs in your ticketed cabin – which means the pilot was completely wrong saying the person in business could use the economy lavs. This sounds like something to be taken up with United management, because I’m betting this is not a real policy.
You could agree with the pilots if there were say, 4 bathrooms and they decided to take 1, and…nah, can’t really agree with this.
There are 5 bathrooms onboard United’s 767-400s.
3 in economy, 2 in business.
Still can’t agree with it. And I was referring to even if the business class itself had 4 bathrooms. But thanks for playing.
What they wanted was a loo devoid of the messy state that sometimes occurs during an Intl. flight. The pilots were, as usual, acting entitled. I bet the FA’s were also using it, the pilots just flexing authority over passengers to give overly unionized crews their own comfort at the expense of others. The fact that it left only one toilet for an entire business class cabin just makes this really egregious.
I believe the “rest” seat on a UA 767-400 is actually 1A. Why they have a rest pilot on a less than 8 hour flight when you are making over $400K is beyond me. Nor the loss of revenue for that J seat in selling it to a paying passenger.
The ignorance is simply astounding
“overly unionized crew” is really telling on yourself, incredible stuff here.
This not unusual, I’ve seen one lav reserved for crew-only on more than a few flights (and not just on United).
Not making a judgement about whether this is a good/bad/fair/unfair policy. But it’s not anything new or unusual. And probably not something that’s going to change due to internet outrage.
I have as well. But on a flight with only two J class toilets?
I was on a Turkish Airlines A330 flight from Istanbul to JFK when the Business Class passengers had to ask pilots for permission to use the 1 toilet in Business Class via the crew. I flew 4 10 hour segments on Turkish A330’s on that trip, and only 1 flight crew had that rule.
Hey, if I were making $300-400k/yr, I’d expect not to have to share a bathroom with the hoi polloi either!
The Lav is not closed for the whole flight. They lock it for when the relief pilot has to get ready to go up front. He gets to change and clean up and they secure it so it doesn’t delay the other pilot who is going back for his rest period. This always happens on a multi-crew flight and the rest room is closed for about 15 mins. This article was sensationized due to the fact on the author’s lack of information. So he elects to opine the most extreme possible reason which was way wrong.
Again, I was told the lavatory remained locked through the duration of the journey…is that okay?
I have been a 767 pilot for two years at united, I believe there was a breakdown in communication. No one lav is blocked for an entire flight. The bathroom is locked during pilot test breaks to ensure getting back to the flight deck timely. I usually tell anyone who looks like they are waiting for lab that has been locked for us something like, ‘apologies for the delay, we are just doing a restroom break for the crew, this lav will be blocked for the next few minutes’. Hope this clears things up. Thanks!
Does your. Omputer driven airplane get so tired you need a spare on sn 8 hr run? No wonder ticket prices are so high.
Hey Jonny,
What does FAR-117 rules say regarding pilot test and flight time limitations?
Johnny, you sure seem to know a lot about flying! If you are wondering why 121 flying is so safe, just realize the rest rules and regulations often come from deadly accidents. It’s just your life though, no need to be conservative.
Jon Peterson is correct. That is how we do it. It is NOT blocked off for the entire flight as it seems eluded. Pilots will block it off for the rotation and get every pilot a lav break at the same time. Takes maybe 10 minutes. If in this case it WAS blocked for the entire flight that is not procedure again unless it’s due to Mx issue. Depending on the Mx issue on VERY rare instances the lav is blocked for pax but usable by crew. Again…extremely rare. Hope this helps. Fly safe.
Thank you! Very helpful.
I read your bio and find it hard to believe you have never encountered this on one of your flights where the lav is not by the cockpit. Once you do receive credible information about this procedure please correct your article, or better yet, retract it.
I’ve seen other carriers block lavs, but never this on United.
Your friend lied. No crew would lock a lav for an entire flight. They were locked for crew change only. If he has proof? Write UA. Also the person was correct that sometimes they are locked off for a maintenance issue.
To the idiot that is complaining about the extra Pilot? They were on duty longer than the 8 hour flight time & any delays could cancel the flight if only 2 Pilots were on the flight. Take your petty remark to the FAA that requires extra crews over water with a long duty day.
Hi Matthew. The bathroom is only locked out for about 5-10 minutes three times during the flight when the pilots are taking a bathroom break.
I understand that the 5-10 minute period is the policy, but it was locked for a much longer period here according to my friend. He has absolutely no reason to make than up.
How do you know? You were not there! You always post rumors without accurate information. Try being more responsible, crews have enough to deal with on a flight without you adding to the problems.
Because I trust him and because the crews pulling the “security” BS are exactly the type that are likely to unnecessarily lock a lavatory for the whole flight.
I find that very hard to believe that the lav was blocked the whole flight. The lavatory is only blocked while the pilots are rotating during crew rest or if they have to use the lavatory. It’s the same policy on EVERY aircraft. The closest lavatory is reserved for them so they can minimize the time they’re out of the cockpit. Imagine a customer spending an unreasonable amount of time hoarding the one bathroom that the pilots need. Customers can use any other bathroom on the plane. Or they can patiently wait. The difference on the 767-400 is that there have NEVER been forward lavatories near the cockpit. So the pilots have to walk all the way thru biz class to the closest lav. How would you like the operating pilots to have to wait to pee until there’s no line? You guys really need to get over yourselves. Buying a biz class ticket doesn’t give you the right to be pompous and selfish.
Truly a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Wow…
when CO first got the 764’s in the late 90’s, they had 8 total lavs. 2 at doors 1& 2 & 4 at door 3. The 2 lavs at door 1 were eliminated when they installed lie flat seats @10 yrs ago. The rest of the story is hogwash re the lav being locked off the entire flight. More NY Post style yellow joirnalism.
There is no way the lavatory remained locked for the entire flight. The two times your friend texted you coincide with 2 pilot rotations. Your friend jumped to conclusions that aren’t accurate. Your friend was annoyed and unintentionally embellished the wait times.
He checked four times. See his comment above.
Matt, you either remember it wrong (due to too much alcohol, or not paying attention) or it was a brand new employee that didn’t know what they should have. The lav was blocked for 5-15 MINUTES. not the entire flight. And wouldn’t you be proud if someone uses other secure information released in an article like this to potentially hijack an aircraft? is that your goal? are you into helping terrorists? If it were possible I would have the TSA remove this entire post.
Oh give me a break. You’re so delusional. The lavatory was locked the entire flight, no matter how foolishly you protest.
You’re absolutely wrong here. Here’s why. We operate some routes with up to four pilots. All pilots are in the flight deck for the first 15 and last 45 minutes of the flight, give or take. In between, only two pilots are in the flight deck, and the relief pilot(s) are resting, as mandated by federal law.
During the times when pilots rotate out for rest breaks, the pilot coming off break will generally use the lav, then secure it for the pilot that is next going on break. Once this process is complete the lav is available for normal use. I can imagine this process ever takes more than 10 minutes. And no, no pilots are changing clothes in the lav, that’d be horribly gross.
This feels like a faux-outrage story generated for clicks, to be honest.
I checked with my friend and he said it remained locked for the entire flight. Is that SOP? Genuine question.
I’m not writing this story for clicks.
Obviously I can’t speak to your friend’s experience, but having the lav secured for the entire flight would be very unusual. That’s not a procedure on any fleet, and the flight attendants wouldn’t appreciate it at all either. If the lav was secured for the entire flight, it would be because it’s broken or otherwise inop, which does periodically happen.
Genuine questions:
1. Maybe your friend exaggerated?
2. Maybe there was a security issue on the flight that your friend was not aware of?
3. Maybe this is the funniest article and most hysterical comments I have ever read?
Thank you so much!
Or maybe the pilots were just being dicks?
You’re the dick.
Nah. You’re the dick. Also, a relief pilot is not a luxury, it’s the law. I swear, desperate writers with clickbait are the worst. Quit exaggerating a story “your friend” probably lied about.
LOL. You people are so delusional. Crazy to think we entrust such expensive equipment to you.
@Jon Peterson
As a LT1K, this epitomizes one of the many things that UA staff does to frustrate the heck out us. The staff’s needs always seem to come ahead of the needs of the paying customers, including ones who pay a lot for a biz class tix. Where do these pilots think their jobs and pay come from. The “security” claim is pure BS IMO
Minimizing time out of the cockpit ABSOLUTELY trumps your needs as a customer. When you figure out a way for pilots to relieve themselves IN the cockpit, be sure and let the FAA, Boeing and Airbus know so they can benefit from your expertise. What’s BS is YOU thinking you walk on water simply because you bought a ticket.
Maybe you should bring a cup into the cockpit?
Passengers should fly on Delta instead. They don’t do this crap on Delta.
Security? From what, chipmunks? What a huge stinking pile of bs. I know that Kirby’s assertions that United is the best airline in the history of passenger flights, or whatever, are insane but screwing over your high-dollar income base out of arrogance just might not be the best course of action from a business or customer service perspective.
@Christian … Yes … security from chipmunks .
Most likely a lav on MEL for fire detection or fire extinguisher inop, crew are still permitted to use them, passengers are not because they can’t be trusted not to light up them throw the smoldering butt into the waste container which is the only reason the FAA requires that equipment in that compartment…..in that case “security” is a perfect one word explanation, a pilot on his rest break is not obligated to explain it,beyond that.
If I were a pax and saw the pilot lock the vacant lav, I would be very tempted to unlock the lav door myself (by undoing what the pilot just did–it’s not like there’s a key) once the pilot and FAs were out of sight.
Great minds think alike. A youtube video search provided answers quickly…
That’s a good way to land yourself in hot water. Don’t let bravado ruin your day.
Is it possible one crew member had a GI distress and lock the lavatory to prevent possibly infecting others? Norovirus can be transmitted with a low fomite count.
You ate flying the best airline in the world. What did you expect?
1 bathroom for 34 people doesn’t seem that out of line. How often to people have to go and how long are they staying in there? Stop taking dumps on airplanes unless an illness occurs. You people are supposed to be adults, not children that have to go every hour.
That’s an incredibly insensitive comment. Not everyone’s bladders or bowels work the same. Some people deal with medical problems or medications they are taking. Show some compassion for people. It might also make you less of an insufferable jerk.
Heaven forbid a business class passenger has to use the lav in the economy. The horror!
Heaven forbid a pilot cannot reserve one of two lavatories for himself for the ENTIRE flight. Wow!
You and your friend at flat out wrong here… The 767 carries 3-4 pilots and we rotate rest periods. During the crew change is when the non-resting pilots use the bathroom, otherwise it would require a flight attendant to come into the flight deck without and extra pilot available (and take away from their duties in the galley)… It’s just easier on all to do it during crew change. That means, at most, there are three 10 minute periods where the lav is locked for pilot use, during a 7-11hr flight. That’s it… Your friend claims the lav was locked after dinner service and 30 minutes before landing. Therefor they are inferring it was locked the entire flight. Dinner ends about 2hrs into the flight, which is right about when the first crew change happens. The last crew change happens 30-45 min prior to landing. So your friend, unlucky for them, likely just caught the bathroom locked during 2 crew changes, but it was 100% not locked the entire flight. The last 30 minutes of the flight gets busy, imagine what would happen if the arrival was delayed because the captain was stuck in the galley waiting to relieve themselves because 4 people demanded they use the bathroom before him/her.
It would be better served to inquire directly with the airline regarding this. It appears you did not personally witness this and I just don’t believe this is any airline’s practice. And, you are putting this out to people who may not be aware of practices when pilots are up and about. Zap UAL with the specifics. I hope you get your answer
Report the flight crew. Send a copy of your boarding pass with your complaint and demand a follow up letter. Stop flying United is an option too. Best way to damage a business is to stop using their services
Umm, what decade and world do you live in? Complain? To whom? Take your money elsewhere? Where? A call center in India or Philippines? Take your money to, umm, Spirit? That’s the problem. There is nowhere to turn. And nowhere to go.
Are flight attendants permitted to use the pilot lavatory or do they get to reserve the other lavatory for their use?
Shouldn’t the pilots each have their own private lavatory? Same for the FAs. Maybe leave one free in the back for the paxs. 🙂
Next contract negotiations!
For the next contract, the whole Polaris cabin will be designated as a crew rest facility on flights longer than two hours. 🙂
Only aircraft that has a crew bathroom is the 747-400.
That’s not factually correct, your friend has no clue what he is talking about. The problem with people like you and your friend is that you just like to spread rumors without verifying the information.
I trust him. He has no reason to lie. For what purpose?
I don’t think your friend lied, I just think your friend didn’t understand what was going on. Definitely a misunderstanding on your friends behalf. We always lock one lav during pilots rotations… for 5-10 minutes, three times per flight. Maybe someone forgot to unlock the lav after the rotation, and that’s what your friend saw? Either way, it’s not the whole story. Your looking for clicks here.
Waaaait a minute
if they “forgot” to unlock the lav then the friend is correct
It’s comical to think that our safety depends on a reserved time for pilot dookie drop
Why would the friend lie? Presumably experienced traveler
It’s not like this doesn’t sound utterly possible
PS we need pilots – for now. But we won’t need bus drivers with checklists forever
there used to be 2 lavs at doors 1 on the 764 until they retrofitted the planes the first time @ 10 yrs ago, then only 2 lavs were avble for fc pax. when they installed polaris seats on the 764 after covid and put in PP seats behind door 2, you now have 34 polaris pax plus 21 PE pax using the 2 lavs ( PE pax dont honor the curtain seperating PF from PE at all)
Mgmt could have at least had 1 lav re installed at door 1 to avoid this foolishness but more lavs + less $seat$….
& yet some comments here have to theow fa’s into the mix… such hatred is sad indeed.
It’s possible there was a Lav issue in which it was designated as crew only per an MEL.
It’s not that uncommon
Claiming it’s for “security” is absolute bullshit.
Bazinga.
it’s ok for the pilot to jump the que, but NOT to put a lav out of service for an entire flight.
What would Scotty say?
Recent 737 flight in FC. Front toilet is locked due to being “inoperable” the entire flight. Yet worked well enough for 5 pilot bathroom breaks.
That’s exactly what the MEL says and was approved by the FAA.
Possible reason for inop is if the fire detection or suppression system is inoperable you do not allow passengers into the Lav, (believe it or not some people still smoke on planes in the Lav). The flight crew know not to smoke in the Lav and honestly I have not seen a pilot smoke in at least the last 15 years or more at a mainline carrier.
Data point from UA 75/767 pilot –
“When we do a bathroom break on a 764, the FAs can’t block it with the cart while we’re using it. So before we come out of the cockpit, they lock it so no one goes in while we’re coming out. Then we lock it for the same reason so the next guy can go. The whole ordeal locks the lavatory for maybe 10mins total.
Only because 764 lav is behind Polaris
Otherwise they’d set up a bathroom break for you. You’d come out. And some guy is in there going #2 and you have to wait 20 mins to get back to the flight deck.
Assuming door was *actually* locked for the full flight, that’s definitely not std procedure”
Thank you. Helpful.
That’s sensible. But just like domestic flights where you warn the FA’s you need to use the loo and they block the galley, why not here? They wait, block the toilet and call you to come out. Sure, it’s not in front, but that’s UA’s fault, not the passengers.
Instead you think it’s rational to just block it for a large portion of the flight, ya know, just in case?
1 lav?
aren’t those lavs also used by the PP passengers on the 754? So I lav for 58 premium passengers?
They often are, but they are absolutely not supposed to be. PP is an economy cabin and those customers should use the economy lavatories.
Business class is also economy. A segregated part of the economy cabin.
Too many people forget business class is not first. See the history of j
I flew a few years ago from LAX – MEL, ~15 hr flight, and I was in 3L on the 787 (I forget which variant). I could see the lav in front of me (right side, in front of 1L). It had a green light (available) only once at the beginning of the flight, but never went green after we got to cruise altitude. I saw flight deck crew using it throughout the flight, but the light stayed red. It did anger me because, as others have posted, easy access to a lav is part of what you pay for in biz class. It does feel like flight crews can make up their own rules once the door is closed. Any challenge to those rules and you’re “disobeying the orders of a flight crew”, right?
The author is ridiculously ill informed and I would have expected Matthew Klint to know better than to post this on social media. This makes him look totally ignorant as far as air travel goes. I don’t care what your friend said. It just doesn’t happen unless a pilot was ill.
Let’s all learn something’ today.
1) There is NO pilot lav on any aircraft.
2) The FAA mandates that the lav be locked in several cases.
A) For take off and landing because the bifold doors can come off and block exits should there be a rough landing or emergency.
B) When pilots are doing a lav break or crew rest swap.
Why? For security reasons. Not only that, no passenger is supposed to be standing when lav breaks are going on because the cockpit door will be opened several times.
For the guy who questioned what locking the Lav had to do with security, have you ever heard of 9/11?!! If the cockpit door opens and a passenger happened to jump into the Lav, then this puts the aircraft at risk.
When your friend said the Lav was locked the entire flight, that’s ridiculous and just would not happen. We are suppose to lock up 30 minutes before landing.
Please stop thinking you know the job of airline crew!
Well said.
Well said 787 guy, it’s extremely frustrating to read these comments as a fellow crew member. We end up getting stuck with these type of people who treat crews as if they are servants and not people. What’s worse is when we do speak out we are then called names. What I find surprising is how many people truly believe that the cost of their tickets some how entitles them to be experts on flight crew rules and regulations. Or that we aren’t allowed to do anything but service them not even use the restroom. In a post 9/11 world Mr. Klint really wrote an article because the pilots had to pee at the same time as his friend and wonders why it is security issue. Anytime the flight deck door is open it is a security concern. Multiple people have stated that this story is extremely hard to believe because it just doesn’t happen that a lav is blocked for an entire flight. It’s a 10 minute process and then it’s done. I’m
Not surprised he wrote this, he clearly hates United airlines and looks for any reason to write negative articles about anyone or anything that is associated with UA.
I really wish this bullshit didn’t come up in my feed all the time. Seems to be endless stories of outrage about things Mathew and his readers don’t understand, and don’t seem to want to. I am a retired United pilot. This is common practice so crew changes can be done in a timely and efficient manner. On a flight from IAD to MUC, there are three pilots and if they are lucky they will each get about 1.5 hours of rest at most. That’s not much. Spend 10 or 15 minutes waiting for a lav and the guy going up to the cockpit will be late and the guy going on break gets even less rest. It’s really that simple. This is even more critical on the last crew change when all three pilots must be in the cockpit at least 45 minutes prior. I simply don’t believe it was locked for the whole flight. At least in my 30 years, I never saw or heard of that happening once. My faux outrage from Matthew to make headlines.
I’m playing you a small violin. A 7.5 hour MUC flight is hardly grueling, even for two crew members. Especially easy when you have a relief pilot and get a 1.5 hour rotation rest in a curtained off business class seat. I’m sure you can also squeeze in a bathroom break during that rest time whilst waiting like the rest of us. Go to your pilot forums for sympathy. You will get little here. For the rest of the world that’s called a normal work day.
I’ll let your ignorance speak for itself.
Well said Stuart.
Some of these folks should try an 18.5 hour flight with 3 inflight refuelings with only urinals and Honey bucket for relief.
And, we survived!!
I love all the ‘pilots’ on here saying they never saw anything bad ever by the crews
Dude, we know you think of us as self-loading freight.
This is where we’re at now
I saw this years ago on an UA flight from Newark to Berlin. Members of the flight deck had a method to unlock the door from the outside, would use the facility, exit, and reset the door to “Occupied “ just before walking away. Several PAX attempted to use the same facility , but they would walk away under the belief it was full.
Not a premium experience for the PAX.
On the plus side, at least the lav door didn’t fall off.(sarc)
While the pilots are coming out of cockpit to use restrooms one is blocked off so that they can come out,,use the bathroom quickly and return to flying duties. The primary focus is to have the pilots outside of the cockpit for as little as possible. The pilot was locking the lavatory for other pilots to come out and use it. Once all pilots are done the lavatory is unlocked again. This whole process does not take that long. Would you really want the pilots standing around outside the cockpit waiting for a lavatory. Yes this is for security and safety. If there is a bathroom up front it is simply blocked while pilots are using the bathroom. Unfortunately these are behind business. This is poor journalism to publish misinformation and assumptions before finding out the facts.
No first officer at United is making 400k a year!! Your misinformation is truly astounding. Everyone nowadays is an expert at everything. Makes me laugh reading all these click bait “experts”.
I see this often on United when traveling ULH from US to Asia on 777-2 and 777-3 and all of the dreamkiners. They say the front lav is reserved for crew only.. that’s so strange I asked many times if it’s a rule but none would say so.
Since 9/11 FAA created new safety procedures to avoid hijacking one those is to make sure the flight deck is secured. Another safety measure is to block the forward lavatory for pilot use or bathroom break.
Pilots are FLYING THE PLANE and are charged with your safety. Their schedule in flight is tight and regulated. They need access to the facility and should not have to wait because some entitled a-hole is holed up in the bathroom.
The 767-400 has limited facilities. Take a walk back to coach and try your chances.
“Entitled a-hole”
Is this how pilots consider their passengers?
SOME J passengers… yes. It’s obvious to even most other J passengers.
Your time is tight? Your time is tight during take off and descent. The rest of the time you have relief pilots and rest periods making an Intl long haul flight quite easy to do. With ample pay. Do you think we are idiots? Now, who is the “entitled a hole” you mentioned? Ah, the ones actually paying for “premium” seats and thus your inflated salaries?
UA has security procedures and they don’t involve permanently blocking a lav for their exclusive use. Anecdotal incidents, regardless of the problem, indicate a failure with individual employees.
Interesting but not necessarily indicative of much.
Good point Tim.
Again, some of you are just dreaming up excuses of being sick to justify locking a lav for the entire flight is the height of denial.
A United pilot and/or crew took matters in their own hands – beyond what UA guidelines require for security.
There are people in Chicago that know exactly what the government requires and the configuration of UA’s aircraft. They do not deem it necessary to block a lav for the entire flight “for security reasons”
And I have seen FAs or other pilots block a lav TEMPORARILY during crew change – but they release it within minutes.
And Delta, the only other significant operator of the 767-400, configured its business class w/ both lavs in the rear of the business class cabin. When they reconfigured the planes, one was put back just outside the cockpit.
and the DL A330 is still the best plane among US carriers for this pilot crew lav situation with a gate that can be locked when the cockpit door is opened. One lav is inside the gated area and one is outside. Nobody is bothered and the crew does their thing w/ little notice or interruption.
UA did not configure their 767-400s to provide quick access from the cockpit to the lav but they have procedures to compensate for it. This crew was on a power trip. Plain and simple.
If & only if Klints “friend” is telling the truth. BTW dont think your almighty DL
pillots are angels. Remember the MD-11 Capt who diverted bc the crew rest on that aircraft was unacceptable to them, this was in the 90’s.
Thank goodness you arrived to discuss the lavatory situation on Delta planes. Can you tell me the sizing and location of the lavatories on a Delta A220-100? How does this compare to the Delta A220-300?
Well, they have a window in the rear lav… that’s pretty cool.
About the last thing a travel blogger should be charged with is deciding safety protocols on an airplane. Next!
I flew Newark to Johannesburg in December, BC on United, same thing happened. One of the forward lavatories was blocked for pilot use only!
Found it quite bizarre.
Trust me crews would not want a lav locked up he entire flight because crew hate it when people are in line for the lav and blocking the aisles and galley. mUst’ve been your friend just goes to the lav the same exact times the pilots did their rotation/breaks.
I think you’re the dick, Matthew Klint. Unless you were the passenger and actually witnessed this, you shouldn’t be posting anything. It’s called “hearsay”.
Matt, you don’t have any friends
I am having trouble believing your friend told this story entirely accurately.
Some pieces are believable, some are not. Taking it personally, and rebutting with personal attacks on the pilot in his text messages you described, demonstrates that your “friend” has a lack of self control, and an inability to fully understand a situation, lack of understanding of airline protocol, critical thinking skills, and the ability to communicate effectively.
I am an international long haul pilot for a major airline, and while this isn’t standard at my airline… It has happened where you leave the rest quarters to go up to the flight deck, and you can’t go up due to someone being in the lavatory adjacent to the flight deck door. Massive security risk. So, you end up showing back up to the flight deck a few minutes late. Typically not a big deal.
The Boeing 767-400, according to United Airlines’ seat map, has 5 total bathrooms. 3 in economy, and 2 in business class. I know your friend may think he is too good to use the bathroom in economy, but that middle one in economy has a lot of extra room!
Your “friend” should reach out to United, if this surely upset him. A lot of times, we, as pilots, do not make the rules, and are just following protocol. Nothing personal. Seems your friend has a fundamental lack of understanding of that.
“I guess $400K a year and the luxury of relief pilots on an eight-hour flight is not enough. Now they also require their own toilet…”
I do not know the habits of your “friend”, but statements like this are totally unacceptable.
I suggest your friend seeks help.
Being on a flight and mouthing off to flight attendants about their fellow flight crew members is NOT a great look, and can lead to unfortunate outcomes.
Especially if/when those words become threatening, violent, or vulgar.
Further to this, the fact that there are even relief pilots on a 7-8 hour ex north east city to Europe flight is even more absurd. I believe most European carriers just use two on routes out of NYC, BOS, and DC and do so perfectly well. The US airline often loses a seat in J to sell and it increases operating costs on that flight (and fares). As well contributes to situations like this on planes not designed for it.
No reason at all to have relief pilots on these shorter segments to Europe. Problem solved.
You have no idea about what you are talking about equating flying jets to office work. In the military we were given drugs to stay alert on missions longer than about 5 hours in certain situations. The relief pilot criteria are based on many rules and regulations that come from studies and accidents. They include report times and time zone/ circadian rhythm considerations. There is no easy way to make a living.
Yet European, Asian and ME flight crews seem to handle it perfectly fine for 7-8 hours? Hmm.
10 hours or more, ok. A flight from DC to Germany…not so much.
Do they? What’s the source, you? Are you the expert on augmented crews and ICAO regulations? Some foreign carriers are notorious for throwing inexperienced FOs w 200 hours in the right seat of a wide body jet, or some countries allow relief pilots that aren’t even fully qualified as an FO. Their safety suffers, even if it doesn’t result in accident. Check out Air France 447. My only point is how can you knock a profession as so easy when you have never done it and to speak with such certainty shows your ignorance to the topic.
I don’t believe that the bathroom was locked off for the entire flight, pilots lock toilets to enable efficient crew change, or if pilots are using restroom while 2 pilots are on duty. I find some of these comments hurtful as a flight attendant who has just come off a flight, from EWR-LHR with no rest break as our seats were sold, who spent the night ensuring bathrooms were kept clean, because some passengers don’t know how to leave a public restroom….. To be called entitled seems a little far off the mark right now. Most flight attendants I know would challenge pilots if they tried to lock off a bathroom for the entire flight.
Every airline makes their own layouts for the cabin. United is different from Delta, and a 767 can look very different from one another. To not have more lavatories was a business decision. Normally pilots have a separate lavatory behind the cockpit. Blame the airline
THE STORY:
OMG. The end of the world has arrived!
The “audacity” of the pilots reserving a restroom for crew.
READER SUMMARY:
Whining passenger enters the outskirts of
Karen-ville.”
You keep saying how much you trust your friend. My advice to you is… at least in this case, better not to trust him because he obviously led you down the wrong path. There are quite a few comments here written by insiders who are truly trying to enlighten you… trust them, and please stop constantly stirring the pot… So to speak, ha!
Lufthansa crews pull the same stunt in their A350 and block the front BC toilet for themselves. Apparently cause their contracts allow them not to clean any lavatories during flight.
I hope that shit stops with the introduction of the new Allegris cabin incl first class in the front.
I had the same issue on a recent Lufthansa flight, front lavatory locked. Next flight to Europe flying someone else. The other two bathrooms were also shared with premium economy.
Lift the flap on the front of the door and unlock it and use the toilet.
It’s quite easy!
I’ll say this much,
Matthew was able to draw the union roaches out of the dark hiding places
The entitled complaining about being entitled. You’d never let a Pilot cut the line.
I’ve flown over 3 mil miles and never has the Business Lav been locked for pilot use only. Sounds like the Pilot wanted to flex his privilege in front of the passenger’s and cabin crew. Most Business class labs remain in fair condition throughout a flight so, I can’t see how having sole access to a lav during an entire flight heightens security. I’ll be interested in United’s response (if they do…).
It’s not monopolizing the lavatory. As per Security reasons the pilots rotation should be done as quickly as possible and it’s always optimal to have 2 pilots in the cockpit and not just one pilot and the relieving Flight Attendant. The lavatory is blocked during this time to allow for quick rotation before critic phases of flight begins when all pilots are required to be in the cockpit.
So No! It wasn’t locked the entire flight, but yes it would’ve been locked for taxi and takeoff, during flight anytime there is a break rotation, and again below 18,000 ft in preparation for landing.
Regardless of home much money you spend, frequent travelers know this and plan accordingly. If the seatbelt sign is on you shouldn’t be in line for the lav anyway.
Can’t wait until UA gets their A321XLR. TAP and EI have one lav in front. Maybe UA will enhance the business class amenity kit to include a Depends so you never have to leave your seat.
Are these the same super safety conscious pilots who are fighting the expansion of the cockpit voice recorder duration? Wouldn’t want the FAA or NTSB to know how focused on safety they are for the entire flight.
If I was there I would have put a sign on the bathroom door
“Caution! Reserved for the power tripping pricks”
Unbelievably ignorant!!
I can explain what happened. The pilots typically go to the bathroom when they switch out for breaks. The pilot on break went to the bathroom, locked it for their fellow pilots , and then switched out with those in the flight deck. Waiting on lav availability would delay them returning to the flight deck. I’m sure they were not locked the entire flight. Only when the entitled OP needed the bathroom.
Hmm, let’s see… the options are:
A) 3 pilots (in collusion with the FAs who would be MORE than happy to call out a pilot and report him/her for abusing authority and not following SOP) decided, for no particular reason at all, to lock 1 of the 2 lavs in Business Class for the duration of the flight, knowing this would piss off elite FFs and business travelers and likely lead to them complaining to the company.
B) Your friend tried to go to the bathroom twice – and each time coincided with a pilot swap, meaning the lav happened to be locked out 2 out of the 2 times he went to the lab.
C) Your friend wanted his 15 minutes of fame and knew you’d write an “article” about this without having anything more than a couple text messages as source material.
I’m gonna put my money on B or C.
You people are so incorrigible.
I’m the one who sent Matthew the report.
Just to confirm my experience. On four different occasions I tried to use the starboard loo (not sure why they chose that one to block) and twice I waited only to find a pilot come to use it or come out of it unlock or lock it using a napkin and fingers. On two other occasions I went to use it and was informed by FAs in the galley that I should wait for the port loo as the one next to my aisle was locked for pilot use. The dialogues I shared were exact as well. With the pilot absolutely suggesting I should go to the rear of the aircraft and use the economy toilets.
I fly enough to know full well normal closing of the toilets during a flight for when the pilots needs to use them. This, normally on an Intl flight, maybe twice and lasts for 10 minutes or so tops. Mostly you never even notice them or see it happening. That was not what happened here.
Is it possible that just by sheer coincidence you could have just always been attempting to use the lav on the same time schedule as the pilots? These are quick flights, and there’s a pilot switch about every two hours; maybe even more often should the pilots request an additional lav break…. The 767-400 has the worst lav setup in the fleet, and as an FA, find myself having to use the economy lavs half the time because I can’t get into one. Logic tells me that you were on a flight where there we a lot of pilot breaks, and you just happened to luck into always trying to go at the same time. Those lavs do not get a break on this plane.
Here’s the thing though, not all your facts add up. I’m a pilot, and I can confirm that lav breaks do not happen 30 minutes prior to landing. All pilots are in the flight deck at usually an hour before landing, 50 minutes max. A pilot is not going to be re-locking a lav at 30 minutes out for continued pilot use. There was likely more to this story that you wouldn’t be aware of as a passenger. Maybe the lav was inoperable? Or maybe you just always chose a busy time to use the lav, like half the other pax on the plane, and encountered pilot breaks every time.
One More reason not to waste your money on business class.
Just bring your own urinal , pee pot. And disinfectant hand wipes. Do not allow your urine to back up it Damage your kidney.
WOW! Society these days. The doors are locked during bathroom breaks for the flight crew. Thats it! We need to pee just like you do, how long do you want the flightcrew away from their station? After the crew has taken a leak, the door is then unlocked for the passengers. Their is still another bathroom right next to this one. We can’t wait and wait for an open stall, so we coordinate and schedule. TONS OF VERY IGNORANT OPINIONS ON THIS SITE FROM PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE BECAUSE THEY SIT IN AN AIRPLANE, THEY CAN FLY IT, MANAGE IT, AND SHOULD TAKE CONTROL.Next time consider that their actually might be a reason…
I fly American and pther Oneworld, and never had a lavatory blocked for the entire flight. Only 5 to 10 minutes while a pilot uses.
I flew on SAS last year in J from SFO to CPH. On the 330, the entire cabin in front of J was curtained off with a sign that said “do not enter.” Never have seen that before. It didn’t seem to cause problems because there were 2 lavs in the back of J.
Have also seen this on SAS, but never on UA.
For a guy whom I assume is a seasoned traveller. You sure jump on the most stupid post and write articles about it. I’m beginning to think you afw not as smart of you claim to be. Everyone knows that for safety protocol especially thw lav closest to the cockpit has to be locked during pilot swaps who are on their rest break on long haul flights.
If this was first class on the aircraft I’m assuming they are mentioning there are 3 other restrooms in first class for a total of 4 and that’s 4 restrooms for 42 passengers in first class. The back of the plane has about 6 more restrooms.
“Everyone knows…”
All I need to hear.
If everyone would just boycott these skanky old (non-Delta) legacy airlines, we could be done with them in a few years. Their employees are miserable anyway so why not just pull the plug and let them move on to the ash bin of aviation history where they belong?
So I won’t be seeing you in one of my flights, Michael? That’s a shame. I’m a fabulous flight attendant and love working for United! If you change your mind I will be happy to welcome you onboard one of my flights! Safe travels!
-your friendly United flight attendant
HaHaHa. Well said and with humor.
On another note, are you ok though? I give good hugs. It seems a little much for you to wish for hundred of thousands of employees that have dedicated their lives to a career that they love very much to be out of work. You know? The funny thing is… if you work for an airline in the United States you can fly for free on almost all US carriers! And many of us heavily rely on other airlines to get us to work because we don’t live in base. So we have a mutual respect for one another. We may playful joke occasionally about other airlines but we also have friends and family that work for other airlines as well. It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of. ❤️
wow, there is a lot of venom on this topic when there is a simple explanation. I’m a United flight attendant, I’m here to help. Yes, unfortunately that particular airplane doesn’t have the best set up for the lavatories, and yes, at times people have to wait in a long line to use them so the frustration mounts regardless of pilot usage. We even get a ton of people from economy using them since they are just in front of the economy cabin. I have been called a slew of names for asking passengers to please use the lavatory in their ticketed cabin. Economy passengers believe the curtain is for decoration and I apparently enjoy being a bathroom monitor. Believe me, I loath it. But it is our standard operating procedure to lock a lavatory off when the pilots would like to come out and use the bathroom. And while that may be frustrating for the people that have already been waiting in line… the pilots try to use the lav only when they absolutely must so they do not disturb the flight attendants or their service. And when they come out they cannot just lallygag. Even though there is more than two pilots working most international flights, there is only ever two in the cockpit as they alternate going on break in the cabin. I know it’s frustrating, and I’m sorry, but I think you might feel a little bit different if you were in their shoes and had to hold your urine or bowels because you have to be granted permission to come out and relieve yourself. It is fairly common for pilots to get urinary tract infections and kidney stones because of this. So please try being a little more compassionate. My suggestion would be to write to United asking for an additional bathroom? That could help everyone immensely. Including me! I can’t even wash my hands on that plane. I have to bring my own hand soap from home and use it in the galley because the bathrooms are so busy.
This is all well explained. I also was a flight attendant with UA doing international flying. It is very annoying to get passengers coming from the Economy cabin to use the Business First lavatories and defying the separation curtain between the cabins. Yes the pilots sometimes ask to lock a lav when they wake up from their break and need to refresh before going to the cockpit. At the time he or she enters the cockpit another pilot comes out to use the lavs. They are prisoners in the cockpit and have to wait for an available flight attendant. The cockpit door has to be secure with a cart and a flight attendant has to guard it. It is vital. To ensure that the second pilot has an immediate access to the lav, it must be locked. A trillion miles entitled passenger will not come first here.
As an airline employee that doesn’t make any sense, if it was security the bathroom would be in the front of the cabin which would need to be blocked off so passengers could not go anywhere near the cockpit. We put a service cart at the entrance to the Forward galley to block passengers from going up there so there’s no access to the cockpit or to the co-pilot or Pilots as they use the restroom.
There is no security if the flight crew has to walk through the cabin to go to the bathroom they can be attacked at any time in the plane can be taken over so how does that make any sense that they close one bathroom off for security when they’re walking to the cabin and those bathrooms do not have a key lock so it can be opened by anyone who has flown alot and watch the cabin crew.
I’ve flown UA 772’s in Polaris multiple times where FAs blocked off the front lav for the duration of the flight and wouldn’t let me use the front lav.
Sometimes the pilots request it.
Flight attendant, can you please empty my urinal? Thanks!
30 mn before landing is very close. Pilots usually take turns to relieve themselves and ask the flight attendant in the forward cabin to lock one lavatory. The lavatory is not locked the entirety of the flight.
They all need to be in the cockpit for the preparation for landing. Yes the passenger who has an emergency and who must use a toilet can always go to the back where there is usually a line at this time. One has to time himself or herself ahead of handing. Or wear a diaper.
The comments are very telling about our society. Nearly 200 so far, making pejorative accusations, either about the pilots or the business class passengers. But as the article clearly states, the reason is yet to be known. The issue could be a company directive whereby the pilot is simply complying. The point is, that isn’t known, and yet nearly every commenter is quick to negatively judge another. Aren’t we great, as a species?
What’s more disturbing is that you would post this article without any context, just as click bait.
Only one lavatory locked while the pilots are swapping positions and during bathroom breaks for security because the pilots need to get back into the flight deck to fly the aircraft in a reasonable amount of time and can’t be waiting in line. This is the same on every every commercial aircraft for every American carrier.
Perhaps you and your entitled friends should throw the blame where it’s deserved; at United management and Scott Kirby, who fancies himself a ‘Great Leader” in his latest speech. When reconfiguring these aircraft, they removed lavatories to make room for more seats, putting profits and shareholders over passengers and comfort, thus eliminating the forward lavatory that used to be locked only during pilot breaks. But I’m guessing you’re more on the side of shareholders and larger dividends.
Lavatories are locked for crew use during shift change. That is to ensure pilots are able to get back in the cockpit in time for critical phrase of landing where all four pilots have to be present and ready. I’m sure you don’t want your flight to miss the landing slot and circle around. That is not entitlement. That is safety procedure.
I highly doubt that the flight attendants on this flight would put up with a pilot locking/reserving a lav on the 767-400 for an entire flight. There’s NO way. The lavs on this aircraft type are notoriously difficult to navigate for both pax and crew. We hate it. Having only one lav for Polaris is a literal NIGHTMARE situation. If a pilot reserved a lav, as soon as their switch was over, an FA would go unlock it. Instead of trying to blame people, why can’t anyone seem to hypothesize that they simply forgot to unlock the lav, until it was brought to the attention of an FA? I myself have forgotten to unlock a lav after a pilot switch. I’m human and things happen. Never in my career have I heard of a lav being locked for pilot use only. That’s absurd and the FAs wouldn’t allow it. Your friend, or whoever relayed this story to you, clearly wasn’t aware of, didn’t report, or simply didn’t know all the facts…
I absolutely believe this is correct- There was some kind of mistake, miscommunication, or misunderstanding. For that, I feel sorry for the passenger . I have personally witnessed confusion about crews locking the lav doors from the outside in preparation for another crewmember using it. Sometimes they forget, and the door gets locked for a while.
So here’s a big part of the problem that even Matthew probably doesn’t know about:
The long-standing technique at many airlines for identifying a crewmember locked lavatory was to stick a napkin underneath the latch mechanism so that everyone in the crew would know that door was locked from the outside for crewmember use.
The problem came recently, when flight attendants were warned that the FAA completely disapproved of the practice of putting a napkin in the door. Apparently, the FAA thought that putting a napkin in the door is some kind of “unapproved procedure.”
So, the flight attendants are now being told that they still have to lock the doors off to expedite the pilot break crew changes, but that they could be violated if they stick a napkin in the door. Unfortunately, this has made things terribly confusing.
It used to be so much easier: You see a locked lav door with a napkin in the latch; you know that there is nobody in it, and it has been locked from the outside for crewmember use.
Now you see a locked door and you can only presume that it is in use and currently occupied, even though it might not be. I blame that part of the confusion on the FAA .
The passenger in this incident deserved a better explanation, but perhaps before firing off a litany of texts to Matthew , they could have sought some clarification from the purser, where perhaps with some polite inquiry they could have learned that there was actually no intention, no need, and no policy to lock the lav for the entire flight. I feel bad for the passenger, but it all seems like a big misunderstanding.
The blame game here is incredible. There are many possibilities. Did the lav have running water in the sink? I have operated flights where a lav needs to be closed for pax use because the sink is broken, even though the toilet still works. There is a directive that the lav is to be closed if the sink is inoperable. In the past, hand wipes could be a work-around, but post-Covid they won’t allow it and the lav has to be locked. In this case, maybe the crew used the inop lav for themselves for the toilet, but since it had no sink water, they couldn’t allow a pax in. This article is a whole lot of nonsense. This isn’t a chronic occurrence across multiple flights, and was clearly a one-off incident for reasons unknown to the passenger.
As any flight attendant will tell you, all that is needed to open a locked lavatory door is a ball point pen.,
There is not a port side on a plane. It’s Aircraft Left and Aircraft Right.
Port and Starboard are widely used terms, even if the origin of these terms far precedes airplanes.
I agree that too many folks these days definitely are so full of themselves that they’re blinded to the needs of others.
And in some cases, these people who are so abundantly full of themselves most likely dance to the same drummer as the Mr Orange… Or could that actually be me. Orange himself? Too full of himself.