Disability Travel - Medical reason for frequent restroom visit

My wife and I travel more these days and my wife's medical condition due to chemotherapy rquires frequent restroom visits on the plane. She silently suffers when the aisle way is blocked by a cart or when there is a long line at the economy restroom.
Would FAs be receptive to requests under these conditions for the use of restroom at the front?
Being of asian origin, we don't want frequenting restroom to cause an alarm!

My wife and I travel more these days and my wife's medical condition due to chemotherapy rquires frequent restroom visits on the plane. She silently suffers when the aisle way is blocked by a cart or when there is a long line at the economy restroom.
Would FAs be receptive to requests under these conditions for the use of restroom at the front?
Being of asian origin, we don't want frequenting restroom to cause an alarm!

I would think that an appropriate discussion with the FA/purser would probably help, but these days you never know.

Has she considered urinary catherization? That may be the best way to ensure comfort through the flight. Depending on where you are sitting in economy, it may be as difficult to reach the front as it is to reach the back, if carts are blocking the way. That is assuming that they allow you to use the premium lavs at all, a request that may well be denied.

If possible, try flying airlines where they do not use carts for drink service to avoid the situation where the cart blocks one (or even both, if it is right at your row) of the lavatories.

Talk to the FA before the issue arises. Perhaps right after take-off or, if the flight isn't too full or crazy, at boarding. Don't wait until she has to make a run for it to give the explanation.

Most FAs will be understanding and work with you. Just be calm and recognise that you are asking for a favour.

And best wishes for your wife and that the chemo works and that she gets better soon

Perhaps your wife would have the best luck with the FA's if she brought a letter from the doctor explaining about her condition.

I hope your wife is on the mend very soon.

As another consideration, what about sitting in the back of the plane, near the lavatories? As another advantage I've seen more open seats back there than elsewhere. The cart typically spends less time blocking the back of the plane. I've used this approach many times when I fly in economy.

Why don't you just book seats at the back of the plane. Your chances of that aisle being blocked are a lot less. That way, you can take responsibility for yourself and also stay in your purchased cabin. It's not the pursor's issue.

Talk to the FA before the issue arises. Perhaps right after take-off or, if the flight isn't too full or crazy, at boarding. Don't wait until she has to make a run for it to give the explanation.

Most FAs will be understanding and work with you. Just be calm and recognise that you are asking for a favour.

And best wishes for your wife and that the chemo works and that she gets better soon

Perhaps your wife would have the best luck with the FA's if she brought a letter from the doctor explaining about her condition.

I hope your wife is on the mend very soon.

Agree with both of the above.

Cheers.

Why don't you just book seats at the back of the plane. Your chances of that aisle being blocked are a lot less. That way, you can take responsibility for yourself and also stay in your purchased cabin. It's not the pursor's issue.

As another consideration, what about sitting in the back of the plane, near the lavatories? As another advantage I've seen more open seats back there than elsewhere. The cart typically spends less time blocking the back of the plane. I've used this approach many times when I fly in economy.


^+1

Good ideas. I symphathize someone has a medical condition that has to go to toilet often, but it is really not an excuse one can use the toilet up front. First, it is unfair to pax sitting upfront, they can agrue since you have a condition, so why not buy a ticket to sit upfront ? Secondly, if other pax saw someone using toilet upfront, it would only encourage others to do so.

hey, i'm really impressed with the empathy from part of this group.

first, do not fly us air. they do not turn off the seat belt sign until two hrs after takeoff.

in addition to being hourly regular, i have had a blood clot in my thigh. i tell the gate attendant, the FA, and anyone else who will listen. i get seat an aisle midway between two rest rooms. no one has ever questioned my getting up, but that may be because i look so old and decrepit.

i have never carried a note from either the doctor or my mother.

This may well be an issue that the readers of our Disability Travel forum can add perspective to. Let me move it there. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Seating in the back of the plane is the best plane. On recent flights on American Airlines there was a mesh curtain that closed off First Class from Economy. There were announcements about not changing your location to a different class of service.

There were also periods of time when the First Class lav was not available to any passengers at all as it was blocked off by a service cart so that the pilots could use it.

Many people feel more comfortable taking steps to reduce their dependence on the kindness/understanding of others. Someone already mentioned catheterization; another possible solution is using incontinence pads or underwear, if only as a hedge against disaster.