Am I Wrong for Walking Away From an FA?
Woaria Rashid March 14, 2019
When nature calls, it’s kind of hard to ignore it.
A passenger aboard an unnamed airline took to Reddit to gauge whether they were in the wrong when an unpleasant encounter with a flight attendant regarding a bathroom situation took place on-flight.
The passenger, sassyelle on Reddit, explained to the divisive “AITA” community that before landing, a flight attendant made an announcement: if you need to use the bathroom, do it now. When an influx of people got up right away to use the bathrooms, sassyelle decided to use the available bathroom closest to their seat: the first class bathroom. When sassyelle exited, a flight attendant was standing directly outside the bathroom waiting.
Writes sassyelle, “She proceeded to angrily tell me that I had used the wrong bathroom… Frankly, I’d had a long and difficult work day and didn’t feel like listening to her lecture. So I interrupted to say ‘thank you for telling me’ and walked away.”
Then, the flight attendant followed saying loudly, “it’s extremely rude to walk away from people when they’re talking to you, don’t you think?” Now sassyelle wants to know, were they in the wrong? Or was the flight attendant?
Reddit users weighed in on the encounter and were once again divided on the issue:
One user who felt that sassyelle was in the wrong said, “Yeah, but right and wrong aren’t judged by if it’s costing anyone money. First Class bathrooms are reserved for first class passengers, plain and simple. That’s it. If you are not flying first class, you can’t use those bathrooms. And I say this as someone who has never flown first class.”
Those who felt that the flight attendant was in the wrong argued: “No, when you’re in the phase of flight where you’re trying to cycle as many passengers through the restrooms as possible in order to have them seated and belted for the approach, class divisions take a back seat to flight operations. The FA should have been working in that mode. And I say that as a pilot.”
And others thought both parties mishandled the situation: “You broke the rules and were rude to her. She was overreacting.”
Toilet access isn’t a privilege, especially when it’s a matter of urgency. Though it’s important to note that some airlines may have different rules about using toilets located in different cabins and failure to comply with a crewmember can potentially get you arrested.
How would you have handled the situation?
[Image Source: Shutterstock]
@cbr123 I highly doubt it was much of a lecture. Even if it was - the passenger had it coming anyway. Walking away because you don't listen to anyone you don't want to can be a dangerous game - depending from whom you're walking away. @sam737 LOL! You're not part of the solution here - the world doesn't revolve around what's a "right" and what's a privilege - it's what you PAY for, not what you feel entitled to receive/use.
Apparently, lots of people feel the right les apply to others and not them. The rule is you use the lav assigned to your cabin. Period. The woman should have gone to the Y lava and waited in line like everyone else. Period.
cannot believe these comments bashing topic poster for using FC toilet are serious. Using loo is a right, not a privilege.
I am 42 years old. I don't listen to anybody that I don't want to listen to, short of the police or a judge. If I do wrong, apologize and move on. Mainly I avoid doing wrong at nearly all cost. If someone is lecturing me, I treat them like the walking irrelevancy that they are.
Snidely, if 'ThePointsGuy' is to be believed, the policy referenced above exists, but if you read the comments to the article linked below, you find that other people have also contacted AA and gotten a 'economy pax can use it when necessary' answer which somewhat contradicts what TPG found out. https://thepointsguy.com/news/aa-economy-first-class-bathrooms/ Incidentally, what a silly instruction, 'Use when necessary'. Who uses one of those stupid lavs when it ISN'T neccessary?! (I am of course excluding the Mile High Club from 'necessary.' ; - ) ) (***The TSA policy is what is weird, why the ability of economy pax to use the FC lav when departing the US, but not on the return?*** This is probably how people get confused on the rules.) FWIW, a bathroom is not like a bigger seat or fancier meals or special boarding times. It is a necessity, and no, it is not always possible to 'plan' it. I do acknowledge that while waiting the economy passengers should not loiter in the FC cabin. Also FWIW: I"d have heard the FA out, it costs me nothing to listen, even to a 'lecture.'