Originally Posted by
LarryJ
Pages 194 & 195 of this pdf are examples of when the MEL allows use by crew only. This is from a publicly available copy of the 737 Master MEL as that is the airplane with which I'm most familiar at the moment. There will be similar, if not identical, wording in the MELs from other airplanes.
https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/fi...v_62_Draft.pdf
You'll see that the affected lavatory must be placarded as inoperative so, barring it coming off or being inappropriately removed, you should see that in those cases.
I've never flown the 767-400, or any widebody for UAL, so I don't know how their procedures may be different from ours. In a configuration, such as what has been described in the thread, I wouldn't be surprised to find the door being locked in-between several pilots using the lav in succession, just as our front lav is blocked on the narrow-body when we take a break. I do not know why it would be locked for longer than that when it isn't required by an MEL.
For an airplane to be dispatched with inoperative lavatory(ies), approval must be received from Network Operational Control who takes into consideration the length of flight, number of passengers, etc. The Captain can also refuse to operate such an airplane if he thinks the inoperative equipment will affect the safety of the airplanes and passengers.
Fair enough - but as mentioned, an inop lavatory is placarded as such, so that is really a different situation than described. If the lavatory is placarded inop, I’m certainly not going to just use it and risk creating a mess, but I might ask if I’m having an emergency and see it used by crew.
Having said that, that’s not really what the OP claimed - blocking the lavatory “for security” is not in the MEL, FAA regulations, or unless you have content to the contrary, in the United procedures manual. It’s a case of selective choice by a crew member who almost certainly wanted to reserve a private restroom for themselves to the detriment of paying customers.
Unfortunately given the often hostile relationship between employees and customers, we really have no other option but to assume unprofessional conduct by the pilot of that flight.