Originally Posted by
dvs7310
Of course you should remember that Captains on US carriers badly abuse the seat belt sign for convenience of the FAs. It's required to ignore the seat belt light on AA, UA, DL, etc. just to pee like a normal human being. They are putting their own passengers in danger by holding the seat belt sign on for so much of the flight vs. using it only when necessary. You'll never know when it's really safe vs. when they have it on for crew convenience. (YAY UNIONS!!!!!!)
Back in my TATL flying days, there was a notable difference in the attitude towards the seatbelt sign on US compared to EU carriers. It was very uncomfortable to have to hold it in forever and eventually having to make a run for the toilet while the seatbelt sign was still on. I mentioned this to a US-based pilot and they said to me they were doing it to avoid being sued (if turbulence did happen, having the seatbelt sign on eliminated any liability on their part.) I don't know of any agreement they have with the crew; maybe you know something that I don't... I hope you are not speculating.
Originally Posted by
dvs7310
I do blame pilots who are complicit when they use the seat belt sign for 80% of the flight, but if it's a reasonable airline then that's not the case and you make your own choice on when to be up and if you're unbuckled. I think on any plane more than 10-15 people standing waiting for the loo is enough, anyone else probably was just sitting with no seatbelt which is 100% their own fault.
In Y the lavatories : pax ratio is low, and AFAIK the regs require total number of lavs / total number of pax, rather than for each section. Then you get the "rushes", usually after meals, when EVERYBODY goes to the loo. Of course, keeping the seatbelt sign on forever will cause more toilet rushes. Maybe there is a better way to manage this - stay seated until your number is called, like at the DMV 😄