Originally Posted by AZ Travels the World
There was a thread about this issue some time back. Based upon what I've heard, I'll be surprised if the combined airline goes this way, as much as I'd LOVE for it to happen.
I was commiserating in the galley with a FA on a recent flight about the long line of people behind the 3rd row in F, waiting to use the forward bathroom. (It makes sitting in that third row aisle seat much less desirable, especially on the 'long-haul' flights. One woman on a recent flight actually sat on my armrest while she was waiting!) Apparently as a matter of policy, HP no longer asks coach passengers to use the rear lavs. The FA told me that a passenger filed suit against the airline because she got a bladder infection following a flight because she could not get to a rear lav and the FA's wouldn't let her use the front one, or something along these lines. Her grounds was a law requiring x/number of lavs per person in a given space. Apparently the only way the aircraft meets the requirement is if it adds the F lav into the formula, so -- no more lav reserved for F passengers.
I understand the way you and no doubt many others feel about this issue - It is an opinion I would have once held myself. Fate dealt me an unfortunate card 5 years ago and I developed ulcerative colitis. At certain times, 'holding it' is simply not an option. Normally, if I don't get an upgrade I've no problem using the lav in the back. But if I'm seated in 6A, nature calls and the FA's cart is in the way I'm going to disturb the folks up front. People w/ Irritable Bowel Syndrome & bladder control problems likely feel the same way. Of course many of the people lining up and disturbing F pax do not have these afflictions and may just be downright rude. But you can't identify those with valid medical conditions just by looking at them and they don't wear signs. So now when I'm in F I just let it slide.