AC194 YVR-YUL: What are the washroom rules?
May 31, 2012, 9:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YYJ - Victoria
Programs: E50K
Posts: 453
AC194 YVR-YUL: What are the washroom rules?
On AC 194 yesterday, I did not get an upgrade, but I had my original seat -- 12D, the first row behind business. I was able to see through the gap in the curtains everything that went on there.
Now, I've always considered the washroom at the front to be reserved for business class ticket holders, but all through the flight, people from the back went up to use it. Whatever. An hour out of Montreal, I felt the need to use a washroom, and for 15 minutes looked to the back of the plane. The red lights were always on, there was always a lineup.
So right after another woman from the cheap side of the curtain used the front washroom, I went up there. I was turned back, and told to use the one at the back. OK, I said.
Fifteen minutes later, I got back up to my seat at the front. And during the rest of the flight, I watched as people from the back went up to use the washroom at the front. The dude looking after that area turned none of them away. Only me. I have no idea why I was the only one deemed unworthy, and really, it was annoying. My pee, and my pee alone, is not good enough for the business class potty.
So what are the rules regarding this? Should I have pressed the issue? I planned to mention it to the dude as I was getting off the plane, but because of gate issues we were terribly late getting in, and I had a connection.
I know, I know, in the great scale of issues, this is a minor one. But I am curious to know what the rules are, and whether I should have stood my ground.
Now, I've always considered the washroom at the front to be reserved for business class ticket holders, but all through the flight, people from the back went up to use it. Whatever. An hour out of Montreal, I felt the need to use a washroom, and for 15 minutes looked to the back of the plane. The red lights were always on, there was always a lineup.
So right after another woman from the cheap side of the curtain used the front washroom, I went up there. I was turned back, and told to use the one at the back. OK, I said.
Fifteen minutes later, I got back up to my seat at the front. And during the rest of the flight, I watched as people from the back went up to use the washroom at the front. The dude looking after that area turned none of them away. Only me. I have no idea why I was the only one deemed unworthy, and really, it was annoying. My pee, and my pee alone, is not good enough for the business class potty.
So what are the rules regarding this? Should I have pressed the issue? I planned to mention it to the dude as I was getting off the plane, but because of gate issues we were terribly late getting in, and I had a connection.
I know, I know, in the great scale of issues, this is a minor one. But I am curious to know what the rules are, and whether I should have stood my ground.
May 31, 2012, 9:47 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Body in Downtown YYZ, heart and mind elsewhere
Programs: UA 50K, refugee from AC E50K, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 5,132
May 31, 2012, 9:52 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC - not the centre of the universe
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Posts: 4,768
Even when I'm in Y, I don't want to go to the J lav and see all the people enjoying their nice seats and meals...
May 31, 2012, 9:59 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC, BA, Marriott, SPG
Posts: 842
My biggest AC complaint (yes biggest) is lack of enforcement for J bathrooms being for only J pax. I once flew J Yyz to lhr and saw a ton of Y pax (including small children with parents) using the washrooms. At one point a lineup of 3 J pax were waiting for the bathroom. One Y pax came out finally and lets just say the bathrooms toilet was no longer useable for the duration of the flight.
A simple annoucement after takeoff will solve a lot of this problem. "There are 4 bahrooms a the back if the plane for economy passengers and 3 at the front for Busness passengers". Many airlines do this and have far less issues with the lavatories.
A simple annoucement after takeoff will solve a lot of this problem. "There are 4 bahrooms a the back if the plane for economy passengers and 3 at the front for Busness passengers". Many airlines do this and have far less issues with the lavatories.
May 31, 2012, 10:05 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
I almost got turned back using the lav at the back once by a snarky flight attendant - but I can't fit comfortably in the one at the front on many of the planes (E90, CRA, A319) etc... J should be allowed to use Y no questions asked...
May 31, 2012, 10:15 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YYJ - Victoria
Programs: E50K
Posts: 453
All of the answers confirm what I thought. So the only real question, which could only be answered by the service dude on that flight, was why he rejected only one passenger. With some of the other Y pasengers, he even opened the washroom door for them, for pete's sake.
I am OK with rules as long as we are all treated equally. Preferential treatment is unacceptable.
I am OK with rules as long as we are all treated equally. Preferential treatment is unacceptable.
May 31, 2012, 10:24 am
#10
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I've heard Qantas crew make an additional announcement to the likes of "Whoever crosses this curtain when they should not be will be asked to leave the aircraft immediately" !
May 31, 2012, 11:29 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Home - YYZ
Programs: AC*E, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 778
Was on a YYZ-BDA back in April, and I noticed a young white lady from Y freely visiting the J loo with no obstruction from the incharge who clearly saw her proceeding through the curtain.
10 mins later, a young black man tried the same and was turned back to the back of the plane.
Later in the flight the same white lady tried and was turned to the back.
Hate to play the race card, but that seemed a bit out of order.
10 mins later, a young black man tried the same and was turned back to the back of the plane.
Later in the flight the same white lady tried and was turned to the back.
Hate to play the race card, but that seemed a bit out of order.
May 31, 2012, 11:34 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YVR
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 828
May 31, 2012, 11:40 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Home - YYZ
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Posts: 778
May 31, 2012, 11:42 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC*E50
Posts: 594
One exception to the rule is on a narrow-body with meal carts blocking access to the back. Not really fair to the folks up front in Y to have no access to washrooms for half an hour.