108912

Have others experienced this?

I've just completed four sectors in Club World on the A350. On three out of the four, the forward loo has been blocked off, seemingly for crew use only.

The first sector it happened I just assumed it was always in use as I was redirected to the toilets further back.

The second time I clocked on as I was passing through the galley and heard one crew member remark to the other 'oh she can use the toilet, it's the First Officers other half' and the toilet was manually unlatched from the outside.

The third sector it was available.

The fourth sector again it was blocked and when I was redirected again to the rear loos I simply stated to the crew 'actually, if it isn't in use i'd rather use this one' to which the crew member begrudgingly unlatched the door and allowed me access.

Is this a 'thing' or is it crew gone rogue?

smiles in the aisles

it’s actually encouraged by management to block it off during main service times. The galley space is simply too cramped to have a meal service and customer toilet use happening simultaneously at the front. Pretty shortsighted by whomever signed off these galley plans. It’s also common for the Capt to request that it’s blocked off so they have easy access when they need it/somewhere to get changed when swapping over from bunk rest

hydro001

The forward toilet is usually not available for use during service due to layout of plane / galley. A message to the IFE screens should explain this and invite customers to use the toilets in the middle. Between services, no restriction.

Though on occasions captain would request the toilet to be blocked off as it is next to their rest area (not a standard but captain's request)

108912

Interesting. Thanks Smiles and Hydro. :-)

jeremyBA

I assume the same person signed off the A380 layout at 5:28 on a Friday afternoon.

Emirates have a great product. A bar, seating area. It amazing. BAs answer - just stick on the same old seats and a toilet so large it would not be out of place in most houses. Good - can I go home for the weekend now.

I was on a 777 from Sydney. The middle Galley now has to run by hand meals for the club cabins. I went to the WC during service. it was chaos. One member of staff was sitting on the floor surrounded by "stuff" and there was no way to cross to the other side.

Who on earth designs these things ?

Waterhorse

Accountants in offices without windows and who have never seen an aircraft let alone considered how they might be used by people

DYKWIA

You shouldn't be mentioning that, it upsets people on here ("very tacky" etc.)

Radiation Station

Yes. I also found this annoying on CPT-LHR this last week, especially as I was in 1K. I also felt the galley was quite noisy for a large part of the night flight, due to the crew mostly working and resting in this area - this wasn’t great for sleeping. There was also frequently a queue for both the available bathrooms, which was quite frustrating, especially as I was relatively far from being able to dive in when it was empty. A poor choice of design!

Prospero

Or space planners whose brief it was to arrange the Club World Suites in such as way so as not to reduce the seat count too much. The end result leads to the inevitable deconstruction of galleys during service periods creating a cluttered and unsightly front of house environment during service periods.

By comparison, AA continues to implement parallel cross overs on board its 777s with a separate galley area between doors 2L/2R defended by crew as if their very existence depended on it.

danmushman

Had this on CPT-LHR at the weekend too. As also in 1A being furthest from the middle toilets. 2 toilets for 56 CW passengers isn't sufficient.
It wasn't clear at what points the front toilet became 'unblocked.'

Radiation Station

I think we might have been occupying the same row on the same flight. I attempted to use the front loo immediately after the seat belt sign went off and was rebuffed by the IFM, shortly after a more fleet passenger entered it. It seems that the decision was made then.

danmushman

I managed to use it whilst still on the ground

TonyBurr

Is it really during service periods? I find it is more often the crew just wants their private loo and not one used by passengers. Not service, but a private loo

atcer28

The problem I have found is that often they never unlock the toilets. I have no issue with them blocking them during service as it is a terrible design.

But I don’t think the captain should be able to block it. I get the whole rest issue but they could use ear plugs if the noise if the toilet flushing is unacceptable.

Last time it was out of use the whole time there was a constant queue for the middle ones at least 2-3 people deep each side. That’s not acceptable for business class.

hydro001

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it should be so usually for first 2.5-3 hours after take off and for second service - until 40 mins to landing.
Unless the captain has specifically requested it to be blocked off though to those occasions are fewer now, was quite common during pandemic.

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