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Here’s A New One “the bathrooms do not work until 16,000 feet”

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Here’s A New One “the bathrooms do not work until 16,000 feet”

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Old Feb 14, 2018, 1:36 pm
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Here’s A New One “the bathrooms do not work until 16,000 feet”

GA today kept saying the lavatories do not work until you are in the air so go no. I laughed at it and figured it’s a way for people to not swim upstream during boarding.

After boarding i made made a joke to the FA’s about it and they looked at me dead serious (one did the other looked perplexed) saying it came straight from the captain not working until 16,000 feet.

I guess this is he is he one of a kind A319 with non functioning bathrooms?
Edit to my original story when I asked why I was told by the crew “this is on all planes” so I attempted to inquire and was dismissed

Last edited by vincentharris; Feb 14, 2018 at 5:00 pm
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 1:41 pm
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Amazing. And totally false of course. I regularly try to use the lav before takeoff if I'm in F and not going to get in the way of pax boarding, because I know it could be a while before I can use again.
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 1:47 pm
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Another example of go-go dysfunctionality on the 319's.
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 1:50 pm
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Originally Posted by jdrtravel
And totally false of course.
Not merely false - totally patronizing, too. We are not preschool kids and don't need to be lied to.

If you don't want people to use bathrooms, just announce that the bathrooms are unavailable below 16,000 feet. Set the lock to the occupied position.

Don't say they "don't work" as that's an insult.


EDIT: it turns out I'm wrong
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Last edited by davie355; Feb 14, 2018 at 8:25 pm
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 1:54 pm
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Originally Posted by davie355
Not merely false - totally patronizing, too. We are not preschool kids and don't need to be lied to.

If you don't want people to use bathrooms, just announce that the bathrooms are unavailable below 16,000 feet. Set the lock to the occupied position.

Don't say they "don't work" as that's an insult.
THANK YOU!!!! We are adults treat us with even the smallest amount of dignity.
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 2:08 pm
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That's almost as 'good' as the one "our instruments show that seven phones are not in airplane mode"
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 2:13 pm
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Originally Posted by ty97
That's almost as 'good' as the one "our instruments show that seven phones are not in airplane mode"
honestly this is worse since in theory such an instrument MAY exist in the world but I am certain a first time flyer would even know the bathroom thing is a lie
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 2:14 pm
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Originally Posted by SuperG1955
Another example of go-go dysfunctionality on the 319's.
IP I see what you did there.
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 2:28 pm
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I can think of 2 flights I was on where the lavs didn't flush on the ground, but they did in the air . . . .

1) TATL B763. Three toilets wouldn't flush at the gate. They called in a mechanic while we all sat at the gate. He checked EVERYTHING he could, and, I'll never forget his words . . . .

Those toilets WILL flush once you're in the air - - - I'll stake my reputation on it! <Sure enough, they did! >

2) I used a lav at the gate once, and, the toilet didn't flush. A319/320, I think. I commented about it to a FA and was told it would work in the air - - and it did!

Something about pressure. I don't remember, exactly.
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 2:31 pm
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Just as an FYI I checked the IFE and I flushed at 13,500-14,500 feet. That was a close one
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 3:32 pm
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Sounds like the vacuum pump which provides suction for the lavatories on the ground was unserviceable. The 16,000ft figure is from the Airbus MEL (minimum equipment list) instructions for dispatching with the pump unserviceable, as an estimate of when the differential between the cabin and outside air pressure is sufficient to provide suction to the system again.

Had this a fair few times as a pilot on A320s, we normally kept the seatbelt signs on and lavatory doors locked until they were usable again.
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 3:39 pm
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Originally Posted by vincentharris
THANK YOU!!!! We are adults treat us with even the smallest amount of dignity.
No, Delta considers you to be self-loading cargo.
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 3:45 pm
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I've only used the bathroom on the ground on 737's and an MD80. Honestly don't remember if they flushed or not, I think I remember hearing the suction but nothing else.
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 3:48 pm
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After doing a quick search, I found this thread that I posted in May 2010:

Did'ja know that A320 toilets don’t flush til you hit 16,000 feet???
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Old Feb 14, 2018, 3:53 pm
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Originally Posted by vincentharris


THANK YOU!!!! We are adults treat us with even the smallest amount of dignity.
Well...then why do many passengers get up while the "Fasten Seat Belt" sign is on? Some people need to be treated like kids because they can't obey a clearly LIT sign!
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