Often1

No, it would not be an IDB claim. Read the DOT rule first.

It was an entirely appropriate action. If one is incontinent to the extent that one cannot safely remain in a seat during the limited time period in question, one is a risk to oneself, other passengers, and crew.

The same goes for other examples where a boarding pax tells a FA they may need to access the lav during certain operations. Best response is to offload the passenger.

SSF556

Wrong...the guy got up as we were turning onto an active runway

beachmouse

It doesn’t help that ATL is down a runway due to construction or something right now. We spent an extra half hour last night in a traffic jam on the ground and someone causing a further delay would not be treated kindly by fellow passengers

ATLflyer2017

All of these people shaming the passenger who had to use the restroom, what do you suggest he/she do? There was no malicious intent (I’m assuming). Sometimes things happen and you just have to go! It’s not a medical condition to have to quickly go!

SSF556

You notify the crew before boarding or while boarding that you have a medical condition. They will take appropriate actions if needed. They will inform you that using the bathroom on an active taxiway or runway is not allowed and should be handled before push off.

ATLflyer2017

Last I checked food poisoning is not a medical condition. It just comes up and the few times I've experienced that, I doubt I would've been able to notify the crew upon boarding. It just hits you. All my point is, lets just try and be understanding of people. You still got where you wanted to go, only had a slight delay. I don't think the person was trying to be rude. Stuff happens...

ijgordon

Well, you DO hear about it when the airplane had to divert because a passenger was stuck in the lavatory!
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/u...rnd/index.html
No reports of injury on landing.

cplunk

On several recent flights with Lufthansa, they were were quite proactive in announcing during the decent that there was another 10-15 minutes available to use the lavatory, or you'll have to wait till on the ground.
I understand that occasionally stuff happens, food poisoning, etc. But this shouldn't happen often. Really, if you're getting "food poisoning" more than once every couple of years (and why would this be coincidentally when you're on a plane very often?), maybe you should talk with a doctor... Food safety standards, especially in US airports, it's that bad.
Medical issues certainly exist, but if you can't control that for 30 minutes, is getting on a plane really a good idea?
I see this mostly as people who can't "go before then leave", and plan ahead for bodily functions. Especially with the number of times I've seen people get on the plane, get to their seat, place their baggage overhead, etc, and then head for the lavatory before the plane is even done boarding!!! Obviously chose to stand around and crowd the gate area while boarding rather than use the facilities at the airport before boarding.

beachmouse

I will not go into details for the sake of gentle male ears here, but there are some women whose monthlies can have a few days in them when there is not much warning that a containment failure is imminent.

Austin787

The "no. 2" part of the pilot's announcement may have something to do with those people needing to go

Maybe they had a tight connection, or got stuck in a long security line, and had no time to visit the restroom before boarding, especially if there is a line at the restroom

dgilman

Come on now - if people assumed the best of intentions, the post count on FT would drop dramatically.

How can I possibly feel superior to other people if I'm empathetic?

gitismatt

I don't know why it's so hard. if the seatbelt sign is on, your ... is in the seat. that's it.

Flyer0889

I’m sorry, What? FAs are required to inform the Flight Deck and the flight deck is required to stop the plane during taxi. It isn’t a grey area. FAs and pilots can, and have, received infractions for ignoring surface movement rules.

And passengers have injured themselves, and others, by getting up during taxi/takeoff/landing. Flight attendants themselves have been injured as well. It’s not “fine” to be up.

mattp1987

This is just unrealistic, at least given the way US airlines handle the seatbelt sign. I flew IAH-SAT on UA a week ago. We boarded on time but had to wait 30 minutes for pilots to show up and complete checks. Then we had a 47 minute wait to take off. We reached cruising altitude, and the pilots made an announcement that they were leaving the seatbelt sign on since we'd been descending soon. At this point, most pax had been onboard for 2 hours with the seatbelt sign on the entire time. Several of us got up to use the lav anyway. OTOH, IME EU airlines turn off the seatbelt sign as they ascend through 10k feet and only turn it back on for extreme turbulence and final descent.

flyerCO

I like way no-US airlines do it. You know if the belt light is on that there's a reason. In fact number of airlines the crew even sits and buckles up. US airlines it's on so much you finally just ignore it.