I'll caveat off of what Exedra said...

Once flying from Frankfurt stateside, we had to turn around and go back for a mechanical. Once fixed, we had to wait over three hours for a takeoff slot (must have been the busy season). Super-airports like that have almost no margin for error or change of plans.

Again, I sympathize, but imagine the nightmare the airline has with 300+ pax now needing either new flights, hotels or other considerations due to one person's medical condition because they had to give up a takeoff slot. The US bound flights don't have a lot of flexibility, and the intra-US flights often don't, either.

And, as was posted before, the weight and balance issue with some small planes is certainly a factor on take off. Too much weight up front, and the plane may as well drive to the destination airport, because it ain't getting airborne.

I will be sure to pass on all these comments and suggestions to my mother...

BTW, I am well aware of all the safety factors and I am not disputing them. I am only saying that, once in awhile, there just may be extenuating and/or non-predictable circumstances for pax using the lav at inappropriate times during a flight. That is no reason to call them "idiots" (referring to the title of the thread).

That was my thought also. You should first take what steps you can to address the problem yourself before you do things that impose on others.

If you can't hold it through the normal time of takeoff or landing then you should be wearing a diaper.

I have much more sympathy for the guy with a stomach bug--that's unexpected, he wouldn't know to pack diapers.

On the other hand I think planes should stock some adult diapers for this very situation.

There's also some equipment you can get that will let you go to the bathroom into a bag on your leg or something. I agree that your mother needs to be prepared for these situations due to her medical condition and not always hope for an exception to be made.

OMG, I have a twin that I wasn't aware of! <High five for your correct response!> :D