I was recently on UA836 PVG to ORD and was seated in 33C (exit row), which is right in front of the bathrooms. I was surprised to see that so many travelers [comment removed by moderator] could not figure out how to open the door. Once passenger even got stock in the bathroom and could not figure out how to unlock the door.

Not sure why one would think that signs would help. On most flight I have been on, pax can't even understand the fasten seat belt sign -- and it is a picture. Also not sure what makes this worth a post.

Some lav doors are single panel and open outward (like normal doors) and some lav doors are bi-fold doors that you push inward to enter from the outside (and pull inward when you're inside and want out). I think I've been on planes that feature both types - so I can understand passenger confusion. Add in some alcohol, fatigue, mild oxygen deprivation and the inherent stress in travel and no wonder passengers don't seem to always get it.

My advise to the OP --- Next time pony up for a rear facing Bus class seat so you don't have to look at [travelers] that have trouble opening a lav door!

Since this is not specific to United, please follow it in TravelBuzz!

l'etoile
UA moderator

Pesky Kettles!

Never underestimate the stupidity of the general public. Especially in coach. One annoyance of mine that I see time and time again are the people who finish using the lav, and then go back to their seat after having left the lav door open. Thanks, now we can all smell it. No doubt these are the same dummies who grab every aisle seat to steady themselves on the way back to their own seat, waking/disturbing every aisle pax as they go.

If you can't figure out how to open the door what makes you think they are smart enough to read the instructions?

deleted.

Not quite the same thing, but even more irritating is when FAs have problems with the doors.

On a recent LH flight, I stood outside a bathroom for about 20 minutes. It was "occupied" the whole time and no one came in or out. Finally a FA noticed, thought something might be wrong with whoever was in there, knocked, and when there was no response, she used her key to open the door.

It was vacant. Which means the FAs forgot to unlock the door after take-off.

I once sat in Y (company policy) at an exit which was also near the toilets on HKG-MAN. Myself and the people in the seats next to me were kept entertained by the fact that a significant proportion of people were unable to work out how to enter (and on occasion lock) the toilets.

I did wonder if there was a cultural thing going on.

PVG---you're looking at a fair number of people who don't speak or read English.

Add the fact that many Chinese don't fly much at all, I could see the problem happening.

Do we really need yet another thread sneering at the "stupidity" of less experienced fliers?

lot of planes have a light red on the left or right side above the latrine. does that indicate the bm is empty or in use? why no green light?
the hall outside bm's are usually in darkness. can you read the instructions?
most of the opening devices are recessed. if there is any written instruction it is usually in 8 point font, down so low one cannot bend over to see it. this latching device is not like the ones found in homes, on boats, cars, or space ships.
there is an instruction once one finally gets into the latrine. don't throw anything into the toilet. no instruction as to where to put my trophy pampers.

not many know that usair and a few others never turn off the seatbelt sign. sometimes for 8-9 hours.(overnight transatlantics). am i to just disregard that sign, or do i take a dump in my seat?

Definitely not something that makes me laugh as I got stuck in airplane bathroom when I was three. Mom let me go by myself because it was only a few rows away, she could see the door, and I'd never had a problem (been flying since I was a few weeks old). Well it was my first encounter with a bifold door, I got in there and was too short to see the instructions on how to unlock & open the door. Apparently my screams for "Mommy" had half the plane running for the lavs. Once mom got there she talked me through opening the door, but still, to this day, I try and avoid using airplane lavs if at all possible - lingering trauma from when I was a child.