Consider me fickle but I only use the lav in my cabin. Of course I am free from bathroom emergency issues and can see how those who aren't would.

I am also pretty fickle about bathroom ethics (traveling in Y I never dare go into F to use the restroom--feel like too many eyes are on my back).

HOWEVER... On a flight from TUS-PDX a few weeks ago I was sitting in 6A (bulkhead, don't remember the equipment) on an DL code share on AS metal and the aisle was blocked due to drink service.

I politely asked (since she had just done my row and could easily have backed up a few feet) if I could get by to use the restroom aft of the main cabin...

Lo and behold, she goes "There is a restroom in the front of the plane!" Very nicely of course... And the whole flight the curtain wasn't pulled either so I risked it...

Never had an FA tell me to use the F bathroom while I was seated in Y..

...nothing to add here

I like to see the faces of the Y passengers at times. Modesty is overrated.

Thank You!

I've been told to use the F lav on domestic flights when sitting near the front and the carts are in the aisle. Also, by the way, I think one of the reasons they are strict about it has nothing to do with F pax comfort...especially on domestic upgrade class...it is, rather, about security. I think they like to keep people away from the cockpit. Sorry to all of those who think that they are being protected for being very fancy medallions flying on T fares....but its probably not about us. In BE its another story, which is why those curtains are often not just pulled put snapped shut so that you its more difficult to get by.

I could be wrong but I actually think it's the opposite. I think "Security" is the excuse the airlines use to keep Y passengers out of the F cabin and from using the lavs up in F. I mean, the airlines have solved that issue of too many people congregating by the lavs by saying "No forming lines for the lavatory. If the lavs are occupied, stay in your seat until one becomes available" (it's been a while since I've heard that announcement but I have heard it before). Now to F/J passengers, having a better lav to passenger ratio and not having to wait in as long of a line is a perk of sitting up front (probably not the one any passengers primarily thinks about when paying for F or J but it is a perk). To other passengers, when nature calls, those calls of nature override any class-seperation. Depending on your viewpoint and situation, both views are right. However, I think the airlines have taken the former viewpoint to keep their high paying passengers happier but to avoid any backlas from the public about "class seperation" outweighing "basic human needs", they've been able to label it as a "security issue". I don't agree or disagree with it. I'm just calling it like I see it.

Agreed, but the FAs also react aggressively when even ONE FC passenger loiters up front waiting to use the lav. Doesn't matter what cabin the loiterer comes from. When the "occupied" light is on, you're supposed to stay seated until it's available.

Then there's a little reverse-musical-chairs dance to see who among the seated ones gets to use it next. The most successful ones listen for the flush, then time their rise and first step to coincide with the opening lav door. Too soon, and you become a loiterer. Too late and somebody else listening for the flush is going to sleaze in ahead of you.

I've been in F and walked all the way to the back (of a 757) to use the bathroom there just because it was a long flight and I felt like it.

I've been able to push the curtain back enough to enter the Lav without trespassing to Y.

This is not a DL specific topic so I am moving this discussion over to TravelBuzz where you can flush away!

RSSrsvp - Moderator

I recently had a FA tell me not to congregate by the forward lav. Arguing that it takes more than one person to form a congregation didn't persuade her.

Not even walking 4 rows to go to the lab? That's seriously lazy or efficient, matter of perspective.

You do know however that it is quite good for you to get up and walk around a little especially on long flights, right?

Till

There may be other times when it would be nice to be able to use the "unassigned" lav, but since it's an international flight, you can't. Such as, on a recent ORD-NRT flight in J when, prior to landing and lots of pax needing to use the lav, a young lady goes in with long, shoulder-length hair, stays more than 25 minutes, meanwhile a line forming near the lavs, and when she comes out, all that hair is stacked up on the top of her head with a new "do" and makeover. (Yes, I noticed her going in and waited until she came out.) She greeted all the pax in line with a huge smile.