Points Scrounger

A great feature of audiobooks -- you can continue listening after you leave your seat.

rufflesinc

i thought this was bad too but most people can sleep through the night without going to the bathroom, unless you drink a lot of water right before falling asleep.

peachfront

An hour? I've had them knock on the door after five minutes. I don't try to hog the lav, but on a long flight I have to wash up somehow. I finally figured out a way to brush my teeth in my seat, kinda have to since I don't want to rinse my mouth with the non-potable water in the lav, but I still have to wash my face and so on.

lili

I'm curious also. Suspect negative air pressure or something. You certainly don't want any blackflow from the holding tank.

Similar question: is there some sort of mechanical failure that would cause the entire lav to be awash in water? Say 1+ inch on the floor, but also sprayed all over the walls and ceiling? This was water, clear, neither yellow nor blue. It was my first trip to Asia, on an Asian carrier. LAX-NRT-KUL-MAA and I only used the the lav that one time, thinking bad thoughts about entire countries and my fellow passeners, or that the plumbing was just overwhelmed by the number of people in Y. Later I realized it was like some waterline blew and spewed water all over the lav. The return flight had no such problem, and after 3 weeks in India I had reprioritized anyway.

CPRich

I preferred

I use the lav if I have to and don't use it if I don't have to. I never before thought that was odd....

alanh

The vacuum toilets operate at 3psi for about 4 seconds, which is provided by a pump at low altitude or outside pressure at high altitude. The main plus is they take just 2 liters or less to flush.

Mythbusters on Discovery tested the myth that you could get stuck (or worse) on a vacuum toilet if you were sitting on it when it flushed.

planemechanic

Since there is no longer a holding tank actually in the lav the only way to have that kind of water is a broken water line.

BTW, Did you know that the toilet flush water comes from the same tank as the potable "drinking" water tank? The only thing separating the toilet bowl sprayers from the water tank is a one-way (we hope it never breaks) check valve.

Bottoms Up!

marsel

and

htb

I sometimes prefer the lavs on the plane over the lavs in the terminal. Especially if you're the first to use it on the plane it's cleaner than the lavs in the terminal. Never thought that would be strange until now...

HTB.

MikeFly

Slightly realted to the topic.

Can someone please explain to me why people use the lav in their stocking feet or worse yet barefoot?! Now that grosses me out every time I see it (especially on a domestic U.S. flight)

BamaVol

I'm guessing most of what you pick up on your feet will not attack your skin or your body through your skin. It probably washes off in your next shower. I'd be squeamish about it, but it's probably not too unsafe.

shisochou

With the number of drinks I request (sometimes, if I'm flying in F or J I'd have 4 different drinks going at once) it's impossible for me not to use the lav.

It's also why I request aisle seats.

alanh

Sorry. Myth busted. Airline toilets are built with a shroud that provides an air gap. Even putting their simulated giant butt (really!) directly on the bare bowl, just a slight shift was enough to break the vacuum. 3 psi isn't enough to suck your insides out either. Adam actually tried it himself. He laughed like crazy but was unharmed.

As for bare feet, I might get disgusted by proxy, but nothing they track in on their bare feet is going to affect me any more than the stuff tracked in on shoes.

747LWW

I put on my shoes before using rest room, walking to galley, etc. No exceptions for me.

Gargoyle

For me, the secret to avoiding jet lag on long haul/TATL flights is to drink LOTS of water and walk around alot. Sleeping isn't important.

And it just so happens, the two go together- the more water I drink, the more I have to "walk around".