Rumples

First - this is a first world problem. Second - this is what I have observed and I can be completely wrong.

With the above being said, I have found it quite amusing to me that the number of people who slam the bathroom door is actually pretty high. You don’t slam a door at home or anywhere else, why on a plane?

I have only noticed this since i now have a child and travel with the family, and for practical reasons, we typically book bulkhead rows (3 together). However, this means we’re by the lavatories most of the time and it ends up waking him up during naps.

Just a musing from me. I was going to also say that I dont see this happening in domestic first or polaris as much (but before the pitchforks come out) i do believe its just a function of pax to lav ratio.

Anyone else see this more and more?

sonyeoshin

One reason why this could happen especially with infrequent travelers is since lavatory doors are foreign to them, they will not understand how they work very well and will therefore not use them very correctly. Another reason could be because the plane's movement while cruising could slightly mess up how people move on planes, pax will shut doors harder than they usually would so the door would actually shut. In my experience, I have found lavatory doors to often be forced open when trying to get in and out, so some strength is needed for me to open lav doors.

I frequently see FAs help pax with lav doors for reasons set above.

meijiem

The much worse problem in my opinion is people coming out and leaving the lavatory door open! Ick!

1k-all-the-way

I am always surprised by how many people dont know how to OPEN the door or what the red occupied sign means. And dont get me started about how many don't know how to flush... 😱

DutchessPDX

I'm more surprised at the people who don't know how to properly lock an airplane lav door. Like, if the light doesn't come on the door isn't closed all the way.

Repooc17

Yeah, some lav is somewhat dark without the locking mechanism.

Also, if there is a closer on the way to the lav, that would trip up a lot of users. I am guessing the size of the lav will eventually be as small as the closet.

OP, personally I am not bothered by the occasional banging. I am used to people at my mom's apt where they just let the (thick) door close by itself, creating a loud sound even with good soundproofing and some distances away. Worst part is they don't do it once or twice a day; sometimes 5-6 in less than 30 secs.

Whyme

Some with the bifold doors have a really strong spring and slam themselves before you can catch the door. As for the regular doors with a door handle, I'd be really grateful if even half of passengers started closing the door after leaving the lavatory. Right now, about one in ten does. It's annoying and smelly.

AirbusFan2B

Can also be solved with an intentional design. I was at my first conference at The Wynn Las Vegas earlier in the month and noticed the doors to all conference rooms had been designed not to slam.
PS: Was this a particular aircraft type?

AndyPatterson

If you need to fly in the bulkhead row by the lavatories (and/or mid-cabin galleries), consider bringing earplugs for your family!

Rumples

737 Max 9 on this past trip

Aussienarelle

I did notice this in Polaris and is one of the reasons i no longer sit in 9A/L. Loved the larger footwell but the number of times i got woken by the slamming of the lavatory door just ended up by me not choosing that seat. Similar for 1L on some Polaris flights.

greenpau

Same ... I avoid 9A/L and 1L on the 789 for this reason - too much slamming.

notquiteaff

I wish. I had to educate several younger guests (family) how door handles work. So it doesn’t surprise me that you experienced excessive door slamming on airplanes, though to be honest I don’t personally recall any “incidents”.