Friends, it’s true: Everyone poops. It’s true on the ground. It’s true on the go. And that means it’s true on airplanes.
Now, listen, no one is arguing that going to the bathroom on a plane is the most pleasant part of your travel experience. Airplane bathrooms are tiny, not always tidy, and you often have to wait in line to use them. But it doesn’t have to be awful every time.
A few professional tips and tricks can help make your airplane potty break better.
Next time you get the urge to go on a plane, here are a few things to keep in mind. And please, for the love of God, keep your shoes on in the lavatory.
Why are airplane bathrooms so small?
“Money, I think is the number one reason,” Rich Henderson, a flight attendant at a major U.S. airline and one of the authors of the Two Guys on a Plane blog, told me. “The less space something like a bathroom takes up on an airplane, the more space there is to put passengers, and more passengers means more money.”
In a way, that means smaller bathrooms may mean smaller ticket prices, but that’s cold comfort when you’re wedged up against the wall trying to do your business.
However, Henderson and his husband (and co-author), Andrew Henderson, said it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way.
“Talk to your flight attendants. We know which bathrooms are the largest, we know which ones have the accessibility features to them. Some of the bathrooms have collapsible walls so we can get wheelchairs into them,” Andrew said. “Talk to your flight attendants and we’re going to tell you which one is the best for your needs if you can’t identify it yourself.”
Both men added that flight attendants want to help if you have any concerns about the airplane facilities, but they won’t necessarily want to make things awkward by approaching you about them first.
“We don’t always know exactly when to step in,” Rich said. “One skill that most flight attendants possess is being discreet and being a safe space for people.”
He also added that passenger pressure can work to force airlines to make changes for the better. A long-standing campaign by accessibility advocates paid dividends last year when the Department of Transportation enacted a new rule requiring more accessible bathrooms on aircraft.
When is the best time to use the airplane bathroom?
Ultimately, that’s up to your body, but there are two times you definitely should not go if you can avoid it in any way: whenever the seat belt sign is on, or during the drink, snack or meal service.
“The seat belt sign is definitely the biggest indicator of when you can or cannot use the bathroom,” Rich said.
He added that visiting the loo while the plane is on the ground isn’t always ideal, either.
“A lot of times they’re still servicing the lavatories on the ground so the water and the flushing might not actually work,” he said. “You might not be able to use the bathroom at that time.”
Andrew added that flight attendants are happy to move carts if you have a bathroom emergency during the cabin service, but if you can hold it in, it’s probably better for everyone.