If economy class lavatories are too busy or filthy, can you use business class lavatories?
My grandma was in economy class on a full Air Canada flight. The bathrooms were, unusually, very occupied, and were accompanied by long lines and passengers waiting. They soon became filthy; she saw egesta on the floor and toilet in some of them. She asked the cabin crew if the bathrooms would be cleaned, but they just put paper towels to hide the egesta without cleaning.
So without asking first or explicit permission, she walked up to use the business class lavatory, where the Service Director chided her:
Madam, use the lavatories in Economy. Please refrain from using the lavatories up here.
My grandma apologized, and tried to explain the long waits and the filthiness, but he still chided her the second time:
I already told you not to use this class's lavatory.
In such unusual cases of filthiness and unavailability, can economy-class passengers use business-class toilets?
I ask this for reputable airlines in general. American Airlines permits this gambit, but other airlines' stance is unclear. If Air Canada loathed this, why'd they compensate this grandma?
Best Answer
Sometimes, but it'll depend on the airlines.
For example on Qantas domestic flights, 737s have 2 toilets at the rear for economy and 1 at the front for business class. It's announced this way.
However, every flight you observe at least a couple of passengers from economy using the front ones. Sometimes the crew will just ignore it, but it depends on the rule and probably (although I don't know) on the passenger and how they're doing it, to some extent. Asking first probably wouldn't go amiss.
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Can business class use first class bathroom?
\u201cEveryone thinks you can't use the first-class bathroom but you totally can. As long as you're not standing in the galley you're free to use their lavatory.\u201d The third and final hack is never to accept an airline's first offer when they're trying to buy you off an oversold flight. Why?Can economy passengers use first class bathroom?
Everyone can now use United first class lavatories As of November 1, 2020, United Airlines customers will be allowed to use lavatories anywhere on the plane, including in a different cabin. In other words, economy passengers can use first class lavatories, and vice versa.Can coach passengers use first class bathroom?
While they encourage passengers to use the lavatory in their ticketed cabin, coach passengers may use the first class lavatory to reduce crowding in the aisle and at the back of the aircraft.Qatar Airways WORST Business Class (avoid this)
More answers regarding if economy class lavatories are too busy or filthy, can you use business class lavatories?
Answer 2
If you purchase an economy ticket, you have the right to access the economy lavatories when it is safe to do so (i.e. when the seatbelt sign is off).
However, you must purchase a business/first class/etc. ticket in order to have full access to their respective lavatories. And of course, this comes with a price.
In the event of an emergency (related to needing the washroom, not the plane), there may be allowances for certain passengers to use the business/first class lavatories if you request for it and the other lavatories are not busy. Most flight attendants should understand. However, if you are constantly asking this, or there is no obvious need for your request, they will most likely decline. After all, they are not required by any means to comply with your request.
If the lavatory is dirty, it is not their job to clean it. If the lavatory does not have enough supplies (e.g. soap, paper towels), they should provide/restock upon request.
All in all, try not to bug flight attendants about lavatory usage, especially when they are busy. If it is truly a problem, remember, they are doing you a favor if they let you use other facilities, and they are not obliged to do so.
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Images: Bruno Bueno, Katerina Holmes, SHVETS production, SHVETS production