# Airplane Tall Tale - Domestic flight where passengers prevented from using restrooms for 8 hours? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 20, 2019, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099 "2019-01-20T06:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/21 "2019-10-07T22:30:13Z")
I’ve been on plenty of flights where the “Fasten Seatbelt Sign” was on, the passengers were told not to use the restroom, and they got up - even lining up - to use the lavatory anyway. As legalistic as flight attendants can be, I think even they understand that the bowels and bladders communicate powerfully. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/22 "2019-10-07T22:32:27Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > But a storm covering that entire area – western 2/3rds of the USA plus half the Pacific Ocean? And that airlines would still be flying into such a storm? That’s unbelievable! My WAG is that it’s not the size of the storm, but simply, that many airline pilots keep the Fasten Seatbelt sign on simply as default. They err on the side of caution, and would rather leave it on than off. (Maybe as insurance in case they are sued if there is clear air turbulence and some passenger flies up and hits the ceiling) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/23 "2019-10-07T22:55:30Z")
I usually fly United, and sometimes American. I’ve seen flight attendants lock the restrooms doors before takeoff and landing (after making sure nobody is inside). ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/24 "2019-10-08T00:06:32Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Did the “older man” say this flight was recent? > > I mean American Airlines did set a new record when [it flew coast-to-coast on its brand-new DC-7 in only 8 hours](https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/hobica/2014/10/14/best-transcontinental-airline-flight/17208981/). I hate to imagine how long it took before then. (I don’t even know if planes could fly that long non-stop before then.) Several years ago I was looking at some vintage airline ads online dating from around the 1930s and 40s. The were touting times like New York to Miami in “only” 8 hours. The most memorable one advertised flights to Rio de Janeiro taking 3 days! I would imagine that was still fast compared to taking a steamship. ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/25 "2019-10-09T17:56:28Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > You can put me down as skeptical. > > I’ve been on a number of flights where turbulence kept the Fasten Seatbelts sign lit, but some people still used the bathrooms - and it didn’t take 8 hours. > > In one case I overheard a flight attendant telling a woman she should return to her seat, to which the response was: “Sorry - no. I promise you wouldn’t like what’ll happen if I do” - said with enough conviction that the flight attendant politely stepped aside. I used to fly a lot, maybe once a month, for work and family visits. During one flight, I really had to go, but the seatbelt sign was lit. A flight attendant tried to reseat me, but I got her off my back by saying “Don’t worry, I take responsibility for my own actions” as I shut the bathroom door. I mean, really. Airplanes are a lot like boats…everything narrow and tight, partly on purpose, so there’s always something within reach to steady yourself. It’s really no big deal to walk around when it’s bumpy. Flight attendants to it continuously! So why not an able-bodied, experienced traveler? ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/26 "2019-10-09T19:01:21Z")
> [@Limmin](#): > > I mean, really. Airplanes are a lot like boats…everything narrow and tight, partly on purpose, so there’s always something within reach to steady yourself. It’s really no big deal to walk around when it’s bumpy. Flight attendants to it continuously! So why not an able-bodied, experienced traveler? Airplane turbulence can be more than a little bumpy. It can be the plane suddenly dropping tens of feet. Which will mean that if you’re not bolted to the floor, you get thrown around the cabin. You’re not going to be able to steady yourself by grabbing the seat backs when that happens. Now, that’s pretty rare, but that’s the reason they want you to stay in your seat with your belt fastened. They’re not _that_ worried about you tripping. They’re worried about you becoming a projectile. That said, I’ve been on plenty of flights where people got up to use the bathrooms when the fasten seatbelt sign was on. When you gotta go, you gotta go. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/27 "2019-10-09T19:30:46Z")
> [@Limmin](#): > > I used to fly a lot, maybe once a month, for work and family visits. During one flight, I really had to go, but the seatbelt sign was lit. A flight attendant tried to reseat me, but I got her off my back by saying “Don’t worry, I take responsibility for my own actions” as I shut the bathroom door. If this was in the U.S., it’s against federal law to ignore lighted placards and/or crewmember instructions. IANAL, but I’d bet that “when you gotta go, you gotta go” is NOT a valid defense under said law. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/28 "2019-10-09T19:44:00Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > If this was in the U.S., it’s against federal law to ignore lighted placards and/or crewmember instructions. > > IANAL, but I’d bet that “when you gotta go, you gotta go” is NOT a valid defense under said law. Sure, if they want to prosecute you they might have the law on their side. OTOH, they might prosecute you stay in your seat to just drop your pants and pee in a bottle or on a towel/diaper, e.g. indecent exposure or something. OTOOH, they might get on your case for creating a biohazard if you keep your pants on and just pee right on your seat. A smart flight attendant might consider all of this and (hopefully) decide that the course of action with the least bad publicity is to relent and let you use the bathroom despite the lighted placards and risk of turbulence-related injury. Of course the particularly flight attendant you deal with on any given day might not be a smart one and might deny you the use of the bathroom without suggesting any reasonable alternative. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/29 "2019-10-09T19:45:52Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Airplane turbulence can be more than a little bumpy. It can be the plane suddenly dropping tens of feet. Which will mean that if you’re not bolted to the floor, you get thrown around the cabin. You’re not going to be able to steady yourself by grabbing the seat backs when that happens. > > Now, that’s pretty rare, but that’s the reason they want you to stay in your seat with your belt fastened. They’re not _that_ worried about you tripping. They’re worried about you becoming a projectile. > > That said, I’ve been on plenty of flights where people got up to use the bathrooms when the fasten seatbelt sign was on. When you gotta go, you gotta go. This. “I take responsibility for my own actions” is all well and good, but if you injure another passenger because you get thrown off your feet by unexpectedly severe turbulence, then you’re also taking responsiblity for having injured someone else. As iamthewalrus says, it’s rare, but it _does_ happen: > **[Severe turbulence leaves 10 injured, throws flight attendant into ceiling](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/severe-turbulence-leaves-10-injured-throws-flight-attendant/story?id=63769169)** > > Ten passengers were taken to local hospitals in Basel, Switzerland, after a Bulgarian airline flight from Pristina, Kosovo, experienced severe turbulence. > **["People hit the ceiling": 35 injured when Air Canada flight hits severe...](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/air-canada-flight-turbulence-passengers-injured-australia-today-2019-07-11/)** > > The pilots were forced to make an emergency landing and paramedics tended to nearly three dozen injured people > **[Video Shows Passengers Praying as Turbulence Sends Flight Attendant Flying](https://www.newsweek.com/viral-video-passengers-praying-flight-attendant-turbulence-alk-airlines-euroairport-1444495)** > > The flight attendant's cart was also thrown into the air by the turbulence, with hot water splashing down over passengers and scalding them. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/30 "2019-10-09T19:51:57Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > If this was in the U.S., it’s against federal law to ignore lighted placards and/or crewmember instructions. > > IANAL, but I’d bet that “when you gotta go, you gotta go” is NOT a valid defense under said law. I’ll take the chance justifying after we get on the ground. If it’s that bad that I have to defy lawful authority, what are the options? Pee (or worse!) one’s pants? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/31 "2019-10-09T20:20:23Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Airplane turbulence can be more than a little bumpy. It can be the plane suddenly dropping tens of feet. Which will mean that if you’re not bolted to the floor, you get thrown around the cabin. You’re not going to be able to steady yourself by grabbing the seat backs when that happens. This. There are a few incidents a year in which commercial aircraft have encountered turbulence that was bad enough to inflict major injuries on some of the passengers. There have also been a handful of incidents over the years in which passengers were killed. AIUI, death is typically due to head/neck injuries sustained when the plane is suddenly forced downward by turbulence, causing unbelted passengers to hit their heads on the ceiling. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/32 "2019-10-09T20:29:18Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > If this was in the U.S., it’s against federal law to ignore lighted placards and/or crewmember instructions. > > IANAL, but I’d bet that “when you gotta go, you gotta go” is NOT a valid defense under said law. I’d bet even more that it’s impossible to find a jury to convict someone for walking to the bathroom on a plane while the seatbelt sign is on. Especially if any of them have ever been on a plane. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2019, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/33 "2019-10-10T17:35:43Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > If this was in the U.S., it’s against federal law to ignore lighted placards and/or crewmember instructions. > > IANAL, but I’d bet that “when you gotta go, you gotta go” is NOT a valid defense under said law. A lot of things are technically against the law but effectively never punished because laws are incredibly difficult to write perfectly. I’d be surprised if you can find even one person who’s been prosecuted just for going to the bathroom when the seatbelt sign was lit. Extra surprised if they were convicted. [This article](https://slate.com/human-interest/2015/08/airplane-bathroom-emergency-is-it-ever-all-right-to-ignore-the-seatbelt-sign.html) discusses the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy of using the bathroom when the sign is lit. They can’t give you permission, but they’ll often tacitly allow it if it’s not really _that_ dangerous. So go, and if they stop you, go back to your seat. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/34 "2019-10-10T17:53:08Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Airplane turbulence can be more than a little bumpy. It can be the plane suddenly dropping tens of feet. Which will mean that if you’re not bolted to the floor, you get thrown around the cabin. You’re not going to be able to steady yourself by grabbing the seat backs when that happens. > > Now, that’s pretty rare, but that’s the reason they want you to stay in your seat with your belt fastened. They’re not _that_ worried about you tripping. They’re worried about you becoming a projectile. Serious question: Why do they allow infants to ride on an adult’s lap? Isn’t there a risk that the child will become a projectile? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/35 "2019-10-10T18:10:06Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > Serious question: Why do they allow infants to ride on an adult’s lap? Isn’t there a risk that the child will become a projectile? Because if they did it the other way around, there’d be a risk that the child will become squashed? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/36 "2019-10-10T18:23:21Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > Serious question: Why do they allow infants to ride on an adult’s lap? Isn’t there a risk that the child will become a projectile? There’s a fair chance the parent (who should be belted in) will have a grip on the kid. Even if they don’t, an unbelted infant bouncing around the cabin won’t do much harm to other passengers. The most injurious turbulence event, AIUI, is when the plane is suddenly accelerated downward by a downdraft more quickly than gravity can pull the people down; that’s when unbelted passengers can smack their heads on the ceiling. Lateral turbulence does happen, but it’s not nearly as violent as vertical turbulence can be. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/37 "2019-10-10T21:24:10Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Just had another flight. I was reminded of this topic about how passengers aren’t allowed to use the restroom in the lead-up to take-off, but on both flights up to and including the moment the aircraft was on the runaway about to take off people were freely using the restrooms and nobody said anything. > > Wonder if this is an airline-by-airline basis. Which airline? It seems very unlikely for a western airline. We can’t get clearance for take-off until we call “ready” and we can’t call ready until the cabin is secured, ie all passengers seated. Having said that, I have had situations where we have been in the queue behind several other aircraft waiting to enter the runway and have had a flight attendant ask permission for passengers to get up and use the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/38 "2019-10-10T21:38:06Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > Serious question: Why do they allow infants to ride on an adult’s lap? Isn’t there a risk that the child will become a projectile? Good question. Apparently US airlines don’t require the use of infant lap belts. Many other airlines around the world do though, they look like this: [![](https://www.flyingwithababy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0606.jpg) ](https://www.flyingwithababy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0606.jpg) > [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > But a storm covering that entire area – western 2/3rds of the USA plus half the Pacific Ocean? And that airlines would still be flying into such a storm? That’s unbelievable! It doesn’t have to be a storm and it usually isn’t a storm that creates turbulence at cruise altitudes. Turbulence at high altitude is often caused by changes in the wind velocity around jetstreams, and can stretch for thousands of miles. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/39 "2019-10-11T00:41:32Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > Serious question: Why do they allow infants to ride on an adult’s lap? Isn’t there a risk that the child will become a projectile? I don’t know for sure, but I expect that it’s not a high risk due to the fact that you’re going to be holding on pretty tight in the case of turbulence and balancing that relatively low risk against the distress and discomfort that the infant and everyone in earshot would experience if they had to be strapped into their own seats the whole time. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099/40 "2019-10-11T01:14:23Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > Serious question: Why do they allow infants to ride on an adult’s lap? Isn’t there a risk that the child will become a projectile? I think the rationale is that if it’s more expensive for families with babies to fly, some of them will just drive, and adding another car to the road is way more dangerous than putting a loose baby on a plane. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-tall-tale-domestic-flight-where-passengers-prevented-from-using-restrooms-for-8-hours/828099.md?page=3)