Although, your post is quite entertaining!
I’ve been on airplanes fairly regularly since I was 4, so yeah, I’ve used the lavatory every now and then. And you can add my name to the list of those who’ve changed a kid’s diaper in an airplane lavatory. Also, I’ve been on ten transatlantic flights, six of which were from JFK to Moscow or the reverse, so you bet I wasn’t gonna hold it that long!
We regularly fly from Baltimore to Tampa and back since my wife’s family is in central Florida, but I rarely need the facilities on the plane; hitting the restroom shortly before boarding usually takes care of things. On a recent nonstop from Baltimore to San Francisco, one restroom visit on the plane was enough. Coming back, I changed planes in Las Vegas, and didn’t need the restroom on the plane on either leg.
When my wife and I were doing our three round trips to Russia to adopt the Firebug, we were able to get Delta to sell us an extra seat on the flights to and from Russia. It wasn’t easy, the airlines for whatever reason just aren’t set up for it, but it made all the difference in the world, having that third seat between us that each of us could slop into a bit. And three coach seats is way cheaper than two first-class seats.
I’ve flown flights of 8+ hours many times, so yes, plenty of times I’ve used the toilet.
In fact, on longer flights, even if I don’t particularly need to go, the walk, wash hands and super loud flush is a pleasant mini-break…I feel less groggy after.
But I have very long legs. That’s the issue. Room between is not an issue at all. I can not put my size 13 feet under the seat in front of me (well maybe my toes). But the under seat storage is where we keep some of our carry on stuff. I can not stand up in the row of a window seat.
Trying to get up and go to the bathroom is ridiculous from a window seat.
Many domestic flights don’t have first/business class or even stretch seating. I can deal with that for a few hours. 10 hours? No way.
This is good for everyone to avoid blood clots.
Rarely, but yes.
First I’m younger than many here, and have had a pretty long lasting bladder even as a child. But second, if I’m flying, I normally am much more cautious about my hydration (generally aim to be slightly dehydrated) and caffeine use. Third, I always go as much as possible in the 10 minutes before boarding, even if it’s not urgent.
But that works for shortish flights. Most of mine are three hours or less. Anything much over that, figure I’ll need a visit for #1, but timing and regularity mean I haven’t needed a #2 even on my (singular) international flight (JFK → Ben Gurion).
All I can say is (a) my size twelves fit OK, (b) room between gives you more leg room, because if you put your feet in the leg room of the seat next to you, that’s further from your butt than your own leg room is (kinda like the hypotenuse of a right triangle is longer than the long side); (c) if you’ve got three under-seats in front of you and your traveling companion (you said ‘we’ so I’m assuming) rather than two, that frees up one for your toes; and (d) another reason I posted that comment was that regardless of whether it worked for you, it might well make sense for someone else here.
Too many times to count. Frankly, when I’m traveling alone, I find it more convenient to use the airplane bathroom than to have to take my carryons with me to the airport men’s room.
Whereas i like to stay hydrated. And i like the excuse to get up and stretch my legs.
I also usually go shortly before boarding, just in case we’re stuck in turbulence or something. But I don’t get the care to avoid using the restroom. I guess I’m happy all you folks don’t use it, though, more thruput for me.
Which makes perfect sense as well. Generally though, my wife and I travel together by air, and she has the much smaller bladder, so I’m normally in the most interior (middle or window) seat so she can get up more easily. Still, not really a big issue for 2-3 hour flights. If I was going any longer than that, yeah, more planning and plan on a bathroom stop.
Yes, I agree with the others who have said that a trip to the lav does allow you a little exercise. Not much, but at least you can use your legs for a while.
And it’s something to do. I took my long flights to Australia back in the day before tablets, etc., and seatback movies and TV. You watched whatever movie they had for you that day, and you got meals at specified times, and in between, your time was up to you. Read a book, do a crossword puzzle or similar, fall asleep to the canned music, play cards if your seatmates were willing. Going to the lav was something you looked forward to.
Add me to the list of those who’ve done the diaper change in the airplane lavatory, 26 years ago. Time has mercifully erased the memories, but I’m sure I did it more than once because I had a one year old on a round trip from California to Tokyo, a 12 hour flight.
Well, as I live in Australia - many, many times. I like to travel to Europe.
The short hop is 7-8 hours (Singapore, Bangkok or somewhere similar) followed by the l-o-o-ng hop to Europe - 12-14 hours. (Sometimes the hops are reversed and you fly 13 hours to the Middle East - Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Kuwait - and then do the 6-8 hrs to your European destination).
I have also done the London-Perth non-stop - 17 hours. Once.
I could write a book on airplane toilets. It would be short (there’s only so many times you can say ‘small, uncomfortable, inconvenient’).
But a small thought for the airline hostesses and their ‘glamorous’ job - they clean all those toilets several times per flight.
I am just about the opposite of the OP - I always take the opportunity to use the airplane lavatory. As the relatively few flights I do (one to four per year) are shortish flights of typically 1-2 hours, and on single-aisle aircraft, this gets a bit hurried, what with a short cruise phase and the only aisle blocked by the cart. I typically dash to the front or back (depending on seat and type) when the cart is through.
I have no condition that requires frequent pit stops, but I always plan ahead in case of holding or diversion (I even consider the state of my bladder and bowel before making the choice between stairs or elevator). My wife is often annoyed because she says I always plan ahead for catastrophes - I say no, I just plan ahead for contingencies.
By the way I have used the lavatory in small sailing boats (< 30 ft) on a number of occasions, and airplane lavatories are positively spacious in comparison. Sailboat lavatories are for contortionists and I have only used them when absolutely necessary.
Are you in Perth? That was always my ultimate destination in Australia. Sure, I once took a few days in Sydney, just to see what I could of the place, but most of my time in Australia was spent in Perth and environs.
It occurred to me that I have actually had a shave in an airport lav. No, not with hot water and shaving foam and a razor, but with an electric shaver. There is a 110VAC outlet in the lav on the 747, and I took my electric shaver in my cabin baggage, so I would look somewhat like my passport photo when I arrived in Sydney after at least 21 hours in transit. Must have worked; they let me in.
Speaking of bathrooms, today you can’t drink the water, but I’m sure I remember a time when you could, and they even provided little cups there. Or am I hallucinating?
I think you are hallucinating. I’m pretty sure that’s where i saw the sign reading “aqua non potable”.
On international flights, they did have little faucets and little cups right outside the bathrooms. I distinctly remember that because they had disgustingly room temperature water.
Ok, but with long legs, my shins hit the seat in front of me before I can even think about squeezing my size 13 feet under the seat in front.
So, a good excuse to just go first class. I just don’t care anymore how ridiculously expensive it is.
“Gin and Tonic please”