# Fasten seat-belt sign vs. passenger's need to use restroom **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 11, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fasten-seat-belt-sign-vs-passengers-need-to-use-restroom/786380 "2017-05-11T18:37:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **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:** [May 12, 2017, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fasten-seat-belt-sign-vs-passengers-need-to-use-restroom/786380/21 "2017-05-12T05:22:57Z")
Thanks \*\*LSLGuy \*\*for the great info. @ **psychobunny** : It does seem that the airline didn’t say “Go use a cup,” but - yeah, what else can a passenger do? Keep holding that bladder longer? At a certain point, you _can’t_. Airlines: “Make your bladder magically elastic and of newly flexible material. NOW.” ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fasten-seat-belt-sign-vs-passengers-need-to-use-restroom/786380/22 "2017-05-12T07:17:02Z")
For the people who want to brave turbulence, my friend was using the bathroom on a flight when unexpected, and severe turbulence hit. He’s a strong guy, over six feet tall and was barely able to brace himself in the bathroom. I think most people would have a difficult time. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fasten-seat-belt-sign-vs-passengers-need-to-use-restroom/786380/23 "2017-05-12T10:57:34Z")
I know I recently mentioned in one of the recent threads on this topic, but I can’t find it just now . . . Maybe airline passengers should all just wear Depends or a pee bag with a condom-style catheter. It’s sometimes called a “motorman’s helper” (for streetcar drivers and conductors who have long runs) or a “stadium pal”. I did, however, just find [this old thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=572046) specifically on the subject. See, in particular, Post #2 there: > [@Burt's pee bottle in Semi-tough](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burts-pee-bottle-in-semi-tough/547855/2): > > Originally they were called “motorman’s friend,” in honor of their use by streetcar operators with four-hour runs. David Sedaris has a funny story about his “Stadium Pal,” [here read on the Letterman show.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBdymtyXt8Y) > > For pilots of gliders and other aircraft, [this is not an amusingly theoretical discussion.](http://derosaweb.net/aviation/relief/) The master covers the similar issues [faced in space travel.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/642/how-do-astronauts-go-to-the-bathroom-in-space) See that link “this is not an amusingly theoretical discussion” for a very detailed TMI-level discussion. See also the final post, #20, in that thread for a question that was never answered: > [@Burt's pee bottle in Semi-tough](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burts-pee-bottle-in-semi-tough/547855/20): > > Uh… So how _do_ the feminine versions of these things work anyway? Apparently, from other remarks I’ve seen on the subject, female passengers (or pilots) have fewer plausible options, which may be limited to diapers or the female version of Depends-like products. As someone (sorry, forget who) remarked in that thread I can’t find right now (paraphrasing from memory): If it’s good enough for a homicidal astronaut, it’s good enough for you. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fasten-seat-belt-sign-vs-passengers-need-to-use-restroom/786380/24 "2017-05-12T11:07:33Z")
I know I’ve taken at least one flight in the last couple of years where the stated policy was to leave the fasten seat belt sign on at all times except when the plane was stationary. I’ve flown too many airlines (due to reselling of flights) to remember which it was. It makes you take the sign less seriously so is, IMHO, counterproductive. > [@Leaffan](#): > > That’s not how it works. > > The “fasten seatbelts” sign was illuminated. > The passenger was warned of the potential hazard. > The passenger accepted the risk. That’s how it should work. > > The last time I saw someone in power make someone piss their pants was in grade 2, because it was just after recess and he should have gone then. > And I thought that was a ridiculously embarrassing thing to do to a 7 year old. > > Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk There’s a risk to other passengers then, though, from said person falling violently onto them. Btw you might not realise that Tapatalk is adding a signature to your posts - there’s an option where you can turn it off. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fasten-seat-belt-sign-vs-passengers-need-to-use-restroom/786380/25 "2017-05-12T13:25:20Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Here’s my last missive (from 2 years ago) on point: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18714308#post18714308](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18714308#post18714308) For completeness I should have included a ref to my other post in that same thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18715877#post18715877](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18715877#post18715877) IMO the whole thread is worth reading. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fasten-seat-belt-sign-vs-passengers-need-to-use-restroom/786380.md?page=1)