# Fasten seat-belt sign vs. passenger's need to use restroom

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fasten-seat-belt-sign-vs-passengers-need-to-use-restroom/786380>\
**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:** 1\
**Showing post:** 23

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**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")

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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.

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