An Open Message to Lavatory Users

Posted in A Day in the Life of a Flight Attendant | 3 comments

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Dear Passenger,

Hello there. This is Bobby, your flight attendant. I wanted to write you a quick message to inform you of something that annoyed me the last time I had to work in the maincabin.

I understand that the lavatory area is a place to mingle, talk, and meet new people. I further understand that it seems everyone can’t wait to stand up, wait in line, and then enter the bathroom. It’s almost like because its the one free amenity on board now-a-days, that everyone wants to make sure they use it.

Now, here’s my issue. When you get up to use the bathroom, and if by chance there’s no line, do you know how to tell if the lavatory is occupied or not? Allow me to answer that for you, no, you don’t. I can’t even begin to tell you how many passengers can’t even find the lav to begin with.. they look up at the ceiling when they enter the back galley area. I’d like to see the last plane you were on where the bathroom came down from the ceiling. Once they can find the lav, the one time they should be looking up, to see the indicator light to tell whether or not they bathroom is occupied or not, they don’t. In stead, they walk right up to the door touch it with their palms open, as if its going to accept a finger print for entry. They then look down, up, right, left — each direction trying to tell if someones in it. When they finally realize that no one is in the lav (when they see the “vacant” sign on the door), the task of opening the door begins.

I don’t know why its so hard to understand,  but to open the lav door, you turn the knob and twist. I know, this theory is something you’ve never heard before. Even though the knob isn’t a full circle, it still operates like any other door. Now, once in side. Please remember to lock the door. You do that, by sliding the small lever to the opposite direction. If you don’t do this, please trust that you might be giving someone a peep-show, for free, if someone tries to get into the bathroom after you.

On your next flight, please keep these points in the forefront of your mind. If you forget any one of them, please don’t be alarmed when your  flight attendants start laughing with entertainment while you struggle to get into the restroom.

Thanks for taking the time to hear me about. And thanks for the endless hours of amusement.

Bobby
Your Flight Attendant

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