Cabin crews are expressing their vexation over a common oversight by passengers on planes: neglecting to lock the bathroom door.
The aeroplane lavatory, albeit cramped, serves as an essential sanctuary for many travellers during flights. However, travel experts at Alpine Elements highlight one particular lavatory behaviour that cabin crews find particularly irksome, which could even impact the overall flight experience.
Flight attendants, adept at addressing passenger needs with discretion and professionalism, encounter certain practices that cause unnecessary hassle and raise safety issues. In light of recent disclosures about the most extreme requests on private jets, several seasoned cabin crew members have anonymously shared their biggest grievances regarding aeroplane bathroom use.
A senior cabin crew member lamented, “Passengers don’t always realise the impact of their actions in such a confined space,” adding, “One behaviour we see often – and which drives us mad – is leaving the bathroom door unlocked when it’s not in use.”
Although it might appear trivial, an unlocked bathroom door after usage or failing to secure it while occupied can lead to confusion and hold-ups. It results in other passengers knocking incessantly or attempting entry, causing uncomfortable situations, reports the Mirror.
Moreover, it hinders the crew’s ability to discreetly supervise lavatory access for security reasons.
Another common issue is the incorrect use of the ‘occupied’ indicator. Some passengers don’t engage the door lock completely, leaving the sign unchanged, whilst others mistakenly assume the lavatory is available when it isn’t – or the reverse.
Aircraft toilets are considerably more compact than ground-based facilities, requiring cabin crew to monitor all areas throughout the flight. During emergencies, they must know precisely which amenities are accessible and reach them swiftly.
The lavatory represents a hygiene-critical environment. An ajar or unsecured door can result in others entering without realising it hasn’t been sanitised or remains occupied, creating uncomfortable scenarios.
The flight attendant explained: “When the door lock isn’t engaged properly, people can walk in on someone by accident. It’s embarrassing for everyone involved and wastes valuable time, especially when there’s a queue during busy periods.”
Other habits that can irritate the crew include flushing the likes of tissues and wet wipes down the loo, which can cause blockages and therefore issues for other passsengers. Meanwhile, most people don’t think about the fact that planes have limited water usage, so stick to washing your hands but don’t leave the tap running for longer than necessary. Finally, crew have urged passengers to avoid using the loos during busy periods such as boarding or meal service.
It’s not the first time that cabin crew have called out annoying passenger habits. One flight attendant recently revealed three rude habits that passengers should swerve including walking around barefoot, as it’s a huge hygiene hazard. That’s because the aircraft floor is often not cleaned between flights, meaning that those going shoeless could find some unpleasant encounters, especially in the toilet.