QF Economy Urination Policy

[Dave Noble]

I am glad if they have decided to start enforcing the policy that the lavatories at the front are for the use of the business passengers and that they are going to stop economy passengers wandering through business class during the flight

No one is forced to drink diuretics such as coffee or alcohol during a flight ; if quick access to the lavatory is an important consideration , then picking a seat near the back of the aeroplane on a 737 is an easy solution

There are times when exceptions may need to be made, but in general it is reasonable to expect passengers to use the facilties in their cabin

Dave

 

[Mal]

I am glad if they have decided to start enforcing the policy that the lavatories at the front are for the use of the business passengers

It's an utter cough idea for a 737 flight. Meal service starts, and takes approximately 15-25 minutes to go through the cabin. Who expects people to wait that long if they are 'wanting to go'?

 

[notzac]

Interesting thread :shock:

On 73*'s, I don't have a problem with Y pax in the first few rows coming forward to use loo (and my opinion doesn't magically change depending on what cabin I'm personally sitting in). What is a problem is when you've got a queue of Y pax hanging around in the J cabin all waiting to use the loo - and fortunately the FAs are very good at dispersing people in that situation.

While we're on the topic of toilets, I saw something on a recent QF flight that I'd previously only seen in the US: when either the Pilot or FO needed to use the loo, the FA in the J cabin "barricaded" the front of the plane off with the trolley. Has anyone else seen this on QF before?

 

[Actualise]

Opinion seems to be more or less divided along class lines - perhaps not strictly booking class either.

On the first occasion I saw enforcement, I thought it was an overly class-conscious cabin manager. On the second I made sure that I visited the rear amenities from row 6 and asked the FAs politely what had changed. I'm usually sitting in single digit rows including occasionally in business.

I'm not clear that the PA is always being made, nor that enforcement is uniform. I'm not always paying attention to the PAs - sometimes I'm asleep by that time.

On the question of Captains and FOs using the facilities, this happened last night and there was a bit of extended communication about it but no apparent barricading (female FO for what it's worth who comically checked her whilte shirt was tucked in properly at the back before going in to the lav - I would have thought checking it before coming out might have been best).

 

[simongr]

What an interesting thread - almost. I am not sure where you get opinion divided on class grounds as a number of people flying in Y and J gave divergent opinions and obviously you have no idea of the class of people posting in this thread as none of us truly do.

I travel domestically in both Y and J and if in Y I tend to pop to the loo before boarding for a short flight I as I can't be bothered fighting with carts in either direction.

Just a quick question - why is the ratio of pax to loos more of an issue than pax to flight crew or quality of food and drink? It seems people are happy to accept a differential on food/drink/service but not on loos... I love how we can pick and choose about which areas to be smugly indignant ...

 

[Batesy]

If you think that the coffee or tea is going to make you wee, then dont drink the coffee or tea..... try water instead.

 

[Warks]

The OP sounds a little p*ssed off about what seems to be a wee problem by comparison with other issues. I'd sit on it for a while and let nature take its course.




(apologies to cheap comedians everywhere)

 

[Flashback]

It's an utter cough idea for a 737 flight. Meal service starts, and takes approximately 15-25 minutes to go through the cabin. Who expects people to wait that long if they are 'wanting to go'?

Am I the only person who is applying logic here? The meal/drinks service is always at the start of the flight, even on a 'long' domestic segment e.g. PER-MEL/SYD/BNE vv. Surely if the OP is concerned about widdling himself, he would use the toilet before he gets on the plane

While we're on the topic of toilets, I saw something on a recent QF flight that I'd previously only seen in the US: when either the Pilot or FO needed to use the loo, the FA in the J cabin "barricaded" the front of the plane off with the trolley. Has anyone else seen this on QF before?

On my MEL-ADL on the weekend the FO came out and used the loo, and there was no blockading or anything.. Plane was a 73H.

 

[Homer]

If I'm in J, then I use the J bathroom. If I'm in whY, I use the whY bathroom. If QF is now enforcing this domestically then I'm all for it.

Jerry Seinfeld got it right: "The problem is, that curtain is no security - there really should be a locking door."

 

[MelUser]

2 things:

(1) If they brought back the curtains, this would create more of a barrier and less people wandering up.

Personally I believe that people should stay in their class for toilet use. A pet hate of mine is (on the B747) people from Y or Y+ sneaking in and using the downstairs J toilets

(2) Does anyone remember when QF trialled (or talked about trialling) in the mid90s 2 versions of economy - an economy light right at the back of the plane with no/minimal service and a full economy with meals drinks etc? THis happened about the time that First was abolished domestically by both Ansett and QF.

 

[Travel Guru]

I am glad if they have decided to start enforcing the policy that the lavatories at the front are for the use of the business passengers and that they are going to stop economy passengers wandering through business class during the flight

No one is forced to drink diuretics such as coffee or alcohol during a flight ; if quick access to the lavatory is an important consideration , then picking a seat near the back of the aeroplane on a 737 is an easy solution

There are times when exceptions may need to be made, but in general it is reasonable to expect passengers to use the facilties in their cabin

Dave

I have to say I agree with Dave, whether i'm flying J or Y (which I do both of regularly), I believe if you're paying to sit in J, whether its cash or hard earned points, you deserve the privacy and comfort that comes with not having to queue behind Y pax to go to the toilet.

I don't see Y pax as riff raff (they all fly JQ and TT!!), but I do believe you get what you pay for and that includes toilet facilities too.

TG

 

[docjames]

As someone who travels at the moment almost entirely in Y (shart and long haul), I see it that the price of the J seat buys much more than the seat. On top of priority checkin / boarding / deplaneing / lounge etc, it buys you more room, better seat, better food and a less busy (and thus for the most part, cleaner) toilet. If you're in that big a hurry, the FAs will pull the cart to one side or back and let you past.




Perhaps on long haul flights we should be able to wander up to F and use the toilets there? :mrgreen:

 

[Flashback]

If I'm in J, then I use the J bathroom. If I'm in whY, I use the whY bathroom. If QF is now enforcing this domestically then I'm all for it.

Jerry Seinfeld got it right: "The problem is, that curtain is no security - there really should be a locking door."

I have to say I agree with Dave, whether i'm flying J or Y (which I do both of regularly), I believe if you're paying to sit in J, whether its cash or hard earned points, you deserve the privacy and comfort that comes with not having to queue behind Y pax to go to the toilet.

I don't see Y pax as riff raff (they all fly JQ and TT!!), but I do believe you get what you pay for and that includes toilet facilities too.

TG

As someone who travels at the moment almost entirely in Y (shart and long haul), I see it that the price of the J seat buys much more than the seat. On top of priority checkin / boarding / deplaneing / lounge etc, it buys you more room, better seat, better food and a less busy (and thus for the most part, cleaner) toilet. If you're in that big a hurry, the FAs will pull the cart to one side or back and let you past.




Perhaps on long haul flights we should be able to wander up to F and use the toilets there? :mrgreen:

I think what you're both missing though is that people agree with you, for anything other than a 737. The discussion here is related to the 737 in which I think (as does 99% of the population here) that it is acceptable for the first few rows of whY to use the J toilets. I've never had a problem doing this from row 4-8 and neither do the FA's so long as you wait in your seat rather than queuing up at the curtain.

 

[Joshua]

The problem is really enforcement. What would be worse is if people walk up only to be sent back.

Who are these people streaming up from Y? Elites or the hoards of people not even NB? The former will at least become aware of the policy. Without the curtain it will only make it worse I reckon.

Obviously we've all been talking about 738's. Where do you draw the line, what about the variable 734's with a mere 4J? (do they even use this configuration? - only seen J maxed out of CBR)

 

[superchris]

I only think the front loo should be reserved for J passengers when I am flying J. When I am not flying J I think it should be open slather.

+1

What a pisser!

 

[possumoz]

The front toilet for J pax policy has been around for quite some time, although only sporadically enforced. I feel quite sorry for the FA's in this situation as they're trying to enforce a airline policy and maintain the value for their J class pax while at the same time trying not to offend others.

There is often a PA announcement along the lines of "there are 3 toilets on this aircraft, 1 at the front for the use of business class passengers. there are 2 toilets at the rear of the aircraft for the use of our economy passengers"
In my opinion if you want to use the business class facilities then pay the business class fare.
Economy class fares get economy class facilities. Thats just the reality of life.
And before the guffaw starts about the front toilets arn't business class toilets, they are. If you listen to the announcements, the front 3 rows are referred to as "business class cabin".

 

[Dave Noble]

I think what you're both missing though is that people agree with you, for anything other than a 737. The discussion here is related to the 737 in which I think (as does 99% of the population here) that it is acceptable for the first few rows of whY to use the J toilets. I've never had a problem doing this from row 4-8 and neither do the FA's so long as you wait in your seat rather than queuing up at the curtain.

I don't see the 737 as being different. In normal situations, I think that the rear toilets should be used by the economy passengers; there can be exception cases, but normally I would expect the front toilets to be restricted to business passengers only

Dave

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't see the 737 as being different. In normal situations, I think that the rear toilets should be used by the economy passengers; there can be exception cases, but normally I would expect the front toilets to be restricted to business passengers only

Dave

I agree with Dave and others with the same view.

The policy is that the front lavatory is for business class.

When we had curtains it was never an issue. People didn't come through them.

As with any policy it should be applied with undertanding and discretion. Exception can include an elderly or disabled passenger who might be sitting towards the front of the aircraft (and so on).

But as a business class passenger I would like others to respect my space and privacy. That means that if you are seated in row 4, please walk the 25 rows to the back. If a cart is in the aisle then wait if you possibly can.

The more peopole that use the toilets the more grotty they become. Bad enough with 12 people plus crew.

 

[serfty]

If I'm in J, then I use the J bathroom. If I'm in whY, I use the whY bathroom. If QF is now enforcing this domestically then I'm all for it.

This is what I do.

Most of my domestic travel is in WHY on 737's. If I have been partaking of Diuretics, I am generally pro-active and head down the back as soon as the seat belt sign goes off after departure. I endeavour to get back before the carts hit the aisles.

2 things:

(1) If they brought back the curtains, this would create more of a barrier and less people wandering up. ...

Where said curtains exist for domestic flights within Oz, they are not to be closed. This is by regulation; whether Qantas, Government or both I know not.

The front toilet for J pax policy has been around for quite some time, although only sporadically enforced. I feel quite sorry for the FA's in this situation as they're trying to enforce a airline policy and maintain the value for their J class pax while at the same time trying not to offend others. ...

I too am glad it's being enforced again (for how long I wonder).

 

[drron]

What I see as a little funny is the last time I was on a QF 738 I was in row 24.I saw quite a few people from rows in the 20s head to the front loo.I cant really remember a queue for the rear loos.On tuesday I was in row19 of a DJ 738 and didnt notice anyone heading to the front but plenty from row 13 back heading past me.
Personally if a flight is under 3 hours there is no way I will be using a loo anyway.The fellow on Tuesday who went 3 times in the 90 minute flight amazes me-especially as he asked if he could go as soon as he was seated :shock: