Flight attendant calls out to passengers queuing for toilet: ‘Queuing makes it worse’

No need to go to the bathroom when there is a line.

Lining up for the bathroom may seem like proper airline protocol, but this seemingly standard practice is actually both inappropriate and potentially dangerous, flight experts have found.

Rich Henderson, a flight attendant who runs the blog Two Guys on a Plane with his husband Andrew, claims that the seat is paradoxically the best place to wait for the toilet as it reduces congestion.

“The line makes it worse because everyone thinks there’s always going to be a line,” the aviation authority told USA Today while discussing airplane bathroom etiquette and other flight tips. “I promise there will be a lull in bathroom traffic. [Flight attendants] we should go too.”

He added, “Usually there’s a gap there for us to jump in, so there should be one for the passengers as well.”

Rich explained that if everyone waited in their place, there would generally be less traffic around the restroom.

In fact, crowding around the bathroom is not only inconsiderate, but potentially dangerous as it hinders passengers and crew in the event of an emergency.

“Anything can happen in the blink of an eye on an airplane,” the crew member explained. “I don’t think people realize that it’s not safe enough to wander around an airplane.”

Andrews exclaimed, “after 9/11 there are a lot of rules with people getting on an airplane.”

In other words, an improper bladder evacuation can hinder its counterpart on the plane.

Walking around the plane can be particularly dangerous during severe turbulence as it makes passengers susceptible to falling or crashing into solid objects and injuring themselves, other experts have warned.

Other taboo times to use the restroom are when the flight is on the ground, the seat belt sign is on, and during in-flight food and beverage service.

“I don’t think people realize how heavy that cart is,” Andrew explained. “There is not much space. If we don’t have an empty seat or we’re not near a space to hold you around, getting you to the gallery cart isn’t always easy.”

And while flight attendants are more than happy to move the cart to accommodate flyers, it’s best for everyone if they put nature’s call on hold if possible, he asserted.