Comments on: ¡Revolucion! American Airlines liberates toilets for economy-class proletariat http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:53:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: ELLE http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-15898 ELLE Sat, 11 Aug 2007 21:14:28 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-15898 I fly apprx 90k miles a year with about 65k in first class (sometimes business class if transcontinental) and 25k in coach. I never use the first class toilets when I am seated in coach as I do not like it when coach passengers use the first class toilets when I am in first class (except, of course, for the little old lady or child). A passenger who pays a premium price or uses their FF status to upgrade to first class should have private facilities. The more passengers frequenting the toilet the more disgusting it becomes. Plus, having to wait in line due to coach passengers (after paying more than 3-10x the cost of a coach ticket) is ridiculous. To MB- Yes, there are some toilets in first class that are "premium toilets" lol (see MB's comment)....meaning the stalls are twice the size and there is a large vanity area. However, on domestic flights, I have yet to see a "premium toilet"...that is anything but the standard tiny stall. I fly apprx 90k miles a year with about 65k in first class (sometimes business class if transcontinental) and 25k in coach. I never use the first class toilets when I am seated in coach as I do not like it when coach passengers use the first class toilets when I am in first class (except, of course, for the little old lady or child).

A passenger who pays a premium price or uses their FF status to upgrade to first class should have private facilities. The more passengers frequenting the toilet the more disgusting it becomes. Plus, having to wait in line due to coach passengers (after paying more than 3-10x the cost of a coach ticket) is ridiculous.

To MB- Yes, there are some toilets in first class that are “premium toilets” lol (see MB’s comment)….meaning the stalls are twice the size and there is a large vanity area. However, on domestic flights, I have yet to see a “premium toilet”…that is anything but the standard tiny stall.

]]> By: JLD http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-9085 JLD Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:10:39 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-9085 In my experience, on AA long-hauls (mainly overnights) with 3 classes of service, the Business Class toilet usually had the lines, so I would frequently use the unencumbered coach loos. Trickle down effect? In my experience, on AA long-hauls (mainly overnights) with 3 classes of service, the Business Class toilet usually had the lines, so I would frequently use the unencumbered coach loos. Trickle down effect?

]]> By: Dave http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-8892 Dave Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:16:33 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-8892 hilarious!!! hilarious!!!

]]> By: Maryam in Marrakech http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6709 Maryam in Marrakech Mon, 05 Mar 2007 19:00:48 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6709 This post really made me laugh! This post really made me laugh!

]]> By: S A http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6376 S A Sat, 03 Mar 2007 14:30:25 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6376 The first class lavs tend to be cleaner, since they're used less often. (Not because first class customers have better aim. ;) ) But they may not be cleaner than coach lavs much longer. The first class lavs tend to be cleaner, since they’re used less often. (Not because first class customers have better aim. ;) ) But they may not be cleaner than coach lavs much longer.

]]> By: MB http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6340 MB Sat, 03 Mar 2007 03:06:43 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6340 What are you all talking about? "Premium" toilets? Have you *been* into those bathrooms? They're the same thing, with *maybe* an extra bottle of lotion. I probably flew about 40k of business class last year (out of 60k total), and there was never a discernible difference in the lavs. What are you all talking about? “Premium” toilets? Have you *been* into those bathrooms? They’re the same thing, with *maybe* an extra bottle of lotion. I probably flew about 40k of business class last year (out of 60k total), and there was never a discernible difference in the lavs.

]]> By: S A http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6312 S A Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:45:10 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6312 I think Menashe has it about right. If there's no line in the back, then economy passengers should be asked to use the economy toilets. If there's a line in the back, then open the toilets up in the front. Just don't let people mill about the first class cabin while they wait. This would require flight attendants to pay attention to passenger movements, and to step in and play gatekeeper. I honestly wonder how many flight attendants would be willing to do that. I think Menashe has it about right.

If there’s no line in the back, then economy passengers should be asked to use the economy toilets. If there’s a line in the back, then open the toilets up in the front. Just don’t let people mill about the first class cabin while they wait.

This would require flight attendants to pay attention to passenger movements, and to step in and play gatekeeper. I honestly wonder how many flight attendants would be willing to do that.

]]> By: Woofbite http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6306 Woofbite Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:46:56 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6306 They've already downgraded FC to the level that almost nobody but upgrades and airline employees bother with it so might as well let everybody use the john. There is usually a line for the ones in the rear. They’ve already downgraded FC to the level that almost nobody but upgrades and airline employees bother with it so might as well let everybody use the john. There is usually a line for the ones in the rear.

]]> By: Menashe http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6272 Menashe Fri, 02 Mar 2007 14:53:34 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6272 I tend to agree with the above poster - I *always* fly coach, but agree that you pay for a premium product and expect to get one. However, I think the solution is to ensure that there are sufficient lavatories in coach, something that is not always the case. For example, on some smaller jets (Air Canada's E190s come to mind), there is one lavatory for the very few first class seats and just one additional one for the remaining 90 coach passengers. One guy with a stomachache and the lav is out of commission for 1/2 hour! There are also some other exceptions - most parents would agree that it's preferable to use *any* lav than have a three-year old pee on the seat because he can't hold it in. Given this reality, I like American's move of allowing passengers to move around, but I'd have no problem with FAs discouraging the practice unless there was a real backup in the back of the plane. I tend to agree with the above poster - I *always* fly coach, but agree that you pay for a premium product and expect to get one.

However, I think the solution is to ensure that there are sufficient lavatories in coach, something that is not always the case. For example, on some smaller jets (Air Canada’s E190s come to mind), there is one lavatory for the very few first class seats and just one additional one for the remaining 90 coach passengers. One guy with a stomachache and the lav is out of commission for 1/2 hour!

There are also some other exceptions - most parents would agree that it’s preferable to use *any* lav than have a three-year old pee on the seat because he can’t hold it in.

Given this reality, I like American’s move of allowing passengers to move around, but I’d have no problem with FAs discouraging the practice unless there was a real backup in the back of the plane.

]]> By: aa_freq_flyer http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6161 aa_freq_flyer Fri, 02 Mar 2007 03:56:21 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/03/01/%c2%a1revolucion-american-airlines-liberates-toilets-for-economy-class-proletariat/#comment-6161 I wish AA would keep the policy, as this takes away the value of the first class cabin. It brings substantially more traffic through the cabin, and ties up the bathroom during peak time, like descent, when first class passengers should have quick access. Unfortunately, not many passengers respected the policy, and it was sporadically enforced. The most amusing enforcement I have ever witnessed happened days after the on-board liquids ban when two air marshals detained a coach passenger for using the first class bathroom. I wish AA would keep the policy, as this takes away the value of the first class cabin. It brings substantially more traffic through the cabin, and ties up the bathroom during peak time, like descent, when first class passengers should have quick access.

Unfortunately, not many passengers respected the policy, and it was sporadically enforced. The most amusing enforcement I have ever witnessed happened days after the on-board liquids ban when two air marshals detained a coach passenger for using the first class bathroom.

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