A United Airlines passenger has ignited a heated discussion after their bathroom habits were observed by another traveler, leading to a flurry of online opinions.
When the call of nature beckons, it is usually prudent to respond, although sometimes the choice is out of our hands.
Dealing with an upset stomach, be it due to food poisoning, a virus, or anxiety, is a nuisance in the best of times.
However, at an altitude of 42,000 feet in a confined cabin with limited restroom facilities, one person’s digestive issue can swiftly become a problem for everyone else.
Incidents involving bodily functions mid-flight have made the news before. Last summer, Meghan Reinertsen faced a nightmare flight when a severe episode of simultaneous diarrhea and vomiting caused a flight to be canceled.
With nearly 45,000 flights departing from the US daily, every passenger takes that risk once they fasten their seatbelt.
Many travelers bring along neck pillows, snacks, or noise-cancelling headphones, but the fear of a mid-air gastric episode is always looming.
Recently, a United Airlines traveler was taken aback when a first-class passenger engaged in what he described as ‘class warfare’.
Posting on Reddit, the passenger shared their surprising discovery with a pointed message.
“I was sitting in economy plus last night on an A321 Neo in the first row directly behind first class,” they recounted. “One of the first class passengers was having digestive issues; & bombed the economy plus bathroom five different times, smelling up the entire economy plus area as he retreated back to the comforts of nice smelling first class cabin.”
They continued: “I feel like this was class warfare lol. If you are in first, please drops your bombs in the first class restroom.”
The post quickly garnered significant attention, with hundreds of comments flooding in.
While some pointed fingers at the original poster for choosing a seat close to the toilets, others on social media began dissecting the unwritten ‘rules’ of bathroom etiquette.
“Pro tip – flush right away when you go so the smell doesn’t stay too long. Also you can put soap in the sink and then run the water. It’s like a badly working air freshener,” one person advised.
“Courtesy flushing is a life skill that should be taught in preschool and reinforced throughout life,” another concurred, adding: “It also helps to make a nice thick lather with the soap on your hands… Also, please make sure the fresh air vent is always open in the lav.”
The reality remains that on an airplane, privacy is virtually nonexistent. The restrooms are tiny, queues can be lengthy, and the sound of the flush is remarkably loud, as one commenter noted: “Problem is, on planes the flush is so loud that all your business is broadcasted. Multiple flushes? ‘Houston, we have a problem!’”
Nevertheless, the majority agreed that enduring a few extra flushes is preferable to the alternative. After all, as bothersome as the noise might be, the only thing worse is neglecting to flush altogether—leaving everyone on board dissatisfied.