When we talk about the luxurious advantages of air travel, that certainly doesn’t include restroom experiences. If you ever had to answer nature’s call in the aircraft’s lavatory, you are probably familiar with its numerous issues, including foul odors, limited leeway, and lack of privacy.
Having to turn on the sausage maker on an airplane is never really ideal, but according to flight attendants, some times are better than others to deal with the questionable airport food you shoveled into yourself while still grounded.
Flight attendants have certainly seen the worst of it when it comes to passengers having to relieve themselves, but at least it’s helped them determine the best time for those shy mid-air brownie-bakers to get working.
For many people, taking the Browns to the Superbowl in public places isn’t easy, and it certainly doesn’t help when the public place is 30,000 feet in the air.
With the claustrophobic confines of an airplane lavatory and the risk of stinking up the place, most will try to hold off making waves if they can.
Some flights are long, or sometimes time is just not an option, but if you can hold off making a sacrifice to the toilet gods for just a little while, there are windows of comfort during a flight that can make it all a lot easier.
Maybe you haven’t fallen victim to poop panic mode: airplane edition, but that doesn’t mean you won’t, and it’s better to be prepared than unprepared.
A former flight attendant, Erika Roth, shared some tips with Mel Magazine for nervous flyers who have to build a log cabin mid-flight, which she says is really all about timing.
According to Roth, one of the best times you can make a dash for the lavatory to update your captain’s log is immediately after the seat belt sign goes off.
If your wave of worry comes later in the flight, Roth says the best time to unload that stowaway is right before drink service begins. People often stay in their seats when they see the carts as they don’t want to miss their opportunity for some mid-flight snacks or drinks.
If the smell is a concern, Roth says to avoid spraying things like cologne and perfume and instead ask the flight attendant for some coffee ground packets. When hung in the lavatory before letting the toilet know who’s boss, these packets will help mask the smell.
To the average person, most details of air travel are still a generally unresolved enigma - and this includes airplane toilets. So, let’s find out how the mighty experts have enabled passengers to relieve themselves at more than 33,000 km in the air.
Unlike regular bathrooms, airplane toilets use a unique vacuum system with small pipes that can go in any direction due to the absence of water and gravity. When passengers poop on a plane and flush, the waste moves into a septic tank located on the airplane. At the end of each flight, it gets vacuumed into another tank on the back of a truck and removed alongside the other waste from the airport.
Contrary to popular belief, the pilot does not detach the toilet tank to get rid of it mid-flight. The “blue ice” some air travelers may see falling from above usually indicates an incidental mid-flight leak of frozen sewage waste.
For many passengers, answering the call of nature during a flight is the least pleasant part of air travel. This is why we have laid out a few tricks to help you avoid the lack of privacy and poor hygiene in airplane bathrooms.
First of all, getting dehydrated makes you more prone to a toilet emergency. Therefore, it is wise to drink a decent amount of fluids before boarding your plane to avoid dehydration. However, bear in mind that alcohol and caffeinated beverages may prompt you to use the toilet more frequently.
The food you choose to consume before or during your flight is another essential factor that may reduce your need to poop on a plane. Some types of food, such as fatty or greasy foods, might lead to dehydration and make you use the bathroom more frequently. Therefore, we recommend including healthy and light dishes in your pre-flight and mid-flight meals and snacks.
Although aircraft are generally considered the most comfortable means of transport, some people still struggle with air sickness. Fortunately, there are several tips you can consider to feel less sick during flights.
