New laws for the airlines; not good for those with small bladders

16 years ago

Thanks to terrorist du jour Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab , airline passengers will now have to remain seated one hour before landing, and during that last hour, theyÂll not be allowed to access to their own carry-on bags.

Speaking as someone whoÂs flown on many planes to many places, itÂs typically 20-25 minutes into the flight before youÂre allowed to "move about the cabin." And now that the final hour is shaved off the moving around time, thatÂs pretty much a "sit-down-and-shut-up" arrangement for anyone on a 90-minute flight.

Seriously, the very thought of not being able to go potty for 90 minutes gives me the heebie jeebies. Something about being seven miles over the earth makes me have to go tinkle.

Here is a link that might be useful: First they removed the olives, next the toilets?

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Comments (36)

yborgal
16 years ago
There's no way I can deal with that. I guess I'll have to wear Depends when I fly.
glenda_al
16 years ago
Don't know how they can manage the potty, but if it works, then so be it.

I'll sit in my seat and rely Depends.

But generally when I fly, I try to stay away and not use the restrooms.
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pekemom
16 years ago
Yikes! Just thinking I wouldn't be allowed to go to the bathroom would stress me enough so I'd need to go....
workoutlady
16 years ago
Oh man. I'm flying on Thursday. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it. Maybe I'll need to buy depends? I'll let you know how it goes.
Rudebekia
16 years ago
Also, no movies on some long flights because the GPS now needs to be disabled! This is to prevent a terrorist from exploding the plane over a city rather than the ocean.
organic_donna
16 years ago
Hi everyone,
We had a "cabin lockdown" today on my flight in from Manchester. We gave everyone a lot of time to use the lavs beforehand. One hour out I made an announcement, electronics have to be turned off and stowed, no pillows or blankets on your laps, all carryon stowed for the rest of the flight and no one can get up the remainder of the flight.
I'm flying Cancun tomorrow and those passengers are not as easy as the Manchester passengers. We'll see how it goes.
Donna
organic_donna
16 years ago
Yep,
We disabled the videos too. They don't want the Airshow on the monitor. They don't want anyone to know where we are flying over in the U.S.
lynn_d
16 years ago
It may be inconvenient but whatever it takes to help with safety in our skies is worth it to me.
rosemaryt
Original Author
16 years ago
But that's the thing, Lynn D.

The whole of this makes flying *SO* unpleasant that no one wants to fly anymore. Secondly, how does this inane rule "help with safety in our skies"? That's how it's packaged and sold, but if you read how the Nigerian terrorist did this, the "remain seated" for one hour would not have stopped him.
dilly_dally
16 years ago
There are more things that may require a trip to the restroom than just having to pee. Travel often upsets a woman's cycle. I had this 'surprise' happen to me once on a short flight from Chicago to New York. Now I am just suppose to sit there and ruin my clothing and their upholstery?

If someone becomes motion sick as is very common on air flights, I would rather they go to the restroom than sit right next to me while filling their vomit bag.

What I've read on this is confusing to me. Trips to the restroom are banned some say, but some articles say that one can still use the restroom by requesting permission and having a two person escort. Some articles say thee will be different levels of implementation of some of these new rules depending on the airport. This is all so silly I think.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/us/28security.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Article
liz
16 years ago
just for the record...This is for INTERNATIONAL flights coming in to the US...including Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean...I can't tell you much more but rest assured the flight attendants will give you ample time to get yourself to the bathroom and put away your belongings...Look at it this way..most of us can stay in our seats for an hour while we're in church. so surely you can stay in your seat for the last hour...there's always gonna be exceptions and I for one will never stop a person from going to the bathroom...I'll give them a warning about the seatbelt sign being on...but if ya gotta go...ya gotta go!!

You think it's gonna be tough for the passengers...This creep and the TSA just made my job a whole lot harder...
lynn_d
16 years ago
It may be inconvenient, but in truth people will still go if they want or need to travel. This may just be a temporary action that will lessen or change over the next several months. I am usually on a plane at least once a month, seldom do I use an aircraft lavatory. These days the numbers of non-stop, longhaul flights are decreasing so I use the facilities in the airports. I'm more concerned about not being permitted to have the blanket, I am always cold on a plane and usually do have either a blanket or my coat draped over me.
sjerin
16 years ago
Organic donna--I always reeeeeeeally appreciate your airline input as I'm afraid to fly. But do fly, as necessary. Thanks so much for posting!
suzieque
16 years ago
Why aren't we hearing more about the security personnel and screeners at the airport who let him through? I am all for the increased security measures, but isn't it closing the door after the horse is out (or whatever that saying is)?
Cherryfizz
16 years ago
Many of those flights from Europe landing in Detroit Metro fly right over my house. If this stops one person from blowing a plane up so be it. My neigbhourhood has already witnessed one too many planes falling from the sky. How many of you really get up to use the washroom in the last hour of flight anyway" I never have.

Anne
FlamingO in AR
16 years ago
I avoid airplane lavatories like the plague and I think the last time I used one was in 1983 on a trip to Maine. If I honestly thought I couldn't go an hour without having access to a lavatory, I would be talking to my doctor about it. I only drink water on flights because it's less liable to make me need a bathroom, compared to a mixed drink or soda or coffee.

I'll do anything it takes to keep the skies safer and if a flight attendant told me to do something, I would do it no questions asked because they are there to protect me. I'm just sorry to imagine all the new flack you FA's are going to get from your customers, over and above what you already do. I know how hard it is to work the public and how so many people treat you ladies (and guys) like the hired help.

I usually anticipate being cold on a plane, too, so I dress in many layers, t-shirt, blouse, sweater and jacket over jeans and socks and boots or shoes. I don't ever ask for the blanket because I always have enough of my own things on. When I see people in sleeveless tops or strappy dresses, it makes me shiver, how can they DO that? Brrr.
joyfulguy
16 years ago
How are we to cope?

Well ...that depends!

Shouldn't be so difficult for the guys - they can pretend that the seat ahead of them is a fireplug ... lift their leg ... and find comfort (as long as they can arrange things not to just dribble)!

Of course ... they shouldn't be surprised if the other passengers accused them of being a dog!

Maybe we vcould arrange for a person in distress to have three or four people surround them, holding up a blanket, until they were able to get the situation in hand.

As far as I know, the problem on the flight nearing Detroit was that the perpetrator had the stuff sewn into his underpants.

I don't want any strange man at an airport sticking his hands into my underpants! (Woman, either, for that matter, though my objection might be moderated a bit under such unusual circumstances).

Yikes!! Will such an (unbalanced?) opinion lead some to brand me as sexist, do ya think?

And some of you will remember the dilemma that I had a while ago about lazy elastics in my underpants, that were stretched beyond usefulness, and my concern to getting an extra elastic to help me arrange a hold-up.

Can you imagine the hassle if the inspectors found a home-made, floating elastic girdle around my underpants??

Oh, Lordy - life does get complicated.

As for the one-hour detention assessed on everyone ...

... Canada's greatest airline disaster, that reportedly involved the hassle between Indians and the people who want an independent Kashmir, included something over 250 people, and took place over the Atlantic, miles off the coast of Ireland, and I doubt whether was within an hour of landing.

Also, the smashing into the Towers may have been within an hour of departure, but sure wasn't within an hour of anticipated arrival.

I wonder sometimes whether a substantial portion of these increased regulatory systems isn't largely window dressing to make the millions feel more secure.

olre joyful
gardenspice
16 years ago
Hmmm. An hour without bathroom access is really not that long - pretend it is a car trip, or that you are at the store, or as someone mentioned above, at church. Surely you regularly go a hour or more without going to the bathroom.
Frankly, airline bathrooms are something you want to miss - ESPECIALLY at the end of a flight. There are some seriously poor aims out there.
If you think about it, the impact is pretty low: Let's say you travel internationally every month. I'm guessing the last hour of the flight rule is over US only - so that's 12 hours out of the whole year that you cannot go to the bathroom when you may want to. If it is both directions, 24. Just go earlier in the flight.
I feel badly for Liz and Donna - it is the flight attendants who really bear the brunt of increased cabin security procedures.
lisa_fla
16 years ago
It would have to be dire circumstances for me to use an airplane bathroom!
rosemaryt
Original Author
16 years ago
I freely admit - I can not "hold it" for the duration of a flight and I do not have any medical condition, and we're not talking about one hour, we're talking about two or three hours.

Here's the thing: Planes board passengers 30 minutes before the flight, so a 90-minute flight is a two-hour wait between airport potty breaks. But then many planes have delays at the departing gate or arriving gate, which can easily add 15 or 30 minutes to a "normal" flight. So already we're talking about 2.5 hours on a non-delayed normal 90-minute flight.

Thirdly, I drink a couple quarts of water a day and fourth, flying makes me nervous and when most human beings get nervous, they have to go more often. Sometimes on a flight, I drink coca-cola to settle my stomach and *that* makes me go.

So, this isn't about "holding it" for one hour, but holding it for three hours at a time - and that's if everything goes blissfully well.
Marilyn Sue
16 years ago
It has been 34 years since I have flown, but if I did fly now, it would not bother me. I am very used to waiting and holding. Sometimes I can go shopping and be gone most of the day and not have to go while I am gone. I can see if others have that problem, a Depends might be in order. Good luck to those that fly.

Sue
gardenspice
16 years ago
How often do you take a 90 minute international flight?
jenuwin
16 years ago
For those who say we can "just wait" to go to the bathroom. How about people like myself who have bowel disease? Will a note from my doctor help? I doubt it.
Do you want to be sitting anywhere around me if I have to go and they won't let me?
There are meds we can take to try to delay using the bathroom, but they are not a sure thing, and in instances of nervousness they do not help at all.
Should those millions of us no longer fly?
barb_from_pa
16 years ago
I'm sure the airlines have to make these rules because if they didn't, we'd all be demanding to know what action they were going to take. I'm with rosemaryt, though - how staying seated for an hour would have prevented this latest incident eludes me.
socks
16 years ago
I don't think this makes any sense. Anyone who is going to blow up a plane can do it any time, not just in the period before landing. What makes me unhappy is that we all suffer through the inconvenient security checks, and then this guy gets through with an explosive product. TSA failed big time.
liz
16 years ago
TSA didn't fail cause TSA doesn't operate in Amsterdam...but you can bet heads will roll on the folks who let him thru security that day...actually most European countries have been much more diligent long before USA was...imagine my surprise on my first European flight when I saw soldiers walking with M-16's around the airport and they're not afraid to use them...

OJ...if you or anyone else lifts their leg on my flight...I'm gonna have them handcuffed and authorities meet the flight when we land...same with those who decide to put up a blanket...

I've been a flight attendant for 32 years...I'm gonna LET you go to the bathroom...especially if you have the good sense to let me know you have bladder or bowel problems...THINK AHEAD...let the flight attendants know your issues...we're willing to work with you a whole lot more if you tell us up front you're scared or having a problem or whatever...I've had people LAND in the bathroom before because they were toooooo sick to get to their seat...it's not something we do all the time...but if you're upchucking or have a serious case of diarrhea I for one want you in the bathroom not puking all over someone else...

PPPPPP...proper planning prevents pis*poor performance...People fly...some for fun...others for business...believe me this rule isn't gonna stop most of them...using good common sense when it comes to being out in the public is the key issue!

To those who are afraid...come fly with me...I've sat with people for hours on end to help calm them down...It takes a whole lot of empathy to be a good flight attendant and believe me I have loads...
FlamingO in AR
16 years ago
Amen to all that, Liz. I want to fly with you, for sure. Not that I need my hand held or anything, but because I know that you make flights more fun and pleasant and you have good sense. And OMG, do you have patience! I know what you FAs have to put up with, I've seen it first hand and it's all I can do not to jump down someone's throat when they're snotty to the FA.

Did you see where a US senator had a little incident a couple of weeks ago on his flight from NY to Wash? Seems he didn't think the rules applied to him and he wouldn't turn off his cell phone. Then when the FA insisted, he called her a nasty name to his companion. Overheard, of course. Wow, what a class act. So you have all my sympathy, girl!
socks
16 years ago
Oh of course, Liz. No TSA in Europe. Sorry for the bash TSA!!
Jasdip
16 years ago
I only went to the washroom on a plane once and that was a few years ago when I was coming back from Aruba. Had the "bug" and every few minutes was going to the washroom. One kind soul noticed and offered me some charcoal that was to stop the runs.

I wouldn't want to be a FA at all, so my hat's off to Liz and Donna and all the others out there. It sounds like a glamorous job, but I doubt that it is.
joyfulguy
16 years ago
Here's a thought - maybe they could arrange to have half a dozen or so "potty chairs", depending on the capacity of the aircraft, like we had for the kids prior to their having learned what to do ...

... or, rather, when to do it ...

... to accomodate those of us who have achieved our "second childhood" status (or for the folks who can bring a doctor's statement as to their short-shift condition - but there's another complication: some docs here charge up to $100. for such messages - yikes!).

Maybe I'll just stay home - sorry for adding my small contribution ... or, rather, deducting it ... to making life more complicated for airlines' staff persons, along with their bottom lines.

Enjoy your wind-down-week of the old year, folks.

ole joyful
sjerin
16 years ago
Oh, Liz, how I wish I could fly with you!! You sound like such a wonderful, empathetic f.a. I don't mention my fears on flights because you gals and guys have so much to do, but I sure do like to sit where I can see your faces, especially when we take off. If you're not looking worried, I'm more at ease. You actually sat with someone who was scared?? Wow, that's above and beyond, for sure!! Many thanks to you too for the good information you've given us.
dilly_dally
16 years ago
The new rules are making everyone skittish. Read here about what happened to one poor businessman who took too long in the john and got in trouble.

"A passenger on today's Northwest flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit spent an unusually long time in the aircraft lavatory. Due to this unusual behavior, the airline notified TSA and the agency directed the flight to taxi to a remote area upon landing to be met by law enforcement and DHS."

"The passenger in question, a Nigerian national, was removed from the flight and interviewed by the FBI"

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,581232,00.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Don't take too long in there......
LorifromUtah
16 years ago
I thought immediately of liz when I heard of the Christmas Day attack.

I will do anything airport security or flight personnel tells me. I figure they know their business better than I and I like being safe. If security measures tighten up I suppose we'd better suck it up and comply or find another means of transportation, imo.

Lori
msmarion
16 years ago
The airlines aren't fooling around, they threw Ivana Trump off a flight to NY yesterday out of Palm Beach. Seems she didn't like her first class seat and was cursing at children, other passengers and the FA's. It must be hard being her. LOL
FlamingO in AR
16 years ago
I read that she was annoyed by screaming children running up and down the aisle in First Class. I would be annoyed by that, too. Mostly with the parents who were allowing it, then with the FAs who are probably too scared of the ruckus it would cause with those same parents if THEY tried to stop the unruly kids. I wouldn't expect that kind of atmosphere if I was sitting in First Class. I'm not excusing Trump's behavior, though, it sounds like she over-reacted.

I think it's times like those when fellow passengers need to get slightly involved and shut those kids down, because the FAs can't be everywhere at once AND the FAs have to walk a really fine line between enforcement and diplomacy/customer service. For all they know, that situation could be a set-up by the airline to test their skills and see if the FAs perform to their liking. If the adults on board had simply blocked the aisles so the kids were unable to run back and forth, maybe then the parents could have settled them down and strapped them in. This is assuming all the children had seats assigned to them. I know up to a certain age, you can (ridiculously) hold them in your lap, on some airlines.
organic_donna
16 years ago
No matter what we do there are many gaps that will allow terrorists to get past the security system.
For the general public it's like playing the lottery. Your chance of being on a plane with a terrorist attack is extremely small. I would still fly as the general public. For me as a flight attendant, my chances increase. I am seriously looking at retiring soon. It's a difficult decision because it will impact me financially. It is a very unstable industry to work in since 9/11.
Donna

New laws for the airlines; not good for those with small bladders

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