First Class Bathrooms Are Not Protected By National Security Laws
So a few days ago I wrote to both the FAA and America West customer service departments and asked about the supposed “federal security regulations” that America West cited on my last flight when they informed all of the coach passengers that we were not allowed to use the first-class passengers’ bathroom. As I reported in the comments, the FAA forwarded my request on to the TSA, who responded by telling me I needed to contact the FAA. This is of course the only possible outcome when dealing with a government agency.
Regardless, America West responded today:
Dear Mr. Hodulik,
Thank you for contacting America West Airlines. We appreciate and welcome all inquiries, concerns, and compliments, as your feedback is important to us.
Our first class ticket holders pay a premium to enjoy a quiet cabin atmosphere to complete paperwork or to simply take pleasure in the amenities the first class cabin offers. Our first class flight attendants request and encourage coach customers to use the lavatories in the rear of the aircraft when serving carts are not obstructing the aisle.
Should it become necessary for coach customers to use the forward lavatory, they will be asked to wait behind the bulkhead separating the two cabins until the forward lavatory is vacant. Heightened safety measures dictate, our customers cannot congregate in the forward galley while waiting to use the lavatory, though we cannot refuse a coach customer the use of the forward lavatory.
We realize that the professional attitude of our employees will leave a positive impression of our company, and I’m sorry this was not your experience.
Your feedback is appreciated and will be shared with our Inflight Manager. The intent here, of course, is to address these issues and to make positive changes for the future.
Sincerely,
Kathi Gee
Customer Relations
America West Airlines—–Original Message—–
From: americawest.spam@hodulik.com [mailto:americawest.spam@hodulik.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 11:56 PM
To: customer.relations@americawest.com
Subject: America West Customer Relations Information Request
Importance: Highsearch:spa : 00031a39-sp00000000
search:spq : Search
CRS METH TYPE : I
CRS PRODUCT : CTCIN
CRS SUBJECT : INTERNET
CRS RESP TYPE : IR
CRS CUST TYPE : P
CRS EVIDENCE : Y
CRS NAME TITLE : Mr.
txt first name : Nicholas
txt last name : Hodulik
CRS COMPANY :
CRS ADDRESS 2 :
txt address : 151 Buena Vista
CRS STR SUFFIX : Terr.
txt city : San Francisco
CRS STATE : CA
txt zip : 94117
CRS ACCT NUMBER :
txt email address : americawest.spam@hodulik.com
CRS PHONE 1 : 415-861-9300
CRS PHONE 2 : 415-861-9300
txa message : I am writing to inquire about your policy of not allowing coach passengers to use the first class bathrooms during flights. During my last trip the flight attendents cited “federal security regulations” as being the reason why this policy is in effect. Since the very existence of such a regulation is a particularly bizarre notion for most rational humans I am wondering if you can help me to understand *exactly* which regulations dictate such a strange policy and where I can get an exact copy of those regulations. I very much appreciate your help.
content: ctl0.x : 37
content: ctl0.y : 8Message generated on www.americawest.com at 7/6/2005 11:55:30 PM.
So, as Ars said in the comments to the previous post, the regulation refers to people congregating near the bulkhead, not to using the lavatory itself. So basically America West’s entire message to me, while very friendly and courteous, is essentially PR-speak before and after the only statement that actually matters: …though we cannot refuse a coach customer the use of the forward lavatory.
So don’t take any crap from those flight attendants. If you have to go, go. Anybody who tells you that you can’t go to the bathroom is a bad person.
