The best times to use an airplane bathroom are shortly after the first meal service is cleared and just before the landing announcement. During these times, most passengers are preoccupied with settling in or watching a movie, reducing the chances of encountering long lines. The second meal occurs 60 to 90 minutes before landing, posing a risk of being stuck in a queue. Travelers should aim to visit the lavatory during the quieter moments of the flight to avoid crowds and maximize convenience.
According to Sarah B., a flight attendant for a major international airline, the best time to use the lavatory is right after we've cleared the first meal service or just before the landing announcement. The moment they announce that you're going to land soon, everyone runs to the toilets. They also run there right after eating, and they can get stuck behind the carts for clearing the meals, and it's difficult for them to get back to their seats.
The second meal usually happens about 60 to 90 minutes before landing, so if you wait until then, you'll often be stuck in a long queue or risk not getting in before the seatbelt sign goes on for descent. The strategy that she recommends is to go right after the first meal cleanup, when most people are still settling in, watching a movie, or falling asleep.
That tracks with the general rhythm of a long-haul flight: meal service, lull, second meal, descent. That lull, when the cabin is dim, quiet, and relatively still, is prime bathroom time. It's also when most people are preoccupied with their screen or napping, which means fewer elbows to dodge in the aisle.
Rani Cheema, a travel coach and consultant who regularly takes long-haul flights, has her bathroom timing down to a science - and it all begins before she even gets on the plane. I'm using the bathroom as many times as possible before getting on the plane.
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