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Galley Gossip: Hottest trend on the airplane since the mile high club
Checking your watch for the umpteenth time, you sigh, because you're on the airplane waiting in line to use the bathroom and you've been waiting in line for a very long time. What's strange is you're next to go and have been for some time now. What the heck is going on in there?
You probably don't want to know. What you do know is the passenger who went in there ten minutes ago can't be doing that, at least not with another person, because they went in there alone. Then again some people join the mile high club while others prefer the solo aviators division.
"Excuse me, Miss," you say, and when you say this you're looking at me, and because I see you standing in front of a lavatory door that is occupied, I already know what you're going to say before you even say it and I'm really, really, wishing you didn't have to involve me.
"Whoever's in there has been in there a very long time," you tell me.
I nod, trying my best to look concerned, and while I'm nodding I'm praying the person who has been in the lavatory for a very long time will finally walk out. Please walk out! When they don't walk out, I say, "Sometimes it takes some people a little longer than others." Because it does. I mean it took me two years to even use the thing. For real.
"Can you at least knock on the door to make sure they're alright?"
I take a deep breath, wondering why you can't knock on the door yourself, because we both know you don't really care whether or not they're alright in there and I'm not the one who needs to use the loo, but I go ahead and do it anyway - knock knock, knocking my knuckles against the hard, cold door, and that's when I hear a powerful flush.
I smile and state the obvious, "They should be out in a second."
Suddenly the door swings opens and the passenger walks out. As the passenger passes you by, you think to yourself, surely they weren't doing that, because they just don't look like the type to do that - at least not on an airplane. So you play it safe, holding your breath as you walk inside, locking the door behind you. Hoping for the best, you finally exhale, and strangely there is no odor. You can't believe it. Grabbing a paper towel, you wonder just what that passenger was doing in the bathroom for all that time.
Well I think I know. I've even got the photos to prove it. While working on my last Galley Gossip post about trusting fear (on and off the airplane), I needed to find a photograph of the lavatory to go along with it, so I logged onto Flickr.com and typed the words LAVATORY AIRPLANE and BATHROOM AIRPLANE into the search bar. I could not believe what popped up. In fact, I've already told everyone I know all about what I found. I had to tell someone!
So let me be the first to tell you that something very strange and disturbing, yet quite intriguing, is going on behind that locked lavatory door. Passengers, and I'm talking all kinds of passengers, are photographing themselves in the bathroom. What I want to know is how long has this been going on? And why didn't anyone ever tell me? You'd think I would have seen all those cameras going into the bathroom! Oh you better believe I'll be taking my own self portrait in the lav on my next flight to New York on Wednesday. Until then, check out these interesting shots..
Gallery: Galley Gossip: Photos in the lav
Photo courtesy of Dpstyles
Filed under: Galley Gossip
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David Allen (DaveFlys) Mar 23rd 2009 11:18AM
Uhm ... what? Wow. I don't like to do ANYTHING in the lav. I only go in there when there is a significant conflict between nature and my own willpower. Going in there for photos, MHC, or anything else just seems so ... ewww.
Oh, and then to post it on Flickr? I just don't get it...
Heather Poole Mar 23rd 2009 6:47PM
Dave - I agree. Totally Ewww. And yet I think I'll join the ewww club when I take my own photo in the lav this week. :)
Trevor Mar 23rd 2009 5:50PM
I work for an airline in FLL an I can assure you those lav's are completely gross. You would be surprise to know that the cleaners just do a quick cleaning with some areosol spray and that's it. All done. Ready for use for the next flight out. That's why when I fly unless it's absouletly necessary I'll wait until we land. I mean people doing the MHC thing it's just sick & unsanitary. But that's my opinion. What do you think Heather?
Heather Poole Mar 23rd 2009 6:46PM
Spray? Your cleaners use spray? I'm not so sure I've ever seen spray where I work. Yes, people, the lavs are filthy, but you knew that already, didn't you?
Trevor Mar 24th 2009 12:18AM
I'm a ticket & gate agent and when I used to work the RON flights the cleaners will dump the trash in the lavs and lightly clean the lavs so it looks clean & then use like an aerosol spray freshner afterwards so that it doesn't have an odor an smells clean. That's how they get rid of the urine smell from the lavs. That's what most of the aircraft cleaners do even on turn flights. Gross huh!
masanddjs Mar 24th 2009 2:36AM
Wow, it's a sorry state of affairs when you get your jolly's by taking a picture of yourself in a lavatory. Whether it's on a plane or anywhere, it's a bit disturbing.
Janet Mar 24th 2009 7:17AM
What I want to know is why it takes them 10 whole minutes to snap a picture?? Hello? "Snap?"
Love your Blog, Heather. Thanks for keeping the skies friendly and funny!
mark Mar 24th 2009 7:52AM
LOL. I'm not sure I need the photo but the story gave me a good laugh! However, please take the picture and GET OUT! I HAVE TO GO!
Beth Mar 24th 2009 8:30AM
Oh geez, I can't WAIT to fly this weekend. Thanks for sharing, people. And in case I see you skulking off to the lav with your Blackberry, rest assured that I will make a point of getting out of my seat, banging on the door, and ruining your Annie Leibowitz moment. Tweet THAT, you twits!
Reb Mar 24th 2009 9:21AM
Who would even want to write about this crap anyway! Jesus, get a life!
Sharon Byrne Mar 24th 2009 9:32AM
Like I said, it's pretty disturbing. I agree, this is a ridiculous story.
Christian von Delius Apr 26th 2009 11:22PM
I think Heather rocks! She writes excellently and obviously has a sense of humor which you apparently don't. If you don't enjoy reading her articles, perhaps you should do something else that you do enjoy, like hiding in you closet. Heather, keep up the entertaining work. It's unfortunate that so many people are negative; wouldn't flying be so much more fun if everyone had your attitude?
-Christian
Bruce Mar 24th 2009 10:07AM
This is probably the same crowd who wastes their time with "flash mobbing" and other moronic and useless activities.
Russellicious Mar 24th 2009 10:28AM
Wow, Heather ... it took you eight paragraphs ... EIGHT PARAGRAPHS to tell us that people are taking pictures of themselves on airplanes! Your shitty writing style was freaking waste of my time ... no story at all! Just Heather's boring rambling!
Janet Mar 24th 2009 11:45PM
So Russellicious (self-proclaimed), if you feel this way about Heather's style and content, why do you bother to read her Blog? Just so you can complain? Get a job. Heather has one, and obviously you have too much time on your hands.
DJ Mar 24th 2009 10:38AM
Heather, if you DO photograph yourself in the lav, please spare us the picture! I think people would lose any respect they have for you.
flying mum Apr 3rd 2009 12:05AM
As a flight attendant, I'm amazed at how many people come to the back before take-off to use the lav! Instead of using the toilets in the airport which are thoroughly cleaned many times over than the airplane lav, people get on and use them. Haven't you just been out sitting in the terminal for an hour? It makes boarding that much more of a hassle with people lining up for the lav before we've even taken off!
SkyKing Apr 17th 2009 8:21AM
Hello nice comment – If you really want a laugh - Check out the really funny Flight Attendant on YouTube called: Lance Parker Male Flight Attendant. He is hilarious – lots of funny real life vids. We are trying to find out what airline he is really with. He goes by “Happy Airlines” and uses the term Kafuffle a lot!
Christian von Delius Apr 26th 2009 9:04PM
Heather-
I was a leader in the mystery lav-er league-(Feb of 2004!)
Check the evidence
http://www.alpineworldwide.com/FA_adventures.htm
GOTTA DO IT !!
-Christian