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For this reason US airlines are required to have a minimum of two crew members inside the cockpit at all times. When a working pilot needs to use the restroom a

For this reason US airlines are required to have a minimum of two crew members inside the cockpit at all times. When a working pilot needs to use the restroom a flight attendant will temporarily take their place inside the cockpit. If you sit up front its not unusual to see them go through this dance which involves barricading the front galley area with drink carts first.

turquoisevar 3y ago
I wish barricading the front galley with a cart was mandatory practice. It would've saved me the embarrassment of a suspected hijack by me. I remember one time on Delta sitting upfront in first and needing to use the bathroom immediately after waking up from a short snooze. A flight attendant was standing in front of the galley and started barking at me that I needed to sit down when I started to get up. Baffled by this, I checked the seatbelt light, which was off, and tried to explain that I needed to go the restroom, only for her to repeat that I needed to sit down. Only afterward, after I saw the pilot sneek out of the bathroom, did I put two and two together. I understand the need to be vigilant, as well as the fact that you don't want to indicate an opportunity for malice by telling passengers that the pilot is outside of the cockpit. So I’m sure there's no easy way of dealing with this. But blocking the way with a cart will have many, myself included, unconsciously waiting for the cart to be out of the way. Whatever the case, I don't think barking orders is the smartest thing to do, as it risks escalating the situation by evoking a response of equal weight.
- gymbeaux 3y ago
  A simple solution may be the “bathroom availability” lights that I’ve seen on some planes. If the bathroom is occupied and everyone in the main cabin can see it, they’re less-likely to get up to go to the bathroom, especially considering the aisle is only wide enough for one person. Of course the pilot should be able to flip the status to “occupied” before they even get up, that way no one gets up as the pilot is making their way out, and it kind of gives them priority (which they should have anyway for obvious reasons).
  - qazxcvbnmlp 3y ago
    An even simpler solution would be: “hi there’s a pilot in the restroom currently, can I please have you sit down until they are finished” The stress in this situation was caused by the flight attendant escalating the situation.

turquoisevar 3y ago

I wish barricading the front galley with a cart was mandatory practice. It would've saved me the embarrassment of a suspected hijack by me. I remember one time on Delta sitting upfront in first and needing to use the bathroom immediately after waking up from a short snooze. A flight attendant was standing in front of the galley and started barking at me that I needed to sit down when I started to get up. Baffled by this, I checked the seatbelt light, which was off, and tried to explain that I needed to go the restroom, only for her to repeat that I needed to sit down. Only afterward, after I saw the pilot sneek out of the bathroom, did I put two and two together. I understand the need to be vigilant, as well as the fact that you don't want to indicate an opportunity for malice by telling passengers that the pilot is outside of the cockpit. So I’m sure there's no easy way of dealing with this. But blocking the way with a cart will have many, myself included, unconsciously waiting for the cart to be out of the way. Whatever the case, I don't think barking orders is the smartest thing to do, as it risks escalating the situation by evoking a response of equal weight.

gymbeaux 3y ago
A simple solution may be the “bathroom availability” lights that I’ve seen on some planes. If the bathroom is occupied and everyone in the main cabin can see it, they’re less-likely to get up to go to the bathroom, especially considering the aisle is only wide enough for one person. Of course the pilot should be able to flip the status to “occupied” before they even get up, that way no one gets up as the pilot is making their way out, and it kind of gives them priority (which they should have anyway for obvious reasons).
- qazxcvbnmlp 3y ago
  An even simpler solution would be: “hi there’s a pilot in the restroom currently, can I please have you sit down until they are finished” The stress in this situation was caused by the flight attendant escalating the situation.