I never thought that airline toilets could get any smaller. I'm not a big person but can hardly move inside the new offering. I don't know how big people would get on (or off)
In the last couple of years, Qantas has refurbished their 738 fleet. When they did this, they added the new slim line toilet, which allowed them to add another row of economy seats.
Unfortunately this new slim toilet is extremely tight and is also a bit of a health and safety issue as it's hard to wipe your backside and properly wash you hands, even for normal sized people. In the states, there has been numerous complaints about these toilets issued by flight attendants and there is some action now being undertaken by the airlines around their many issues.
Unfortunately Boeing in recent times has been at the forefront of squeezing economy passengers (ie 9 abreast 787, 10 abreast 777) to improve the economics of their planes and this is just another way they are doing it. Unfortunately with Boeing, it almost seems to be run by accountants now.
Apologies if this sounds rude. But is this the first time you have flown Qantas domestically?
It does sound kind of rude. It's only recently that Qantas added an extra row of seats to it's 737-800 fleet and in doing this installed "slimline" lavatories.
In the last couple of years, Qantas has refurbished their 738 fleet. When they did this, they added the new slim line toilet, which allowed them to add another row of economy seats.
Unfortunately this new slim toilet is extremely tight and is also a bit of a health and safety issue as it's hard to wipe your backside and properly wash you hands, even for normal sized people. In the states, there has been numerous complaints about these toilets issued by flight attendants and there is some action now being undertaken by the airlines around their many issues.
Unfortunately Boeing in recent times has been at the forefront of squeezing economy passengers (ie 9 abreast 787, 10 abreast 777) to improve the economics of their planes and this is just another way they are doing it. Unfortunately with Boeing, it almost seems to be run by accountants now.
It's not so much Boeing that is at fault, it's the airlines that are in charge of how they configure their cabins. Boeing launched the 787 with 8 seats across in economy, it's the airlines that chose to squeeze in an extra row.
In the last couple of years, Qantas has refurbished their 738 fleet. When they did this, they added the new slim line toilet, which allowed them to add another row of economy seats.
Unfortunately this new slim toilet is extremely tight and is also a bit of a health and safety issue as it's hard to wipe your backside and properly wash you hands, even for normal sized people. In the states, there has been numerous complaints about these toilets issued by flight attendants and there is some action now being undertaken by the airlines around their many issues.
Unfortunately Boeing in recent times has been at the forefront of squeezing economy passengers (ie 9 abreast 787, 10 abreast 777) to improve the economics of their planes and this is just another way they are doing it. Unfortunately with Boeing, it almost seems to be run by accountants now.
It's not so much Boeing that is at fault, it's the airlines that are in charge of how they configure their cabins. Boeing launched the 787 with 8 seats across in economy, it's the airlines that chose to squeeze in an extra row.
I still feel Boeing when developing the 787 should have either made the fuselage wider or narrow to prevent this from happening. You just have to look at the a330, very few operators use the tight layout as it doesn't work for full service airlines. Even with the 767 only a handful of planes use the 8 abreast layout.
I still feel although they might of had glossy brochures with 8 abreast, they were always aiming for 9 abreast to improve the economics.
Passenger comfort on aircraft is now an oxymoron. They can do what they like because they know we'll keep flying anyway. What other choice is there? It's a long drive otherwise, and we don't have any high speed trains.
Passenger comfort on aircraft is now an oxymoron. They can do what they like because they know we'll keep flying anyway. What other choice is there? It's a long drive otherwise, and we don't have any high speed trains.
To be perfectly honest, passengers have no-one to blame but themselves. As long as the focus for the majority of people is on getting the cheapest fare possible, airlines are going to have to squeeze more people on the plane in order to make any money.
Passenger comfort on aircraft is now an oxymoron. They can do what they like because they know we'll keep flying anyway. What other choice is there? It's a long drive otherwise, and we don't have any high speed trains.
To be perfectly honest, passengers have no-one to blame but themselves. As long as the focus for the majority of people is on getting the cheapest fare possible, airlines are going to have to squeeze more people on the plane in order to make any money.
I agree, up to a point. Would we allow airlines to squeeze more people onto the plane by having no toilets at all? Of course not. There comes a point where enough is enough. Regulators are the only force than can keep the tug of war between cheap seats and basic passenger amenity in any sort of balance. In Australia the regulators IMHO need to do more than they have been willing to do so far.
On another level, is it really necessary for airlines to keep fares at rock bottom by sacrificing passenger amenity? I'd suggest, as in my OP, that people will continue to fly whatever the fare. In a big country such as Australia there isn't any other choice.
Surely the regulators certified those size of toilets? They are clearly not functional for larger sized people or families who need to change infants.....
tuzza1
tuzza1
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Aug 2012
Total posts 95
Wow. On board QF660 adl to bris. 737-800. In Y.
I never thought that airline toilets could get any smaller. I'm not a big person but can hardly move inside the new offering. I don't know how big people would get on (or off)
It it me or are others surprised at the size.
silentiger86
silentiger86
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Dec 2017
Total posts 90
Apologies if this sounds rude. But is this the first time you have flown Qantas domestically?
Pcoder
Pcoder
Member since 14 Oct 2016
Total posts 25
In the last couple of years, Qantas has refurbished their 738 fleet. When they did this, they added the new slim line toilet, which allowed them to add another row of economy seats.
Unfortunately this new slim toilet is extremely tight and is also a bit of a health and safety issue as it's hard to wipe your backside and properly wash you hands, even for normal sized people. In the states, there has been numerous complaints about these toilets issued by flight attendants and there is some action now being undertaken by the airlines around their many issues.
Unfortunately Boeing in recent times has been at the forefront of squeezing economy passengers (ie 9 abreast 787, 10 abreast 777) to improve the economics of their planes and this is just another way they are doing it. Unfortunately with Boeing, it almost seems to be run by accountants now.
Ryan K
Ryan K
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 May 2013
Total posts 161
Originally Posted by silentiger86
Apologies if this sounds rude. But is this the first time you have flown Qantas domestically?
It does sound kind of rude. It's only recently that Qantas added an extra row of seats to it's 737-800 fleet and in doing this installed "slimline" lavatories.
Ryan K
Ryan K
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 May 2013
Total posts 161
Originally Posted by Pcoder
In the last couple of years, Qantas has refurbished their 738 fleet. When they did this, they added the new slim line toilet, which allowed them to add another row of economy seats.
Unfortunately this new slim toilet is extremely tight and is also a bit of a health and safety issue as it's hard to wipe your backside and properly wash you hands, even for normal sized people. In the states, there has been numerous complaints about these toilets issued by flight attendants and there is some action now being undertaken by the airlines around their many issues.
Unfortunately Boeing in recent times has been at the forefront of squeezing economy passengers (ie 9 abreast 787, 10 abreast 777) to improve the economics of their planes and this is just another way they are doing it. Unfortunately with Boeing, it almost seems to be run by accountants now.
It's not so much Boeing that is at fault, it's the airlines that are in charge of how they configure their cabins. Boeing launched the 787 with 8 seats across in economy, it's the airlines that chose to squeeze in an extra row.
Phil Young
Phil Young
Qantas
Member since 22 Oct 2012
Total posts 258
If you think that the bathrooms in the QF 738's are small, try getting yourself into a QF Dash-8's bathroom. They are incredibly narrow.
Pcoder
Pcoder
Member since 14 Oct 2016
Total posts 25
Originally Posted by Ryan K
Originally Posted by Pcoder
In the last couple of years, Qantas has refurbished their 738 fleet. When they did this, they added the new slim line toilet, which allowed them to add another row of economy seats.
Unfortunately this new slim toilet is extremely tight and is also a bit of a health and safety issue as it's hard to wipe your backside and properly wash you hands, even for normal sized people. In the states, there has been numerous complaints about these toilets issued by flight attendants and there is some action now being undertaken by the airlines around their many issues.
Unfortunately Boeing in recent times has been at the forefront of squeezing economy passengers (ie 9 abreast 787, 10 abreast 777) to improve the economics of their planes and this is just another way they are doing it. Unfortunately with Boeing, it almost seems to be run by accountants now.
I still feel Boeing when developing the 787 should have either made the fuselage wider or narrow to prevent this from happening. You just have to look at the a330, very few operators use the tight layout as it doesn't work for full service airlines. Even with the 767 only a handful of planes use the 8 abreast layout.
I still feel although they might of had glossy brochures with 8 abreast, they were always aiming for 9 abreast to improve the economics.
flyingdr
flyingdr
Member since 22 Dec 2017
Total posts 7
Completely agree that the new 738 lavs are too small.
Taking a toddler into one of them on a recent trip left us both wet, dirty and crying!
xtfer
xtfer
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 14 Mar 2017
Total posts 159
Curse you, tiny toilet!
tommygun
tommygun
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
Member since 16 Oct 2017
Total posts 291
Passenger comfort on aircraft is now an oxymoron. They can do what they like because they know we'll keep flying anyway. What other choice is there? It's a long drive otherwise, and we don't have any high speed trains.
Ozshanel
Ozshanel
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 08 Dec 2014
Total posts 15
Originally Posted by tommygun
Passenger comfort on aircraft is now an oxymoron. They can do what they like because they know we'll keep flying anyway. What other choice is there? It's a long drive otherwise, and we don't have any high speed trains.
To be perfectly honest, passengers have no-one to blame but themselves. As long as the focus for the majority of people is on getting the cheapest fare possible, airlines are going to have to squeeze more people on the plane in order to make any money.
tommygun
tommygun
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
Member since 16 Oct 2017
Total posts 291
Originally Posted by Ozshanel
Originally Posted by tommygun
Passenger comfort on aircraft is now an oxymoron. They can do what they like because they know we'll keep flying anyway. What other choice is there? It's a long drive otherwise, and we don't have any high speed trains.
I agree, up to a point. Would we allow airlines to squeeze more people onto the plane by having no toilets at all? Of course not. There comes a point where enough is enough. Regulators are the only force than can keep the tug of war between cheap seats and basic passenger amenity in any sort of balance. In Australia the regulators IMHO need to do more than they have been willing to do so far.
On another level, is it really necessary for airlines to keep fares at rock bottom by sacrificing passenger amenity? I'd suggest, as in my OP, that people will continue to fly whatever the fare. In a big country such as Australia there isn't any other choice.
olliek57
olliek57
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 06 Jul 2018
Total posts 11
Surely the regulators certified those size of toilets? They are clearly not functional for larger sized people or families who need to change infants.....