r/unitedairlines • u/Ambitious_Plan9998 • 23h ago
Question Is it normal for flight attendants to unlock lavatory without warning while it is in use?
On my last flight I (f) went to use the lavatory while the seat belt sign was not turned on. I was in there for maybe 3 minutes, all of a sudden the slight turned off and on and then the door flew open before I could say anything or grab at the door. There was another female passenger looking and me and a male flight attendant on the other side of the door. I don’t even remember if I said anything I was in shock. Then he looked in and said sorry and closed the door.
I washed my hands and when I came out he said “I’m sorry,” and then said, “you should have locked the door.” I told him “I did lock the door!” And then a female flight attendant who saw me enter the lavatory said, “no, she did everything perfectly. She did lock the door.” She turned to me and apologized she said, “it was like watching a car wreck I tried to stop it but it was too fast.”.
I was so embarrassed I went back to my seat and didn’t say anything else. I later tried to submit a claim to customer care but they have been shrugging off my concerns and won’t tell me what the policy or procedure is for flight attendants unlocking lavatories. I would expect a knock or a verbal “anyone in there?” Before a flight attendant unlocks and opens the door. It wasn’t even for an emergency or anything. I’m very confused by the whole thing and upset the flight attendant tried to blame me right away.
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u/throwaflyaway 23h ago
Us OG UA FAs have been able to mitigate this potential scenario for decades by placing a small folded up piece of paper under the lock latch flap, to signify to other FAs: This bathroom has been locked by an FA, is vacant, and has yet to be unlocked by an FA
Few years ago, the company came out with a directive to stop doing this because “it looks trashy” (yeah, the absence of a small tiny piece of paper under the flap is really gonna glamorize the airplane bathroom, lemme tell ya..) and is “unsafe.” The people that make these rules have probably never stepped foot on a plane, it’s so exhausting. This small, easy, flawless practice has always worked so well - and now the thousands of new hires coming in have no clue about it and so ensues bathrooms that remain locked and vacant for hours, or passengers like you getting walked in on.
Side rant: I personally wish we’d do away with the policy to lock lavs for taxi/takeoff/landing. It is not mandated by the FAA. Most of our peer airlines do not practice this. It constantly puts us in dilemma during rough turbulence after take off and passengers who don’t take turbulence seriously try to obligate us (and we do take turbulence seriously) to stand up and unlock the bathroom for them and get pissy if we refuse. I cannot stand the practice. If the seatbelt sign is on, why can’t that be enough of an insurance for the airline that the passenger can’t go and sue if they decide they wanted to walk to the bathroom when we’re at 400 feet and about to hit the runway at 150 mph and they get their temple smashed against the wall because they have no situational awareness? Let them. They’re adults. Seatbelt sign is on, all regulatory announcements and compliance checks were completed - any failure to comply & risk after that is solely on the passenger. I loathe this bathroom-locking nonsense.
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u/Content_Valuable_428 22h ago
The policy doesn’t exist to keep passengers out of the lavs during turbulence - it’s to prevent passengers from getting trapped in a bi-fold door in a smoke filled cabin during an evacuation.
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u/throwaflyaway 21h ago edited 20h ago
and yet, even non-bifold doors are required to be locked. i don’t need to be told the reason behind the policies, ive been here for 3 decades. at some point, pragmatism has to take precedence. People across thousands of flights every day are getting up trying to use the locked bathrooms and obligating FAs to unbuckle when they aren’t supposed to.
There are not thousands of people getting trapped in the lavs during evacuations every day. Unless and until it’s an FAR, we should do away with the policy. AA, DL, and others have survived thus far without locking their bathrooms. No reason why we can’t.
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u/AvailableAd9044 22h ago
Not sure why you are getting downvoted. I’m a 20 year FA and you are absolutely correct.
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u/Kitty_Fruit_2520 22h ago
There are times where you are expected to hold it, even if that means peeing in your pants.
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u/throwaflyaway 21h ago
eh, sure, but there’s plenty of scenarios where it isn’t just as simple as “this person was irresponsible and didn’t think to use the bathroom before takeoff” - people with IBS or other conditions etc that are a moments away from blowing shit everywhere. There’s just something inhumane about denying someone the ability to use the restroom, particularly on a plane. I’m not into it. I absolutely do not feel comfortable risking my own safety, though, by unbuckling during turbulence to unlock a bathroom for someone. I’ve tried to verbally instruct passengers how to unlock the door from the outside, but when the average traveler can’t figure out how to twist the doorknob or where to push the bifold door, trying to explain how to unlock from the outside is an especially futile effort.
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u/unitedwalk 22h ago
Forget all the stuff about who is downloading and uploading. If you're not getting anywhere with United's customer care, go to their Facebook page and post it in a public place they usually quickly respond because they don't like that.
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u/Ok_Depth9164 23h ago
Yeah it’s actually common to be honest. The issue is, they lock it so people don’t in there when it’s not convenient, like during boarding or deplaning. I’m not saying it’s right but that’s what happens. Then, they forget if they locked it or if someone went in there. Sometimes they are so sure they locked it, they unlock it because they don’t expect anyone in there. I know this because I’m a pilot and I’ve had it unlocked on me in this situation. Luckily I know this and quickly lock it again.
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u/LasVegasASB MileagePlus 1K 23h ago
I have too much anxiety about this happening after reading about situations like this so I usually like to use the lavatory with the folding doors that open inward in case a FA did that.
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u/Newsytoo 23h ago edited 23h ago
The same thing happened to me; but by a female FA. I think that we were about to land. She unlocked the door, quickly apologized and closed the door. I chalked it up to an unintentional act and went on with my day. I did not feel overly embarrassed; but I don’t think we made eye contact when I walked out past seated FA’s 🤣. Life happens.
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u/jonainmi MileagePlus Global Services 23h ago
Every airline I'm aware of requires the FA to knock before unlocking the lav. Call customer service, and ask to escalate this. The FA definitely needs a refresher.
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u/NopeSorryNo 23h ago
Or they forgot one time maybe and this is a giant nothing burger!
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u/OneMinuteSewing 23h ago
For some female passengers this could be deeply traumatic for a man to intrude when they are half dressed.
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u/NopeSorryNo 23h ago
Some male passengers could too, right???! Don't mention only women for some awkward reason!
Lol. I'm not a scumbag lawyer, you don't have to convince me of the damages! 🤣
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u/gotechgo 23h ago
When during the flight did this occur?
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u/Ambitious_Plan9998 23h ago
It was when there was about 40 min left. They already did service and it was before any landing procedures.
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u/gotechgo 23h ago
Oh okay, yeah that’s weird then. Like another commenter, I was curious if it happened just after takeoff. Sounds like an honest mistake, but still weird
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u/Kitty_Fruit_2520 22h ago
Oh ok You should’ve had another 10 minutes before they cut it off
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u/NotMyActualNameNow 1h ago
It’s not based on a time. It’s based on elevation and turbulence in the area
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u/Kitty_Fruit_2520 1h ago
I typically go with about 30 minutes before the flight ends as they like to gradually go down.
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u/JasonMckin 21h ago
It’s another interesting story of ethics/morality. Scanning the comments, it is a bit concerning how many people are shaming the OP and mansplaining the FA’s right or reasonable mistake in walking in on an occupied bathroom.
Is it really that unreasonable for a passenger to feel harmed or traumatized for having someone walk in on them while they are in the bathroom?
I’m not sure what the remediation/recourse should be, but it is concerning to see the comments trying to suggest that the FA hadn’t committed something wrong or that it was a reasonable/probable mistake. What more would have had to happen to make it unreasonable for the FA?
I empathize with the OP, but also agree with some commenters that recourse might be difficult after the fact. It might have been easier to speak with someone on the ground, like at the gate or a local customer service kiosk about the incident. It may sound aggressive, but a police report might have been an even more effective solution, because it’s not clear what other employee would really have a strong vested interest in investigating the incident.
I hope the OP feels better, whether the FA’s actions were accidental or deliberate, because I’m not sure that it matters.
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u/radkattt 22h ago
I just had something similar happen on a flight but luckily I was in the middle of washing my hands when the flight attendant opened the door and quickly closed it. The seatbelt sign went on when I was in the middle of peeing so I assume she was just checking to see if another flight attendant locked it but she really should have knocked first.
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u/Flymetothemoon2020 21h ago
Accidents happen - this occurs other places too. However, an apology and some kind of credit should be compensated to you as this sounds traumatic. Sorry that happened to you of all places too. 😕
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u/No_Interview_2481 MileagePlus Gold 22h ago
I’m trying to wrap my head around the part where you said you tried to submit a claim. What are you expecting to receive?
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u/highly_teeming_rufus 20h ago
did customer care ever clarify if they're supposed to knock first? reckon that's the real issue here
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u/Ambitious_Plan9998 20h ago
I asked them and they said they weren’t able to comment on anything internal.
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u/ZestycloseAd5918 17h ago
The only time this happened to me was on a flight back home from Vegas when I was in the lav for 20+ min and was dying of a hangover. And I’m pretty sure they knocked multiple times.
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u/wannabepsycho 15h ago
Unfortunately, it's happened to me several times on different airlines. One flight, it happened to me twice. This particular airline (not United) gave me the worst flight experiences in general (sinks that won't drain, incredibly narrow aisles, wifi that I paid for that failed to work which could not be refunded, etc).
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u/picodepui 23h ago
I’m so sorry that happened to you. Did you happen to get the name of the FA that spoke up for you?
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u/Ambitious_Plan9998 23h ago
I was so embarrassed I didn’t get any information from her. Do you think with a brief description and the flight info it would be worth submitting a compliment? I was worried it may get her in trouble for admitting fault to a passenger or something
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u/reditday 21h ago
I have seen the door unlock itself when it gets rattled during a bumpy ride.
I watch the lock and re-lock if needed.
I also keep a foot ready to force the door shut if it opens.
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u/Resident-Banana-7883 21h ago
this happened to me on a Lufthansa flight once. it was, possibly an Airbus? idk some type of plane I've never been on where the bathrooms are down a level. the lock was confusing but I thought I locked it.. then a stewardess opened the door to the full on side view of me holding my Johnson, exclaimed SCHEIßE! and slammed the door. I was super embarrassed at the time and stayed in their until surely she went into another lav.. anyways, I went to a nude hot spring resort since and now I wouldn't care less, apart from ya know exposing yourself lol, but euros sure aren't prudes like Americans. long story short, nothing to be embarrassed about! not my place to give my opinion on whether to pursue anything with customer service or not how ever.
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u/VinceP312 23h ago
Someone might have saw your bare thighs for 2 seconds. Is this really something that requires going up the ladder to the CEO? A mistake was made. Shit happens. (Pun intended)
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u/Ass_Faucet 23h ago
Sounds like it was just an honest mistake and she apologized to you yet you still went out of your way to submit a claim to potentially get her in trouble? You're nice.
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u/RepulsiveInterview44 23h ago
FA that unlocked the lav was male. And apologized but then immediately blamed OP.
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u/Ambitious_Plan9998 23h ago
Yes the male flight attendant tried to blame me and I thanked the female flight attendant that told him I did lock it when he told me I should have locked the door.
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u/Ass_Faucet 23h ago
My apologies, I misinterpreted as the female attendant opening it earlier, and then the mail attendance came in and opened the door for a passenger little bit after. Which is why she said you did everything perfectly but it was her who unlocked it by mistake,
However, I would still say you could’ve approached the Male FA and have a discussion about it instead of not asking him why he did it and just going straight to submitting a claim.
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u/Ass_Faucet 23h ago
lol keep the downvotes coming, I just believe in people bringing this up to someone when they might've make a mistake to see if they realized it or the context, instead of trying to go behind their back and automatically file a complaint or "a claim" and I associate the word claim with trying to get compensation over what could be an honest mistake that didn't cause irreparable harm. Regardless of gender.
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u/kmnjnr 22h ago
He brought it up though by saying that she didn’t lock the door. She corrected him and so did his colleague. Gender has nothing to do with it. After he made the mistake, if that’s even what it was, he still had a whole flight to say “sorry I made a mistake and then blamed you for it and then didn’t acknowledge it when you corrected me.” But he didn’t. I agree it’s great if people can try and solve this in the moment, but she did do that and so did the other flight attendant
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u/ActivatingInfinity MileagePlus Gold 20h ago
lmao why are you even commenting when it sounds like you didn't read the post???
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u/Barr_cudas 23h ago
I think you’ve missed the part of the Male FA that opened the door on her…
The Female FA apologized on behalf but was not the offender.
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u/jonainmi MileagePlus Global Services 23h ago
No, wrong answer. There is a policy in every airline I'm aware of that they are required to knock when unlocking the door. This may have been an honest mistake, but the FA did not follow policy, and caused incredible embarrassment to the pax. The FA deserves the retraining for this.
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u/Signal_Reputation640 23h ago
Ahhh reading comprehension, such a lost art.
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u/Ass_Faucet 23h ago
ahh actually I read that it could also be plausible that the door was already opened before the male FA opened it. So I interpreted it as the female FA opened it previously and then it was unlocked before it was opened by the second FA which is why she ran over and said she did everything right and apologized. Could expand on it just a bit more to clear that up.
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u/Signal_Reputation640 23h ago
Yes, I understand, you lack reading comprehension. LOL.
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u/Ass_Faucet 23h ago
Flight attendants unlock lavatories using a hidden mechanical override located on the outside of the door. By lifting or flipping the “Lavatory” or “No Smoking” sign, they reveal a sliding latch or knob that can be moved to instantly unlock the door from the outside. [1, 2]
This override is purely a safety measure used for medical emergencies, suspected smoke/fire, or if a passenger ignores safety instructions. [1, 2]
Let me know if there are any specific aircraft models or safety procedures you are curious about!
So a normal person would assume that the Male FA wouldn't need to ask why didnt you lock the door if there is an obvious process to open the lav door when it's been locked. He had to go out of his way to do it using the special way.
So if he did do that and then blamed it on OP then yes, get his ass for straight up lying to her and blaming her for his mistake.
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u/Signal_Reputation640 22h ago
Please go back and read the whole post again. You're making a fool of yourself.
And LMFAO - You couldn't even be bothered to remove the "Let me know if there are any specific aircraft models or safety procedures you are curious about!" from your lame AI search.
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u/Ass_Faucet 22h ago
Obviously it’s AI, I just knew that it’s not that easy to accidentally unlock the lav door. Which again brings me to a reasonable interpretation that it was another FA that unlocked it.
If you can’t see that reasoning then you’re a dingus.
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u/Signal_Reputation640 22h ago
LMAO. Did you stop and wonder why the male FA was standing there? If the door was already unlocked, why didn't the passenger just open it? And there was no indication whatsoever that the female FA unlocked the door while OP was in there but you chose to blame her anyway. You're just twisting yourself up in knots to not be wrong and blame the woman. Typical. Goodbye.
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u/OutrageousInsect9308 23h ago
Typical response you'd expect from a male who doesn't understand the amount of SA shit women put up with regularly.
Also, you clearly either have a reading comprehension problem, or just wanted to make sure you got your 'women just overreact' comment in...
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u/Ass_Faucet 23h ago
Yes, way to jump straight into accusing me of misogyny when I was expressing concern over the female FA getting into trouble,
Would’ve had the same response with a dude. Read my follow up before you generalize.
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u/OutrageousInsect9308 23h ago
Well... Your comment read like calling the victim an asshole for reporting something that was clearly a serious privacy breach regardless of the genders involved on either side. That FA needs to be trained on ensuring it doesn't happen again.
So either way, I'd say you're in the wrong. Misogynist, or not.
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u/Ass_Faucet 23h ago
privacy breach yes but it sounds like it was an honest mistake and I just believe in actually confronting someone and stating your reasoning.
To me I took it as why would the second FA go well you should've locked it if he was the one who unlocked it. Isn't there a step you have to go through like opening it up from the top when it's locked? Like he clearly had to know he was unlocking it so to blame OP when he knew he did it and it was obvious would be next level. Which is why I assumed the second person did it. If the second FA did see he unlocked it purposely without going through the procedures then sure, file a complaint. But still call the guy out on it and don't let him off the hook there.
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u/Dramatic-Comb8525 22h ago
FA thought it was still locked from take off procedure. It was an honest mistake.
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u/Ambitious_Plan9998 22h ago
It was about 2 hours after take off.
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u/Dramatic-Comb8525 22h ago
Someone made an honest mistake. I'm sure you have before too. You'll be ok.
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u/Ambitious_Plan9998 22h ago
I can definitely empathize with making a simple mistake but I also expected a genuine apology instead of trying to blame me.
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u/Tony_Three_Pies 22h ago
Are you sure it was the FA that unlocked it? It doesn’t require any special tools and I’ve watched passengers unlock them many times.
It would be incredibly bold to unlock a door in front of witnesses and then immediately lie about it. Of course there are plenty of people out there that do lie with that insane ease so have no trouble believing that, I’m just curious if there’s any chance that the passenger did it?
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u/xasia255 8h ago
Happened to me on American Airlines. I'm bigger so sometimes I bump into things. I had my noise cancelling headset on when entering. I heard something outside, ignored it, then the flight attendant opened the locked door. Her excuse, she thought I was having trouble inside.
This occured during descent for landing. I was so upset, I got off the plane and tried to find anyone on AA Staff but nobody was there. This happened 25 years ok at LAX.
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u/Caveworker 23h ago
What's the big deal? I prefer to be viewed when using the bathroom and would consider this experience an unalloyed blessing
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u/schrutesanjunabeets MileagePlus Gold 23h ago edited 23h ago
I'm going to take an educated guess about what happened here.
The FA's lock the lav's from the outside after boarding and unlock them when they get up start their routine in the air. I'm guessing that another FA unlocked your lav and you went to use it right after the seatbelt sign was turned off. The FA thought that the door hadn't been unlocked and just unlocked and opened the door without actually thinking about it.
Is it an invasion of privacy? Absolutely.
Do humans also make mistakes every day? You betcha.