People coming past the curtain to use the dunny, especially row-4 platinums.

[atbow]

I don't know about Row 4 Platinums, but I do agree that the cabin crew should ensure that the forward facilities are for exclusive use of Business Class paying passengers.
I only ever travel in Economy and believe firmly that I (and all other economy class passengers) simply don't have the right to use the Business Class toilets. (The odd emergency situation excepted perhaps).
Hell, next we may as well demand what the Business class mob are being served for meals and refreshments.
My opinion only...for what it's worth. Atbow

 

[Justchecking]

As someone who hardly ever travels in J, I have to say, I agree with the notion that economy pax shouldn't use the toilets located in the J cabin. I dont walk off the street into the Hilton and help myself to the toilets in there if I need to go. I respect the fact it's for hiltons paying customers and I'm not one of them. I'm quite happy for anyone who pays the price to sit in the J cabin to have exclusive use of it. I also think it is the duty if the crew to redirect wanderers where appropriate. I have to queue up to use many public toilets, what's the big deal with doing the same on a plane? I've had my bladder for more than 40yrs now, I've gotten the hang of it and can manage it quite nicely.

 

[jebbo]

Pretty pathetic what I am reading here on people who say they should have "exclusive class status" on a plane. I am Silver Status and a Qantas Club life member and have flown for many years on all types of planes (from 1957 to present), on many different airlines and am embarrassed by the whingeing of our own kind, the Aussie pax. Why I am not a higher status is I choose to fly economy domestically and for some long haul routes.
Let's be reasonable, people may be blocked from either end, or there may be a queue (particularly for the scared flyers). On the domestic routes on the smaller planes, 737's etc, business class is pointless on short routes, but may be a necessity on the longer routes to catch up on work etc, but the toilet useage should not be a problem. Pax going up and down the aisle is no different to QF staff going up and down the aisle...you know there will be movement so you should not have to raise your head to see who it is going by.
If you are worried about the cleanliness of the toilets because of the "lower class" who have used it, I would think the biz class would mess it more with the alcohol they consume whilst flying.
If you want exclusive rights to an area of the plane, hire your own.
Be considerate, be sensible and be compassionate in order to make our flying a pleasurable experience.

 

[lk1928]

If passengers want to use the Business Class facilities then they should pay for a business class ticket - or use the economy class facilities for which they have paid. I've not experienced this but, should I ever do so, I will have no hesitation in complaining to the cabin crew or suggesting to the errant passenger that they wend their weary way back to their allocated economy class seat [and economy class facilities].

 

[Pushka]

Tomorrow I will be flying Adelaide to Perth on the coughpy plane Qantas provides. There is no separate cabin for Business class (as I discovered last time I used business class) and the movement towards the forward toilets was significant. There was nothing to prevent it. Didnt bother me, I just enjoyed eating my way to Perth. Tomorrow I am economy, same plane. I will likewise use the forward toilet if the trolley is in the way, as there is only one aisle. This is a three hour flight and there is nothing about 'being prepared' that can prevent my need to use the loo. Whichever one is the one I can get to.

 

[Tim Warren]

I fully agree. It isnt about being a snob, it is more to do with private space. By virtue of the higher fare and tariff you have effectively "bought" more space on the jet, and that also includes better equipped washrooms etc. I find it works both ways though... I do most of my international flying with Cathay Pacific in Business Class. They are SUPERB and way ahead of Qantas on every level (in my experience anyway). On occasion I have had to travel with CX in Economy and have found they go out of their way to accomodate you if you happen to be a QF Platinum like myself. This has included being asked "up front" for meals and drinks. When I fly Qantas domestically I generally buy an Economy ticket and upgrade to Business... I have lots of points but cringe at spending $300 more for a luke warm steak sandwich and three glasses of (very nice) wine on the 50 minute flight Melbourne - Sydney for instance. In the past QF used to give all the Platinum travellers in Economy complimentary alcohol but since all the cutbacks this has ceased. Perhaps the "Platinums" reffered to were trying to get a little bit back by using the foward toilets!!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

good heavens...!! quite the board of revolutionaries going on here!

open defiance by some, others thinking the 'have's' have too much and the 'have nots' are hardly done by

just as well we aren't in olden day France (although they do serve cake in economy these days don't they?? )

I don't understand the sense of entitlement some people have. even if it's a longer flight, the carts are only in the asiles for 20 minutes or so at a time. can't you possibly time your toilet breaks around that? what do you do on the train or the car home from work? you go before or hold on. I don't understand the queue thing either. if there is a queue... why shouldn't you wait? why should a business class passenger have to wait while you are using it?

as for the whole cleanliness thing. the fact is that 12 people sharing a toilet make less mess than 65 people sharing a toilet. that 12 doesn't need to be made into 13, 14 or more.

unless you have a medical condition, are elderly or disabled, then I don't get the mindset that says I can take something I haven't paid for. it's about dignity surely?

 

[flybynight]

So whats the big deal? Its not like there is a stampede of people moving thru business who shouldn't be there. I find the business cabin has a high percentage of wannabe's who dont pay the extra for the facilities but rather because they would like to be thought of as cool or important. My response to someone who asked why I fly first on longhaul is that I dont want to mix with the riff-raff in business.

 

[Pushka]

unless you have a medical condition, are elderly or disabled, then I don't get the mindset that says I can take something I haven't paid for. it's about dignity surely?

Unless it says anywhere on the website that Business class tickets entitle the purchaser to exclusive use of the forward toilets, then I am not using anything that I am not entitled to use. I wont use them if I can get to the back ones, but at the same time I am not going to be uncomfortable waiting for the aisle to clear, as will everyone else, creating a queue when the path is clear. Last time I was in economy, the trolleys took wayyyy longer than 20 minutes to clear because no sooner had they served everyone down the back, they were back again up front to collect rubbish.

I guess common sense gets screwed around when people have this sense of entitlement that isn't actually real. I dont think that Qantas can say that only business class can use the front loos because there are significant health and safety issues in preventing people using them, when they cannot reach alternative facilities.

 

[tuapekastar]

The hornets' nest has certainly been stirred up here, inspiring a few first-time posters (and welcome to you all - do stick around ). Happy for all to have and share their opinions (that's part of what AFF is about) but there was one post aiming personal abuse at the OP. While I'm sure he's not going to lose too much sleep over it, it's rude behaviour we can do without on AFF. Opinions can be offered without deriding people that way.

My own, earlier-posted opinion (as a WP, mostly Y, often row 4, flyer) is not swayed at all by subsequent arguments. The J cabin (and toilets) should, barring exceptional circumstances (which don't include a disdain for queuing), remain the exclusive province of the pax who have allocated seats therein.

 

[straitman]

I ask that a few people posting here think about what they are posting and also to go back and read the thread (again) before posting again.

There is no room or need for vulgarity :!:

Also a reminder as some do not seem to have remember that the CSM is the one who decides IF row 4 and beyond are to have restricted access to the forward toilets. Like others here I have been invited by the CSM to go forward if I wanted.

 

[TonyHancock]

Also a reminder as some do not seem to have remember that the CSM is the one who decides IF row 4 and beyond are to have restricted access to the forward toilets. Like others here I have been invited by the CSM to go forward if I wanted.

Sorry Straitman, I think you are the voice of reason, but I have just watched three people wander up from Y to the J toilets, even after the PA announcement stating that Y toilets were at the back and J at the front. I'm shallow and one dimensional, but if I'm in Y I use the Y "facilities". the CSM seems to have no impact these days.

 

[straitman]

Sorry Straitman, I think you are the voice of reason, but I have just watched three people wander up from Y to the J toilets, even after the PA announcement stating that Y toilets were at the back and J at the front. I'm shallow and one dimensional, but if I'm in Y I use the Y "facilities". the CSM seems to have no impact these days.

Maybe I should shorten my answer to 'Common Sense' needs to apply :!:

 

[luckyfnq]

Better still with all this new automated electronic tags/QC cards we have for express checkin ect....... they could easy install prox (Wave your card over the reader and in you go) readers to the front toilet and and it would not take long for those pesky row 4 patrons to get the idea they are not welcome up front when the buzzzers goes DONG DONG!!!!

 

[Stephen65]

Better than a DONG DONG!! a loud robotic voice could say something like "ECONOMY PASSENGER ATTEMPTING UNAUTHORISED ACCESS TO FACILITY....REJECT REJECT!"

 

[TonyHancock]

Better than a DONG DONG!! a loud robotic voice could say something like "ECONOMY PASSENGER ATTEMPTING UNAUTHORISED ACCESS TO FACILITY....REJECT REJECT!"

.......or even exterminate, exterminate

 

[abstraction]

So much feeling...

I'm platinum from long-haul discount (NGO paid) economy that takes me away from home for 40% of my life. It's simple: unless i'm upgraded i don't have access to business class anything.

Why is it simple?
Because... it's clearly defined by the airline.

Disagree if you like, but this is the way it is. (But the OP's denigration of 'row 4 platinums' was a little tasteless and rude, otherwise I agree.)

 

[bugayev]

So much feeling...

I'm platinum from long-haul discount (NGO paid) economy that takes me away from home for 40% of my life. It's simple: unless i'm upgraded i don't have access to business class anything.

Why is it simple?
Because... it's clearly defined by the airline.

Disagree if you like, but this is the way it is. (But the OP's denigration of 'row 4 platinums' was a little tasteless and rude, otherwise I agree.)

I agree wholeheartedly! The only time I'd go forward of the curtain on a 737 is if I was absolutely busting and there were carts in the aisle that would prevent me from getting past.

 

[busissi]

Could not agree more. Once upon a time ie before I became enlightened and swapped airline, I was a Chairmans Lounge holder. If I paid Economy I had the lounge and fast check in service. If I use ANY airline and have paid for Business I expect to have smaller queue for toilets etc. It infuriates me to have economy passengers, no matter what their "status" to use the better facilities I have paid for. I know I am not alone in this view as I have had many conversations in the queue.

 

[luckyfnq]

.......or even exterminate, exterminate

or even better......................after a failed attempt.......................have them transfered to JQ on their next flight with a note on the bording pass (lavatory violation!)......................then they are welcome to use the dunny up the front...............no one will give a cough!.................................... might help them think before they rip open the curtain on the next trip!