A United Airlines passenger recently took to Reddit to share a frustrating experience involving a first-class traveler dumping repeatedly in the restroom right behind economy plus, causing foul odors in the cabin. The incident has triggered a major debate about bathroom etiquette on planes.
Stomach troubles on flights—whether due to illness or nerves—can be difficult to manage discreetly. When everyone is squeezed into tight cabins with limited restrooms, one person’s digestive emergency can affect many others.
This kind of situation isn’t new. In fact, flights have been canceled before due to passengers suffering severe stomach issues. With thousands of flights daily in airspace, some passengers fret over mid-flight bathroom emergencies more than packing snacks or neck pillows.
The United passenger described how a first-class flyer repeatedly used the economy plus lavatory, to the detriment of those nearby. “I feel this was class warfare,” they wrote, urging first-class passengers to “please drop your bombs in your own lavatories.”
Comments poured in from readers, some blaming the poster’s seating choice near the toilets, others focusing on bathroom etiquette. Tips included flushing immediately, using soap and water to reduce odors, and keeping air vents open.
Plane bathrooms come with challenges: small space, queues, and thunderous flushes that announce every use to all passengers nearby, adding to discomfort.
Though the noise is unpleasant, the consensus is that flushing promptly and cleaning up is far better than spreading foul smells, which can ruin the flight experience for many.
