Why Can’t I Use A Plane’s Toilet Before Takeoff?

When it comes to flying, I’d much rather experience too many regulations than too few. Some we might consider a bit silly and outdated, like mandating ashtrays on board even though smoking’s banned, are actually a lot smarter than we realise.

But I’ll admit that even I get a bit confused when airlines don’t allow people to use the plane’s loo before takeoff. I never understood it – after all, I thought, it’s not like the plane’s moving.

Speaking to Metro, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates plane safety in the UK, said there aren’t actually any laws stopping you from taking a pre-flight tinkle while the plane’s stationary on the ground.

But, they added, some airlines adopted the policy because “most airlines are keen to ensure passengers are in their seats with seat belts secured to speed up departure”.

This is because the aircraft “cannot begin to taxi until everyone is seated and secured with a seat belt”.

In a TikTok, Captain Steve Schreiber, a former pilot who has since become a social media hit under the name Captain Steeeve, said that one of the most dangerous times on a plane is when it’s taxiing or cruising along an airport’s runway.

“If I have to hit the brakes, and you’re standing up in the aisle, you’re going to fall, you’re going to hit your head on something… if you’re in the bathroom, good things are not going to happen in there,” he explained.

A plane bathroom is filled with hard surfaces, metal corners, water, and electricity, none of which mix well in the event of a fall.

Some airlines, like Ryanair, have previously said they don’t enforce the rule.

“Customers are free to use the toilet during boarding before take-off; however, they must remain seated when the seat belt sign is illuminated for safety reasons,” the airline shared with Metro.

But some passengers, like the one who insisted on getting up for the loo on a Delta flight once the plane had begun taxiing, have been thrown off flights for doing so.

No matter what flight you’re on, all passengers must remain seated with their seatbelt on while the plane’s seatbelt sign is on, Business Insider explained.