A United Airlines passenger has sparked a major debate after their bathroom habits were noticed by a fellow flyer - and let’s just say, the internet has opinions.
When nature calls, it’s usually wise to answer, though sometimes, we simply don’t get a choice.
A bad stomach, whether from food poisoning, a virus, or even nerves, is an inconvenience at the best of times.
But at 42,000 feet in the air, where everyone is packed into a pressurised cabin with limited facilities, one person’s digestive disaster can quickly become everyone else’s problem.
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This isn’t the first time airborne bodily functions have made headlines. Meghan Reinertsen endured the ultimate airplane journey from hell when a severe bout of simultaneous diarrhea and vomiting forced a flight to be canceled last summer.
And we all remember what happened on that Delta Air Lines flight back in 2023.
With almost 45,000 flights launching from the US each day, it’s a risk every passenger takes the moment they buckle up.
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Some of us pack neck pillows, snacks, or noise-cancelling headphones - but many of us live in fear of the reality of a mid-air gastric emergency.
Well, one United Airlines passenger was stunned to discover a first-class passenger committing what he labeled 'class warfare'.
Taking to Reddit, they shared the shocking realization - and gave a clear message.
"I was sitting in economy plus last night on an A321 Neo in the first row directly behind first class," they began. "One of the first class passengers was having digestives issues; & bombed the economy plus bathroom five different times, smelling up the entire economy plus area as he retreated back to the comforts of nice smelling first class cabin."
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They continued: "I feel like this was class warfare lol. If you are in first, please drops your bombs in the first class restroom."
The post racked up a lot of attention, with hundreds of people responding in the comments.
While some blamed the original poster for sitting so close to the toilets, other social media users began debating the 'laws' of toilet etiquette instead.
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"Pro tip - flush right away when you go so the smell doesn’t stay too long. Also you can put soap in the sink and then run the water. It’s like a badly working air freshener," one person weighed in.
"Courtesy flushing is a life skill that should be taught in preschool and reinforced throughout life," a second agreed, adding: "It also helps to make a nice thick lather with the soap on your hands... Also, please make sure the fresh air vent is always open in the lav."
Of course, part of the issue is that on planes, there’s no such thing as privacy. The toilets are cramped, the queues can get long and the flush is thunderously loud, as one person pointed out: "Problem is, on planes the flush is so loud that all your business is broadcasted. Multiple flushes? ‘Houston, we have a problem!’"
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Still, most agreed that hearing a few extra flushes is a whole lot better than the alternative. Because as unpleasant as the noise might be, the only thing worse is not flushing at all - and upsetting everyone on board.
Ellie Kemp