American Airlines is scrapping its rule that requires passengers to stay in their class of the cabin when using the lavatory.
The significance is that coach customers can now venture into the first class cabin when they have to use the bathroom.
“It was difficult to explain to customers sitting in the forward section of coach why they couldn’t walk a few feet away and use the lavatory,” American spokesman Tim Wagner told the AP.
AA first instituted the rule in 2003. And though other airlines enforce similar rules on some flights, AP says American was the only carrier to apply the rule on all of its flights.
According to federal laws, however, passengers on all international flights that take off from foreign airports still must stick with the bathroom in their part of the plane.
The move was labeled “potty parity” by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Report by David Wilkening
