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Sunday, February 28, 2010

Plane Sense

The news has leaked--Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) is outfitting its planes with women-only lavatories. According to the airline, it's what women want. A recent airline survey showed that a female-only W.C. was the second-most requested onboard amenity, after dessert. Dessert?

Why do women want their own place to, ahem, wash? An ANA spokesperson says the reason is, "Many women said that they feel uncomfortable taking their time in the lavatory knowing that a male is waiting just behind them in line." While I am not privy to Japanese culture, methinkst that answer is plumb crazy. Anyone who has taken a long-distance flight is well aware of the cumulative mess men tend to make in the commode. However, the ANA spokesperson took pains to point out that female-only lavs are not being introduced due to complaints about men soiling the bathroom, although she did admit that Japanese women do not like it when men leave the seat up.

The fine print: Most international flights will sport just one female-only lavatory and men will be allowed to use it in case of emergency. As for what qualifies as an emergency...let's not flush that one out.

2 comments:

susan said...

cumulative mess maybe. what always gives me pause is when i am waiting for the lav and the person inside is in there for waaay too long and a man eventually emerges. it's just not fun being the next person to enter. ew.

(i think you should launch a little contest - find the puns. this time i count 4! its one of my favorite parts of reading your articles - catching them before they sneak past me. clever girl!)

susan said...

cumulative mess maybe. what always gives me pause is when i am waiting for the lav and the person inside is in there for waaay too long and a man eventually emerges. it's just not fun being the next person to enter. ew.

(i think you should launch a little contest - find the puns. this time i count 4! its one of my favorite parts of reading your articles - catching them before they sneak past me. clever girl!)