A few years ago, I found myself in a painful situation. I was seated in the very first row in coach class and my four hour flight from Columbus, Ohio to San Diego, California had just landed. When the pilot’s voice came over the intercom and shared with us that we would be waiting another 20 to 30 minutes for our gate to be available, I knew I was in trouble.
I had made the foolish decision to not use the restroom before the plane’s descent because the flight was almost over. Then I found myself doubling over with pressure as each passing moment pushed my bladder to new limits. I was seated so close to the restroom that I could literally touch the door from my seat.
At the height of my discomfort — and assuming I’d really put in a heck of an effort to hold it until this point — I mentioned my situation to a passing flight attendant. Her response was anything but compassionate.
“I’m sorry, but there is no movement in the aircraft when the fasten seatbelt sign is on,” she exclaimed.
“I understand that but, I’m afraid I’m going to pee all over the seat here in a couple of minutes,” I shared with her quietly as the aircraft sat motionless outside the gate area.
“Well, then I’m gonna have to ask you to go ahead and do that,” she responded.
Years later, I’m glad I endured the excruciating wait instead of bull rushing the bathroom like I pictured in my mind. Evidently, there could be serious consequences even for something as simple as urination.
Joao Correa, 43, was arrested recently after his Delta Air lines flight from Honduras to Atlanta landed. He told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he had a desperate bathroom emergency 30 minutes into the March 28 flight, but found the single coach aisle on the Boeing 737 blocked by a beverage cart. He said he asked if he could use the lavatory in business class, but was told no.
When the cart wasn’t moved after a few minutes, Correa said, he made a dash for the business class lavatory. He said the flight attendant put up her arm to block him, and he grabbed it to keep his balance. However, the flight attendant had a different recollection of the story. She said Correa grabbed her right arm, pulled it down and twisted it, according to authorities.
“I’m devastated,” the Concord, Ohio, man told the paper. “I’ve never had any event with the police in my life.”
Next time you travel, don’t just pack your swim suit – you may want to think through your Emergency Bathroom Plan!
Jason Barger is author of Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Change the World, Start at the Airport.
Jason Barger spent seven straight days flying 6,458 miles to seven different cities – without leaving the airports the entire time. He studied 10,000 minutes of observations at all four corners of the U.S. and reflected on how our airport experiences can teach us about our lives TODAY. The funny and inspiring stories remind us how to change our daily world in our personal lives, businesses, schools, and faith communities! Join the movement. All four editions of Step Back from the Baggage Claim are motivational books perfect for anyone looking to impact change in their life and work.
