When most people think of airplane bathrooms, it’s probably not a nice image that comes to mind. Airlines have largely shrunk bathrooms on newer aircraft significantly, and at times they’re also not very well maintained.
That’s not true across the board, though. In premium cabins, we’ve seen airlines introduce some pretty amazing amenities in recent years, and that even includes awesome bathrooms.
In this post I wanted to share what I consider to be the airlines with the best first class bathrooms (somewhat overlapping with my list of the world’s best first class airlines).
Unsurprisingly, several options on this list involve the Airbus A380, which is the aircraft that has ushered in the most bathroom innovation. That’s because the front of the upper deck has a bit of extra space that can’t be utilized for seats, making room for some cool amenities.
With that in mind, below are my six favorite airplane bathrooms, roughly ranked…
In this post:
1. Emirates A380 first class
Emirates A380 first class is one of my all-around favorite first class products, and a large part of that is the amazing A380 first class shower suites.
Emirates’ A380s have two first class shower suites at the front of the upper deck, equipped with heated floors, enough amenities to start a toiletry resale business, and most importantly, a shower.
As a first class passenger, you can schedule a shower at the beginning of your flight, and while there’s no time limit to how long you can use the shower spa, you’re limited to five minutes of water. Fortunately you can turn the water on and off without the clock “running,” so that’s more than enough water for a nice shower.
Of all the excitement I’ve experienced in the air, I don’t think anything compares to the first time I took a shower on Emirates. The airline even has shower spa attendants, who make sure the shower spas are well maintained throughout the flight.
2. Etihad A380 first class
Etihad A380 first class consists of nine “First Class Apartments,” and these passengers have access to the shower suite at the front of the cabin. Much like on Emirates, each passenger gets five minutes of water, and the shower suite is refreshed between each use.
While this is a great and refreshing feature, the shower suite definitely isn’t as spacious as on Emirates. So if you’re used to showering on Emirates, you might find that it’s a bit tight, but otherwise you’ll no doubt be delighted. Also keep in mind that there’s still The Residence on Etihad, which is a three room suite that can be reserved as an upgrade over the standard first class. This comes with a private bathroom, including shower.
3. Singapore Airlines A380 Suites
Singapore Airlines A380 Suites is an incredible first class product, with only six seats in the cabin. While you won’t find a shower on Singapore Airlines’ A380s, you will find some of the most spacious bathrooms in the sky. One of the lavatories has a huge vanity, and is probably the size of 10 typical Boeing 737 MAX bathrooms. Airplane bathrooms don’t get much more luxurious than this!
4. Qatar Airways A380 first class
Qatar Airways A380 first class has two very nice lavatories at the front of the upper deck. While there aren’t any special amenities, you’ll find that they’re incredibly spacious, and nicely decorated.
5. Lufthansa A380 first class
Lufthansa A380 first class features two huge lavatories at the front of the upper deck, each equipped with a bench, and most excitingly, a urinal! Lufthansa is the only airline to offer urinals on planes, so that’s pretty special… or something.
While we’re speaking of Lufthansa, I have a soft spot for Lufthansa 747-8 first class, probably at least partly because the Boeing 747-8 is my favorite plane as an avgeek. While not quite as over the top as some of the other options, Lufthansa’s 747-8 lavatories are spacious, have a bench you can extend out over the toilet, and most importantly, have a window. It’s so nice to be able to look out the window while in the lavatory.
Lastly on the topic of Lufthansa, while I can’t in good conscience call this one of the best lavatories, I do love the economy lavatories on Lufthansa’s A340-600s. They’re located on the “lower deck” (in a cargo compartment), so they’re probably the most unusual lavatories you’ll find in commercial service. By comparison, the Lufthansa A340 first class lavatories aren’t much to get excited about at all.
6. All Nippon Airways 777 first class
As you can see, so far all of the lavatories on the list are on A380s, so let’s take a look at a different aircraft type. I’m a huge fan of All Nippon Airways 777 first class.
While the first class lavatory at first might not appear to be so special, many will appreciate that ANA has a bidet function for its toilets. I also appreciate how there’s a “plank” of sorts that you can extend on the ground, for situations where you want to change into pajamas without touching the regular floor of the bathroom.
On top of that, ANA does an amazing job with keeping its lavatories clean between each use, down to folding the toilet paper into perfect triangles.
Now, in fairness, there are a decent number of products with a bidet function in service, from Japan Airlines A350 first class, to Gulf Air 787 business class, to Oman Air 787 business class.
Bottom line
There are some pretty incredible airplane bathrooms out there. While nothing can compete with Emirates’ amazing shower suites, there are plenty of other impressive ones out there as well, including everything from vanities, to bidets, to urinals.
What’s your favorite bathroom on a commercial aircraft?
I am not a regular first class traveler. I like a lavatory that is kept clean and that has a bidet. NH wins - I have seen the bidet in business and economy. Special mention to TK who have bidets in select lavatories in business class as well.
I believe the first airline with lower deck lavatories was actually Airtours International Airways (renamed MyTravel Airways, later merged into Thomas Cook) on their A330s. I’m 99% certain that they were in service long before the LH A346 and remain the only A330s to have had lower deck lavs.
I agree with your list and would add an honorable mention for the EY B787-9 First Class bathrooms with a hallway between them all sandwiched between the cabin and forward doors/galley
Also agree the EY B777 is nice
Why do all these bloggers call them bathrooms which they are not, except for some on Emirates, when the airlines label and refer to them as lavatories?
Why do all these people call them LGBTQ+, when government, airline, DMV, passport, pronoun only assign M or F.
Just an American oddity coined by those of delicate disposition who don't like to think of the bodily functions happening in toilets/lavatories.
Another American curiousity is what part of the meal is an 'entree'. In every part of the world (except America) it is the starter dish. not the main course. No idea how this came to be.
Ironic that Lufthansa has urinals when Germany is the country with the highest peer-pressure (at least from women) for men to pee sitting down.
Don’t need a bathroom when you’re rawdogging it in F.
Maybe just me but prefer the LH 748 lav to the A388 one. The window is a huge plus but the urinals aren't helpful to me, and there is quite the curve to the A380 upper deck
I wish more airplanes had urinals. Women would appreciate that too as men sometimes do not bother to lift the toilet seat
Most women in my experience are obsessional about one putting the toilet lid down after use.
@Lucky
One aspect of the bathrooms you should highlight in future flight reviews is whether or not the basin has taps with sensors. I flew in KLM's 77W C cabin with the new seats with doors recently and was appalled to discover that the bathrooms still had old-style push-to-operate taps.
Turkish has bidets on their newest aircraft, at least in business. Huge plus!
I loved the idea of LH’s A340 lav deck, including that climbing stairs is good for muscles and circulation on a long flight, but the one time I flew it the entire floor of that lower deck became increasingly wet with water (urine?) from more than one of the lavatories. It was clear that no one cleaned the area once during the flight.
I have to say that I was flushed with excitement when I discovered this article.
As every day is a school day I was interested to learn about the A380 bathrooms which I have not encountered.
Like Ben, I do rate both the Emirates and Singapore Airlines lavatories.
ANA’s A380 First bathroom probably beats its 777 one.
Honorable mention: EY’s 777 has/had one massive lavatory in front of the middle seats in First.
If you're giving recognition to bidets, I'd say you need to give some credit to windows too. Who doesn't like to go with a view.
And, no Tim A220 isn't the best lavatory with windows.
I do live rent free in your head, now don't I?
There aren't many people that get mentioned in article comments as much as I do without even participating.
at least you are smart enough to make up your own user name which is more than the majority of your "ilk"
Speaking of living in Tim’s head
Tim’s morning: “wake up and see who is thinking about me. Write some nonsense. Come back five minutes later to check if I need a 7 paragraph reply”
You seem consumed with everyone else while being completely oblivious that even the blog owners are making fun of you
and yet day after day, other people bring me into the conversation before I even turn on my computer which is exactly what happened today.
Yes, you and others live let me live rent free in your heads.
The sooner you are smart enough (not likely to happen but we can all hope) and quit bringing me into discussions that I don't enter, the less you will "see" of me.