It’s an exciting day for Qantas, sort of, as the airline is putting its first Airbus A321XLRs into service. These planes will be used to refresh the carrier’s domestic product, and will eventually become the backbone of Qantas’ narrow body fleet. However, one aspect of the passenger experience on these planes is getting a lot of attention, and not in a good way.
In this post:
Qantas’ A321XLRs have the industry’s worst lavatory ratio
Qantas Airbus A321XLRs are equipped with 200 seats, including 20 business class seats and 180 economy class seats. In total, the plane has three lavatories, with one being at the front of the cabin, reserved for business class, and two being at the back of the plane, reserved for economy class.
With just two lavatories for 180 economy passengers, that means there’s one lavatory for every 90 passengers. Now, I imagine the average traveler doesn’t have a good sense of what a good passenger to lavatory ratio is, so let me explain — this is among the worst ratios you’ll find in the industry.
If you look at the plane overall, three lavatories for 200 passengers might not be terrible, since that’s one lavatory for every 67 passengers. But since the forward lavatory is reserved for business class, economy on this plane might just have the worst lavatory ratio in the entire airline industry.
I can’t think of any airline that has a worse ratio, but if I’m missing any, please do let me know. For context, the standard on full service airlines operating the A321 family of aircraft is to have at least three economy lavatories, with one lavatory toward the front of the cabin, and two lavatories at the back of the plane. For example, below is the seat map for Delta’s A321neo.
Qantas A321XLRs are largely replacing Boeing 737-800s, which have two economy lavatories for 162 passengers, so that’s one lavatory for every 81 passengers. That’s also quite bad, but obviously adding an extra 18 seats without adding any lavatories makes this even worse. I feel sorry for the queues, as there will likely be a never-ending queue of passengers waiting to use the lavatory.
As another example, ultra low cost carrier Wizzair has a staggering 239 seats on its A321neos, and has three lavatories, so that’s a ratio of one lavatory for (roughly) every 80 passengers. Thanks to the airline being an all-economy operator, all lavatories are open to all passengers.
This is so bad that Qantas plans to reverse course
Airlines are of course always trying to maximize their LOPAs (which stands for “layout of passenger accommodations”), which typically involves cramming as many seats or seating products into a plane as possible. Of course that has to be balanced with offering an experience that passengers will actually tolerate and pay for.
Qantas really pushed its luck with these A321XLRs, and one certainly wonders how so many people signed off on this layout without noting that the lavatory situation was a step too far. So along those lines, Qantas actually has plans to reverse course on this strategy:
- The first three A321XLRs will be delivered with this 200-seat layout
- In the coming months, the airline will start taking delivery of A321XLRs with an additional toilet right behind business class, which will come at the expense of a row of three economy seats
- The three A321XLRs delivered with the 200-seat layout will be retrofitted with that extra lavatory in a few years
- This means that the updated A321XLRs will have three lavatories for 177 economy passengers, so that’s one lavatory for every 59 passengers
Bottom line
Qantas’ brand new Airbus A321XLRs have taken to the skies. While there’s a lot to like about these planes, the lavatory ratio isn’t among them, as there are just two lavatories for 180 economy passengers. I can’t think of any airline that has a worse lavatory ratio, though if I’m missing any, please let me know!
This decision was so bad that Qantas is already reversing course. Starting with the fourth A321XLR, the airline plans to remove a set of three economy seats, and add an additional lavatory.
What do you make of Qantas’ A321XLR lavatory situation?
Qantas Link has E195s with 84-88 Y pax sharing one lav. I would contend that's worse in that that one really dude scrolling on his phone really screws things up.
Any thoughts on why airplanes don't just install an extra urinal-only lavatory for men? Would cut down on bathroom lines and not take up too much space.
You will find even more couldn't-care-less Y passengers will be invading the Business cabin to use their lavatory. Some cabin crew run interference, but most do not.
Not a Qantas fan at all but..
I don’t think the airline is reversing course as such.
A massive proportion of these planes will be on the the Sydney-Melbourne a S Sydney-Brisbane routes, both roughly an hour. I have travelled these routes very frequently and surprisingly there is hardly a queue for the WC given how short the flight is (probably 30-40 mins tops between seat belt sign going off and on again).
Not a Qantas fan at all but..
I don’t think the airline is reversing course as such.
A massive proportion of these planes will be on the the Sydney-Melbourne a S Sydney-Brisbane routes, both roughly an hour. I have travelled these routes very frequently and surprisingly there is hardly a queue for the WC given how short the flight is (probably 30-40 mins tops between seat belt sign going off and on again).
I am a restless traveller so will always choose an aisle seat and take a trip to the WC but I cannot remember the last time I had to let the middle or window passengers out. With free wifi on these flights, most people just pass the hour on their phones.
Th carrier is aware of this problem and the next deliveries have already been allocated with 3 lavatories at the rear , these first couple were switched out with a Jetstar order.. and I believe they will also have flat beds in business class
I've heard of yellow journalism but this is r
Qantas has not recovered from the mean airline it became under Alan Joyce. Flying across Australia from Brisbane to Perth (about 5.5 hours) in the current Qantas 737, the toilet issue is already significant. Even on the 737 two economy toilets is insufficient for anything more than a short flight. Crew and pax haggling over the front toilet use is common. Why QF are waiting “for several years” to retrofit the first three Airbus is...
Qantas has not recovered from the mean airline it became under Alan Joyce. Flying across Australia from Brisbane to Perth (about 5.5 hours) in the current Qantas 737, the toilet issue is already significant. Even on the 737 two economy toilets is insufficient for anything more than a short flight. Crew and pax haggling over the front toilet use is common. Why QF are waiting “for several years” to retrofit the first three Airbus is beyond comprehension. The toilet ratio should never have been approved in the first place.
I might not like it when people from economy queue in business class for the front lav, clutching on to the business seats, but I understand, when you have to go, you have to go! With so few lavs what are you going to do.
QF announced they will be using these Airbuses on the Perth route. Mad. Mind you, Virgin’s high capacity 737 Max is not much better - same issue on longer flights.
What's to haggle about? The people sitting up the front paid anything from $1800 to $3000 for their seats. They're entitled to a lav of their own. Economy passengers use the loos at the rear. Sheesh... Aussies are getting as belligerent and entitled as Americans. Bring back the curtain!
Lucky, wait til you see Philippine Airlines’ A321ceo (bi-class) fleet. 2 bathrooms for 187 economy seats which is basically an average of 93-94 passengers per toilet. I know they are starting to retrofit the planes at the moment, but even those will have an average of 91 economy passengers per toilet (182 total economy seats).
https://www.philippineairlines.com/ph/en/inflight-experience/airfleet/airfleet-plane-list/pal-operating-fleet/airbus-a321ceo-bi-class.html
These planes were originally ordered for Jetstar and QF group re-allocated them to Qantas (swapped some deliveries around as Qantas had later delivery slots).
Seats are easy to switch in and out (by design), but the plumbing for toilets requires more work in advance which couldn't be changed at the time of the switch.
Big nothing story, it's not ideal but it's also not like Qantas had chosen ordered these specifically with 2 Y lavs.
Most Delta 763’s have between 32-42 lavs.
I see what you're doing here.
But is the lavs premium and profitable?
So is Qantas the only airline that completely restricts the forward lav to economy pax? I think this is an overreach. By using your logic, all single aisle aircraft then only have 2 lav's in economy. Occasionally a 3rd.
They're not the only airline but im glad they're one that do restrict.
Qantas clearly taking the piss at customer’s expense. You’ve been Joyced!
You really are determined to hate on Qantas. Any other airline it'd be "kudos to management for recognising this is a problem and fixing it".
Touche. This guy has a shot at QF at any chance.
I totally agree - clearly ..and having read many reviews the hate is palpable
Also you ALWAYS hear of airlines profits but apparently $2.39billion from Qantas wasn’t enough for a mention from Ben or did I miss that !
It’s the decision of previous ceo Joyce; he gutted the airline and won record profits thus insane bonus cheques. Left under a massive cloud after sacking ground crew in Covid; courts spanked them massively. Trashed brand slowly rebuilding.
I'd like some clarity on the phrase "reserved for Business class". It's my understanding that USA actually has regulations barring passengers from visiting a cabin they're not ticketed in (for "security" reasons, naturally), while most other countries treat lavatories as shared resources for all passengers. I doubt very much that Qantas bars Y pax from the forward lav. I really doubt that Economy pax in row 12 will be forced to wait for the cart...
I'd like some clarity on the phrase "reserved for Business class". It's my understanding that USA actually has regulations barring passengers from visiting a cabin they're not ticketed in (for "security" reasons, naturally), while most other countries treat lavatories as shared resources for all passengers. I doubt very much that Qantas bars Y pax from the forward lav. I really doubt that Economy pax in row 12 will be forced to wait for the cart and queue for the one aft lav.
But quibbles aside, as a 60s guy who's "aware of his prostate" and loves brown beverages, this plane is a hard pass for me, in any cabin.
@ DenB -- For what it's worth, the only time there are regulations in the United States regarding which cabin you can be in is situations where you're on an international flight bound for the United States. Otherwise airlines set their own policies.
Just learn to catheterize yourself before flying. In fact I'm surprised the airlines don't make it mandatory and remove toilets altogether.
No blocking problems and they could get in a few more seats.
Too bad mate. You need to wait. I don't want all the extra foot traffic of people going through business class to use the loo. Ive paid extra for the privilege of priority, space, etc.
You actually missed one. Philippine Airlines' A321-200 fleet actually also have three lavatories, one for Business Class and two for Economy Class.
Surely this was done based on customer feedback and it’s what customers wanted.
At Qantas? LOL! As I said below, they're a low-rent operation. Profitability takes precedence over passenger comfort and convenience. They're not as hapless as Lufti yet, but they're getting there.
This seems a total non-issue and just a headline grabber. BA and KLM have the same number of bathrooms on their A321s and similar number of passengers. As others have noted Qantas does not have a curtain to prevent economy passengers moving forward into the business cabin and forward toilet so the ratio is actually better.
BA, KLM, AF, LH fly routes that are mostly 1-2.5 hours with a very small % routes longer than 3 hours. QF fly bunch of routes of 4+ hours. Few need to use the lavatory for a 60-90 minutes flight.
Actually BA fly quite a few 3+ hour routes with this 3 lav A321... Greece (Athens, Crete, Corfu, etc), Turkey (Istanbul, Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman), Jordan (Amman), Egypt (Cairo), Morocco (Marrakesh), Canary Islands (Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canara), Georgia (Tbilisi) and sure I've missed some.
Probably more 3+ hour routes using A321 than Qantas will.
Herr Spohr wishes to thank Qantas for the next new Lufthansa customer initiative.
Breeze has just one in the back of their E195 & despite that they (boldly) offer free beer
Whether this is a problem or not really Depends.
The front lav isn’t in practice reserved for business class pax.
QF doesn’t have a curtain between the cabins and I’ve never seen an FA stop Y pax using the from lav. Would also mostly be culturally unacceptable for to not let Y pax use the front lav is both of the back ones are occupied
It's absolutely culturally acceptable, and enforcement is down to the FAs. It certainly does need to be enforced. Rigorously. Bring back the curtain.
I regularly see QF FA telling Y passengers they can’t use the front lav when they try to sneak in there. And it’s announced on every flight that Y passengers have 2 lavs at the back
Rightly so.
The worst Long Haul plane for washrooms is Air Canada and 2 of its 777-300 with 450 seats and limited washrooms. It insanity because it's on 10+ hour flights
Another reason why the A321XLR is nothing more than an industrial waste.
If something benefits an airline, that benefit is on the passenger's burden.
Keep talking about how these thin planes allow thin air routes to be possible. Yeah, no. 90:1 passenger to toilet is just a nonsense.
I'd much happily take a stopover option over this nonsense any day of the week, no questions asked.
Brag about the pointless numerics to...
Another reason why the A321XLR is nothing more than an industrial waste.
If something benefits an airline, that benefit is on the passenger's burden.
Keep talking about how these thin planes allow thin air routes to be possible. Yeah, no. 90:1 passenger to toilet is just a nonsense.
I'd much happily take a stopover option over this nonsense any day of the week, no questions asked.
Brag about the pointless numerics to make it look better. It's funny some guys keep yapping on that, when it's clear they haven't even seen one, let alone having set their foot inside of it.
Some brainwashed gooners like AeroB13a will love that, I guess.
Not sure how the passenger to toilet ratio is on the plane type
@betterbub
Because every airline that actually cares about the passenger experience/comfort is smart enough to not invest a single cent into this waste.
So yes, it is on the plane type because these are only ordered by the airlines who don't care about that.
Essentially the same effect.
The aircraft type is able to accommodate a mid-cabin lav, which also acts as a divider between cabin classes, but since Qantas is a low-rent operation that specialises in immiserating their customers, why would they do that when it takes up the space of six seats?
This is why I love JAL: 787-9, 44J, 35W, 116Y (195 total - less seats than this airbus!) w/ 7 toilets!
I remember when I started my flying career with British Airways (many many moons ago).
They decided they would have a dedicated sub-fleet of 747-400's without a flight attendant rest facility and designated this aircraft the '747-400 Lite'.
The theory was, the aircraft would be lighter hence cheaper to operate. They would only put it on shorter long haul routes (such as London to East Coast US) where the flight attendants do not require horizontal...
I remember when I started my flying career with British Airways (many many moons ago).
They decided they would have a dedicated sub-fleet of 747-400's without a flight attendant rest facility and designated this aircraft the '747-400 Lite'.
The theory was, the aircraft would be lighter hence cheaper to operate. They would only put it on shorter long haul routes (such as London to East Coast US) where the flight attendants do not require horizontal rest.
Of course it was a huge flop. A 747-400 rostered say London - Hong Kong would be swapped out due to a tech issue and the only spare 747 would be one of the 'lites' with no FA rest. So, BA would have to down grade 8 business class passengers each sector to allow the crew horizontal rest.
After a year and a half of this ridiculousness someone decided to just get the 'lites' back to Boeing and fitted with a crew rest facility.
In the end, it cost more to have the aircraft retrofitted than if they had just fitted them with crew rest from delivery.
See this kinda thing happening again and again.
Who comes up with these terrible ideas at BA? It seems to be a culture of bad decisions at the airline.
It's a surprise that LH didn't do this too.
Doesn't anyone else see the problem?
Downgrade 8 premium paying passengers because some mob leader blackmails the airline so members can crush candies while horizontally?
I have full respect for your occupation but if my office chair is broken, I don't go home and refuse to work unless my proper replacement chair arrives.
Condor A321 neo: 3 toillets for 233 pax, if one toillet for Businnes pax, so for remaining 210pax 2 toillets..
Qantas does not one little bit about passengers. We are just there to make more money for them. This just highlights how badly they treat their customers.
Lufthansa has 3 toilets on its 200 seater 321s, yet I do not recall your outraged article about that.
Feel free to elaborate on the longest routes they fly and compare that to the A321XLR nonsense routemap Qantas published.
Incase you forgot, Qantas has repeatedly said that future configurations will even feature lie-flat seats for longer routes to Asia. I wouldn't be surprised if QF may have picked up aircraft that were meant for a different airline.
Either way, such a fuss about about just 3 planes just doesn't make sense. And LH flies these planes on longer routes to the canaries etc.
the longest QF will be east coast to west coast but those flights are long enough that people can spread their time to visit the toilet. majority of the QF flights will be the golden triangle between SYD, MEL and BNE, so mostly 1 hour, maximum 2. on these flights most people do not need to use the toilets at all.
At the moment... but they have signalled they would like to use them on near-Asia flight, eg Bali. I do not know why they got XLRs to just operate the triangle. Seems big over-spec. Even for Perth or Auckland.
Air France A321: If first 300 rows are Business class, then it’s 2 restrooms for 200 Y passengers…
First 3 rows
Lufthansa A321 Neo: 215 seats and four toilets or let’s assume 203 seats in economy and 3 toilets.
If I were Carsten I would eliminate one toilette and allow the first 12 rows to use the forward one.
sounds like doug parker strikes again on unnecessary LOPA retrofits due to a lack of critical thinking in the design phase
Well, I am glad they are reversing this. The airline greed for profits has become insane.
One of the reasons that I travel in business class, apart from the flat bed, is better access to lavatories. And no, I do not have any medical condition. But sometimes situations on planes regarding toilets are just ludicrous.
Back in time, A340-600 was my favourite for travel in economy class, just because of lavatories arrangement.
With all those bathrooms downstairs, right? That was absolutely the best set up.
Those 2 restrooms are getting more use than a horny Hollywood celebrity.
I don't think it's such a big deal. KLM also has just 2 lavs for more than 200 passengers on the A321neo. KLM has a total of 227 seats.
BA is not too far behind with 220 seats.
I can't imagine what those lavs look like in the last couple of hours of flight. The women that don't have the luxury of standing and not needing to touch any of the "surfaces."
QANTAS hates passengers, and that is not an extreme statement. Alan Joyce, and now Vanessa Hudson, care not one jot for their customers. They are pitiful.
If they plan to save space, why not add a urinal? Unless it's more expensive or what am I missing? I would prefer a urinal rather than having to open and close the lid and clean it for the next person.
And since coffee culture is part of Australia, you're really going to need to go to the loo as coffee acts as a diuretic.
"If they plan to save space, why not add a urinal? Unless it's more expensive or what am I missing?"
Women don't have penises is what you're missing.
I know that, but I can find it beneficial as you're in and out within minutes if not seconds for gents.
There's only one toilet for more than 100 passengers in LATAM's A319.
Aussies love to take the piss