The 6 Best Airplane Bathrooms On Any Airline: The A380 Reigns Supreme

The 6 Best Airplane Bathrooms On Any Airline: The A380 Reigns Supreme

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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’d like 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, the Airbus A380 takes center stage on this flight, as it’s an 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…

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.

Emirates A380 first class shower spa
Emirates A380 first class shower spa

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.

Etihad A380 first class shower
Etihad A380 first class 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!

Singapore Airlines A380 Suites bathroom
Singapore Airlines A380 Suites bathroom

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.

Qatar Airways A380 first class bathroom
Qatar Airways A380 first class bathroom

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.

Lufthansa A380 first class bathroom
Lufthansa A380 first class bathroom

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.

Lufthansa 747-8 first class bathroom
Lufthansa 747-8 first class bathroom

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.

Lufthansa A340-600 economy bathrooms
Lufthansa A340-600 economy bathrooms

6. All Nippon Airways A380 first class

All Nippon Airways A380 first class has two large, identical lavatories at the front of the upper deck. They’re huge, but there are also a couple of thoughtful design touches that I appreciate about them.

For one, ANA has a bidet function for its toilets, which is always a nice feature to have. 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.

ANA A380 first class bathroom
ANA A380 first class bathroom

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 airplane bathrooms out there as well, with everything from vanities, to bidets, to urinals. As A380s increasingly get retired, unfortunately going to the bathroom on a plane is getting less pleasant!

What’s your favorite bathroom on a commercial aircraft?

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  1. Alex Guest

    Is it just me, or has this website flat out copied your material about bathrooms?

    https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/08/24/best-first-class-airline-bathrooms-in-the-world-right-now/

  2. Ni Guest

    Regarding bidet on JAL F. My last JAL 777 economy, all restrooms had a bidet!

    I like the bathroom window in a220-300 delta

    1. Joe Jones Guest

      JAL and ANA have bidets on most of their planes.

  3. Mike O. Guest

    While we're on the topic of bathrooms, would it be farfetched to see first class suites on the upcoming 777X get their own bathrooms? While a shower might be too much, but your own toilet would be icing on the cake for first class.

  4. justindev Guest

    What is it with the multiple LH pics?

    1. E39 Diamond

      Because LH is the best

    2. JustinDev Guest

      @E39

      ROFL. Well done sarcasm. :-)

  5. AeroB13a Guest

    A good selection again Ben, the A380 rules of course due to the space available.
    I have no experience of the old LH 747 pissery, or for that matter, the Japanese comfort thrones. I’m sure that they would be worth a squirt.

  6. DPP Guest

    Honorable mention for narrow body should be the fwd loo on the A220 Way better than the other narrow bodies. I assume the floor is lower on the whole plane so you can actually stand up straight

    1. AeroB13a Guest

      Standing up straight on the AF Concorde was impossible for some of us …. and they called that luxury travel …. :-)

    2. Justindev Guest

      @Aero:

      You couldn't hold your water for the 3 hours? I could and did.

    3. AeroB13a Guest

      lol Justin, you didn’t do a run from Rio to Paris then?

    4. justindev Guest

      @Aero:
      Nope. Can't say I had that pleasure. My runs were always from London to NYC.

    5. bossa Guest

      Oh the 'sacrifice(s)' you made for all of us unwashed 'untouchables' !
      ...lol

  7. Mike O. Guest

    I wish more urinals would catch on. It'd be convenient for us gents as we're just in and out within minutes.

    In regards to the lavatories on the lower deck, who and why did they come up with the decision in the first place? It's certainly private that's for sure. I'm guessing to add more seats?

    1. TravelCat2 Diamond

      It is super convenient since there are five or so bathrooms down there. Wait times are minimized since you just take the first one that becomes available. I think that the crew rest areas are behind the door in the center of Ben's photo.

    2. Timtamtrak Diamond

      Totally to add more seats. The cargo capacity wasn’t so much a concern, so may as well cram in a few more seats and make money that way.

    3. TravelCat2 Diamond

      Comparing the layouts of LH's A340-300 and A340-600 indicates that moving the bathrooms allowed six more seats. The stairs in the A340-600 displace six seats while the five bathrooms in Y on the A340-300 appear to displace twelve seats.

    4. Mike O. Guest

      So can we expect the toilets on the upcoming A35K to be downstairs as well or was it only unique to the A346?

  8. Timtamtrak Diamond

    Interesting that the urinal has a debris guard... such a curious design choice to begin with. I’m curious - does it flush with a “whoosh” like any other vacuum-based toilet system?

    1. E39 Diamond

      Yes it does, feels very weird but fun to have tried

    2. Timtamtrak Diamond

      Thank you! Interesting that they didn’t pipe it the same as a sink with constant low suction. I’m not “that kind” of engineer but aircraft engineering fascinates me.

  9. ORD_Is_My_Second_Home Diamond

    How appropriate. The Gros Cochon is a gigantic toilet.

  10. The Discombobulated Elephant Guest

    What happened to the 'premium' bathrooms on Delta Airlines? Thought it comes with vapers in the bathroom

    1. bossa Guest

      Yeah.... I thought you could pre-order your most preferred 'scent' !
      ... lol

  11. Eskimo Guest

    Could you also rank the other end of the industry.

    Like on 737 where even if you don't need seatbelt extenders you still don't fit in the lavatory.

  12. Lee Guest

    Honorable mention goes to BA's 747 for its bathroom with a window.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

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JustinDev Guest

@E39 ROFL. Well done sarcasm. :-)

1
Joe Jones Guest

JAL and ANA have bidets on most of their planes.

1
Justindev Guest

@Aero: You couldn't hold your water for the 3 hours? I could and did.

1
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