Hilarious Skit About Using The Seatbelt Sign During Turbulence

By: Ben Schlappig

Updated: November 30, 2023
Published: July 18, 2015

25 comments

I love Comedy Central’s Key & Peele — I think it’s one of the funniest sketch comedy shows out there. As View from the Wing wrote about yesterday, just this week they had a skit entitled “Turbulence.” In it, a guy gets up to use the lavatory on a plane when the seatbelt sign is on, and gets into a hilarious argument with the flight attendant.

Here’s the clip (which does contain some profanity):

Not only is it a funny clip, but I think it also gets at an interesting topic. It’s certainly not “illegal” to get up and use the bathroom when the seatbelt sign is on:

Nowadays we seem to see more and more pilots leave the seatbelt sign on longer. I’ve even had some pilots just leave it on the whole flight, even on longhauls. I think that’s sort of reckless by the pilots, since they’re less likely to be taken seriously if there actually is serious turbulence up ahead.
You’re not violating any laws by getting up when the seatbelt is on.
Instead, what you should be more concerned about is not following crew member instructions.

In other words, flight attendants have different ways of asking you to be seated. Sometimes I’ve heard flight attendants say “I’m required to inform you that the seatbelt sign is on, which means you’re supposed to be in your seat.” If you continue to use the lavatory, you’re not violating any regulations. Instead the flight attendant is simply having you acknowledge that they informed you the seatbelt sign was on, and what that means.

Now, if a flight attendant actually says “you need to be seated” and you don’t listen, then technically you’re violating FAA regulations. Will there be a punishment in practice? Probably not, assuming the air is fairly smooth, the request isn’t made several times, and you’re not being ridiculous. It certainly becomes more of an issue when you try to use the lavatory while the plane is taxiing to the runway, though (as I’ve seen happen many times).

So in general there isn’t a problem with using the lavatory when the seatbelt sign is on. Try to avoid it when possible, but if you’ve gotta go you’ve gotta go. If the flight attendant gives you direct orders to sit down, try and do that. If you really have to go, simply try to reason with them — “I really, really have to go.”

What has been your experience with getting up on planes while the seatbelt sign is on?

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Caroline Fawcett Guest

December 13, 2024, 11:32 am

I want to know why the sign in the Boeing plane restrooms say "return to your seat" when the fasten seat belt light comes on in the cabin, and it's clearly not safe to return to your seat. Then after the turbulence subsides for a couple of minutes, and the captain makes an announcement to the crew and you feel you have a chance to quickly get to your seat 2 rows away and buckled in, you get yelled at by the FA for not being in your seat. If they don't want you out of your seat, then why have a sign in the restroom telling you to return to your seat? Nothing like sitting on the toilet in a germ infested restroom with your pants around your ankles, having to brace yourself with your arms pressed against the walls, to keep from being tossed around like a pair of dice at 30,000 feet in the air. The turbulence did not hit until after I was seated on the toilet. After it hit the captain told the crew to sit in their jumpseats, which means they would have gone past the restroom door and seen the occupied sign. After the turbulence subsided heard the captain instruct the crew to do something. I waited a bit and then decided to do as the sign said and return to my seat. That is when the flight attendant yelled at me. We are instructed on what to do in the unlikely event that we crash in the water, however we are not instructed on what to do if we are in the restroom when turbulence hits and we are sitting there with no seatbelt. Not everyone is strong enough to brace themselves.

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Phil Marsosudiro Guest

November 10, 2019, 8:34 pm

Back in the 90's I stepped into the lavatory of a ~30-seater plane before while we were waiting to taxi for takeoff. Next thing I know... we're In The Air. I guess the FA didn't check seats before the pilot decided to go? I don't recall the FA noticing me come out of the lavatory after we were up. Or if they noticed, they didn't care. BTW, I've wondered how Key and Peele filmed this sketch -- the effects are pretty darned good.

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Anonymous Guest

August 15, 2016, 8:47 pm

Actually, it is illegal to have your seatbelt unfastened while the fasten seatbelt sign is on, it is also illegal to disobey cabin crew.

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Joe Poe Guest

October 29, 2015, 8:31 am

... This discussion did make me think about it though, and I am definitely more mindful of turning OFF the seat belt sign when I can. We honestly don't want to "tie you to your seat and gag you," but we do forget sometimes that it's on. Just call a flight attendant and have them call us and ask. It's that simple,especially in cruise flight. No one breaks any laws that way. But I promise to do better than I personally have already done regarding that switch. Now behave yourself back there!

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Joe Poe Guest

October 29, 2015, 8:27 am

I am an airline captain. Really enjoyed the video on the subject, and I might even suggest we use it in training - for the comedic factor. But it makes a good point. Personally, I think that the general public behaves as if they believe the rules do not apply to them. I'm often amazed at how my kids behave better than they do. I understand when you have to get up and use the restroom, but blatant disregard of instructions, especially with no real reason, is wrong! Aborted takeoffs and overrun landings are very real scenarios. You're in danger for yourself, and it puts those in front of you in danger too, albeit however small. Just behave! Thus discussion

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