A333 front PE toilets

Does anyone know what the issue is with the toilets at the front of PE on the A333.

I collected some passengers from LGW earlier this week and although they loved the new aircraft they were pretty pee'd off with having to queue for 10-15 minutes to use the toilet as on both the outbound and inbound flights they were not in use.

-Steve

My Mum and Dad had exactly the same complaint when returning from MCO a couple of weeks ago and had to join the queues for the Economy loos. The crew appeared to want to keep the area a passenger free zone so they could enjoy some uninterrupted quality time.

i think it depends on the crew because it wasnt out of action earlier in the year

On VS75/76 we were able to use the front PE toilet all flight...had to wait a little to use it on occasion though. All the cabin crew requested was that if you were waiting, you did so behind the curtain and not in the galley area.

[Neil]

It is badly designed and a result it seems some crews make it out of use, whilst others allow it to be used - seems to be a decision made by the crew/captain

It would seem right that pax start logging complaints officially so it gets a proper review, rather than just grumbling.
The PE experience is sold as a dedicated cabin experience, and having loo's withheld at the whim of the crew doesn't sound right..

Mechanical faults fair enough, because the crew find people get in the way or are bothersome when having 5 for a brew etc...sorry, thats no reason to prevent a newly designed aircraft's facilities being withheld..Especially for a cabin that is "enhanced".

Completely agree with northernhenry. The A333 has apparently has no rest area for the crew. Perhaps this is why this are is being kept separate from the passengers.

Neil: The positioning of the forward toilet on the 333 is no worse than that of those upstairs in PE on the LGW/MAN 747s (ie right outside the cockpit door).

NH: Agree - perhaps it is time for some letters to be winging their way to VS HQ - or maybe for some staffers to read these comments and do something about it.

Diamond 4: has the crew on the VS 75 and/or 76 not had 'rest' during their downtime in Orlando? I have no quibble with crew having their meals/coffee/tea breaks just like every other worker but, when I go to work , I don't expect to have a 2 or 3 hour sleep halfway during my working day. v( Or am I being too hard?

[Neil]

Neil: The positioning of the forward toilet on the 333 is no worse than that of those upstairs in PE on the LGW/MAN 747s (ie right outside the cockpit door).

It's worse because from the AC side you to go through and wait in the galley to get to it - and it seems crews are not wanting this for whatever reason and thus making it out of action.

I don't think proximity to the cockpit door / security is an issue.

Neil: The positioning of the forward toilet on the 333 is no worse than that of those upstairs in PE on the LGW/MAN 747s (ie right outside the cockpit door).

I don't think proximity to the cockpit door / security is an issue.

Nor do I mate, but that is precisely the reason I was given for an inability to use that facility on a VS76 back from MCO in May, Perhaps if crews were all singing from the same hymn sheet..............

[Neil]

Exactly - some crews allow it, some don't, surely there has to be some sort of official policy from VS?

[buns]

Exactly - some crews allow it, some don't, surely there has to be some sort of official policy from VS?

Could not agree more Neil y) y)

buns

[Neil]

Exactly - some crews allow it, some don't, surely there has to be some sort of official policy from VS?

Could not agree more Neil y) y)

buns

Let's see what the FB team respond - might give some clarity.

[Neil]

Bit of an update on this (not from the FB team).

Seems VS policy is for the toilet to be made available, but for pax to queue on the cabin side of the curtain.

Some captains however are not happy and they instruct it to be blocked as they feel It is a security issue(they have ultimate decision). Whilst on the upper deck of a 747 from the cockpit they can see right down the cabin through the spy hole, on the A330 because of the bulkhead they can't, and some captains not happy with that.

The crew are entitled to a certain amount of rest during the flight to/from MCO (guess it's like a lunch break for anyone else and isn't very long) and the only place to take it is the front jump seats, but that is not the reason for blocking the front toilet.

Well that excuse is pants, I've just got off a CO B737 where, like all 737s and 320s the loo is right by the cockpit door. But, I've been on plenty of 777s where the galley is in the line of sight behind the cockpit door and there's a F or J loo right there too. Queuing behind the curtain when the CC are prepping meals etc. seem reasonable, all else is poor, crew should take this up with VS and get a fix, not inconvenience passengers.

The crew are entitled to a certain amount of rest during the flight to/from MCO (guess it's like a lunch break for anyone else and isn't very long).

I totally agree with the concept of a lunch-break style 'rest period' Neil, but as I mentioned above, my last flight on the VS76 saw at least 5 crew members bunking down complete with pillows and blankets for a 2 or 3 hour nap. Wonder how my line manager would react if I cleared my desk and stretched out for a couple of hours of zeds after my tuna and celery on wholemeal baguette )

Slinky - I concur

The crew we had on the A330 at Easter denied the front WC even existed !

On a side note we have just been booted out of row 25 in PE as it's apparently now been decided this is allocation at airport only. Phoned up to enquire why and ended up in UC the day before thanks to sale fares

Just got a reply on FB about row 25 - the lunatics are definately running the VS asylum. They are trialling a new policy to keep some seats back (rows 18 & 25 ACHK) so they can seat families together at checkm in if they have problems , and in doing so split my family up all over the cabin.

The crew we had on the A330 at Easter denied the front WC even existed !

On a side note we have just been booted out of row 25 in PE as it's apparently now been decided this is allocation at airport only. Phoned up to enquire why and ended up in UC the day before thanks to sale fares

Many Thanks for that info. Alec!

We were also in row 25 - not any more - so moved to 7AK 2 days before .
Those UC sale fares certainly help and glad to get out of the A333 given the reports of front WC closures (that would guarantee a line next to row 25).

The forward toilet is only to be locked off during boarding only and inflight should be avaliable for the use of Premium passengers.

There are 3 toilets located at the L/R2 doors and two are for Economy and 1 is for Premium.

If you find crew not allowing use of the toilet at the front in Premium then you should write in so that it can be followed up with the crew why they locked it off inflight.

The crew we had on the A330 at Easter denied the front WC even existed !

On a side note we have just been booted out of row 25 in PE as it's apparently now been decided this is allocation at airport only. Phoned up to enquire why and ended up in UC the day before thanks to sale fares

That explains why we have been booted out of 25 next April.

Wish I'd gone for the later VS73 now; but there again with refits taking place who knows what aircraft you might get.

The crew we had on the A330 at Easter denied the front WC even existed !

On a side note we have just been booted out of row 25 in PE as it's apparently now been decided this is allocation at airport only. Phoned up to enquire why and ended up in UC the day before thanks to sale fares

That explains why we have been booted out of 25 next April.

Wish I'd gone for the later VS73 now; but there again with refits taking place who knows what aircraft you might get.

And having just checked the return VS74 on May 2nd, the seat map is now up. Row 79 bagged - for now!

[Neil]

The crew we had on the A330 at Easter denied the front WC even existed !

On a side note we have just been booted out of row 25 in PE as it's apparently now been decided this is allocation at airport only. Phoned up to enquire why and ended up in UC the day before thanks to sale fares

That explains why we have been booted out of 25 next April.

Wish I'd gone for the later VS73 now; but there again with refits taking place who knows what aircraft you might get.

And having just checked the return VS73 on May 2nd, the seat map is now up. Row 79 bagged - for now!

Yes, seat maps seems to be available now - also bagged row 79 for our flight later in May.

We should start a row 79 baggers club!

We should start a row 79 baggers club!

ooo can I join? 79K for me on fridays VS27 (if passport gets back in time (part 3 of 'the saga')for me to go)