Going to the Loo at the Airport

Go figure that the first post I write about from our trip to London back in May has to do with going to the bathroom. Or, more specifically, the restroom itself. (It’s the “loo” if you want to get all technical and British.)

One of the things I hate, HATE, about airports are their bathrooms. It’s like whoever built them said, “Hey, let’s make this interesting for travelers and make the stalls extra tiny so they can try cramming themselves and all of their belongings inside after getting off a flight where they were already squished together like sardines.” 

Just imagine this is perfectly in focus*

When I get off a flight I’m either A) on my way to catch a shuttle, B) hop on another flight, C) pick up my checked-in luggage, or D) see family/friends and go home. Unfortunately, having to pee usually takes priority. 

So when I get off a plane and take a detour to the restroom the last thing I want to do is get trapped inside an itty-bitty stall that usually has the door swing in instead of out—I mean, really, who designs these things? Don’t they know that you have to practically straddle the toilet just to open/close the door? And if you have luggage with you? Forgetaboutit!

Imagine my shock when I walked into the bathroom at London’s Gatwick airport. The stalls were HUGE (for an airport)! It was like they were all the coveted end stalls of a normal bathroom—the “handicap accessible” ones we all so know and love. (You know you get a thrill when you’re standing in line for the toilet and the end stall opens up just for you—it’s like winning the bathroom lottery!) 

That wasn’t my stall, which means that wasn’t my toilet paper on the floor there. People, clean up your own mess!

Anyway, at Gatwick the doors still swings inward, but check out how much room there is between the door and the toilet— there’s ample room for you and your five pieces of luggage without even feeling cramped. It’s truly an airport bathroom dream come true.