Hawaii flights are more crowded and uncomfortable than ever, but not all are equally bad. While travelers often focus on seat width and pitch and narrow vs. widebody, another less frequently discussed issue makes a significant difference—how airlines configure their aircraft in economy.
Specifically, the number and placement of lavatories and the related impact on aisle congestion, especially on ubiquitous narrow-body aircraft used to and from Hawaii, play an outsized role in passenger experience, yet this is rarely discussed.
For those stuck in economy on a narrow-body jet on a five-hour-plus flight, it’s an issue that inevitably turns an already cramped journey into something far more uncomfortable. The worst offenders?
Some airlines have eliminated mid-cabin restrooms, leaving a huge number of passengers (150 to be exact) dependent on just two lavatories at the rear. This creates flight-long bottlenecks in the aisle that impact passengers and beleaguered flight attendants. If you’ve ever felt trapped in your seat waiting for the line of people to clear, which it doesn’t, you’re not alone.
The hidden impact of lavatory placement on long flights.
While wide-body aircraft generally have more evenly distributed lavatories, most narrow-body jets flying to Hawaii operate with a lopsided setup: typically, a couple of restrooms are squeezed into the back of the plane. This means long waits and increased congestion in an already too-narrow single aisle. Passengers waiting in line, flight attendants maneuvering carts, and people trying to pass by all combine to make certain plane areas nearly impassable.
A recent comment from Thomas on this issue captured many travelers’ frustration. “That’s fine and dandy for wide-body service, but what about Bay Area flights from San Jose and Oakland? We are stuck with uncomfortable A321neo planes. Even first class on these flights is uncomfortable… not to mention the tiny lavatories as well. One of the most uncomfortable planes flying to the islands.”
His sentiment isn’t unique. Many passengers have noted that while the push for narrow-body efficiency has been great for airline profits and direct-to-neighbor island flights, it has come at a big cost to comfort.
Bud, another long-time Hawaii traveler, said that besides the tight aisle and lav situation, “Seats are universally terrible in my opinion for such long-haul flights. The seats are like sitting on boards in the bleachers of a 1950s baseball game. The flight attendants’ fold-down flat seats appear worse than our passenger seats. How do they endure it?”
Some airlines make it worse than others.
Not all narrow-body aircraft are created equal when it comes to lavatory placement. Some airlines have at least tried to address the issue, while others have made it even worse.
- Delta’s A321neo has one lavatory mid-cabin and two in the rear.
- Hawaiian’s A321neo, a huge part of its mainland fleet, offers two middle-rear cabin lavatories and one in the back.
- American’s A321neo has a single mid-cabin and two in the rear.
- United’s 737 MAX 8, which operates on many of its Hawaii routes, as BOH editors can personally attest to, is by far the worst for congestion, with just two lavatories at the very back of the plane and none in the middle.
- United 737 MAX 9, improves with two in the back and one mid-cabin.
- Alaska 737 MAX 9 has three in the back, which doesn’t help with congestion.
Passengers in the rear section of these aircraft experience longer waits for the restroom and have to deal with a near-constant flow of people standing for long waits in the aisle. It’s a recipe for discomfort, especially on longer-haul Hawaii flights where movement is already restricted.
Flight attendants feel the squeeze, too.
While passengers struggle with aisle congestion, flight attendants face perhaps an even more challenging situation. The tiny rear galley space is now more cramped than ever, making it harder to complete trolley and beverage services efficiently. Airlines have maximized seat counts while minimizing space even for essential crew functions, forcing flight attendants to work in even tighter quarters.
Several flight attendants have quietly noted to BOH that working the back of these narrow-body aircraft on long-duration Hawaii flights is among the most physically exhausting assignments. The combination of constant aisle congestion, passengers squeezing into the galley area, and limited personal space creates a stressful environment for those trying to keep the flight running smoothly.
Why airlines won’t change.
Despite widespread complaints, airlines aren’t likely to fix these problems anytime soon. The shift to narrow-body aircraft for long-haul routes has been financially very lucrative, reducing operational costs while keeping flight frequencies high. The loss of passenger comfort is seen as an acceptable trade-off in the eyes of airline executives.
This means that for travelers flying to Hawaii, paying close attention to aircraft type when booking is more important than ever. Choosing a flight with better lavatory distribution might not seem like a big deal at first, but for those who have experienced being stuck in the back of a narrow-body plane, it just might make a bigger difference than you think.
For now, the best travelers can do is be strategic. Check seat maps on areoLopa to see the location of lavatories on your plane. If avoiding aisle congestion is a priority, selecting seats farther forward or flying on wide-body aircraft remains the best option. Usually, if a service cart is blocking access to the lav, you can use first class on single-aisle planes. But as airlines continue pushing narrow-body jets onto more Hawaii routes, the squeeze isn’t going away anytime soon.
We welcome your input!
Lead image United Airlines MAX 8 economy.
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Just a word of caution. Your airline ticket is a contract to get from A to B. Period. There is no contract to provide a specific aircraft type. Airlines can and often do swap aircraft types. If you’re picking your flight based on the aircraft currently operating the route, you may be disappointed, and no, you won’t have any recourse. In the greater scheme of things, 5-6 hours is not a huge amount of time. It’s another matter flying from the East Coast, but those routes are universally wide-body aircraft… for now.
I’ve heard cabin crews asking/telling us not to line up at the restrooms and look to see if the vacant light is on.
What airlines/planes are best?
Aloha, on an aa flight the pilot indicated that passengers should use the lavatory in their cabin. I have heard that first class passengers do not want to share.
Mahalo
Guess what Marilyn, when we actually pay for first class it Does entitle us to perks that coach passengers don’t have and if that means a less frequently used lavatory then so be it. you have finally figured that out.
Flight attendants must have the patience of saints. They’re dealing with passengers cramming into their galley, carts that barely fit down the aisle, and constant congestion. No wonder service has suffered on these flights—there’s just no room for them to work efficiently.
I never thought about lavatory placement before. But I got stuck in a aisle seat near the back of the plane. Every few minutes, someone was brushing past me or hovering over my row while they waited in line. It’s not just uncomfortable—it’s claustrophobic.
I personally think the drink carts should go away. We have the technology for passengers to digitally order specific items when they want, and it can be delivered without a cart that blocks the aisle. Invariably, the drink cart comes around when I’m not thirsty but I take something because I know it will be the last opportunity…the whole system needs an overhaul, especially on narrow body planes.
These narrow-body planes have really taken the joy out of it. If you’re sitting in the back, it’s a battle just to get up to stretch or go to the restroom without bumping into half the plane. At one point, I gave up trying and just stayed in my seat for the last two hours of the flight.
I get that narrow-body planes are more efficient, but can we at least have enough bathrooms spaced to avoid the endless lines? On my last flight, I counted at least seven people waiting in front of me at one point, blocking the aisle for the entire back section. It was ridiculous!
I’ve been on those United MAX 8 flights, and the aisle situation is a disaster. There’s no way two people can pass each other, so if someone’s waiting for the restroom, everyone is just stuck. Even the flight attendants seem frustrated because they can’t move around freely to do their jobs. It just feels like the airline prioritized cramming in as many seats as possible without thinking about how passengers and crew would actually experience the flight.
This is why I try to book seats as far from the rear as possible. Once that drink cart comes through, forget about trying to move for the next 30 minutes. It’s just a waiting game at that point, and if you’re desperate for the restroom, good luck.
I knew narrow-body planes felt more cramped, but I never thought about the lavatory placement making it even worse. It really does create a nonstop traffic jam in the back that’s hard to deal with!
Good article, however you forgot about at least one lav on all the aircraft mentioned….the ones in the front of the plane. Last year my family and I sat comfort+ bulkhead on a Delta 737. I have a hard time holding it for a length of time especially if I am sufficiently hydrated; so I used the lav in the front of the plane. There is no law that says you can’t, and airlines cannot stop you either (at least none I have flown). Bathrooms on a plane are no different than bathrooms at a restaurant; in the sense that there is a minimum required number of toilets for a certain capacity of people.
On our return trip to SJC from OGG last week on Hawaiian Airlines in first class, the pre-takeoff announcement made a big deal that main cabin flyers were Not to use the lavatories at the front of the plane (and no one did). This is the first time I can recall such an announcement on a domestic flight.
Aloha, I just posted that announcement. It happened to me also
Mahalo
As a 4x a year flyer, I would say this is a normal/standard HA announcement as I’ve always heard it announced during flight.
I always assumed first class had its benefits and minimal waiting for lav access is one of them.
Actually some airlines (American Airlines) regularly make announcements for passengers to use the lavatory in their “ticketed cabin.”