New Boeing 737 Max planes: Passenger anger at tiny toilets on new planes

By Oliver Smith

Updated January 28, 2018 — 2.29pm

Flight attendants at American Airlines recently met with management to complain about the size of the toilets on the new Boeing 737 MAX.

Boeing's new 737 MAX, launched last year amid much fanfare, has been hailed as an aviation "game changer". Quieter and more efficient than its popular predecessor (the simple 737), it's billed as the short-haul plane of the future.

There's just one issue. The lavatories are ludicrously small – with sinks so tiny that passengers can only wash one hand at a time. That's according to flight attendants at American Airlines, who - the LA Times reports - recently met with senior management to outline their grievances about the new aircraft's WCs.

Namely that those attempting to use the undersized sinks risk having their clothes doused with water, the cabin crew say, while the rear of the plane is said to be so cramped that when the doors of the two hindmost loos are opened, cabin crew are sealed off in the gallery and unable to reach passengers.

The Boeing 737 MAX airplane stands outside the company's manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington.Credit: Bloomberg

Fliers have noticed the problem too, with one Air Canada passenger flagging it up on Twitter earlier this month. American has so far received just four 737 MAXs but the model is set to become a lynchpin in its fleet. It will welcome another 20 by the end of 2018, and 20 more each year for the next four years.

Indeed, the 737 MAX is flying off the shelves. Boeing has received 4,306 orders from airlines around the world, including - most notably for European travellers - Ryanair, which will receive the first of 110 early next year.

First things first – why are the loos so small?

Stewardesses pose in the economy cabin of SilkAir's new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.Credit: AP

The 737-800 has a maximum capacity of 189. But its replacement, the 737 MAX 8, used by American Airlines, is certified to carry up to 210 fliers. How has Boeing found room for 21 more seats? Installing smaller toilets at the back of the plane, and cutting the size of the kitchen galley, has helped. As have new slimline "Zodiac" seats.

American's planes actually carry far fewer than 210 because it uses a three-class seating configuration (126 in economy, 30 in "cabin extra", and 16 in first class). But in the rear of the cabin space is still scarce.

Twenty-one more seats? That must mean less legroom?

A sensible conclusion, and in American's case the correct one. Its 737-800s offer 31 inches of "pitch" (the distance from one row of seats to the next) in economy class. On the new 737 MAX 8, that's been trimmed to 30. But it could have been worse. Some airlines are opting for as little as 29 inches of pitch on their 737 MAXs.

So is Ryanair cutting legroom too?

Mercifully, no. Ryanair's current fleet consists of 412 737-800s, each with room for 189 passengers. Its 737 MAXs will carry 197 low-cost travellers. But, thanks to Boeing's wizardry (and those tiny toilets) legroom is actually improving – from 30 inches of pitch to 31. Width will stay put at 17 inches.

Yes, it's hard to comprehend, but that is what Ryanair insists. It adds that the aft toilets will be reconfigured but the forward loo will stay the same.

What else can we expect from the 737 MAX?

Larger overhead bins, for starters. Boeing's fancy Space Bins come as standard on the new model. They are designed to provide 50 per cent more storage space, holding up to six standard size cabin bags – two more than Boeing's ubiquitous Sky Interior pivot bins.

The lack of space in low-cost cabins, as passengers seek to sidestep swingeing checked baggage fees, is a serious problem – so much so that Ryanair has started forcing passengers to put carry-on luggage in the hold if they don't pay extra. The Space Bins could ease this issue.

What about in-flight entertainment?

Another talking point is the decision by American Airlines to ditch seat-back screens on its new 737s. Instead passengers will be offered content that can be streamed on board using their own personal electronic devices.

Ryanair passengers, of course, have never known the luxury of a seat-back screen – so their absence will not be noticed.

So what is on the back of Ryanair's seats?

Safety instructions. Probably an advertisement. But nowhere to put your belongings.

One of the most curious aspects of flying with Ryanair is the lack of seat-back pockets. Passengers must cling on to their novel, passport, iPad, or - dare we say it - copy of the paper and complimentary bottle of mineral water. After take-off, one can pop them on the tray table, or you could store your possessions in a small bag beside your feet – but it's not exactly convenient.

Why? It's all down to speedy turnarounds, says Ryanair. Having the pockets gives cabin crew something to check and clean, which takes up precious time. Another factor could well be weight. The heavier the plane, the more fuel it burns – and fuel is the single biggest cost for all airlines. Two square feet of soft material hardly tips the scales, but it all adds up.

The Telegraph, London

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The Sydney Morning Herald