American Airlines Opens First-Class Lavatory To Coach Passengers

DALLAS (AP) _ There's one seat in first class that American Airlines is opening to coach passengers _ the lavatory. <br/><br/>Beginning Thursday, coach passengers can use the front lavatory on American

Wednesday, February 28th 2007, 9:08 pm

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) _ There's one seat in first class that American Airlines is opening to coach passengers _ the lavatory.

Beginning Thursday, coach passengers can use the front lavatory on American once again after the airline restricted its use to first-class fliers. The change applies to domestic flights and to international flights leaving the U.S., said American spokesman John Hotard.

Under a rule added following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, only first-class passengers could use that section's lavatory on flights en route to the United States. American decided to apply the rule to all flights, Hotard said.

The airline was the only carrier with such a rule on all flights, so it opted to change the policy, Hotard said.

The change was announced in a memo to flight crews that was obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Under Transportation Security Administration rules, passengers flying into the United States still have to use lavatories in their respective cabins.

A Boeing 757 has two lavatories in first class, which has 22 seats. Two are in coach, which has up to 160 passengers.