Airline bathrooms being upgraded: Bidets and fresh flowers for “Discount Divas”

by Steve Broback on May 13, 2005

In the Wall Street Journal article Loo Skies,  Andrea Bennett describes how the highly visible,  yet relatively low cost bathroom spaces are being renovated by airlines in order to project a "premium" image at a relatively low cost.

In other words, why spend $500,000 per plane for Seatback TVs, when you can upgrade the bathrooms for a fraction of the cost? At an average of one bathroom for every 30 passengers, and more than 450 passenger visits during a typical five-hour flight on a Boeing 777, you can impress a lot of people.

For example:

  • Southwest has replaced the old metal countertops with "creamy vanilla"-colored Corian and added toilet seats that ease down gently, using hydraulics.
  • Air New Zealand will install wall-mounted vases filled with fresh flowers.
  • Plans for the Boeing 787 include larger bathrooms with windows. 
  • Coming on Malaysia Airlines: bidets.
  • Delta carrier, Song, unveiled last week pleasant smell, soft-glow lighting and floors that looked like real hardwood on some flights.

Song says the bathroom upgrades are part of its effort to appeal to women (who have higher design standards than men)  and who fly for both business and leisure — "Discount Divas," it calls them.

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