Everyone was very excited when the new Boeing 737 MAX was launched last year. A quiet ride and great fuel economy, it’s already been ordered by many of the big airlines such as Flydubai, Ryanair, Norwegian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Lion Air, United Airlines, American Airlines and many more. So chances are, you’ll end up on a 737 MAX at some point.
The complaints are flooding in
So what’s the problem with this plane? Is it a safety concern? Is it difficult for the pilots to fly? No, the problem that has been reported by flight attendants and passengers alike, is that the lavatories are just too small! Ridiculously small in fact. If you’re a person of large build, or you’re trying to get into the toilets with a young child, you’re really going to struggle. Hygiene standards while flying may slip once you discover you can only actually wash one hand at once in the miniscule sink! You’re also likely to get splashed as the sink is so shallow and hardly holds any water at all. Flooding of the sinks has become such a problem on the 737 MAX that American Airlines have actually cut off the water supply to the sinks on their planes! Let’s hope there’s some hand sanitiser on board!
If you’re claustrophobic, you may want to avoid the experience entirely and keep off the fluids for the duration of your flight. Just make sure you ‘go’ before you board the plane!
Something has to give when you’re cramming in those paying customers
The thing is, this plane is the same size as its predecessor, but it has 21 more seats. So now are you seeing why they’ve made the toilets so very tiny? Yep, it’s to squeeze a couple more seats in. For the flight attendants, they’ve been given an even bigger raw deal. Another space saving measure was to reduce the size of the galley. What’s worse, is that when both the toilet doors in the rear are opened at once, the crew are actually trapped in the galley and can’t get out!
Are there any redeeming factors of the 737 Max?
Yes, if you can cope with tiny toilets, then you’ll benefit from bigger windows and a more pleasant lighting system. The storage bins are also bigger, which could make life a little easier when trying to find a spot for your carry on luggage.
Emily is an avid writer with a passion for the travel industry. She also loves learning and writing about nutrition and healthy living. Emily is based in the UK.
