Why do most airliners have a frosted window in the toilet, who's going to look in at 35000 feet?

Answer 1

most airlines don't have a window in the toilet.

Answer 2

There are aircraft with windows in the lavatory. On the JAL 747-400 the window can be "opened" or "closed" with a switch that alters the opaqueness electrically. While I did flip the switch several times for fun on a recent trip, I did not have the forethought to take a picture. Luckily someone else did. The link below shows a picture.

Why have a window? On long haul flights one might spend longer in the lavatory than a short domestic hop. You are generally provided with an amenity kit that includes items for freshening up. A good teeth brushing, face washing and shave can make a world of difference after 12 or 13 hours in the air. Natural light is useful in these situations.

Why have it frosted or able to be frosted? So that it may be used on the ground without fear of revealing too much to the ground personnel.

Answer 3

The last time I was on a plane where there was a window in the toilet, was a Freddie Laker Boeing 707.

I'm really not sure there are any toilets with windows any more. But this question was originally probably asked by someone who tried looking in at that altitude (just to throw users off the track of worrying about it).

It's as likely as not as often asked as the Chicken n the Egg one.

Sash

Answer 4

He's not wrong, like everyone says. The older aircraft do have windows in the Toilets. The VC-10 transport aircraft (The fastest transport aircraft in use today, thanks to the retiring of the Concorde) In use in the RAF has a "frosted" or Opaque window in the toilet.

I've always wondered that myself. Maybe it's so that escorting fighter aircraft's crew can't look in if you go at 35,000 ft, as you're not allowed to go while it's on the ground.

Answer 5

Not sure what plane your talking here. I worked around aircraft for 5 years and I never saw a frosted window in any of the lavs. If the window was frosted it may have had a break in the seal in-between the panes of glass allowing moisture in to the window causing a frost. Other then that I have never seen it.

Answer 6

most aircraft do not have windows in the area of the lav. However, if they reconfigure an aircraft so a lav will fall where a window typically exists... they will either remove the window.. or cover it. I have never seen any aircraft with a window in the lav area retained. I have been working corporate and commercial aircraft for 15 years.

Answer 7

I've never seen a window in the toilet on an airplane. But either way a preverted jet pilot, a sky diver, or one of those really powerful telescopes. Maybe even the hubble telescope. Or maybe it's so that if your pissed and don't get a window seat you won't just go sit in the bathroom the whole flight looking out the window. I've been on a flight where a guy tried to do that. He tried just staying in there playing on his laptop. They finally got him out and made him return to his seat. Which was next to a guy that looked like he weighed 400 lbs. Well good luck.

Answer 8

Hi,Phil B,
I assume your question is based on the brilliant live after dinner speech LP by David Gunson, 'What goes up must come down'.
He also explains why Concorde was never armed with missiles,since at Mach 2.0 it would shoot itself down.
Besides being a very funny album,it's enought to put you off flying forever. Oh,and it teaches you how to fly an airliner in 30 minutes.
Recommended.
Happy Christmas!

Answer 9

They don't in a word. When the companys make aircraft they just don't put a space for a window there. And if they did then if you used it on the ground people on the same level would be able to see in.

Answer 10

ive never been on a airliner that has got windows in the toilet.