There seems to be endless rules that come with travelling by plane. Not only do you have to pass rigorous security checks at the airport, you’re also restricted with what you can bring on board.
Then when you enter the cabin, even more regulations are in place. You’re not allowed to keep your phone switched on, unless you use airplane mode, or smoke a cigarette.
You can’t go to the toilet when you want to either, which can be particularly annoying when you’re busting for a wee. While it may seem very tiresome, the rules are in place for a reason.
In the majority of cases, they’re there to ensure customers’ safety. And to explain more about seatbelt signs, an American Airlines pilot took to TikTok to post a short video.
Captain Steve, who has a following of 239,000 on the platform, said: “Mrs Captain Steve is an absolute rule keeper, if that sign is on, she will not get up, no matter how bad she has to go the bathroom. And I’m here to tell you, yeah I want you to be a rule keeper.
“But if we’re up at altitude, cruising along and it’s not too bumpy then you really need to go, yes you can get up and use that bathroom.
“Now if the flight attendants tell you to take a seat, you’ve got to follow what they say. You’ve got to take a seat because you might be preparing for landing, after take-off, or might be at some critical phase of the flight, so if they tell you to sit down, sit down.”
However, there are instances where they may permit you to use the toilet. Steve added: “The flight attendants are probably going to say this to you ‘do you know the seatbelt sign is on,’ they’re obligated to remind you about that.
“Once they get that out of the way, you’re free to go up and do your business. Come back to your seat, do me a favour, always put that seatbelt on when you’re in your seat whether the seatbelt sign is on or off. Now you know.”