Unusual Location of Plane Bathrooms Amazes Internet: 'Best Design Ever'

A video of a plane with a "very innovative" layout for its bathroom facilities has impressed users on TikTok. The clip was shared by @downielive and has received 4.8 million views since it was posted June 8. "I've never seen this on a plane before," the poster says in a caption shared with the post. Read more: Compare the Best Rewards Credit Cards for Travel The man in the video is shown facing the plane's aisle. He says in the clip: "This is a normal commercial airplane, it's not a double-decker...but the bathroom is downstairs." The camera points to a flight of stairs that leads to a lower level of the plane, where there are several bathroom stalls. Opening one of them, the man says, "How cool is that? Crazy" before the clip ends. According to the caption, the footage was captured on Airbus' A340-600 aircraft for Lufthansa, Germany's flagship airline. With the length of its overall fuselage—an aircraft's main body section—being just over 247 feet, the "super-stretch" A340-600 is Airbus' "longest jetliner operating today," the manufacturer says, and the largest of the A340 aircraft in terms of passenger capacity. Read more: Which Airlines Have the Best (or Worst) Fees? "The aircraft's capacity is between 320 and 370 seats in a typical layout, with up to 475 passengers accommodated in a high-density configuration," according to Airbus. "With more space in the cabin, passengers can expect to enjoy more room for themselves."

The viral post comes as air travel continues to see strong growth in the post-pandemic era. Total passenger demand in April was up 11 percent, compared with April 2023, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported in May. In November 2023, total air traffic worldwide was at 99.1 percent of November 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels, according to an IATA report in January.

'Very Innovative'

Users on TikTok were impressed by the unusual plane feature shown in the clip. User what what... called it the "best design ever." Nathan_Ngumi said: "Very innovative use of space to have a lower deck for multiple toilets." "Wow. I have flown a lot and have not seen that," said scarabparty. Alex wrote: "That's actually the coolest thing I've ever seen in an airplane." "I've literally never been on anything other than an Airbus. This looks luxury to me," wrote moshmishmash. Others questioned the challenges the layout may pose for those with mobility challenges. Mr. Curtis in NYC asked: "What about people with mobility issues?" Paula asked: "What about people in wheelchairs? This is cool but just wondering." "Not terribly accessible though," said aresef. Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. The video has not been independently verified. Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.