Airbus downsizes lavs on A320 planes

For frequent fliers on short- and medium-distance flights, here is some good news and bad news from Airbus, the giant European aircraft maker.

The manufacturer has unveiled a cabin design that gives passengers more room to stow their luggage but less elbow room in the back-of-the-plane lavatory.

The changes in the interior design will begin in 2016 on the company’s A320, the mid-size plane used for short- to medium-range flights by many U.S.-based carriers.

The A320 was redesigned two years ago to move the lavatories that were previously on either side of the aisle to the back of the plane, sharing space with the food-preparing galley. The move freed up space to fit six extra seats.

But Airbus discovered that the bathrooms took too much space away from the galley, so the latest modification squeezes the width of one of the bathrooms to increase the size of the galley.

Zuzana Hrnkova, head of aircraft interiors marketing for Airbus, declined to specify how much the lavatory will shrink under the new design, saying only that the narrower bathroom will be "equivalent" in size to the previous lavatory.

Meanwhile, the overhead bins on the A320 have been redesigned, increasing the volume 10 percent over the previous overhead bin.

"Every inch counts in the cabin," she said.

FLIERS’ BAD BEHAVIOR POSTED ONLINE

The days when air travelers dressed in suits and dresses for a flight are long gone. Now, T-shirts, shorts and sandals are considered acceptable attire.

But if you go too far and treat a crowded airline cabin like your own living room — or your bathroom — expect your fellow travelers to take action.

"Passenger Shaming" is an online trend in which passengers and flight attendants snap photos of you being crude or nasty on a plane and post them on Facebook or Instagram.

Some scenes already captured online show barefooted passengers stretching their legs over adjoining seats and tray tables. Other fliers are shown napping shirtless or clipping their fingernails.

And you may not want to see the stuff found in seatback pockets and strewn under seats.

Heather Poole, a 19-year veteran flight attendant and author of the book "Cruising Attitude," said the crude behavior of some passengers has made flying less pleasant.

"As long as passengers are nice, I don’t care what they wear," she said. "But I do kind of hate when they take their shoes off and walk around."

Hugo Martin, Los Angeles Times