If you’re a traveler you’ve likely encountered a dilemma while at the airport. The dilemma: where to put your carry-on luggage when using the toilet at the airport.
It sounds like a minor problem right? Just deal with it!
But it’s actually a complex issue. These days heightened security measures make it a risk to leave your bag unattended or with strangers.
Once you’re on the plane things aren’t so bad but carry-on bags are a hassle until you get them onto the plane in the overhead compartment.
Lugging them from the car to the check-in desk is where the fun begins. Getting your bags through security is a fiasco as you pray they don’t confiscate your electric toothbrush (because they think it’s a bomb – oops don’t say that word).
In this article we’ll share the best places (or worst) to put your carry-on while using the toilet. I’ve hauled my carry-on bags through hundreds of airports and every bathroom is different.
Few airport bathrooms are spacious while the majority are tighter than a turd in a straw. If you’re visiting an exotic location you never know if you’ll get a spray nozzle instead of toilet paper.
Let’s do a deep dive into airport toilets and figure out where to put your carry-on luggage when dropping a deuce.
Where To Put Your Carry-On When Using the Airport Toilet
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Ask Someone To Watch It
Two decades ago this probably sounded like a good option. There are friendly people at the airport and plenty of other solo travelers.
You could ask the elderly couple to watch it or ask the pretty girl so you can strike up a conversation later (hint: make sure to tell the pretty girl you’re dropping a big one – it will make a great first impression).
These days, asking someone to watch your bag is like asking them if they like your Crocs. You know what they are thinking before they say it. They may say “sure” but their surprised facial expression says “did this terrorist just ask me to watch their bag”.
Everyday we are bombarded (pun intended) with news about airport security. Everyone is skeptical of each other.
But it’s just as bad for the person taking a dump. Is the person watching your bag trustworthy? Would they put an I.E.D. in your bag to set you up (if you’re lucky, maybe a kilo of coke).
If you’re like me, you’ll keep all your important items like your computer, passport, and extra money in your bag. It’s best to take it with you even if you don’t want to.
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Leave At The Entrance of the Bathroom
Occasionally you’ll be at an airport with a little extra space near the bathroom entrance. It’s the perfect place to leave a bag if you’re using the urinal because you can keep an eye on it.
The other reason it’s a good spot is because no one wants to bring their carry-on into a bathroom with a sticky, urine-coated floor. I always think about the germs my bag is acquiring when I set it down on the bathroom floor!
On the other hand, if you leave your bag at the entrance and enter a stall you’ll loose visibility for at least a few minutes. I’ve done this and always hold my breath when exiting the stall (please be there when I get out).
- Will my bag still be there?
- Have they already called TSA for an unaccompanied bag?
Suffice to say I’d recommend not leaving your bag by the entrance unless using a urinal.
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Leave It Near The Sink In The Bathroom
Leaving your carry-on near the sink is not much different than leaving your bag at the entrance, however you’ll avoid some passersby traffic.
The sink resides deeper into the bathroom so you’ll have adequate time to catch the thief who makes off with your bag. You’ll also be able to keep a better eye on it.
Depending on how busy the bathroom is (red-eye versus mid-day flight), it might be rude to park your bag at the sink as people will maneuver around the bag to wash their hands.
If you’re using the stall you’ll have to consider the pros and cons of your bag being out-of-sight while you’re in the squat.
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Place Next To Urinal
If I’m urinating I’ll usually bring my bag up to the urinal with me. Yep I know it’s gross but what choice do I have?
I’ll put my bag down on the urine saturated floor, and I’ll do my thing. I usually think to myself “why do people have such awful aim”.
I always remind myself to not touch the bottom of the bag when I put it in the overhead bin and I promise that I’ll wash and clean the bag when I get home.
Do I ever clean it when I arrive home? Nope!
The good thing about having your carry-on next to you is you won’t loose it, nor will you take your eye off it. Sometimes the satisfaction of having your bag nearby is worth the petri-dish of bacteria you gain on the bottom.
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Bring It Into The Stall With You
Things get complicated when you have a carry-on and need a toilet stall. Maneuvering around the stall is no easy task so I’ll usually look for the handicap stall, look around to make sure no one is looking, and slide in there.
If I suspect people are watching me, I’ll suddenly develop a limp.
Handicapped stalls are like the honeymoon suites of the bathroom! Sometimes I’ll take time to stretch out, do breathing exercises or just chillax on the pot a few extra minutes.
There is plenty of room for your bags. Hangers for a backpack are a bonus.
If there aren’t handicapped stalls then you’ve got to deal with the tight quarters of a standard size stall. Why do the doors to these stalls always open to the inside? It makes it impossible to get your carry-on bags in the stall and close the door.
Luckily I have good footwork and balance (I’ve stood on the toilet to shut the door behind me and the bags).
There are a few takeaways from spending time in a claustrophobic airport bathroom stall:
Utilize Hangers
If an airport toilet has any worth it’s measured by two things, 1) space, 2) hangers. Quite frankly it’s unacceptable for any stall to not have hangers but I’ve been through some shitty airports that didn’t have them.
What are we supposed to do, keep our backpack or purse on our lap while we squat? Luckily hangers exist in most bathrooms and they are perfect for a lightweight bag with straps.
Still, hangers don’t help another common carry-on, the small roller. A small rolling bag must be kept on the floor – this is why positioning and footwork is important.
Opening and Closing the Door
As I mentioned earlier, you’ll need to recognize how the stall door opens. 99% of the time the door will open to the inside. In most cases outside an airport, this is fine.
I totally understand why door open the inside. It saves space and saves the person walking by the stall from getting whacked as they walk by.
But in-swing doors are a nuisance to solo travelers who have to take their bags with them where ever they go. When entering a stall you’ll want to try two types of entrances.
Entrance #1:
Roller carry-on first and try to slide it into the space on the side of the john. You’ll follow the bag and once you’re in and the door is shut you can reposition the bag.
Entrance #2:
You enter the stall first and bag second. Be warned, this often results in failure and frustration when the bag can’t clear the door as it’s shut.
In this instance, you’ll want to jump up on the toilet (balance on the sides and be sure not to slip in).
Once you’re out of the way you’ll have more space to clear the bag. Be prepared to do the same thing after you take a dump. You’ll be a few pounds lighter so it may be an easier process.
Wait to flush until the door is open because you don’t want to be stuck in the stall if the toilet erupts (this happened to me in Bangkok).
Conclusion
The life of a solo traveler is exciting! There’s no stress with additional people or planning for others, however there are logistical issues you’ll have to deal with. One of these issues, albeit minor, is navigating the toilets at the airport.
As someone who usually travels alone, I always find myself talking to myself when I need to use the toilet.
- What do I do with my bag?
- Do I take it into the stall with me?
- How much feces will my bag accumulate after taking it into the bathroom?
I know other people have encountered the same dilemma so I wanted to share this article on the best places to put your carry-on when using the airport toilet.
It may sound silly, but there are logistical issues that should be well thought out in advance. We’ve shared 5 places to put your bag in the airport toilet. If you have other suggestions let us know in the comments below! We hope this article helps, be sure to read our other toilet topics.