Pilot reveals how they go to the bathroom on long-haul flights

Daily Mail​

03-07-2025

Being a pilot comes with many well-known perks - a generous salary, endless travel opportunities and breathtaking views from above the clouds.
But one aspect of the job has long remained a mystery: what happens when pilots need to use the bathroom mid-flight?
Sam Remcho, from California, is a pilot, rancher, and real estate investor, who regularly shares his experiences 'in the skies and on the land' on various social media channels.
In a TikTok video posted to his page, @samremcho, the 'Flying Cowboy' candidly explained how pilots relieve themselves during long flights - including the use of a little-known device.
Appearing in a cowboy hat and t-shirt inside a cockpit, Remcho recorded his response to a question posed by one his followers, who had asked: 'How do you use the bathroom on long flights?'
His short answer was a simple, 'No,' adding: 'You don't. Manage your bladder. Don't go to the bathroom.'
However, he revealed that when leaving the flight deck isn't an option, pilots turn to a device known as a 'relief tube.'
Panning the camera towards the bottom of the centre console, Remcho pulled open a compartment that contained a black, cone-shaped plastic cup attached to a long tube.
He explained: 'You go to the bathroom in this thing and push the lever that releases all fluids out the bottom of the aircraft and onto everyone below - although usually it evaporates prior to touching down.'
However, the pilot stressed he has 'never used and would not want to use' the device as it would result in having to do an extra job of cleaning the 'entire' underbelly of the plane upon landing.
While commercial airline pilots on large jets typically have access to onboard restrooms and can rotate with co-pilots to take short breaks, smaller aircraft and military planes don't always have that luxury - especially during long-haul flights.
In comes as another pilot has revealed how much he makes - and it might make a lot of people dream of taking to the skies.
YouTuber and pilot Garrett Ray (@flywithgarrett) has shared a video explaining how much he earns flying for a major airline in the USA.
Garrett is a first officer, sometimes known as a co-pilot, which means he acts as second-in-command to the captain on the plane.
He explains that he makes $213.97/£157.24 per hour as a first officer.
But then it starts to get a little more complicated.
Garrett reveals that he aims to 'maximise my time at home' and 'maximise my pay when I'm away from home'.
The pilot explains that although he really likes flying from JFK Airport in New York to Phoenix in Arizona and back, with a 24 hour layover in Phoenix, the route won't earn him the 'best bang for the buck'.
This is because Garrett will end up spending around 40 hours away from home, but earn money for just over 10 hours of flying.