The 30 Minute Rule

A silly question, but perhaps someone could enlighten me..

Have not travelled to the USA since 2000, do I really have to stay in my seat for 30mins+ prior to landing? (I am on Virgin in UC), do these rules apply to intenational or domestic flights, or both?

Guess I will have to time my last pee to perfection!! (my kidneys are shot so this can be more of a hassle than for most people)

As usual, any guidance gratefully received.

Many thanks

Chris R.

It probably works out at 30 mins regardless of whether you're flying in to London or US. I'm sure the FAs will let you know if you asked them. You could also check the skymap on the IFE - this has the expected arrival time.

There is usually some leeway when the seatbelt light comes on anyway. The FAs won't send you back to your seat in mid flow. At least in UC you won't have som many PAX queueing for the loos.

My advice hydrate early in the flight, and get it out of your system. If you have a problem, don't drink at all in the last couple of hours of the flight. If you've drunk enough at the start you'll be fine.

[Nottingham Nick]

I don't know about a 30 minutes rule, but I have noticed that everything seems to be packed away, and the IFE is switched off a lot sooner than it used to be.

At first I put this down to the inevitable 'stacking' when coming into LHR, but the last couple of times we have avoided this:) .

Nick

[HighFlyer]

I sympathise completely!

I too have shot kidneys, you'll know if im in your cabin as im back and forth to the loo all the time [:(]

As far as im aware, most flights have you in your seat 30mins or so before landing. I do as csparker comments, i drink water through the flight but none for the last hour or so, then i go to the loo 40mins or so before landing - then again in the terminal LOL.

Commenting with no expertise, but I believe the 30-minute rule officially applies only to Washington Reagan Airport (DCA), primarily due to the arrival/departure proximity over federal buildings. I recently flew LAX-IAD-LAX on AA, and no such rule was announced. Of course, VS does not fly to DCA, with its modest 6869-foot runway, compared to IAD's 11,500-foot runways.