Using the airplane bathroom is all about timing. Wait too long, and you'll either face a long aisle-spanning line or be stuck waiting in your seat.  Obvious off-limits times include takeoff, landing, and whenever the seatbelt sign is on. But when is the best time to go? According to flight attendants and travel experts, there are two ideal times to use the bathroom: right after the first meal is cleared, and just before the landing announcement.  Avoid going right after eating or near the second meal, when carts block aisles and lines grow long before the descent begins. The quietest moment on long-haul flights is usually the lull between meals, when the lights dim and most passengers nap or watch movies. Many people hydrate during the flight, not before it, to avoid an immediate toilet trip and have better control over bathroom timing in the air. Experts also suggest using the rear bathrooms, which are often less visible and therefore less crowded than the ones near the front.