China Southern: Pee Before Boarding, Please

From USAToday.com

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In cost-cutting move, airline wants fliers to use bathroom before flying

By Ben Mutzabaugh

The airline industry's efforts to cut costs at every corner has crossed a new line. The latest report comes from China, where China Southern is urging customers to use the bathroom before boarding their flights, Reuters reports, citing a report from China's Xinhua news agency. The effort isn't part an effort to reduce the weight of fliers, but rather an attempt to reduce the amount of fuel it takes to power the flush of airline toilet at 30,000 feet. China Southern calculates that such a flush uses about a liter of fuel –- or the equivalent of about a quarter of a gallon. "The energy used in one flush is enough for an economical car to run at least 10 kilometers [about 6 miles]," China Southern Captain Liu Zhiyuan is quoted as saying by Xinhua. China Southern is also considering fuel-saving methods already familiar at some U.S. carriers, including yanking pillows, blankets and magazines. In another move, "the company has asked logistics staff to fill the water tank only 60% full," Xinhua writes.

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