- When there’s nothing else available
- When there’s nothing else fast available and you’re pressed for time
- When there’s nothing else cheap available and you’re cash-constrained
McDonald’s is quick and cheap. It may not be the best option that is quick and cheap, but it is efficient in terms of not needing to invest time in learning about other options. This explains why people choose McDonald's when they travel.
United Airlines even served McDonald’s on Orlando flights years ago, modifying their galley carts to keep cold items cold and patties hot.
There is another case for McDonald’s that goes largely overlooked: as a source of clean restrooms.
When traveling, I visit McDonald’s not to eat but for the restrooms. If I’m out in Mumbai all day, not everywhere I go will have a restroom or toilet paper. Toilet paper is becoming more common in China than it was years ago, especially in major cities. Nonetheless, carrying your own can still be advisable in some places.
McDonald's provides easy access to relatively unnoticed restrooms. In many parts of South Asia, McDonald's delivers food but does not deliver clean restrooms.
In Europe, the prevalence of first-world amenities makes the McDonald's restroom tip less valuable. On Las Ramblas in Barcelona—a highly touristy area—you can find almost every fast food chain alongside plenty of Spanish food options. Eating tapas elsewhere than Las Ramblas ensures better quality and lower prices due to rent differences.
While clean restrooms are abundant in Barcelona and Western fast food justifications are minimal there, such facilities remain popular in many places where finding a place to go otherwise would be challenging.
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