[halo66]

Restroom...I’ve seen the pilot leave the cockpit several times once the plane is at cruising altitude.

[Sacajaweau]

We were in a DC10 years ago on our way to a hole...aka Mexico.

The pilot came out and greeted the passengers..

[Churchillspirit]

Restroom...I've seen the pilot leave the cockpit several times once the plane is at cruising altitude.

I was once standing in a line to use a restroom when a gentleman came passed us asking if he go ahead of us as he was the Captain and was needed in the cockpit as we were to be landing soon.

No one objected.

[lulu16]

On CNN, they said the protocol was to bring a crew member in the cockpit while a pilot was out of his seat, and the remaining pilot had to don an oxygen mask during that absence, just in case .