Originally Posted by AS Flyer

under commercial operation, passengers are to be seated during all phases of taxi, take-off and landing and anytime the seat belt sign is switched on by the cockpit. Additionally, you are required to follow instructions of crew. So, those things put together mean that if the seat belt sign is on you are required, by the FAA, to be in your seat with your seat belt fastened. The crew are not enforcers, merely informers. Mid flight there is little they could do if you refused to return to your seat, as you do, and just go to the bathroom anyway. On the ground we can turn back to the gate and remove you. Mostly though, Flight Attendants have given up fighting this battle with passengers that think they know better. I have been in rough turbulence before and seen people get up and walk back to the bathroom. If you think you're Superman then be my guest... There is, however, one other problem with this and that is that, while you are moving around at your leisure, you can be jarred by turbulence and land on top of an unwitting, rule abiding passenger - and I have seen this happen too. WHY does anyone think that flying around is as safe as sitting your living room? Am I the only one that realizes that we're careening through the sky in a tin can at 500 MPH and there is nothing natural about that? That alone would keep me in my seat unless I really needed to be up. But do as you please....