I noticed a few historical threads back in 2009 regarding congregation near the lavs, but nothing recent, so I hope folks don't mind starting a new thread on this.

As most frequent flyers know, the downside of many EC seats is that they are often near the lavs, while they tend to have more legroom, that legroom is frequently filled with dancing, stretching, restroom-waiting and chatting paxes who utilize your legroom space as their own personal party room.

Sometimes, FAs even join in the fun — creating a wonderful, jovial environment for some, but also a bitter annoyance for the business traveler like myself who picked, say, 18D on a 757-200 (75E), just to get some work done without my laptop being crushed by the napper in front of me.

My father once gave me job advice that went thusly: "when you switch jobs, you just trade one set of problems for a different set of problems". Such is also true of seat selection in coach. In fact, I recently switched to preferring 18D over 19C on the 757-200 (75E), since, typically, most congregation happens over by Row 19A-C and I'm saved from it by the FA's cart movement (which I much prefer, as it's predictable and avoidable).

Still, I was on a JFK✈SLC leg today with a congregating pax whose chutzpah I just couldn't believe. A pax from 22B decided he didn't find his middle seat comfortable, so, for a whole hour, during which the seat belt sign was illuminated, he decided to stand in front of the 757-200 (75E) forward coach lav — such that other paxes were multiple times confused as to whether the lav was vacant or not. I wanted to say to him: "First time I've been on a flight with its own restroom sentry". I sadly didn't get the chance.

The worst part was that the FAs congenially chatted with the fellow instead of telling him what the FAA likely says they are supposed to: "the seat belt sign is illuminated, please return to your seat!"

Perhaps I'm just bitter because he was able to perform the hat trick of feet stomping during his one hour romp in front of the lav and I was annoyed. But, still, I'm left quoting Kevin Smith's iconic film, Clerks, "Bunch of savages in this town".