Just had an otherwise excellent LHR-BCN on an A320.

I was in row 12 and went to the bathroom. The plane was almost entirely full and service of breakfast (a croissant) had completed, probably about 50 minutes in.

Coming out of the toilet, I went to return to my seat with others standing in the aisle behind me, as well as only one free aisle seat. I got to about row 15 when I encounterd a crew member pushing the cart, picking up after breakfast.

She asked where I was going and when I explained, she simply told me "Well I'm going this way" and motioned for me to go back. This was despite the fact that there was no one behind her, and I ended up squeezing (standing) in 25C or so, along with a mother and baby with two or three other people in the galley area, who had also been turned back.

I appreciate that service can be fraught and must be completed, but there were 40+ minutes remaining, nowhere for pax to go, and mild turbulence to deal with (the seat belt signs weren't on but I've seen them come on for less).

She wasn't the SCCM, and I didn't say anything at the time, but would you complain because of the attitude or did I misunderstand something vital?