Originally Posted by
appleguru
^^ good advice. Why the back rows? I guess I have noticed this before too, usually on more empty flights where the back few rows get blocked for crew use.. but I always thought they blocked seats primarily to accommodate last minute special requests (like families sitting together, bulkhead needed for bassinet, wheelchair access, service animal, etc)
The two bulkhead seats on narrow bodies that are blocked are for service animals and passengers with fused legs or other disabilities that require a bulkhead. If no one like that is on the flight or requests a seat there, then the gate agent can assign the seats to anyone. The last two rows are blocked for families and people with disabilities who need close access to lavatories. When the last row is completely unoccupied, crews occasionally use that row, too.