Well--believe it or not, there is a group called Public Restroom Initiative and they have their own website at

http://metroped.org/pr/airline.htm

From what I see there, the issue about passengers congregating around rest rooms was cover by a TSA memo from in early 2004 noted below.

I would say AA is stretching it a bit to say that a FAA rule requires passengers to use the rest rooms in their ticketed cabin.

I would interpet the TSA memo (below) to say that the airlines should endeavor to minimize the passengers congregating near a restroom--or anyplace else on the planes--but I don't see where it says to throw common sense out the window--which it sounds like this AA policy is doing...

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TSA discourages restroom lines on planes
Thursday, January 8, 2004 Posted: 12:29 PM EST (1729 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Airlines have been asked to tell passengers they shouldn't congregate near aircraft lavatories because of security concerns, the Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday.

The agency in mid-December sent an advisory to airlines asking them to inform passengers that they should not gather in groups on airplanes, especially near the restroom, said spokesman Darrin Kayser.

"It formalizes the idea that we don't want people congregating in the airplane," Kayser said.

The Australian airline Qantas said in a statement that its pilots are making pre-flight announcements about gathering near restrooms and cabin crew are monitoring passengers during the flight. "We do not expect this to be a significant issue at all, and it only applies to flights to the United States," the airline said.




AIRPORT TERMINAL ANNOUNCEMENT - Lavatory access will not be available on Flight from St Louis to New York. 28 May 2004 6:00 - 7:00PM, most likely Flight AA 682 or AA 5856

"...I know it was American Airlines and I do believe it was to New York. What stands out in my mind is that the flight was at least as long or longer than our flight back to Washington. I would have hated to been on that flight. I don't know what those people did when they really had to go. They at least warned the people who were in boarding area about the problem; however, those who arrived late may have never heard the announcement. Another annoying issue for me is that some airlines won't allow passengers in coach to use the front lavatories. I have been on many flights were people are lined up in the back of the plane to use the lavatory and no one is using the front lavatories. They say this is for security purposes as they don't want people lined up near the cockpit doors. I believe that if they allowed use of all restrooms then lines wouldn't form like they do in the first place.."

Source: forward email date ID: Wednesday, June 16, 2004 9:36 AM