On recent flight on 767 we set immediately behind the midsection bathrooms. Shortly after take off the Flight Attendants tied together 4 napkins and cordoned off the mid bathrooms from economy. Then stood there and stated that the new rules require each section to use only their bathrooms. While the rear bathrooms had a long waiting line and mid bathroom was unused, a lady who said she had to go to bathroom urgently and was sitting next to mid bathrooms was sent to the back.
Is this a legitimate FAA rule?
By the way on the return flight the Attendants story was different: the area around the mid section bathroom is needed for food service preparation.
One odd happening: while the Attandants were carrying food one of them tripped over the 4 napkin curtain and said loudly: "what a f... is this doing here?"