Originally Posted by
exerda
With about an hour left in the flight, I found I needed to visit the lav, so I caught the purser's attention and said, "Would you mind if I used the lav? I really need to." He said, "I just have to inform you that the seatbelt light is on, and that you should stay seated, but I won't stop you if you want to get up."
I guess that was UA's way of trying to avoid any potential liability in case the turbulence worsened while I was up and about. As I returned to my seat, the purser winked and said, "Still alive and unharmed, I see!"
FAs are required to tell you to remain seated by Fed Regulations. Early in my career I was pulled aside by an FAA inspector riding in the cabin and lectured about the fact that a passenger walked by me and I failed to tell him to remain seated. Although I was not issued a fine in that case, FAA inspectors can issue a fine against an FA if they fail to enforce the seat belt sign.
Since then, I always let pax know that the seat belt sign is on and they should remain seated. Honestly I don't particularly care if you sit down or not. Further, if you fall and injure yourself I won't feel particularly sorry for you, since you have been warned.
Liability (in UAs eyes) is an issue, but the issue is more of enforcing FAA regs. After all, this is the USA and people will sue no matter what....