If true, then the government is trying to put something into regulation that is best handled by the flight crew's discretion.

I don't envy the FA's position of having to strong arm a little old lady back to coach.

Definitely an example of "Don't do it right--do it according to specification.."

I've never seen this rule go both ways. I was sitting in 9D on a 757 from OGG-SJC and several F passengers used the lav in the front of coach. Didn't see any FA's worried about that. But I can only imagine the ruckus if I tried to go up and use the one in front of F.

And the report from my superb WN flight was that a similar announcement was made, sans the first class comment! It was worded something to the effect of nobody but a FA was allowed to stand within 10 feet of the cockpit door, and no lines at all allowed elsewhere.

Kinda does make me wonder how on a flight with heavy beverage cart service the person in 20A gets the 2 people next to them to unbuckle in time to scamper down the aisle to not avoid a line. Or if unsuccessful, the line left on the way back could be of a slightly different nature!

My kids are all grown now, but I'm kinda curious how you explain to a 4 yr old who wants to tell you they need to go potty that they cannot cuz they're not close to the LAV? And we spent one whole flight in the LAV with a toddler throwing a hissy fit, and the entire flight including FA's were quite good with it!! Even let us stay there during landing!

It's a strange & new world we live in.......

There "may have been" visits by the Easter Bunny, too.

Paranoia is no reason for stupid, un-American overreaction.

Sometimes the F lav is full, too.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with F pax being able to visit the Y lav if they really want to. Or visit a friend who is not in F. Unfortunately, the imbeciles in charge of the office of Random Security Directives, aka the TSA, feel the need to just make up nonsense in the hopes that it will make things safer instead of using their pea-brains to offer real security that makes sense.

I wouldn't call such a person an idiot.

I would commend them for exposing the charade that passes for "security" at our nation's airports and on our nation's airplanes.

I'm sorry that you and your coworkers are being forced to be accomplices to idiocy. I wish that your corporate leaders had the backbone to tell the TSA to go get stuffed.

I agree.

I have looked at some forums based in UK, AU, etc. This country is the laughing stock over some of these "security" directives.

One comment was--"When are those Americans going to wake up.....!"

The right of the people to peaceably assemble..

I thought that United's annoucement was tacky...but that is over the top. For those of you who dont know, United's announcment (which seems nice and well worded after the AA announcement) is this: "Ladies and Gentlemen, there are 2 cabins of service on this flight. Due to United Airlines security policies, we would like to ask that you use the lavitories in your own ticketed cabin. Flight Attendants are always avalible should you need assistance in locating a lavitory."

I've always wondered how many people it took to "congregate" at the lav. Well, earlier this month on a trip from CDG, I had a purser during the welcoming announcement define "congregating" as more than 3 people.

Maybe the airlines can revert to what high schools do--lol--or maybe I should say did--when I was there.

You need to get the "hall pass" to use the lavatory. Anybody caught in the aisle without the hall pass gets detention...

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Way to go Spiff. I'm with you on this, as well as your other comment about the Easter Bunny.

The idiocy that has sprung up post-9/11 infuriates me to no end. And it's not just limited to air travel, either! There are far too many brainless people around being led by other brainless people into doing brainless things. Let me say that again: BRAINLESS!

bull* Waiting in line is not congregating.

In any case, I have a solution that I just thought of.

"Attention passengers, we're now ready for number 15 at the rear lavatory. Passenger holding ticket number 15, you may now use the lavatory in the rear of the aircraft..."

Well, I had two a couple of months ago who were convinced it only took 1 person to "congregate." I was in a window seat in F, and about the time someone (all Y pax) would leave the lav and I'd get the guy next to me to start getting up to let me out, someone else from coach would zip by and get in the lav (it was OK, you see, to have a cue formed at the front of coach for the F lav )

This nonsense went on for 30 mins and the FAs would not let me wait by the door, alone, even after explaining why I needed to wait at the front of the cabin......could not have cared less. Happy to report I haven't seen them since then though, and the regular gals on this route (ORD-FLL) don't seem near as terrified of a middle-aged man waiting to use the lav than these two particular middle-aged men were

Funny, but also prescient.

I can just see it: TSA expands to take over "onboard" security, and your in-flight "Security Manager" barks orders like the power-hungry goon he is: Hold your bathroom pass at all times! Do not make eye contact with anyone! Do not talk to anyone! Do not spend more than three minutes in the lav... etc.

If I pay for F or J, be it with cash, miles, certs, whatever, I will damn well use any lav I please in my cabin or any behind it.