I agree with gofast. Your right to assemble has absoulutely zero merit when you are on someone's private property. In this case an airliner owned by a company. I am sure in the little print somewhere (or even the caveat in the safety video/announcement that say's to listen to the flight crew's instructions) that a passenger has to abide by what the airline decides they want done on their aircraft.

Having been around aviation for awhile (even pre 9-11) I know that FAA Flight Standards and or Cabin Crew inspectors would be all over this if it was a reg and airlines were hit and miss with it. As a FAM I fly all the airlines, and I can say that not every airline delivers this message.

The problem is not with the airline making the rules; the problem is with the airline falsely claiming that it is a TSA rule. Airlines love to do this -- they blame it on security, they blame it on the FAA, they blame it on the TSA -- all to make someone else take the blame for their irrational policies and to cow passengers into meek compliance.

Moo. (Translation - I totally agree.)

Do not see the safety issue of standing by the loo - - but on the times I had those exit row seat in Y I wish that floks were not milling around bumping into my feet. I think there is a BIG issue with 'rules' and their enforcement. I do most of my travel outside the usa and would love to see people made to sit in their seats until the plane stops taxiing - Often wonder why airlines do not restrict or ban travels who cannot or will not follow rules. Granted some rules seem unwarranted, but when you purchase a ticket are you not entering into a 'contract' to abide by the rules of the carrier?
I think planes would be a good place to try to bring civility and courtesy back into travel and everyday life. Heck - if travellers behaved better, maybe service from FA's would improve as a result?

I don't especially like passengers milling about the galleys or exit rows either. That's not the problem.

I think that the airlines can deal with their concerns with subtlety and class. If a crew member is irritated that passengers are milling around, he or she can politely ask passengers to take their seats because they're getting in the way. That would be an appropriate and sensible statement.

Instead, the airlines have the nerve to use security as a crutch... a justification for just about any action.

I would be much more open to a flight attendant who said, "You know, we would prefer if you didn't walk through the galley. It's kind of like our 'office,' so we like to keep this space to ourselves." That would be an honest, polite, and sincere statement. Leave security out of it--it's condescending and unwelcome.

I'm sure you would be nice to a flight attendant. But you will inevitably come across those that state "I pay your salary, I can walk anywhere I want". Since everyone will not listen to reason, the rules have to be uniform for everyone.

But they aren't. On a flight last week, I saw a well-dressed man go up and wait by the lavatory, chatting with the FA. A half hour later, a woman went up and she was given the "no congregating message" and returned to her seat.

I saw much the same this week too. FA tells passengers waiting for the restroom to not congregate and return to their seats. A bit later, a different "bunch" of passengers show up in the same place doing the same thing but are chatting with the FAs. No mention of the "no congregating" rule.

It's all like the headrest rule, arbitrarily set and applied.

I actually inquired with a pilot about the no congregating announcement when it first came into place post-flight. He told me it was a TSA/DHS thing and they're wanting all airlines which fly into the US to do this. At about the same time I recall reading an article about Qantas not being happy with the mandate & not wanting to enforce it.

As such, I don't know how TSA/DHS "official" it is being that some do this, some don't. I find it most often when on a US carrier taking a flight back to the United States these days; announcement is always made from the flight deck (pilots) and not the FA's -- just as the pilot would always make the "no pee" (standup) announcement prior to pushback out of DCA on my few DCA flights.


SDF_Traveler

bambi47,

I understand your argument, but disagree. I was not a flight attendant (thank goodness), but I did work on the ground at JFK and at LAX.

Demanding passengers were part of the daily routine at both airports, but my colleagues and I never used "security" as a rationale when it was inappropriate to do so.

The best airline staff and the best security screeners are honest. We tell the truth and provide a rationale for our actions.

I find it entirely inexcusable to cite "security" in place of reality. It is transparent, dishonest, and unprofessional.

The goal is to get the passengers to their destinations safely; intimidation should be only a very last resort, if used at all.

The airplane may be private property but it is up to the persons in charge of the property to provide reasonable and proper access to the rest rooms.

I "kinda dout" the airline would like to see someone come bolting down the aisle like lightning as soon as a rest room door cracked open so I hope the airline does not make rules to suggest let alone encourage this kind of behavior. Or how about an argument about whose turn it is right in front of the rest room with the door held open.

Headrest rule? What's that?

Boy, where do I begin.

No, the crew does not manipulate the seat belt sign in order to control PAX.

The cockpit waits for an empty lav just like everyone else.

Yes, the galley is kind of our personal space, but I don't mind you standing there unless I'm eating. We're not supposed to eat in front of PAX anyway so I'll just very politely let you know that.

Yes, the "no congregating" rule is real; but only for intl flights entering the US.

Yes, the "use the lav in your cabin" rule is real and expected to be enforced. I personally will waive it in an urgent or emergency situation.

No. Crews don't conspire to omit a drink service (although we may joke about it "so it's going to be bumpy riiiiight?"). If a short flight has been very turbulent all day, we may be told to stay seated regardless of whether the bumps manifest or not.

FAR's are one thing, company policy is another. The above statements regarding company policy only reflect the policy at my airline. Did you know that company policy for pilots becomes the equivalent of an FAR?