No congregating by the Lavs
 

:confused: <rant> so after sitting through an all-too-standard "passengers must not congregate in vicinity of the lavatories" announcement, I thought to myself "why not?!"

a) because it keeps us pax safe (me in seat with seatbelt fastened)?
b) because it makes FAs nervous?
c) because the reinforced cockpit door is all too penetrable?
d) because there are already terrorists/evil-doers on board, they just haven't figured out who they are!?

not too big of a deal on a 2 hour domestic, but it's always nice to get out of my seat on a long and all-too-boring overwater segment. </rant>

There is nothing, NOTHING worse than this announcement. As much as I hate the frisking and the shoe carnival, this announcement makes my blood boil.

We are supposed to live in a democracy. My family members fled dictatorships to live in the United States because of rules like these.

One of my relatives from South America got very upset after hearing this announcement. She spoke with great emotion about her memories of being forbidden to "congregate" on her college campus.

Whether the rule is enforced or not, it is blatently un-American.

Many airlines have had the common sense to skip the announcement. It is time for the others to do the same.

An airline with respect for its passengers could still reserve the right to ask passengers to take their seats, but would offer a legitimate concern such as unexpected turbulence or interference with cabin service.

And we have the DHS/TSA to thank for this announcement. :mad: :mad: :mad:

Many flight crews are skipping it now a days, but I still hear it every once and awhile, in particular on overwater Intl flights w/US carriers.

SDF_Traveler

Southwest are the ones that I have noticed are anal about this, although they indicate that they can be no line outside the front lav and you must sit down until the front lav is free before you can approach it to use. They used to say it was a FAA regulation, but once when I asked a FA for the FAR that this rule pertained to, she could not find it and neither could the captain. They gave me some FARs that were not relevant to this particular announcement, so I guess it is not really a FAA regulation but a WN rule. On a couple of flight a week ago, I noticed that they had dropped this being a FAA regulation in their announcements.

I think that the whole thing is dumb, but don't forget what kind of society we live in this days - paranoia created by our elected officials in Washington.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Having flown back on AA from DFW to LGW yesterday, we did get the announcement, which really irritates me as well, the only thing i noticed was the captain making it clear he was forced to say it, and clearly not really meaning it.

Picture this. You are sitting in the middle of the plane and ya gotta go! So you wait as instructed for a PAX to come out so you can go. But faster and closer PAX rise up and take your turn.

We didn't have to even do this in kindergarten! I don't care, I am waiting by the lav!

So did i and many others and no flight attendant said a word!!

Whatever happened to that looney woman who thought that because Arab types were going to the loo & speaking a foreign language that they must be terrorists making a bomb?

I agree with everything you wrote, except this...Actually the United States is a Representative Republic. This is not a small difference, and it is essential to the peoples attitude regarding their government. I'm not griping at you, as nearly EVERYONE thinks the US is a Democracy, because that's what they were taught. Rather it is a gripe about the sad state of our educational establishment, that intentionally refuses to tell the truth about the founding principles of our nation.

Otherwise you are correct. It is an absolute outrage, and should NOT be tolerated by a free people.

...and to the Republic for which it stands...

"Terror in the Skies: Why 9/11 Could Happen Again"
 

But of course...she's written a book!

And she'll be happy if you buy a copy today!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

I would really appreciate this announcement whenever I'm in seat 35C/H on UA 744. Exit row is great, but I DO mind people stepping on my foot. :p

Unless there the abridgement of such a right is necessary to serve a compelling government interest, and the least restrictive method is used. :D

Anyways, I'm annoyed at the fact that it's now a "TSA Requirement" that pax must use the lavs in their designated cabins. Is it really a TSA Reg?

I'm sorry, but if I'm in 10A (front row of Y may vary), and the rear lavs are taken, and I have an "in-flight emergency," I'm headed towards the F lav, plowing over the self-entitled F pax who challenges me :D

Snopes says it's false

Undercover federal air marshals on board a June 29 Northwest airlines flight from Detroit to LAX identified themselves after a passenger, "overreacted," to a group of middle-eastern men on board, federal officials and sources have told KFI NEWS.

The passenger, later identified as Annie Jacobsen, was in danger of panicking other passengers and creating a larger problem on the plane, according to a source close to the secretive federal protective service...

...The source said the air marshals on the flight were partially concerned Jacobsen’s actions could have been an effort by terrorists or attackers to create a disturbance on the plane to force the agents to identify themselves.