The Lav Straddle
 

I'm glad you mention it to people- I'm pretty limber and usually attempt it to avoid waking someone up. (I also try to time my lav visits to avoid it- if the middle or aisle person gets up to use the lav I head there, too if there's any chance I might need to use it during the rest of the flight.

Works until you have a seat mate that refuses to get up if you need to go.

been in the forward lav on a 739? save for how much you lean over, there really isn't a "best way"

Straddle and spill some water in their lap when they are sleeping. "Oops. Sorry."

Are there really people so insolent? Never mind, I read social media. I guess just hit the call button and have the FA be your voice.

In today's day and age I don't want to be that passenger who wakes up a teenager while I am lav-straddling them. Jesus, it's a human function...wake the person up.

You say 'wake me' or 'I can't control my reaction'.

Others - especially snorers - say 'if you dare wake us we can't control our actions' (some snorers even say they will punch someone who wakes them).

What is it with people unable to control their reactions on a plane?

And how do we ordinary folk manage the minefield of wake v no-wake?? :(

I'm amazed at the people that go long flights without ever hitting the lav. Like 12 to 15 hours. I always try to wait for my seat mates to make their trip so I don't have to disturb them, but that doesn't always work out.
On a recent 14+ hour flight to Korea I was in the window seat and around 4 hours in, after the meal service but while my seat mates were still awake I put my stuff away, folded the tray table, and said "sorry" in English and Korean while pointing and looking aft. The older lady next to me just stared blankly at me until her daughter explained to her at length that I needed to get up. She chose to just fold her legs and I had to disturb the people reclined in front of us and do the lav straddle.

I always take an aisle seat so I don't have to ask someone to move.

I did this once on JAL, TYO-JFK, back in '04. I was in a middle seat in J, 2-3-2 configuration. I'm still amazed that happened but I was younger and foolish-er!

In short, I go when they go.

For those with bad backs
 

I'm so glad someone is talking about this. I fly United Business Class where the configuration is usually 2-1-2 in a 767. They are now upgrading their aircraft to the business suites where every seat is on an aisle. This eliminates the need to step over your fellow passenger. About one year ago I was seated at my favorite window seat and had to go to the Lav. I didn't want to wake up my neighbor, so I stepped over his flat bed and did my business. After landing and checking into my hotel in London, I started having lower back pain. I had aggravated my herniated L-4, and spent the next 3 days in my room. Now I always take the aisle seat.

Or physically CAN'T get up. Don't assume everyone who remains seated just isn't willing to move.

(Yes, I do the Lav Straddle when I get up, especially if I'm flying with my wife who requires an aisle chair to board and deplane.)