I use to get an outside seat so I could get out and use the bathroom without having to stumble over my seat mates, but not any more. It seems like recently there has been a number of rude people who stand in the row next to me and talk-talk-talk, and will not move. They stand 2-3 inches from me and invade my space. I wonder if this is illegal if the seat belt sign is off. I asked the flight attendents and they refuse to help. They say, "join the conversation!"

Personally, I've only seen this as a problem on long haul flights when people congregate near the restrooms between movies, etc.

Well, I've been guilty of standing in the rear galley and talking with the flight attendants & others during an international flight, or a long domestic.
I do have a problem with leg-jumps when I sit for a long period of time. If I get up periodically I can keep the effects at a minimum.
Usually I only chat in the galley area, unless there's a bathroom line. If I'm in that line, I do admit to chatting with others in the line.

On the flip side, I had a business class seat (paid for with ff miles) and it was right in front of the lavatory, and had to put up with the door being slammed shut all night long. Since my reclined seat bumped up to the rear wall, I could feel the ripple over and over and over all night long.

I guess my point is that an airplane isn't exactly a hotel room, so you have to live with the conflicting needs/behavior of other passengers.

Much as I HATED the slamming door.
Rita
PS, and I promise to be more aware of people sitting in seats when I'm in the aisle and not talk loudly if it's "sleeping" time.

On a recent trip Charlotte-LAS, it was like a party with the aisles just full of people standing up and down the 757. The FAs used it as an excuse not to have more than the initial beverage service.

But I didn't mind -- it was an upbeat flight.

It is absolutely insane for anyone to be standing up on an airplane even with the seat belt sign off...I see no reason other than hitting the bathroom or doing some stretches.

Air turbulence cannot be forecast and you can actually get seriously injured and or die because of it if you hit serious turbulence so why would anyone chance this?

In your case I would ask them to sit because after all they would become the object flying through the air and potentially land on top of you and I would not want that nor would anyone else. If I sound paranoid I am not just an experienced pilot not willing to chance it especially after a serious incident over the north pacific where FA's were seriously hurt.

On a few flights recently, there were announcements to the effect that passengers were NOT allowed to congregate in the aisles, near the galleys or restrooms. It's sometimes hard to guess how long the lav will be occupied, or who will be "swifter and stonger" getting up from their seat when the light turns green!

>>> not allowed to congregate in the aisles...

But, except for turbulence, it does not make sense to have to go all the way back to your seat multiple times because someone got to the bathroom door inches first.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

It's a risk but I don't think it's an insane risk.

Air travel is a risk, especially with regard to deep vein thrombosis. There are cases of sudden turbulence, but they are exceptional enough to be reported in the press when they do happen.

I recently had an aisle seat in the front row of coach on a KLM MD11 AMS-SFO. It appeared that the middle aged and elderely are obsessed with DVT so they walk to the front and then start stretching their arms and legs into my space every 2 minutes. It drove me crazy. I too am flying window seat from now on.

The guy next to me had the worst breath as well. He kept asking me questions that always started with "Hhhhhhhow do...." etc. Those "H" sounds really blow the breath.

Three words:

NC11 Sony headphones.

It will be the best sub-$100 purchase you will ever make in the airplane happiness market.

I am one of those people who like to get up every few hours on a long haul flight and stretch. However, I never have any problem finding an out of the way place to do it where I am not near any pax (such as in front of a crew jump seat that is not being used). The problem with pax walking around the plane is not that they should not do it, but that many people are inconsiderate and do it without trying to minimize the effect on others.
(BTW: When not stretching, I always keep my seat belt fastened for the reasons noted in the above posts; I have no desire to hit the ceiling in turbulence.)

Getting up to use the lav and to have a quick stretch seem reasonable. Standing in the aisles visiting with others for extended periods of time does not.

I like to stand up on a long flight, and what choice do I have but stand in the aisles?

Sitting for a long flight bothers me. I am tall and feel cramped and do not think it is healthful either.

I understand that it is irritating, but can't do anything about that.