On recent flight on 767 we set immediately behind the midsection bathrooms. Shortly after take off the Flight Attendants tied together 4 napkins and cordoned off the mid bathrooms from economy. Then stood there and stated that the new rules require each section to use only their bathrooms. While the rear bathrooms had a long waiting line and mid bathroom was unused, a lady who said she had to go to bathroom urgently and was sitting next to mid bathrooms was sent to the back.
Is this a legitimate FAA rule?
By the way on the return flight the Attendants story was different: the area around the mid section bathroom is needed for food service preparation.
One odd happening: while the Attandants were carrying food one of them tripped over the 4 napkin curtain and said loudly: "what a f... is this doing here?"

Im not sure if its legitimate but on all my AC flights they say that it is now an FAA regulation that all classes but only use their designated bathrooms - mabye its so they can keep track of you

I've never heard of keeping passengers to their own section before. Class, yes, but not section. Mind you, it could be a US-only thing - don't they have something about not being allowed to queue for the toilets too?

My BS detection meter is pegged.

I was recently travelling in Virgin's Premium Economy cabin which is separated from both Upper and Economy Classes but has no toilet. We used the toilets in both Upper Class and Economy without any problem from staff.

Presumably if the ruling is to keep people in their sections those travelling in Upper Class will not be able to visit their friends, family or colleagues who are on the same flight in different class (which is sometimes the case)? Sounds like nonsense to me

I'm not sure what you mean by "section," but if you mean "class" then it's not an FAA regulation (that I know of) but a great airline rule.

I do hate it when airlines let passengers wander around the F/C/J cabins and cause lines for those passengers. I agree that they should not lie and say security or FAA, but they should keep the cabins separate.

Hope you passed on the meal.....

Beginning in December, 2003, the TSA required all airlines flying to/from the USA to make an announcement that pax are to stay in their own cabins. Just more security paranoia.

Some airlines are more paranoid than others, and allow the FAs to actively enforce this rule.

On recent UA transcon flights this rule (only use the lavs in your ticketed cabin) has been part of the announcement/safety demo and is quoted as part of United's security policy. In one case I got up to walk around a little and was confronted by an FA who explained that I was welcome to walk around, but that I couldn't leave the C cabin.

If you were on an upgrade and they said "ticketed" cabin, then you were under their orders to use the lav in the economy cabin.

For flights to Istanbul for example for about two years it HAS been a TSA rule that passengers stay in their own cabin/class (the two airlines that flyit generally only have two cabins in any case) an announcement is made evry flight and personally this is one of the few TSA regs that I have actually liked as it keeps wanderers out (you know the idiots who inevitably stumble into you and wake you up as they cruise the cabin).

I've never had a problem with the idea of staying in the back if I'm booked in the back - those in the front are entitled to their extra space and privacy.

But I don't understand why this is now being enforced for "security" reasons. How exactly is security being jeopardised by allowing people to venture into the other cabin? Could someone please explain this to this ignorant European, preferably in words of one syllable?

Well, see, terrorists are rule-followers. If you tell them they can't go from coach to first class, they can't get to the cockpit.

Of course, if they buy first class tickets, then they could access the cockpit without crossing through another cabin. And those of us do-gooders in business/coach would be powerless to help, as crossing the cabin divider to stop the terrorists would be a violation of crewmember instructions, which is a federal offense.

AA has backed off from its former claim that this is an "FAA regulation" and now announces it as airline policy.

Perhaps someone reminded them that the FAA did not issue the Security Directive requiring the announcement.

The TSA issued the rule. But the airlines aren't supposed to say that.