[PHXFlyer]

Originally Posted by justme

the two former posts are correct. lav use is restricted to the class of cabin you are seated in, and in some airspaces (DC for example) you are not even allowed to get out of your seat at all. (Also an FAA/TSA regulation)

Wrong on both counts.

The TSA directive about using the lavatories in the passengers' ticketed cabin only applies to international flights bound for the US:

The TSA instituted a security policy shortly after 9/11 that only applied to inbound international flights into the U.S. that restricted lav use to a passenger’s ticketed cabin only.

Lavatory restrictions on other flights is airline policy only and there is no federal law or TSA directive that would prevent an economy class passenger from using the first class lavatory. It is a TSA directive that passengers cannot congregate or loiter near the flight deck door or the front galley and since the first class lav is almost always located in this area the "use the lav in your own cabin" announcement is really meant to prevent people from hanging around the front of the plane.

The security directive with respect to the "30 minute rule" at Reagan Washington National Airport (and it only ever applied there) was suspended July 14, 2005. Details here.

"justme" I think next time you should do a little homework (ie. Google) before you post incorrect information. Thank you.