dd
Initially in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 when we resumed ops we counceled (atleast in the NY domicile) crews that were going to fly to do the cart block. Then came the katey bars and it was in an RF7700 sec for a while. Then Cabin service felt we were keeping first class pax away from a lav too much and they put a stop to it (and for a while we were explicitly told not to make the announcements to stay away from the forward lav(cockpit door). Then flight stepped back in a changed the blue book to where we are now...
I may be slightly wrong on the sequence, but the policy came and went and came back, and was also advocated on the 63 video.
The real moral of the carts blocking off the lavs story was that the flight attendants should never have been broken out of the flight department command structure and given to marketing. Once AA's organization was broken down in that manner, the flight attendants first concern became marketing and not safety (atleast in management's point of view) The Flight attendants should answer to the same VP of flight that pilots do, Not the VP of cabin service which is a marketing position.
Anyway Now that Jane Allen has gone to UAL and the wicked witch of the west's little trained flying monkey is gone, I hope someone throws a bucket of water on the spinmistress and see if she melts as well. Then we will know AArpy is doing good...
Cheers
Wino