egsshell, Since when are the washrooms locked down by F/As? That's a new one to me! North American crews tend to be over zealous with the seat belt signs out of a paranoia which has grown from ridiculous litigation. On a long flight when signs are kept on, and cabin crew are seen to be moving around serving, there comes a time when pax will need to use the washrooms and will do so. I, for instance, accept without argument that when the sign is on and I elect to go to the washroom I do so at my own risk. It is however, an entirely different matter when the FD instruct cabin crew to strap in due to expected turbulence. Although it is not clear that it was so, this may well have been the case in this incident since it would appear that no cabin crew were injured. It should also be noted that the FD made a very specific announcement warning that the expected turbulence would be significant.