A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 9856.17; Flight Crew Type 5252.37
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
We coordinated a lav break with the purser. I went back to the lav first. When I finished I rang the cockpit door buzzer. Before the door was opened a passenger came up to the first class cabin and approached the cart. At that time the purser opened the cockpit door. I tried to tell her to close the door but she misunderstood me and thought I wanted her to come out of the cockpit. The flight attendant that was guarding the cart was trying to persuade the passenger to go back to his cabin. The purser exited the cockpit and I told her to close the cockpit door. The passenger went back to his seat and I then established contact with the First Officer (FO) via interphone. The FO unlocked the cockpit door and I and the purser reentered the cockpit and when I had taken my seat and control of the aircraft the FO took his break and we continued uneventfully to the destination.
A319 Captain reported a confusing exchange with a Flight Attendant as he attempted to reenter the flight station while a passenger approached the second flight attendant guarding the cart. During the exchange the First Officer was left alone.