free = unoccupied

Dear All,

I have read different threads covering the topic of "empty/unoccupied/vacant" but I am not sure they answer my question sufficiently.

All Americans I asked tell me that they would never ask about availability of seats, tables in restaurants, parking spaces or bathrooms using the word "free" because it would sound confusing (free of charge). Yet, in online dictionaries and in other threads in forums at this website I see that the word "free" is used with the meaning of "unoccupied, not taken, available" by both British and American native speakers.

Is it then correct in English to ask:

I walk into a reastaurant and see an unoccupied table: "Is this table free?" meaning "I would like to sit at that table".
I pull into a parking lot with a lot of cars pulling in and out so it is a little confusing which spaces are taken. Can I ask: "Is this space free?" meaning "Can I park in this space?"
I see an unoccupied seat in an airport seating area and ask the person sitting next to it: "Is this seat free?" meaning "may I sit here?"
There is a lot of coming and going in the bathroom during a party at my friend's house. I would like to use the bathroom but the door is closed. I ask a person standing next to it: "Is the bathroom free?" meaning "Can I walk in and lock the door behind me?"

Thank you in advance for your help.

I think you will see that there is a difference between saying "Is this table free?" in a restaurant and in a furniture shop. Feel free to continue using "free" in the appropriate context.

I'd use 'free' freely in all those sentences: the only one that could imply 'free of charge' is the one about the car park, but even there it would be obvious you meant 'available' because you wouldn't ask if the was free you'd ask if parking/the car park was free.

Yes, you can ask if a seat on a bench in a park is free.

But don't ask if there are free seats for the play you want to attend.

PaulQ, london calling, kentix,

thank you so much for your help and explanations.