From: www.unitedafa.org

United recently announced a reduction in domestic staffing on the 757 aircraft from 5 to 4 Flight Attendants.  With the busy summer travel season approaching, along with United’s new policy which charges for checking a second bag beginning in May, it is important to remember to focus on our primary role as safety professionals. 

Whether you are working a 757 with 4 Flight Attendants or a 747 with 10 Flight Attendants our Flight Attendant Operations Manual (FAOM) and Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) specify our safety related duties from the moment we step onto the aircraft through the boarding process to door closure.  It is imperative that we take the time and give the proper priority to safety every time we step on the plane. 

Although each of us is familiar with our safety responsibilities, a review of our requirements and challenges as they relate to working with reduced staffing on a 757 aircraft can help us all accomplish our jobs to the best of our ability, putting safety first.

Briefing

In addition to the initial briefing among the Flight Attendants, an additional briefing must be conducted between the entire crew and the captain.  At minimum this briefing must include the captain and the purser and ideally include the entire crew.  There are 12 points that should be covered during the briefing and relayed to the entire crew (FAOM 3.100.3).

Safety Checks

The FAOM lists 19 responsibilities on the pink pages that each Flight Attendant must complete on every flight.  The safety checks are a priority and the time required to comprehensively perform these checks directly relates to our primary role of safety professionals and ensuring cabin safety.  United policy provides 5 minutes on domestic flights for these checks, and 10 minutes for international flights.

Prior to every flight, there are between 41 and 60 individual pieces of equipment that must be checked before takeoff.  Safety checks should be done prior to normal passenger boarding.  While these checks can be performed during boarding, but prior to door closure per FAR (121.309-10), postponing these checks should only occur where there is insufficient time to complete them.  This does not include insufficient Flight Attendant staffing.

Additional checks required prior to passenger boarding including a thorough check of the galley (FAOM 3.100.7), a cabin inspection for safety and security purposes (FAR 121.317) as well as inspection of the lavatories (FAR 121.215)

Boarding Times Prior to Departure

Time allotted for preflight checks and boarding times for passengers and Flight Attendants is as follows:

Although passenger boarding can take place earlier than specified, it may only be done by agreement between the Purser and the CSR, with the concurrence of the entire crew (FAOM 3.110.5).  Additionally: special needs passengers are accounted for in United’s boarding procedures; they can board first, along with Global Service passengers (FAOM 3.110.6) and do not require any additional priority.

Boarding Positions

Flight Attendants must be in their specified boarding positions when passenger boarding begins (FAOM 3.110.3) and remain in position during boarding.  A 757 staffed with 4 Flight Attendants would use the following boarding positions (FAOM 3.110.4):

Note that on the 757, there is no assignment for a Flight Attendant assigned a boarding position in the galley during boarding.

Exit Row Verification

As part of our duties, prior to door closure, Flight Attendant #2 is required to perform exit row verification, 5 minutes prior to departure.  This briefing requires all 20 passengers to be verified by the Flight Attendant.

Pre-departure Beverages

During boarding our role as safety professionals require us to be in boarding positions and maintain situational awareness throughout the cabin.  Flight Attendants should also be actively monitoring carry on baggage space availability and assisting customers with boarding.  If time is available, after these primary safety functions are considered first, pre-departure beverages may be offered if workload priorities permit.  It is important to remember that safety requirements and duties may not be curtailed or circumvented to accomplish the optional pre-departure service.  A pre-departure service should be offered if time permits.

Meal Orders

Once the aircraft door is closed and taxi begins, Flight Attendants should only be away from their jumpseat for safety related duties (FAR 121.311).  The taking of meal orders does not fall within this specification.  Meals orders could be taken during passenger boarding, while the Flight Attendant is in their aisle boarding position, after first giving priority to your other crewmembers who may require your assistance during the hectic boarding process.  Consider assisting your crew and ensuring all safety duties first.

Carry-on Items

Passengers are permitted one carry-on bag of reasonable size, plus one small personal item, such as a laptop, purse, briefcase, backpack or duty free item.  Any additional items must be checked by United Customer Service Representatives.

In the event a situation arises where passengers bring more bags to the airplane door than can be accommodated safely in the overhead bins or under the seats, they must be checked at the airplane door.  This is the responsibility of the Customer Service Agent, and not the Flight Attendant.  Just as our Contract provides scope language relating to Flight Attendants, it would be a violation of not only United’s FAA approved baggage acceptance policy, but the Customer Service Agent scope to tag excess carry on baggage.

Bins, Bags and Rows

Prior to the closing the aircraft door before departure, the Purser must advise the CSR that bins are closed, exit row requirements are met and all carry on baggage is stowed (FAR 121.585 & 121.589).