From: www.unitedafa.org

Effective, June 1, 2008 staffing on widebody flights will be reduced by one Flight Attendant, following the one crewmember reduction on the 757 effective May 1. These staffing reductions are timed with the start of the busy summer travel season, along with United’s new policy which charges for checking a second bag which began 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 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, a briefing must be conducted between the entire crew and the captain. At minimum this briefing must include the captain and the purser and ideally it includes the entire crew. There are 12 points that should be covered during the briefing and relayed to the entire crew. Check FAOM 3.100.3. for a review of the briefing items.

Minimum Flight Attendants and the Jetway Phone Rings

Take care that if you are at minimum for boarding, Flight Attendants should only leave the aircraft to answer the jetway phone for safety related items. If the jetway phone rings and your crew is at minimum, answer the phone and immediately ask, "Is this call safety related?" If the answer is "no," advise the caller that Federal Regulations require you remain onboard and they will need to send someone to the airplane to discuss the issue onboard. Clearly, reassignments are not safety related.

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. Take note: there is no assignment for a Flight Attendant assigned a boarding position in the galley during boarding.

Pre-departure Beverages

Under no circumstances should the Purser reassign Flight Attendants from these security positions in order to do service chores, such as pre-departure beverages or hanging coats. If the Purser determines there will not be sufficient time to accomplish all safety and security duties AND preset trays prior to passenger boarding or insufficient staffing to both prepare and distribute drinks to all passengers in a cabin during passenger boarding, safety and security duties should take precedence over pre-departure beverages.

Safety Checks

There are 19 responsibilities listed on our pink pages of the FAOM that each Flight Attendant must complete on every flight; these are a priority, and the time necessary to perform relates directly to our primary job function of ensuring cabin safety.

Although they can be done prior to door closure per the FARs, they should only be postponed where there is insufficient time, not as a result of the new reduced staffing. These checks are required under FAR 121.309-10.

A thorough galley check is also required prior to passenger boarding per FAOM 3.100.7, as is a cabin inspection for safety and security purposes. FAR 121.317. Lavatories are also required to be inspected under FAR 121.215.

Exit Row Verification FAR 121.585

Our duties include exit row verification 5 minutes prior to departure. On the 757, for example, Flight Attendant #2 is required to brief and verify compliance with 20 passengers.

Carry-On Baggage Policy FAA Approved Program

Over the past several months we have advised Flight Attendants not to tag any bags. It is a violation of federal regulations and it is a violation of the scope for other United workers. We do have a responsibility to watch out for United's carry on bag policy of the equivalent of one standard size roller board and one personal item such as a computer bag or briefcase. This program is FAA approved and therefore, once a passenger "steps across the threshold of the aircraft", with more luggage than what has been designated, United is in violation of the approved carry on bag program. If you continue to meet resistance while enforcing the approved policy, be sure to file an OSAP report on each incident – every time the policy is violated. This reporting is especially important with the expected increase in carry on baggage due to recent checked bag policy changes.

DON’T TAG THE BAG!

• Although the new policy charging for a second bag should not affect international flights, passengers may be conditioned to bring bags to avoid this fee.
• Passengers are permitted only one carry-on bag of reasonable size (45 linear inches), plus one small personal item, such as a laptop, purse, briefcase, small backpack, diaper bag, camera bag or duty free items.
• Anything else must be tagged and checked by Customer Service Representatives.
• It would be a violation of United’s FAA-approved baggage acceptance policy.
• It would also be a violation of the Customer Service Agent’s job scope.

Bins, Bags & Exit Rows FAR 121.585 & 121.589

Prior to closing the final boarding door, the Purser must advise the CSR that bins are closed, exit row requirements are met, and all carry-on baggage is stowed.

Meal Orders

Meal orders cannot be taken once the aircraft starts moving. FAR 121.311. And, with fewer Flight Attendants performing more duties, Pursers should not be attempting meal orders during boarding, but could assist the other crewmembers, if her/his boarding responsibilities allow.

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).
• FAOM 3.110.5 also mentions that local operational procedures, security procedures and special needs passengers may require an earlier boarding. To date, AFA is not aware of any operational needs or security procedures that would require boarding earlier than the prescribed time.
• This may compromise the time necessary to complete safety checks. If they are not completed prior to boarding, they must be completed prior to the closing of the door.
• Keep in mind: 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.