A sampling of some recent travels...

JFK-SEA, 757, 6 F/As (min = 4)
SEA-DFW, MD-80, 3 F/As (min = 3)
DFW-MSY, MD-80, 4 F/As (min = 3)
DFW-SEA, 737-800, 4 F/As (min = 3)
DFW-MEM, F-100, 3 F/As (min = 2)
YUL-ORD, F-100, 2 F/As (min = 2)

Seems like AA overstaffs F/As on short flights or on meal flights (although the overstaffed 737-800 DFW-SEA wasn't a meal flight). Seems like a waste of money to me, although it does speed up the service.

UA usually staffs the A320, A319, and 737s at the FAA minimum of 3 (with very rare exceptions), overstaffs the 757 with 5 (on non-meal flights), and overstaffs the 2-class 767 with some crazy number like 8 or 9.

Any insight on why you need to staff F/As above FAA minimum on non-meal flights, and will this continue with the recent layoffs?