Hello Flyertalkers!

I felt like I had to take a moment to say something here. I read these forums often but I never post. Until now that is.

When I show up at the airport and see that there is no dedicated crew line... trust me I groan. I hate nothing more than having to try and get to the front of that security line. Unfortunately, its just the way it is. I'll point some things out for your consideration.

As a FA we are not being paid anytime the door is opened. That includes arriving at the airport, getting paperwork, battling security, setting up the cabin, boarding, seating issues, pre departure drinks, etc. This is all unpaid time for us. Fair enough, we know the deal and I don't like to complain about such things.

However, we do work long days. Usually we arrive the night before and jump in bed and then get up early the next day to play the same game. It is unreasonable to expect us to leave our hotel rooms an hour earlier so that we can stand in a line. That would lead to all sorts of issues (Such as cancelations due to crew rest violations on delays. Our clock starts ticking from time of our hotel departure. So you can see why the company wants to keep us in our hotels for as long as possible). P.S: That 9 hours behind the door is literally that. Behind the door. In that nine hours we have to shower, sleep, get up, fix our faces, get dressed, etc. That is not 9 hours of sleep.

Now I agree that is would be nice to ask if we could cut in line. "May I squeeze in front of you, please?". Unfortunately, the traveling public is not always kind enough to say "Yes, you may". I tried that and was bluntly told "No you can't". At that point it becomes even more rude to step in line in front of them anyway. We arrive at the airport 20 minutes before boarding. Also, we may not be your flight crew but we are someone else's and YOUR crew did have to do the same thing at some point. I can only imagine the posts I would be reading on these very forums if your crew delayed a flight because no one would let them cut the security lines. Imagine how irritated you would be if you missed your connecting flight because your original flight was delayed because the crew were stuck at the back of a security line.

I walk to the front and squeeze in. I turn around and give an apologetic smile and say "Sorry, no crew line in this airport.". It just is what it is.

None of us are doing it to be rude. We are doing it because we need to get on the plane and get it ready so the people in the security line can get to their destination on time. FA's have very few "perks" left. While I find it hard to consider "skipping to the front of the security line while on duty and getting dirty looks thrown at me" a perk I find it harder to imagine coming to the airport even earlier and reducing my rest time just so I can stand in a line.

Just my two cents.
Happy Holidays Y'all!