Originally Posted by
rylan
Yeah sounds like the GA made a big oops... they're not supposed to board until all of the FAs are there and give the ok. I've never experienced this situation and must've been pretty bizarre to be on board with no crew.
Usually its the opposite where everyone has to stand around waiting for an FA who was late from another delayed flight before pax could board.
It doesn't need to be the FAs assigned to work the flight. Sometimes nonrev/deadheading/commuting FAs will volunteer for duty during boarding to expedite a flight that's being delayed due to late arrival of cabin crew, or DL could pull other FAs (waiting for their own assigned flight that's delayed or reserve?) who are otherwise in the airport. I'm not sure whether the FAs doing (volunteer or otherwise) boarding duty are required to be in uniform, but this wouldn't surprise me.