Originally Posted by
airb330
My last couple of transcons were terrible. #3 did not assist hardly at all, on one flight not at all. No PDBs. Meals not delivered until 3 hours into the flights. I've booked United for my west coast flights for 2025.
Agreed, 5 is better but it won't happen. But there's simply no way #3 is consistently assisting #1 enough. It's not like the Y service was much as it was so that person really should be assisting more. For a 6 hour flight, one coke and a biscoff is indeed embarrassing for the staff and airline. It will make an impression.
AA will only staff FAA min on domestic flights, even widebodies. The only time the min isn't staffed is Widebody international flights. If memory serves me correctly, there needs to be 5 FA on the "floor" at all times.
Regarding #3 helping, this is why the cart can use used during meal service. I know a few FA who are leads, wont have #3 help. It all depends on how the lead sets up the crew.
Sounds like #3 is the sweet spot position to get, as more often than not I don't see them assisting #1 at all, and they don't do PDB. On a recent MIA-LAX flight I saw a FA who I assume was #3 just hang out in the F galley most of the time, but they did not assist the F service flow in any way.