Flight Attendants in First Class
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Between SFO and STS
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, United Serf, Delta Gold
Posts: 731
Flight Attendants in First Class
I'm starting this thread to have an area to discuss the slightly off-topic discussion occurring in the PDB thread about staffing numbers in the first class cabin. I have been reading many posts about the suggestion of 2 attendants being staffed in F. My experience this year so far has been quite the opposite - I cannot think of a flight on a 737-900 (16F) in which I didn't have 2 flight attendants in F. I think that's 7 flights IIRC (SFO-SEA, SEA-ANC, ANC-LAX, SFO-BOS-SFO, SFO-MCO-SFO). It seems as if @AS Flyer is saying the normal staffing is still one FA in F? Or is that on flights <16F? I can say that the food service is much nicer and more efficient with 2 attendants in first, but I'm 0/7 on PDB (and I've written up every occurrence)...
#2
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Our last flight - SEA/LAX was on 900 with 16 F. We had 1 FA and I made a point of praising her ability to provide drinks and lunch for the cabin. She REALLY appreciated that someone noticed. Of course, NO PDB.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PDX/HIO
Programs: AS MVPG; Hertz Pres; Tanquery Million Minier
Posts: 375
My last flight in F was a redeye and there were two FAs working to get drinks and the light meal out quickly, which I appreciated. I did wonder after the flight whether it helped that they did not need to get any meal options read to sell in Y.
Maybe OT, but I could do without the water service, even when in Y. If I want more water than what I have with me I'll ask for it during the normal beverage service. Skipping that would certainly allow a FA to help with the F service.
Maybe OT, but I could do without the water service, even when in Y. If I want more water than what I have with me I'll ask for it during the normal beverage service. Skipping that would certainly allow a FA to help with the F service.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
What airline has 2 FAs in F domestically?!? Do you want tickets to be $100+ from where they are now? AA does the same 1 FA in F with a 16 person cabin, and occasionally a float FA during boarding to help with PDBs and after Y service is completed. Considering most of my flights are on an A321 the second FA came to maybe clear up plates and help refill drinks, if that.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,956
no U.S. airline typically staffs more than the FAA minimum anymore. You will almost always find the same number of FA's at every airline on the same planes. I don't disagree that having 2 FA's would provide a nicer First Class service, but if any other U.S. airline has 2 FA's working the F cabin on a 737 or Airbus narrow body airplane then they are leaving only 2 in the back to do the main cabin service. Alaska's service procedure is that one FA stays up front to do the hot towels and the first beverage service then goes to the back to continue service there. To another posters comment about skipping the water service to enable another FA in F - the water service is meant to be done by two FA's routinely, with the third joining only if the two haven't yet finished it. While a few may not care about the first water service, they will usually go through 7 or 8 bottles of water then so it seems that many others do appreciate it. It literally takes 5-10 minutes to do the first water service - it really doesn't detract from any other part of the service.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: FAI/ANC
Programs: AS MVPG (R.I.P 75K), DL, HH Gold
Posts: 187
While a few may not care about the first water service, they will usually go through 7 or 8 bottles of water then so it seems that many others do appreciate it. It literally takes 5-10 minutes to do the first water service - it really doesn't detract from any other part of the service.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MM, MVPGold100k, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,475
I really appreciate the water service in Y, and often notice that that will come out sooner than the FC drinks make it all the way through. It does not bother me however, even when I am in FC. Over the length of the flight itself I normally get very good service, even when there is only one up there (the other having gone back to Y for service in main cabin) The one thing I have noticed is that the main cabin attendants get time to sit much more so it seems than the FC attendant does. Ive been on many flights where the FC FA constantly roamed the aisle checking on status of beverages, food, snack basket, and garbage, etc.
#11
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG, 1MM
Posts: 377
I think everyone here is going to have varying experiences. For half my flights this past year one FA comes to help the first FA at varying points during the flight while on other flights, the first FA is on her/his own. I for one, know when I have an experienced or perhaps efficient FA when they take the first drink order on the ground and at times, give the meal options, with or without a PDB.
#12
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,956
How long ago? I mean, Alaska used to staff their 727's with 5 FA's too - but that was a long time ago. If there were 20F I would think it would be necessary because 16F is right at the edge of what one person can comfortably tend do.
#13
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 490
I’ve also recently noticed 2 FAs tag teaming during the start of service. One will handout hot towels while the other peeps and distributes beverages. There was even some help collecting orders and distributing nuts. After that, the second FA returned to economy. I appreciated the more seemless experience that was provided with the 2 FAs working together at one of the busier portions of the service.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: CMH
Programs: BA Gold, AA Plat, NK $9 fare club
Posts: 666
#15
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Seattle, WA & Red Lodge, MT (USA) and Cumbria, England
Programs: AA Platinum for Life, AS MVP Gold 100K, Marriott Titanium for Life, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 186
I’ve also recently noticed 2 FAs tag teaming during the start of service. One will handout hot towels while the other peeps and distributes beverages. There was even some help collecting orders and distributing nuts. After that, the second FA returned to economy. I appreciated the more seemless experience that was provided with the 2 FAs working together at one of the busier portions of the service.