FlyerTalk Forums - Unrefitted 738 / 737 pre-Oasis, non-MAX MCE / Main Cabin + Extra Seats

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Unrefitted 738 / 737 pre-Oasis, non-MAX MCE / Main Cabin + Extra Seats

Was on AA #1514 DFW-FLL today and noticed that the middle seats in row 17 were blocked off with a console.

Asked an FA about it while getting off the plane and she said that they had blocked off middle seats in some other rows also. She said it was a staffing issue, reduced the capacity on the 757 aircraft so that they could fly with one less FA. I think the FAA rule is one FA/50 PAX.

This is a good alternative if you can't snag an exit row. Is this something that will eventually happen on all smaller 757's? Also, does anyone know if you can determine in advance if your aircraft has been reconfigured?

I did notice when printing my boarding pass 4-5 hours before departure that I was unable to access the set map.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfwdal (Post 19589840)

This is a good alternative if you can't snag an exit row. Is this something that will eventually happen on all smaller 757's? Also, does anyone know if you can determine in advance if your aircraft has been reconfigured?

Maybe it's the first step toward an "intra-Europe J" product :eek:

I think the AA 757s have 182/188 seats. So if the 50 pax/FA rule is true (I have no idea) wouldn't that mean they would need to block more than 30 seats? That seems like a whole lot just to save one FA. Although if there were very low loads, I suppose it could make sense.

AA has stored some 752s, including aircraft that are only 20 years old. The 738 is cheaper to operate. Unless the pax demand on a route is consistently more than a 738 can handle or the flight is longer than a 738 can handle (which implies that the fuel burn for a long, thin flight is justified financially), the 738 is a better choice. Blocking seats in a 752 is just a short-term workaround.

What's a "smaller" 757? All of AA's 757s, are, iirc, 757-223s. :confused:

The "fix" allows them to fly thinner routes - or those with higher value and substantial cargo - with at least one fewer FA, and perhaps also lays out some weight and balance solutions before there is a problem. They must also have those seats blocked for assignment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by will2288 (Post 19589914)

Correct. I can't see a savings from having a mechanic install, then remove, 30+ seat blockers to save the costs of an FA. If AA is routinely flying 757s with 30-seats blocked off it had better see outstanding yields on those routes (which must demand the takeoff/range capabilities of a 757 or they'd use a 738).

Is it possible it was related to FA's not being able to get to work because of Sandy, and the decision was to block the seats and fly rather than cancel because of FA unavailability?

Just a thought since I've never heard of it before.

Would they need to physically block the seats if the goal is FA staffing, or could they just limit the # of pax onboard?

If you have 150 pax (needing 3 FA) and 180 seats (but did not sell/use the remaining 30), is that OK in the eyes of the FAA, or would they have to be unusable seats?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bchandler02 (Post 19592535)

The seats must be unusable. If a plane has 300 usable seats, it must feature at least six FAs whether the passenger count is one or 300.

The OP mentions "several" blocked seats yet as others mentioned, more than 30 would have to be blocked in order to fly with just three FAs, which makes me skeptical of the FA's explanation to the OP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfwdal (Post 19589840)

Was on AA #1514 DFW-FLL today and noticed that the middle seats in row 17 were blocked off with a console.

Flight 1514 on October 29, 2012, was operated with a 737-800 aircraft.

On MCE converted 738s four middle seats are permanently blocked to bring the capacity down to 150 which would reduce the minimum staffing of that type to 3 (if the FAA goes along with the seat blocking scheme).

Quote:

Originally Posted by bchandler02 (Post 19592535)

They must be blocked, but it's not exclusively an FAA rule in that LH physically blocks a few seats on some intraEU routes in order to fly with fewer FAs.

Have a look at AA60 the 19:25 Departure from DFW-MIA today (30 Oct). It clearly shows 16 B & E and 17 B & E missing.

It's a MCE configured 738

For those wondering how they are blocked on a 738
http://i.imgur.com/A26B9.jpg

14 cfr § 121.391

Just for reference!

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx...13.2.6&idno=14

Quote:

14 CFR § 121.391 Flight attendants.
(a) Except as specified in § 121.393 and § 121.394, each certificate holder must provide at least the following flight attendants on board each passenger-carrying airplane when passengers are on board:

(1) For airplanes having a maximum payload capacity of more than 7,500 pounds and having a seating capacity of more than 9 but less than 51 passengers—one flight attendant.

(2) For airplanes having a maximum payload capacity of 7,500 pounds or less and having a seating capacity of more than 19 but less than 51 passengers—one flight attendant.

(3) For airplanes having a seating capacity of more than 50 but less than 101 passengers—two flight attendants.

(4) For airplanes having a seating capacity of more than 100 passengers—two flight attendants plus one additional flight attendant for each unit (or part of a unit) of 50 passenger seats above a seating capacity of 100 passengers.

(b) If, in conducting the emergency evacuation demonstration required under § 121.291 (a) or (b), the certificate holder used more flight attendants than is required under paragraph (a) of this section for the maximum seating capacity of the airplane used in the demonstration, he may not, thereafter, take off that airplane—

(1) In its maximum seating capacity configuration with fewer flight attendants than the number used during the emergency evacuation demonstration; or

(2) In any reduced seating capacity configuration with fewer flight attendants than the number required by paragraph (a) of this section for that seating capacity plus the number of flight attendants used during the emergency evacuation demonstration that were in excess of those required under paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) The number of flight attendants approved under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section are set forth in the certificate holder's operations specifications.

(d) During takeoff and landing, flight attendants required by this section shall be located as near as practicable to required floor level exists and shall be uniformly distributed throughout the airplane in order to provide the most effective egress of passengers in event of an emergency evacuation. During taxi, flight attendants required by this section must remain at their duty stations with safety belts and shoulder harnesses fastened except to perform duties related to the safety of the airplane and its occupants.

It's clear the OP incorrectly listed the flight as being operated by a 757 when it was really a 738 with the MCE Configuration. (http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL1514)

Apparently AA has opted to block 4 additional seats on these aircraft to bring the available seating down to 150 - which only requires 3 FAs.

The thread title is not correct.