FA Requirements Questions (A321)
Sep 12, 2017, 12:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
Programs: National Executive Elite, IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Gold, SW A List, Marriott Gold
Posts: 964
FA Requirements Questions (A321)
Currently sitting in row 11 (exit row) awaiting takeoff on an A321. No flight attendants ever came by to ask any of the exit row pax if they are willing and able to assist.
Also, the FA jumpseat that is right in front of me in this row, (which has a sticker on it that says seat must be occupied for taxi takeoff and landing), is not occupied by a FA. It always has been on my previous flights.
Should I report to AA about the FAs not asking pax if willing and able to assist? What about the jump seat?
Also, the FA jumpseat that is right in front of me in this row, (which has a sticker on it that says seat must be occupied for taxi takeoff and landing), is not occupied by a FA. It always has been on my previous flights.
Should I report to AA about the FAs not asking pax if willing and able to assist? What about the jump seat?
Sep 12, 2017, 12:52 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 792
Did they ask you at the gate if you'd be willing and able to help in event of an emergency? This definitely seems fishy and someone should definitely have said something... Report it!!! Imagine if something were to go wrong...
Sep 12, 2017, 5:01 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
Programs: National Executive Elite, IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Gold, SW A List, Marriott Gold
Posts: 964
They asked when they scanned my boarding pass if I was willing and able. So that makes me feel a little better.
Oh, and the FA showed up to sit in the jump seat as we were making our turn onto the active runway for takeoff.
She then proceeded to change out her shoes upon landing literally as we were about to touch down. Talk about a distraction and a trip hazard, had something gone wrong on landing.
Oh, and the FA showed up to sit in the jump seat as we were making our turn onto the active runway for takeoff.
She then proceeded to change out her shoes upon landing literally as we were about to touch down. Talk about a distraction and a trip hazard, had something gone wrong on landing.
Sep 12, 2017, 6:07 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
I believe that the EGRs (Electronic Gate Readers) are now programmed to require exit row boarding passes to be scanned TWICE, in order to prompt the GA to ask the "willing and able?" question.
Sep 12, 2017, 6:33 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: AA Gold, Enterprise PLT, Marriott Gold
Posts: 604
It is a little odd that they forgot to ask you all that when sitting on the plane. That being said, if the GA asked you prior to boarding, and the FA was sitting in the seat before take-off, I really don't see the need to report them. Perhaps they got side tracked and didn't realize they forgot to ask. There is a reason they ask when boarding at the gate (if not at check-in if they see it)
Seems a mountain made out of a molehill to me to be honest.
Seems a mountain made out of a molehill to me to be honest.
Sep 12, 2017, 7:32 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, WN A+ & CP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 3,246
Sep 12, 2017, 10:22 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
Programs: National Executive Elite, IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Gold, SW A List, Marriott Gold
Posts: 964
2. It's a double standard. The FAs throw a fit about bags, straps etc in the exit path yet they can do whatever they want with their stuff and have it be a hazzard.
Sep 12, 2017, 10:23 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
Programs: National Executive Elite, IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Gold, SW A List, Marriott Gold
Posts: 964
You don't have to scan it twice, but it does pop up a huge alert on their screen asking if customer is willing and able to assist and then the gate agent has to hit Enter or something to dismiss/acknowledge the alert message.
Sep 13, 2017, 8:55 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, WN A+ & CP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 3,246
1. She still was violating the rules. She should have been in the seat for taxi. So, not much ado about nothing.
2. It's a double standard. The FAs throw a fit about bags, straps etc in the exit path yet they can do whatever they want with their stuff and have it be a hazzard.
2. It's a double standard. The FAs throw a fit about bags, straps etc in the exit path yet they can do whatever they want with their stuff and have it be a hazzard.
2. I didn't say it wasn't a double standard. Just pointing out that I wouldn't worry about a pair of shoes being an issue in an emergency.
Nov 17, 2019, 7:26 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,159
During taxi ... [FAs] 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.
...
[For example] FAA said that picking up commissary items absolutely is a safety-related duty — part of ensuring a crashworthy environment. So flight attendants will not serve beverages during taxi but will pick up [paper cups and plastic glasses] during taxi within this regulatory framework.
...
[For example] FAA said that picking up commissary items absolutely is a safety-related duty — part of ensuring a crashworthy environment. So flight attendants will not serve beverages during taxi but will pick up [paper cups and plastic glasses] during taxi within this regulatory framework.
Nov 17, 2019, 7:59 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, WN A+ & CP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 3,246
I had wondered about this too, sometimes seeing an empty jump seat during taxi. The "must be occupied" sign reads like a rule, but in effect it is a shorthand reminder rather than the actual rule. So again a double standard, where pax are required to "obey all posted placards" but FAs are not. I found some clarity in this document from 2001: