FA Odd Behavior or following rules?

I flew this week to IAH, then on to SEA. On the 1st flight I noticed a new FA, at least, she was new to ME. Being where I am, I often notice and sometimes befriend the FAs on the IAH flights and vice versa. I take the same flight every month, so I've got the routine down pat.

This woman was NOT rude, not mean, just did things differently. For instance: once we are in the air and level, often people in 1st will get up and use the bathroom. I know it's "technically" a no-no, but maybe b/c we see the FAs moving around, it seems okay to get up if needed. I'm not saying get up just to stretch, but sometimes the drinks in 1st cause people to need the bathroom. I'm just saying that not all people wait for the seatbelt light to go off. And I don't think I've ever seen the FAs all stay buckled in that long.

On this breakfast flight, it's not uncommon to see the FA at your side minutes after take-off with their little silver tray and paper for breakfast orders. I was reading a magazine, but after 20 minutes I wondered what was going on. From my seat in the 2nd row I was shocked to see the FA still sitting in her seat, chatting with the other FA, who had NOT stayed seated. AND we all still had coats to be hung.

I wasn't the only one to notice and people were craning their necks to see what was up. One gentleman attempted to use the bathroom but she sent him back. He was NOT happy. She told him to wait for the seatbelt sign to go off. I guess she COULD say that as she, herself, was still strapped in. There were no orders being taken and no headsets handed out. I wondered if she was just along for a training ride and didn't know that she was supposed to get up. But she also seemed to be the lead FA, so it was a bit confusing.

I think (this is pure speculation) that the other FAs were following her lead. They weren't sure what to do. One got up to start the movie but forgot the headsets. When FA #1 finally got up, she was so busy chatting to FA #2 that she didn't get much done. I called her over b/c I needed the headsets to use that little piece with 2 prongs. She said that they'd be coming soon, but as I pointed out, the film had begun. I'm sure glad I didn't have to PAY for those headphones. Luckily, #2 was right behind us with the headsets.

My seat mate and I had barely said hello, but we were both entranced by this FA's ability to impact the others AND keep the service portion of the flight, far behind. She did have to deal with 2 more people getting up to use the bathroom (the light was still on) but she watched the other FA move over with a smile and apologize for being in the way, and from then on she didn't argue about using the bathroom despite the light, so to speak.

Now I KNOW she is probably following the rules to a T and I get it, it's her job. But how many of you have seen the FAs get up before the light went off to begin breakfast orders and do their work? I know that I'm USED to seeing them get up and move around before the official seat belt light disappears. This new FA went above and beyond. We didn't get our orders taken until approximately the time we would've been served our breakfast. The movie wasn't being watched by many in the 1st Class cabin, I'm sure a few skipped it b/c they didn't get their headsets until the movie was well under way.

I'm just curious- how many people notice that the FAs get up before the light is off and how many believe they stay seated until they see this sign? I'm not anti-CO or United or anyone, I just found it fascinating. One FA seemed a bit in awe of the Late One, as I called her. (Another passenger had a different name for her but it was a tad bit rude.) After we finally got the meal, The FAs stood up front gossiping while many of us were more than ready to have our breakfast trays taken. BTW, as I had the computer out anyway, I jotted down a few things, one being that we were served breakfast approximately 65 minutes later than usual. I compared it to the time the meal was served on my 2nd flight and allowing for differences, it's STILL much later than usual.

I ALWAYS fly through IAH or EWR. 90% of the time it is IAH. I've remembered FAs in the past and even have a few favorites. I don't always see people I've seen before, but it happens more than not. But this lady certainly stood out.

She wasn't impolite or anything, I'm not saying that. But she was extremely rigid and a bit too social with her co-workers. I don't mind that when all the work's been done, but chatting instead of serving breakfast or staying seated when other FAs are up and about seemed odd to me. She also stumbled quite a bit on the PA, which gave me the idea that she was new. And the FA who was in economy kept looking at her strangely, perhaps trying to figure out why things were so late?

We did chat a bit about her (the man who was refused his trip to the bathroom the 1st time was a tad riled up) and we wondered if she was new, if she was a returning FA and getting used to the job again, or perhaps she was a substitute? Do they even do that? We had lots of theories as we awaited our late breakfast.

I guess the bottom line is, has anyone else noticed that FAs wait for the seatbelt light to go off before they do a thing, or was this just an odd case? As often as I fly, I honestly cannot say with certainty that it's not procedure. Maybe I'm just used to FAs who like to get an early start?

I really am curious as to how the order taking, headset giving and breakfast serving is supposed to get done. Do they wait until the seat belt sign is off? If not, are they violating rules? If so, I've certainly seen a lot of rules broken over the years.

Any thoughts?

The captain may have advised them of expected turbulence and suggested they remain seated longer than normal. Happens all the time. Usually they say something, though.

Captains don't always get it right -- they base this off the reports they get, and it's sometimes not bumpy when bumps were expected or vice versa.

If that was the case the other FA's would of been sitting down as well. THis actually happened on my flight from IAH, the FA came on and said thy would delay their service because of turbulance. They still got up and did their routine at 10K.

You got a LAZY FA, plain and simple... my other alternative answer is she wasn't trained properly to be one of the most professional women in the industry, Rah Rah as Channa would say!

There's no set time for when we get up, but generally, it's within ten minutes or so after the blue light goes off, although everyone is different. Of course there are factors that can affect us staying seated, like mentioned above.

Frankly, when I have the rare opportunity of sitting in FC, my drink and meal can't come fast enough so I try to start my service promptly when I'm working in front.

It's also helpful to get going quickly in the back because once the seat belt sign goes off, we have to try and get the cart past a line of PAX waiting for the lav.

Yeah, it was only the one FA who remained seated. But the other one in front seemed to, I don't know, "defer" to her? It was weird all around. I guess I'm so used to the FAs jumping up and starting to work ASAP that this shocked me. And not just me- other people were craning their necks to try and figure out what was going on. It was just a weird blip in an otherwise smooth flight. I WILL be keeping my eye out for her, though. Hope I don't have her on my return flight tomorrow.

How many FAs were there?
Is it possible "Late One" was a deadheading/off-duty FA and not a working FA for the flight? Or an observer/trainer?