Is the minimum number of cabin crew to board the same as the minimum number to fly?

Even if it's not posted... one flight attendant per 50 passengers. What matters for this calculation is the plane's capacity, not how many passengers are actually flying.

Now that I think about it, I believe so. The 767-300ER has 208 seats and at least 5 crewmembers were required to board the plane; I don't recall if it was specifically cabin crew or if it was just in general. My recent flights on a 737 (which ended up swapping to an A320 at the last moment) and a 757 both said at least 4 were required, so it certainly seems like that. I'm not sure if it's a Delta policy or if it's a FAR, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's the latter. I have the book in one of my bags and I'll take a look tomorrow to see if it says anything.

-J.

I believe so, but only have one personal experience to base that on. I flew out of SFO not too long ago and the flight attendants were on a delayed inbound flight. The gate rounded up 4 volunteer flight attendants to start boarding the 757 so when the other flight got in, ours could take off sooner.

Yes, a 763ER can go with 5 FAs (min of 1 per 50 pax). Usual staffing for a 763ER TATL for example is 7 FAs + 1 load factor FA. IIRC, the load factor FA was added if they anticipate having at least 27 BE pax (out of 35 BE seats).

A couple of years ago they ran into a pilot shortage towards the end of every month do to IROPs. So part of this is how lean do you want to run?

Sounds like poor planning, and poor management.

By DL? Never!

Anyone would be lucky to have you on their flight!

I would think that they would have contingency plans in place for events that are fairly regular and predictable (e.g. bad weather). Perhaps not able to predict the exact time it will occur, but there are elements that can be used to form a comprehensive contingency and risk mitigation plan.

If the event, was say, a meteor striking the earth, that doesn't need to have a full contingency plan.

What's standard staffing on a domestic 763? I was on one last month MSP-LAX and the FA doing the announcements made a point of saying there were five of them on a very full flight in a tone that suggested it was less than they were used to.

Well, assuming 2 in FC, that would leave 3 in Y. I would think that 4 in Y would be logical, but I don't remember off-hand.

BE TCON flights regularly go out with more than the minimums. eg: 75Es get 2J + 3Y for ~180 seats. But of course these flights are behaving more and more like international flights...

Sp are we seeing any proactive cancellations yet?

David

And I miss you from our days on the FT WorldPerks board. Life with United these days is just awful. You Delta folks think you have planning and management issues over here, oh boy, come see our debacle.