cblaid writes:

First of all I do not consider my schedule 'horrible. I absolutely love to fly, I love to go new places, stay in hotels, eat in restaurants and meet lots of new people. I was beginning to have withdrawal symptoms that first week when I was unable to fly.

I do sincerely hope and pray that you are wrong in thinking that we will not continue to do "business as usual". For one thing our economy, especially here in Seattle, is heavily dependent on people continuing to travel more and more.

Secondly, we would lose so much richness of understanding of one another if our business communications were limited to electronics and paper. This weekend for instance I attended a very intense 2 day meeting in D.C. interacting very closely with about 60 people from all around the country who work in my industry. We not only exchanged information during our working sessions, but ate and drank together and really became closer friends.

Another example is the extraordinary success of Flyer Talk get togethers. Over the past three years I have developed many friendships that would not have developed if we hadn't met face to face.

While this is a rough patch for us right now, I still have hope for true world peace even in my lifetime.

AS Flyer: Noted. Thanks for the explanation.

I choose to NOT believe it and quote FAR 121.310 (L)(1) that states

No person may operate a passenger-carrying airplane unless it is equipped with flashlight stowage provisions accessible from each flight attendant seat.

This implies that it is the AIRLINE's responsibility as the operator under part 121 to supply the flashlight.

Yes, I guess it does imply that the airline is responsible for supplying the flashlight, but you might argue based on the above text that the airline's responsibilty is only to ensure "flashlight stowage provisions" and not the actual flashlight. So much for hair-splitting.

I'd personally be very happy to have AS Flyer as a FA; I think his/her flashlight might come in handy in the event of emergency lighting not functioning during evacuation of the plane or afterwards (emergency chutes, life rafts).

Sorry to veer off topic.

AS Flyer wrote: (emphasis mine)
B747: Read AS Flyer's post again. What she says is consistent with the FARs. She explains that there must be an airline-provided flashlight at the jumpseats, but each flight attendant must also carry their own.

[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 10-17-2001).]

Just because there is a FAR doesn't mean a company can't require/negotiate additional responsibilities.

I think it's a bit harsh to dispute someone telling you their views on company policy.

B747-437B,

From the UAL Flight Attendant Inflight Handbook, p.203:

Flight Attendants are required to:

"Check in with the following {FAR 121.135(b)(10), 137(b), 549(b)}:

--A PERSONAL FLASHLIGHT IN WORKING ORDER..."

I assume AS has a similar requirement.

Well after a few days in Whistler (where there was lots of awesome powder) doing some Christmas shopping (mostly for me, but for some friends too) and refusing to check my never-been-checked-before-12-years-old-and-still-looks-new-Hartmann luggage (even though I now also had several shopping bags to carry-on) ... I have figured out the secret to getting on an airplane with just one carry-on when you have way more stuff than will fit in just one. Trip report with this wonderful tip to come soon.

We are REQUIRED to carry our own personal flashlight and they are given to us by AA. I got mine in training. They are mainly used for compliance checks at night to make sure people are wearing their seatbelts.If an FAA inspector is on board and asks for it, it had better be with you and in working order or it IS a PERSONAL fine...These are treated just like our updated manuals (which is also provided) that must be with. The flashlights on the wall are for emergency purposes only and must remain there. We can't pull those off the wall for any situation.

Although I understand your inconvenience, here is my take on the extra bags issue. It is now a new rule for passengers mainly as a higher security measure. With more random bag checks at security and longer lines at the security checkpoints, it is safer, more thorough and quicker to have people bring less carry-ons...just like frequent flyers are not exempt from random back checks. It's a pain, but it's just the way it is right now. f/a's preboard early and have designated areas for their rollaboards and totes (closets and cubbys) and rarely use overhead bin space unless they are deadheading. Some flight attendants do go over that and of course with a layover at Xmas in NY may bring some shopping bags, but that is one of the perks that are allowed us for being an employee. I've been guilty of buying duty free items in Canada and bringing them on...but I, as most f/a's will, put their added items in their rollaboards or in the same areas that their bags would go anyway. Believe me, if the airlines could allow passengers to bring on everything and anything without it being a boarding, delay, or safety problem, they would. After AA recently spent millions and millions of $$ for bigger bins to entertain the previous rule, do you really think this was desired or expected? They were practically competing against each other on who could allow the most carry-ons on board. Like a previous thread, we are also exempt because of our unpredictable schedules. Then the contents of our tote, which is something that we can not check since it has our required items that must be on board could fit in our rollaboard, but our portfolio like manuals (which we could add a shoulder strap and serve as a carry-on), inflight shoes,aprons, flashlights, calenders, etc would literally fill up our bag...forget fitting anything else in there except our amenity kit..plus the whole purpose of the items to be readily available would be compromising.

We are the working crewmembers...and rather than being a perk, it's a necessity for not only us as flight attendants, but for those passengers that we are there for...to miss a connecting flight would be a huge disservice and we could never check a bag all of the way through. And to whoever said we can gate check (just to cover one comment): If it's not a stroller or wheelchair it would go directly to baggage claim..how could we make a 40 minute connection in MIA if we have to catch a train to the claim area, get our bag and get back to the gate through security. Frequent flyer members fly a lot, but usually it's to get from point A to point B (or c if your making a connection)..then to baggage claim and the ground transportation area. We go point A to point B back to point A to point C and sometimes on to point D back to point A or to point C depending on you hear your name paged while walking to your next gate and it could be F. Bottom line...With only 3-4 crew on an S-80 or 737 of 135 passengers...to 6-9 on a 767 with 190 people, this employee priveledge shouldn't be a big concern to anyone. We have this allowance since there is so few of us and we have been cleared an hour before the flight...take an entire aircraft with the checks they do now at the gate can cause a problem. To whoever wants to change the rules to accomodate themselves, then have at it and write to the airlines or the FAA, but comparing why ME vs. THE EMPLOYEES and how I pack is better than them is not the issue. Once things settle down, there may be changes and it's just a matter of time.

[This message has been edited by Air Kitty (edited 12-20-2001).]

"And guys, for those of you who are laughing wondering why we females are upset about this - purses aren't like wallets - they don't fit easily into slim briefcases and they add bulk to rollaboards that will just cause more unnecessary overstuffing of standard size carryons."

I'm not laughing at all. I'm watching with keen interest as the more baggage you're allowed to carry, the more I'm allowed to carry. Fact is that purses have already changed the original ONE CARRY ON ONLY rule within a few hours of it being posted. Then it was ONE CARRY ON AND A PURSE and now it's ONE CARRY ON, A PURSE AND A COMPUTER CASE.

Following the pattern, eventually it will also include a partridge in a pear tree.

Your fight is going to end up making my life easier, so all I have to say is, "You go girl!"

Regards,
-Bouncer-

The last time I overheard a FA talking about gate-checking a bag (on DL) was pre-9/11, when the bins were stuffed on a full flight. One FA told another FA she would have no problem picking up her gate-checked bag with a 50 minute layover in ATL. Of course, with the current restrictions, gate checking for FA's may not be necessary.

I thought all gate checks were delivered to the arrival gate. I've only gate-checked a stroller, but why wouldn't rollaboards be delivered to the gate as well? It makes no sense to deliver gate checks to baggage claim if you're connecting and have to gate-check on the first flight.

If the baggage handlers do it every time, it would be great, but since anything other than a wheelchair or strollers are not escorted items (meaning a necessity for the passenger to use at the airport), they will generally assume it needs to go to baggage claim. There are two tags: Gate Check bags (because there is not enough room) and Escort items. Once when I was deadheading, I did check my rollaboard because space was limited and although it would have fit, agreed to do so and was assured it would be waiting for me on the jetbridge at LAX. Well, after waiting for 10 minutes while a ramper and even the pilot went to look for it, determined it had been sent to baggage claim. I then did do the walk there and back up to the gates to take the employee bus. It wasn't that big of a deal since I was going home and did not have to rely on this to get to my next flight for awaiting passengers, but it will happen since this is not normally done. It does take extra time to bring escort bags up is precisely why we don't do it for passengers unless there is absolutely no room and there is a necessary item (medications, etc) that require that person to have it when they step off the plane...such as a wheelchair, stoller. However, if we ever did start escort tagging crewmembers bags, I'm sure people would wonder why they couldn't either which would even cause more of a delay than having crewmembers stow their own bags on the plane. American Eagle and other commuters can do this since they do have a specific area to stow carry-on rollaboards, but on AA, because the escort items and last minute checks whether at the gate or ticket counter that don't make it in the large bins, are loaded freely into the belly (which can be many) and would have to be sorted through is why the baggage handler will focus on the items that need to go up immediately: The usual escorted items, which normally aren't suitcases. A f/a can take the chance, but like I said, if there is a connecting flight to check...I wouldn't want to take that chance.

I don't know the specifics of the DL f/a, but I would never check a bag with such a short connection. We have 4 hour connections in DFW and I would even be hesitant. We are required to be at the plane 40-50 minutes (depending on the aircraft) before to do our required equipment checks, briefings and prepare the cabin for passengers. We have to stay on board until the last passenger deplanes which is 10 minutes right here...then if the bags are slow coming down, she wouldn't have been back to the plane by the required time, let alone to start boarding at 30 minutes prior...and if it's a full flight, that could cause a delay. At times, trying to do a service, not always is. When I was based in SFO, one new f/a did the same thing in DFW and almost missed her trip waiting for her bag which could have cost her her job. I can admit it was very sweet of her, but should not be done and realized it wasn't worth the grey hair!

[This message has been edited by Air Kitty (edited 12-21-2001).]