How can a flight attendant disappear (last minute no show)? UA146 IAD- EDI
Jul 18, 2019, 11:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
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How can a flight attendant disappear (last minute no show)? UA146 IAD- EDI
So UA 146 was 3 hours late due to a delayed inbound to Newark from Denver , which delayed the Newark to IAD, and then, right as we started to board they announced they were short a flight attendant and, at 1 am had to wake someone up and get them to come to work! How does that happen at a major hub? Is no one on standby?
Jul 18, 2019, 11:31 pm
#3
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Even if there was someone on standby at the airport it's possible that they needed 2 people (Or however were available +1), either for your flight, or for multiple flights.
Jul 18, 2019, 11:35 pm
#4
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So UA 146 was 3 hours late due to a delayed inbound to Newark from Denver , which delayed the Newark to IAD, and then, right as we started to board they announced they were short a flight attendant and, at 1 am had to wake someone up and get them to come to work! How does that happen at a major hub? Is no one on standby?
Jul 18, 2019, 11:46 pm
#5
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The announcement was “missing one crew” - the gate agent said that the crew only noticed when they went to board- and I did see a lot of confusion when the crew arrived. And it was not a time out condition. I would understand if it was at a smaller United location, but IAD is a big hub.
Jul 19, 2019, 1:13 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2002
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Odd. The crew would have started in IAD or maybe a deadhead inbound as this is a short trans-Atlantic. Sounds like a late sick call or delayed/canceled inbound commuter who get it too close and crew scheduling dropped the ball. Just a theory.
Jul 19, 2019, 4:21 am
#8
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People disappear all the time. Ask any policeman. Better yet. ask a journalist. Disappearances are bread-and-butter to journalists.
Jul 19, 2019, 4:31 am
#9
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Jul 19, 2019, 5:31 am
#10
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Jul 19, 2019, 6:30 am
#12
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Jul 19, 2019, 7:08 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2014
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If it was Wednesday, it sure could have been a logistical issue for the FA. When I arrived in CLE that evening, I noticed everything going to the Washington area was canceled due to weather... even UAs flights and they generally go even if AA isn't.
Jul 19, 2019, 7:54 am
#14
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Don't try to parse the language used by a random GA or FA. They are not testifying in court under oath, simply conveying the fact that the flight is delayed. Whether the FA in question was abducted by an alien spaceship or became ill, timed out, got in an accident enroute to the airport or any number of other things is irrelevant and also not the type of information which is any of the GA's business, so she likely did not know.
Of course UA has FA's on standby at EWR, but not that many and not at 01:00. If they have 2 and a third one is needed, callout is the only option.
Everybody gets bad press here and there, but ask yourself whether, if you were the crew scheduler and making a presentation to the Board, you could make the business case to pay crews to standby for every eventuality. Same thing with aircraft. There are backups, but only so many.
Of course UA has FA's on standby at EWR, but not that many and not at 01:00. If they have 2 and a third one is needed, callout is the only option.
Everybody gets bad press here and there, but ask yourself whether, if you were the crew scheduler and making a presentation to the Board, you could make the business case to pay crews to standby for every eventuality. Same thing with aircraft. There are backups, but only so many.
Jul 19, 2019, 8:41 am
#15
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