Stop everything! The nation's flight attendants are tired

[Dennis Miller]

Unions worry about fatigue
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[size=-1]By Trebor Banstetter[/size]
[size=-1]Star-Telegram Staff Writer[/size]

FORT WORTH - The nation's flight attendants are tired, union leaders say, and that fatigue is damaging airline customer service and could jeopardize in-flight safety.

Leaders of six major flight attendants unions are gathering this week in Fort Worth for a summit on attendant fatigue. The meeting is being held at the headquarters of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents attendants at Fort Worth-based American Airlines.

"The other night I was on a flight and I could tell as soon as I boarded that the flight crew was exhausted," said Tommie Hutto-Blake, APFA president. "And that makes a real difference to the passengers on that flight."

At American, attendants are guaranteed eight hours between flights, Hutto-Blake said. That rest time was reduced under the contract that was approved in 2003.

But in practice, attendants flying back-to-back shifts usually get just four or five hours of actual sleep between flights, she said. "The down time includes time to get out of the airport, travel time to the hotel, time to eat a meal," she said.

Union leaders note that in addition to serving food and drinks, attendants are designated as safety officers during flights and have security-related responsibilities.

"Since 9-11, we have a lot more responsibility for the safety and security of the aircraft," said Thom McDaniel, president of the Transport Workers Union chapter that represents attendants at Dallas-based Southwest Airlines.

Union leaders hope to craft a plan to tighten federal requirements that would give attendants additional rest time. They plan to discuss the issue with lawmakers in May, when union leaders will be in Washington, D.C.

Hutto-Blake said she hopes airline executives will work with the unions to improve rest.

"Ultimately it's hard to provide good customer service when you're tired, hungry and grumpy," she said. "We feel like it's in everyone's best interest."

 

[Tina Fey's Scar]

Where's my Coke, ******?

 

[Palerider957]

....coffee, cream and sugar...oh, and a trash bag.

 

[vc10]

Flight attendants try to cast themselves as safety professionals, but the reality is that most people view them as waiters in the sky.

That said, I suspect that US flight attendants are probably better when the chips are down than some of the foreign FAs who are better at the "waiter in the sky" role. I read that the Singapore Airlines FAs weren't that useful in the crash they had on takeoff from Taipei, for instance. But the reality is that overwhelmingly most people are going to rate them on the "waiter in the sky" role and not the safety role, because most people only ever experience their "waiter in the sky" role (and that's a very good thing...)

"Since 9-11, we have a lot more responsibility for the safety and security of the aircraft," said Thom McDaniel, president of the Transport Workers Union chapter that represents attendants at Dallas-based Southwest Airlines.

 

[Air Biscuit]

Don't worry. If you are a tired flight attendant. Apply to work at Jet Blue. Those pilots will come back and help you perform your duties. Oh wait, on second thought they want to work more hours than even the FAA allows so forget that idea.