Flight Attendant Current
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure; Aircraft
The Captain said the forward phone was not working right and previous crew said it was intermittent. I was able to make my opening PA; and then we heard the Captain ding us to say cleared for departure. The intercom phone would not work; and the C Flight Attendant jumped up and went to go to the back to have the B make the announcement. The C Flight Attendant quickly started to go down the aisle and before the B said cleared for departure; the Captain took off. The C was clinging to the seats to pull herself forward; and I helped her get to her jumpseat. These next two flights were some off the longest; most frustrating ones I have had. There was no form of communication from the front to the back. As A Flight Attendant; the B had to say the PA's; and when it came time to say arm doors I would hit the call light twice and she would do the announcements. VERY FRUSTRATING. What would have happened if there was an emergency? Or worse yet; if something happened to the C Flight Attendant on takeoff? How would I have communicated to them? You know the worst part of this is this has been like this for sometime AND NO ONE IS GETTING IT FIXED!!!While things may not sound big to those that sit behind a desk; they are to us. We rely on them for communication and safety. What's going on with Maintenance? This plane went through several bases and still was not fixed. Another example; I had water in aft lav not shutting off last week. Nope; did not get fixed so now it gets passed down to some else. I had an electrical short shock me last week; that too did not get fixed and another crew flew that plane getting zapped when they touched the galley. Why are none of these maintenance issues being fixed? Why does it take so long? One of these days; something will happen due to the lack of maintenance and then what? These were very much safety issues that needed to be resolved in a timely manner!
B737-700 Flight Attendant reports being dispatched with the forward interphone and handset on MEL. This results in significant difficulties for the cabin crew and a takeoff with a Flight Attendant out of her seat.