Flight Attendant Current
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Staffing; Human Factors
We arrived at the gate on time but were not permitted to board the aircraft until [closer to departure time]. The agents had the wheelchair passengers come down about 2 minutes after we boarded and were still checking equipment. The agents came down to close the door before all the passengers were even on the plane. The agent told me she was going to close the door right after the last person got on. I explained she could not do that as we needed all passengers seated and all [overhead bins] closed. After the last passenger boarded; I followed him down to aisle to close the bins. There was still a line of standing passengers all down the aisle. I told the agent not to close the door as it was a violation of an FAR. The #3 was standing at 2L/2R (boarding door) and also told the agent she couldn't close yet. The agent closed the door with at least 50% of bins open and at least 15-20 passengers standing.
A flight attendant aboard a B757-200 reported the passenger agent; despite several reminders it was inappropriate; closed the cabin door while passengers were still in the aisle and approximately half of the overhead bins were still open in violation of SOP and FARs.