B737-800
Flight Attendant Current
Distraction; Time Pressure
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
I arrived at aircraft at XA55 sharp. It was a through flight and passengers were lined up for aft restrooms. Also; catering was in galley. By the time I could even get to an aft overhead bin to stow my bags and get back up the aisle; overwing exit rows were full! I have no idea when boarding commenced; but I had no time to do any type of security check and was definitely not in my boarding position. I assisted passengers during boarding process and completed other duties (closing bins; getting passenger count). It wasn't until takeoff that I realized I hadn't briefed my exit row. I mentioned it to the 'A'. The Captain had instructed us to remain seated for quite a while; but as soon as we had permission to get up; I briefed the passengers. I think what happened is that I got thrown off because I never even really did my other normal 'C' activities; and in just trying to pick up and do the other duties; I totally forgot the briefing. I've never done that in all the years I've been flying. This is not; however; the first time that all of the flight attendants on my crew have not been able to do our required responsibilities prior to boarding. Many times; we board the aircraft only to have passengers on our heels...literally before we have had a chance to even put our bags up. I have been told by several Operations agents that they are being terrorized into boarding AS SOON AS THE flight attendants get on the aircraft; and that if they don't they are in trouble. Even though company policy says; in theory; that they are to allow us time to do our duties; IN PRACTICE; their supervisors are making them board before we've had a chance to. In some cases; it's the supervisors who are there doing the boarding. I should have written those occurrences up before; but I will from now on (I don't know if it will do any good) because it really is unnerving to be rushed to the point where we are unable to do the jobs we have been trained to do. We used to not board until all flight attendants were ready; AND we were notified when boarding would begin...what happened to those procedures? Also; crew briefings have gone by the wayside.
A Flight Attendant reports being so rushed during preflight that she forgets to brief the overwing exit row passengers prior to takeoff.