B737-700
Flight Attendant Current
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct
Aircraft; Human Factors; Company Policy
During the boarding process I observed the 'B' Flight Attendant had the back galley lights turned OFF and was periodically sitting on her jumpseat instead of doing in flight duties; but I knew that this was not proper according to our boarding procedures and I did not address the issue or try to correct these actions as the 'A' Flight Attendant to avoid any crew conflict. As I was doing my final walk through; I gave the passenger count to the 'B' Flight Attendant; and noticed that her galley was not secure; nor was the 'B' seated in her jumpseat. I did not address the issue in an effort to avoid crew conflict or micromanaging my coworker and continued to secure the cabin area of the final walk through. 	Before takeoff as the 'C' Flight Attendant and I were securing the cabin and I was finishing my final walk through; we came upon a passenger seat back (Row 1; aisle seat) obstructing egress of passengers into and out of row 2. I observed the male passenger positioning his feet on the bulkhead wall and reclining in the seat. For the safety of the passengers in row 2; the 'C' Flight Attendant and I asked the male passenger to raise his seat back to its upright and locked position. The male passenger pushed the button and the seat returned to its upright and locked position. He then positioned his feet on the wall and pressed his bodyweight against the seat back forcing the seat to recline beyond its natural upright and locked position again obstructing the egress into and out of row 2. I informed the passenger that if he continued to press against the seat back in that manner; the seat could potentially break. The passenger then sat up in the seat and the seat back remained in the upright and locked position. The 'C' Flight Attendant and I allowed the male passenger to remain in the seat for takeoff because we made the assessment that the seat was fine without malfunction. Before landing  during the securing the cabin process as I was finishing my final walk through; the 'B' Flight Attendant galley was unsecure and she had made her way to the front of the cabin. I double latched all of her compartments; except I left the coffee cup that she had on the counter and the full coffee pot and warmer on. I asked her if she wanted the coffee left in the coffee pot and she said; 'Yes.' I continued my walk through and secured myself in my jumpseat knowing that the 'B' Flight Attendant galley was not secure nor did I observe the 'B' Flight Attendant being secured in her jumpseat in an effort to avoid crew confrontation even though this disregarded in flight policies and procedures for securing the cabin during the final walk through. The 'B' Flight Attendant had walked with the 'C' up to the front of the aircraft. The 'B' Flight Attendant was now sitting on the front jumpseat where the 'C' Flight Attendant should have been secured at this time. Again; I observed the male passenger in row 1 forcing his seat to recline beyond its natural upright and locked position obstructing the egress into and out of row 2. I instructed the passenger to return the seat to its upright and locked position. The passenger was agitated and aggravated over my request and stated that the seat would not stay upright. I instructed the passenger to sit upright in the seat and press the button. The passenger complied and once more the seat was positioned perfectly in the upright and locked position without obstructing row 2. The passenger then immediately placed his feet back up on the bulkhead wall and forced the seat to obstruct row 2. I address the male again and inform him if he can't stop the seat from obstructing row 2 then it is broken and I would have to move him to another seat. The 'B' Flight Attendant; while sitting on the front jumpseat in clear view and hearing range of all passengers; verbally challenges or chastises the 'C' and me regarding the seat back. She asked if the passenger pushed the button to recline the seat. The 'C' Flight Attendant and I were trying to inform her that there was nothing wrong with the seat. The 'B' Flight Attendant kept aggressively and loudly stating that the seat is broken and that almost of the seats on the plane was like that does that. The 'C' Flight Attendant and I kept trying to tell her that was not the case. The 'B' Flight Attendant just went on a loud rant talking to us and the male passenger saying if the seat is reclining that far back and he is not pressing the release button; then the seat is malfunctioning like most of the seats on the aircraft. The 'C' Flight Attendant and I continued to try to explain and reason with her; but failed all attempts. I then said; 'Okay; thank you. We need our jumpseat now.' I then opened my garbage bin to throw away the collected trash and used gloves. During this time; the 'C' Flight Attendant informed me that the 'B' Flight Attendant walked over to the male passenger and stated as a one on one conversation where other passengers could hear; 'It is not you. It is the seat.' As the 'A' Flight Attendant; I felt in the best interest and safety of all passengers and liability of [Company]; I had no other choice; but to move the male passenger to another seat (Approximately row 5 or 6 window seat).At the gate; the Captain sat in the seat. The seat reclined and returned to its upright and locked position without incident. The Captain agreed that for safety and liability reasons; it was best that I did move the male passenger. We determined that the seat was not malfunctioning and allowed another passenger to occupy the seat on the subsequent flight.
Flight Attendant A reported Flight Attendant B was not complying with company rules regarding galley security and jump seat assignment.