A321
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action; General Work Refused
Aircraft
We were in the jet bridge waiting to board the plane and Flight Attendant 1 asked if we smelled something. We all agreed that we did and that it smelled bad. Eventually we concluded that it smelled like a gym or smelly socks. I (Flight Attendant 4) asked the First Officer who was behind me if he could smell it; he said yeah. I let them know that we have to tell the flight deck crew about this kind of smell; if it's on the plane; as my crew was pretty junior. We agreed to wait and see what the smell would be like; once actually on the plane. As I entered the plane; I discovered the smell had not gone away; but had become stronger; especially as I moved further back. I started to get mucous in the back of my nose; declared that we weren't boarding like this and that it needed to be looked into. The Captain said that his sense of smell was bad; but the First Officer confirmed the smell; so all of us flight attendants deplaned and awaited further instructions. Maintenance came and said they believed it was something to do with the filters and the APU; the Captain briefed us and let us know that if we were still uncomfortable; we would need to take it up with our supervisors. Ultimately; that's what we did. While we were on the phone trying to get a Supervisor; a Gate Agent Supervisor started to pressure Flight Attendant 1 to go back to the plane and smell it again. I sternly told the Gate Agent Supervisor we were not going back down there. A Customer Service Supervisor had talked her down.The same Customer Service Supervisor told us that actually it doesn't smell like used socks or feet; but rather wet dog. Either way; I thought out loud; the smell is in the same category in our tablet. He then said there was a large amount of hair by the bulkhead where a dog must have been and that was where the smell had come from.Supervisors from our department greeted us and agreed that it smelled bad. There was some minor discussion as to used socks or wet dog; but it didn't seem to matter much as they also told us that we were going to get a new plane. We thanked our supervisors and waited for the plane swap. The swap never happened. Instead; Maintenance went through and cleared the plane. The Captain told us that Maintenance didn't find anything and that he and the First Officer had timed out. There would be new pilots. Flight Attendant 1 and I went to the supervisors who were handling this issue and let them know we were not comfortable flying. I said I would not fly that plane. One of the supervisors told us to meet him at the gate; we met him on the plane. It still smelled. We were offered personal days if we didn't feel safe; after some debate. I took mine; but the other flight attendants did not as two of them said they had already used theirs. Flight Attendant 2 did not say whether or not she still had days; but she was willing to work. If it was actually the filters and the APU; I would advise more frequent or scheduled checks to make sure that this smell doesn't reoccur. If it was actually a dog that somehow managed to stink up a hole plane and jet bridge for hours (please note the sarcasm); then I would suggest that we start keeping track of stinky dogs through reporting; so as to not confuse the dog's odor as a Category A fume. If it was for some other reason; then I have no suggestion.
A321 Flight Attendant reported dirty socks fumes event during preflight.