A330
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Troubleshooting
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Aircraft; Human Factors
At approximately the 5+00 hour point in cruise at FL390; a Flight Attendant advised several passengers and a Flight Attendant could smell an odor near row 14 left. They said it smelled 'electrical'. We sent an 'on break' First Officer to that location who reported he could not smell or detect any odor. To our knowledge no one else could now smell the odor. No abnormality was witnessed or detected in the cabin. Passenger in that area had been noticed using lap tops and Bose headset equipment. No further odor was reported for the remainder of the flight.About 6+30 hours into the flight I went to the cabin myself during a break. I walked past row 14 twice plus saw and talked to numerous flight attendants. No odors were present and everyone seemed very content. Approximately 30 minutes later; while well into our descent; we were contacted again and told flight attendants were experiencing headaches and nausea but no odors were present in the cabin. I believe we were told they had been working the left side of the aisle in coach. We selected high flow for better ventilation. Shortly after that; one of the three flight attendants was feeling worse and felt the need to sit down and asked for oxygen. We again asked about odors but none were reported from any location in the cabin. We asked if the distressed flight attendant wanted to be met by paramedics. We were told she said yes and we made the request. We were told she was sitting up; conversing; and appeared normal but perhaps a little pale. Remote medical assistance was not contacted directly as only 30-45 minutes of flight remained. An emergency was not declared. We were allowed to keep speed up and ATC got us right in and paramedics were in position awaiting us. After gate arrival I got no updates regarding the three distressed flight attendants. Thinking someone would come up front or call; I became involved with maintenance; paper work and completed the cabin fume; odor; and smoke form for Maintenance. By the time my IOE Captain and I were able to move aft everyone had already left the aircraft.
Faint odors detected by passengers and flight attendants aboard an A330 may have caused nausea and headaches for three flight attendants as the flight approached its destination.