B737-700
Flight Attendant Current
Time Pressure; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Company Policy
Another day....another safety related issue. Upon arrival at gate; about 32 minutes before departure; I informed the Ops Agent we would need 5-minutes before boarding could begin to do our required safety/equipment checks. He looked at his watch and gave me a puzzled/confused look; almost in shock that he wouldn't have enough time to push on time. I repeated we would need 5-minutes. About 2-minutes later; while involved with my required checks -- the first wheelchair customer came walking onboard. I didn't have time to stop the flow or address this early boarding with the Agent before the other wheelchair customers were lined-up; unloading etc.... The originating flight security check document had not been signed yet either. Just before the door shut; I addressed the Ops Agent telling him his early boarding was not right and that we had not even finished our required checks. He said; '.....well; I have a supervisor up-top and everything; so we had to get boarding....' I told him it was wrong and that despite that fact; we needed to fully complete our pre-boarding equipment checks and security sweep before boarding was to start. I informed the agent I was going to write a report on the incident. Stop the pressure to push early. Give flight crews 5-10 minutes guaranteed to perform our required duties without being rushed; hovered-over or made to feel guilty that we will be the cause for a delay.
A B737 Flight Attendant reports that agents are not honoring requests by the cabin crew to hold off boarding until required security and cabin checks are complete and the crew is ready to board.