B737-400
Flight Attendant Current
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Human Factors
My seatbelt was not securely fastened at landing; barely made it to my seat and was holding tray with glasses on lap. I had also run out of time to secure (stow) garbage bags in forward galley. I should have been more aware of safety and where we were in flight time than to be so preoccupied with service and picking up and recycling trash in main cabin and first class cabin. Need to always be aware of how close to landing we are. Flight attendants can always call flight deck if uncertain. Also need to be sure and get approximate flight time before beginning service and communicate that with other flight attendants.
We had a full flight on this leg. Only one POS [Point of Sale device] was operable (we attempted to get a replacement upon landing; but A Flight Attendant was informed by CSA we'd have to wait until the aircraft returned to ZZZ. This made service on this flight extremely slow/difficult.) There were many requests for beverages by the numerous amount of frequent flyers; customers; and employees returning with vouchers. The Captain made the 18;000 FT announcement for landing while B Flight Attendant and I had approximately 8 more rows to serve. We were surprised to hear the announcement 'so soon' and attempted to serve a few more rows until we heard the 10;000 foot chimes. The chimes/announcement never came. I heard what I believed sounded like the aircraft reaching 10;000 FT and stopped service with about 4-5 rows left unserved. I apologized to the unserved customers and told B Flight Attendant I was securing the cart. B Flight Attendant grabbed garbage bags and left the galley area to pick up remaining service items. I quickly stowed beverages and the cart; and secured the aft galley. I looked out the L2 window and saw we were at a point where we should be seated/secured in our jumpseats. I looked down the aisle and saw B Flight Attendant at about row 22 (?); still methodically collecting service items. I saw A Flight Attendant with a trash bag in the mid cabin; forward of the exit rows. I called to B Flight Attendant to immediately come sit in the jumpseat. I sat in my jumpseat and secured myself. B Flight Attendant came immediately and had just a few moments after securing the seatbelt/harness before the aircraft landed. B Flight Attendant had no time to stow the half-full bag of garbage; and it lay next to B Flight Attendant's FT on the floor of the galley. I believe one or two rows may have had service items at their seats at the time of landing (my perception only; I did not witness this.) The aft galley was secured; B Flight Attendant and I were secured in our jumpseats; but it was way too close for comfort/safety. 1.) I momentarily put service in front of safety. As soon as we heard the 18;000 FT landing announcement; we should have stopped service and prepared the cabin for arrival. 2.) I should have strongly encouraged the B Flight Attendant to quickly pick up the service items. 3.) I also would have been able to assist B Flight Attendant pick up trash/recyclables from aft-fwd if we had stopped service at 18;000 FT because my galley would have been secured quicker. 4.) I could have called the A Flight Attendant on the interphone and requested she make the 10;000 FT announcement once I realized the chimes did not sound.
Three B737-400 flight attendants report losing track of time during a short flight and not hearing the 10;000 foot chime. This results in ending service early and not completely picking up the cabin; before taking their jump seats as the aircraft touches down.