Commercial Fixed Wing
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors
This was our last flight of our trip and the inbound was delayed. We were all waiting at the gate. We saw a mutual friend of ours who was jump seating on our flight. As the passengers were deplaning we started to get our bags ready and the gate agent announces over the intercom for us to 'report to the gate'. We were walking in uniform down the jet bridge. The other crew was leaving in a timely manner. The cleaners were not off yet and the gate agent starts boarding while we are still standing in the jet bridge. We get on the plane and the cleaner would not move to let us put our bags away; mine were still in the FWD doorway blocking the door. I start to preflight without putting bags away and I mentioned to the gate agent; if she could please not board without our permission. The gate agent says in front of the line of passengers 'I'm trying to expedite the boarding process on such a short flight since you guys were late'. Our FO (First Officer) then said; 'you cannot board without our permission we have to make sure our safety procedures are done'. The gate agent mumbled to the passengers who could clearly see we were not ready and were very kind to us. After boarding while waiting for the bag slip the other FA (Flight Attendant) made a comment to the gate agent 'that it wasn't very nice to make a comment like that in front of passengers and if she could ask before boarding?' The response was 'good comment; I may take into consideration' and started laughing and walked away to talk with the other gate agent. She had paged us when we were right in front of her and she was aware of us; and started pushing the lady in the wheel chair right behind us as we entered the jet bridge and asked us if we were ready to board when we hadn't gotten on the plane yet. CRM between gate agents and flight crew requires proper communication and respect by the entire team. I would like to add our crew were all on the same page and our FO was respectfully helping us communicate to the gate agent.
Airline Flight Attendant reported having a gate agent commence passenger boarding before the required preflight safety checks were complete.