Commercial Fixed Wing
Fatigue
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Human Factors; Company Policy
During a 7 hour delay before a scheduled 7.5 hour flying and planned 14 to 16 hour duty day (14.51 actual); I called Crew Scheduling because I was fatigued and did not feel safe to fly. Crew Scheduling said flight attendants can not call in 'fatigued' and it was a Flight Service matter. When I called Flight Service to request a no pay/no credit removal because I was fatigued and unsafe to fly; Flight Service informed me I had to fly or face disciplinary action and be given a missed assignment. I suffer from periodic insomnia and knew very well what my mental state was and management did not care.  Instead I was forced to fly under threat of harassment from the company. This action put the safety of my fellow crew and the passengers at risk. I was up at XA:00 to report to work at XD:55. Due to two mechanicals; three aircraft substitutions and subsequent cockpit crew illegality; we were on duty 7 hours before the duty day even started. Allow flight attendants to call out fatigued as the cockpit is allowed to without penalty. The safety of all was put at risk.
A Flight Attendant laments not being able to get off a delayed trip due to fatigue without penalty as the pilots can.