EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Attendant Current
Flight Attendant Airline Total 8; Flight Attendant Total 8
Communication Breakdown; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Company Policy
We picked up this aircraft; boarded; and we had just put our bags away. No pre-flight checks had been done; and passengers were already at the boarding door. I explained that no passengers could board until all safety checks had been completed. I noticed gate personnel to be unhappy with this but completed all pre-flight safety checks and then permitted passengers to board. During the boarding I was attending first class; hanging coats; and serving pre-departure drinks. I held my passenger boarding line for a few minutes; then continued boarding; this process happened twice; where I held my boarding so first class could be attended. I also had two FC passengers board late; and I was helping to get their bags in the overhead bin. The Manager; walked on board and demanded to know what I was doing. I explained I was helping FC passengers get situated with bags and hanging coats. He screamed at me in the cabin; to stop; and get this plane boarded. I told him I was; but I have a responsibility to service First Class. He demanded; I 'stop that service and to board this plane; now!' and shouted he wanted my name. I saw his anger; I gave him my name; and stopped any further service to first class. I am concerned with this hostile behavior from the gate. They want us to board planes without doing our safety checks and think they can walk onboard and tell us our job responsibility. I feel this is a breach of position. This incident caused me a lot of stress and embarrassment; as I was reprimanded by the manager in front of my passengers.I think gate personnel should never be on-board; except for a brief period of time which may involve paperwork to complete the flight. I don't think gate personnel should ever be allowed to cross over into flight attendant duties of procedure.
EMB-175 Flight Attendant reported being reprimanded by a Station Manager for holding up the boarding process to attend to first class passengers.