A321
Flight Attendant Current
Physiological - Other
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Aircraft; Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
Upon arrival I detected very strong; irritating fumes in the aft galley area and throughout cabin. Passengers in my area were also complaining and looking at me. I notified the A Flight Attendant and Captain and asked if doors showed disarmed and asked for permission to open aft door to ventilate the area as there was none to insufficient ventilation from ground unit to clear fumes. Captain said doors showed disarmed and I could open. Fumes cleared. The same thing occurred in the same sequence for the two return flights. During flight; passengers in aft cabin area were sneezing and asking for napkins due to nasal irritation. Babies crying; Passenger in XXE vomited during taxi in and was assisted by companion and myself. She deplaned and did not want any further assistance. Passengers on the next flight [were] also coughing and sneezing. Other flight attendants denied smelling fumes even though through passenger in YYE complained to me of the smell and I suggested he deplane for fresh air before continuing on to the next leg. I had a headache at our destination and began to feel light-headed. After sitting at curb bus/van engines running for more than 30 minutes it worsened so I self-treated in hotel per prior events; Doctor's recommendations. I reported aft cabin area uncomfortably warm during boarding to A Flight Attendant of each flight and asked for cooler air. Improper placing batteries OFF during shutdown can cause APU oil to self-over-service. Possible maintenance issue; possible design flaw; possible non-adherence to manufacturer recommendations.Correction of design flaw; adherence to shutdown recommendations. Turn off packs prior to gate arrival so that fuel purge from engine does not enter the bleed air supply of the cabin. Address the issue the first time it is reported.
An A321 Flight Attendant described her and some passengers' physical reactions to irritating fumes on a sequence of flights in the same aircraft.