B737-900
Flight Attendant Current
Workload
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Weather
Before the flight; we had a briefing on the weather and Captain (CA) had informed us that it would it be 'intermittent chop' throughout the flight and that we would have to be aware during the flight of weather and he would keep us informed during the flight. The weather was indeed very turbulent; the seatbelt sign was turned off and on several times during the flight with the services interrupted and passengers having to wait on LAV use. During this time we all had excellent communication between all crewmembers. A special notice given to CA for putting safety at top priority.  After several attempts of service and having to stop and sit down because of chop; the seatbelt sign was turned off and I instructed the other Flight Attendants (FA) to wait on service due to the amount of passengers needing the LAV.  After the crowd died down we then began our service. The D and C were at the rear of cabin and almost done with service; the B had just entered AFT galley and was prepping cart for trash pick up and I was in the FWD galley finishing the last part of the First Class meal service. A Passenger had come forward as the other passenger had finished with FWD LAV use and stopped to chat with me. She was standing at galley entrance and was between me and the FWD jumpseat. As we were talking; we experience unreported and unexpected moderate to severe turbulence. In those few seconds of sheer shaking and pandemonium. I instinctively went for the jumpseat but; passenger was in the way and holding on to galley wall. I immediately instructed her loudly to take the seat as I reached around and lowered the seat. She sat down as things where flying off the countertops of galley and I sat next to her. As we were trying to keep from being thrown off the jumpseat I helped her with the harness as I was putting my on. She was very scared and was concerned for her baby. She had a fellow seat passenger hold the baby back at seat. I commanded her that she would stay seated and that in no way was she getting up to get to her baby.  SEATBELT SIGN WAS TURNED ON. I proceeded to look down the aisle and other then seeing a passenger crawling to his seat and one passenger in AFT LAV; none of the passengers had been up and no one was hurt. I could see the other FAs had made it to the AFT jumpseats and carts were in the galley.  As soon as it was safely possible and it seem that the chop had died; I called the CA and he immediately asked if anyone was hurt and I said it did not appear so. He informed me that was totally unexpected. I informed him that cabin crew were seated and that I had a passenger next to me in jumpseat for safety reasons. He concurred that due to unexpected moderate to severe chop that was the safest place for her. He instructed us to stay seated and I made announcements to passengers passing on this instruction and so did the CA. As soon as it was safe and seatbelt sign was turned off; Passenger returned to her seat. We walked through cabin and check on passengers and no one was hurt. Cabin Crew informed me that it was very severe in back and the carts had actually come of the floors.  B immediately took her seat in galley. Before the D and C could get to back to the galley they both squatted and held on. The cart in aft part of aisle came up off the floor and several items spilled and on passengers but nothing hot. They then got the cart to the galley and took seats. Except for the weather and intermittent chop for the rest of flight nothing of it was as severe as what we had just experienced. We did prepare cabin on descent to [destination airport] but all was ok. Please contact me for information.Moderate to severe chop and passenger standing between me and jumpseat.Actually I would like to hear feedback from ASAP regarding passenger in jumpseat. In the interest of SAFETY and the fact that I instinctively reacted to this turbulence I believe it was the very right decision to put her in the jumpseat. She could not be placed in LAV as it had no seatbelt; ALL First Class seats were occupied and even if one was open she safely could not reach them or her seat in Main Cabin. I did not want her on the floor and watch her bounce around while I safely sat in my seat. Think of the media attention and public attention that FA had empty and safe jumpseat next to him while he was safely in his seat watching [the] mother of [a] baby being thrown around. Not to mention the lawsuit as well.  After speaking with entire crew; my instinctive reaction for safety of passenger and myself was the correct reaction. But because she was not qualified to seat in jumpseat; I submitted ASAP.
A flight attendant reported encountering unexpected moderate to severe turbulence with seatbelt sign off. For safety reasons they instructed an unseated passenger to sit down in an unoccupied FA jumpseat until the turbulence subside.