Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Attendant Current
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security
General None Reported / Taken
Chart Or Publication; Company Policy; Procedure
The flight crew worked together well. When we were at top of descent; I walked through the cabin and into First Class where I chatted briefly with the A and D flight attendants. I had a trash bag in hand; and on my way back through the cabin; I remember the passenger who handed over a gum or candy wrapper. We landed safely and after a brief delay on the taxiway awaiting our gate; we deplaned and went on our way. The D Flight Attendant and I were waiting for the shuttle to take us to our cars. We both noticed that our passenger [who handed over the gum or candy wrapper] was also boarding the van and we just happened to sit right next to him. We started some small talk about where we were based and how long our drive home would be! I asked where he lived; and referenced that I saw him on our flight. At that point; he looked at me and said 'Yes; I was your Federal Air Marshal (FAM)' on your flight.What??? We had FAMs???This same thing happened the week before. That day we had a long rolling delay and at one point had to deplane all the passengers. I was also the C Flight Attendant. When we made our way to the front after all main cabin folks were deplaned; there was one guy in first class who was just standing there. I said 'Sir; we need for everyone to deplane the aircraft; we have maintenance looking at something'; he said 'I don't have to.' I said 'yes; everyone needs to deplane and our crew can't deplane until everyone is off'. He said 'but I'm your FAM'. Once again. What???? He walked off the aircraft and I went up to the Captain and asked if he knew we had FAMs onboard. The Captain said 'no.' Well our rolling delay took 5.5 hours and ended up with a cancellation so on that day; we did not fly any legs with FAMs.Obviously; the agents are not relaying this very important information to the crews. Unbelievable. It makes it even harder now that prelim and final paperwork isn't printed. In the past the seat number were written down and shared with the crew. Now we have electronic devices that do not show anything special about these travelers. I wonder how many flights are going out with phantom FAMs. I will make sure and ask very specific questions to the agent and spread the word of no special travelers; or two specific seat numbers.
A Flight Attendant reported that on two consecutive weeks on her flights from the same station; Federal Air Marshals (FAMs) were boarded without passenger service notice to either the flight attendants or pilots.