WELSH CITYFLYER, I understand totally where you are coming from, STEELY words fail me, so much for good crew relations you A*****E, FLAPSFORTY what a nice well thought out reply, nice to know some flight deck crew are not like STEELY.
WELSH I totally agree with you that everyone in the charter industry down the back seldom has a chance to eat - particularly on shorter sectors such as Palma/Gerona.
I'm a Purser, so fortunately I can make time for people to eat and drink on my flights.
First thing after take off, everyone has a cup of tea/coffee/water/soft drink, if by chance we have a slight delay before boarding then everyone grabs a sandwich or chocolate bar (I have first pick on chocolate bars - so don't even think about arguing that one with me!).
On a short sector such as PMI it is fair to say that on a daytime flight i.e 1000 onwards it is difficult on a 1h 45m flight to grab a bite, but it is still manageable as we have two people on galley duties whilst we are out on drinks and they could always grab a sandwich/chocolate bar then, but mostly on such flights if full, the norm is to work straight through until the end of the cabin service (i.e drinks/meals/sales).
On Breakfast flights, due to most people being sleepy, any good purser - myself included - modest aren't I? should let the crew sit sown and eat breakfast for 10 mins, however someone should always respond to call bells - you never know. It is unreasonable for any purser to expect their cabin crew to do say Breakfast followed by a Bar/Sales service (i.e two full services) before allowing their crew breakfast.
On other longer flights the ideal time to eat is once the customers have had their meal trays cleared and before doing sales, after all you stand little chance of getting the carts out in the cabin straight away with everyone queuing for the toilets.
If you are hungry though, don't suffer in silence, by the same token do not raid the larder when everyone else is working.
If you are say doing a Tenerife and you haven't eaten because the No1/PSR has elected for everyone to do Drinks, Meals and Sales (i.e 2.5 to 3hrs solid work) they really should have more care for their crew and should not be PSRs.
I personally allow juniors to eat before I do, I'll do paperwork on my j/seat, so that I can monitor the cabin, then I will eat while they are out on sales 10-15 mins later.
You are at the very least entitled to drink, and any galley crew member worth their wings should have at least a glass of water lined up for the others when they return from the drinks service.
If you have a No1/PSR who is a bit unapproachable/fearsome then I suggest you might mention it to the No2/Assistant Purser who will probably ring the front and say something like "are we going out on drinks/sales straight away?" and this should register with the Purser at the front of the aircraft as - my crew need a break
From another point of view, Pursers and No1s are also under pressure to provide the best possible service for any given sector/flight time due to directives from cabin services/commercial and their must be a balance so that the crew do not rest to long to the detriment of what the customer needs.
Also most flight deck crew members are very good, but some do seem to think that they're eating and drinking takes presidence over the customers on board - it doesn't. We will look after you to the best of our ability on equal terms, and no matter how hard flight deck crew try to impress upon me that they are flying the aircraft so they are above everyone else, I will look after you the best we can although our job is definately more physically demanding.
So WELSH I hope that helps you out, but don't suffer in silence at least speak to your assistant purser - they are great mediators - usually.