Question regarding crew shift patterns
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Question regarding crew shift patterns
Usually in slf (where I belong), but I was looking for a factual answer, rather than pax experience.
On long haul flights, usually large numbers of the cabin crew go off to 'rest' in some form of cabin crew rest/partitioned space. My question is this, on say a JFK to LHR flight or vice versa, do the crew who have rested for most of the flight then have to join other flights as cabin crew, or does their shift end.
What I'm really wondering is, why do the crew need to rest on say a 7 hour flight, for maybe four or five hours, are they really expected to join another flight at the other end?
I am a frequent flyer, and know the pattern is different with different carriers, but I'd be keen if someone can give an overview of why some of the cabin crew 'rest', whilst a skeleton crew remains active for the bulk of a flight.
I do appreciate that on 13 hour flights, it may be different.
On long haul flights, usually large numbers of the cabin crew go off to 'rest' in some form of cabin crew rest/partitioned space. My question is this, on say a JFK to LHR flight or vice versa, do the crew who have rested for most of the flight then have to join other flights as cabin crew, or does their shift end.
What I'm really wondering is, why do the crew need to rest on say a 7 hour flight, for maybe four or five hours, are they really expected to join another flight at the other end?
I am a frequent flyer, and know the pattern is different with different carriers, but I'd be keen if someone can give an overview of why some of the cabin crew 'rest', whilst a skeleton crew remains active for the bulk of a flight.
I do appreciate that on 13 hour flights, it may be different.
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It all depends on the airline in question.
Your experience may be distorted by that fact that (judging by your other posts) you fly legacy carriers such as BA where their aircraft are equipped with crew rest facilities. A 747 will have bunks for crew because that aircaft is utilised for other longer routes where horizontal rest is mandatory. On a JKF, for example, they will be allocated a rest break (no where near the 4-5 hours as you mentioned) and they have the option to take it in a bunk.
Bear in mind also, that there are further duty periods on either side of the 7 hour flight time (90 mins prior to departure and 45 minutes after arrival). At LHR it is also often the case that crew are waiting for up to 90 mins for transport back to base. There are fatigue issues to consider when a crew has operated a nightflight, crossing time zones and then has to drive home after the flight. This has had fatal consequences over the years.
On BA, if a crew is operating a 7 hour flight, then generally no, they would not join another flight. This really is due to how the route network is set up. There are exceptions to this, Bahrain-Doha and Abu Dhabi-Muscat being two examples. Zoom Airlines is another carrier where crew will operate a flight to Bermuda and then carry on to JKF.
On a charter airlines, you will find that crew will work harder and for longer with no rest period. For example a crew can operate a flight to Antigua and then carry on to St.Lucia. Charter airlines will generally not have areas for crew to "disappear" - neither seats nor bunks. Another factor to consider is that these airlines operate on a minimum crew basis, so it would be unsafe for groups of crew to go "on rest".
Having flown for both I can honestly say that sometimes, it is actually better to have crew out of the galley and out of the way resting when there is little to do, especially on night flight. More crew = more noise, which will disturb sleeping passengers. Cabin crew are meant to regularly offer water in the cabin during the down times, so as long as regular patrols are made of the cabin (with water) then all safety and service requirements are met. Carriers like BA have crew compliments to enable rest periods to be taken safely without affecting the service.
Summing up, I guess there is an argument that a rested crew is a safer crew. As long as you are getting the service you paid for, does it really affect you?
Your experience may be distorted by that fact that (judging by your other posts) you fly legacy carriers such as BA where their aircraft are equipped with crew rest facilities. A 747 will have bunks for crew because that aircaft is utilised for other longer routes where horizontal rest is mandatory. On a JKF, for example, they will be allocated a rest break (no where near the 4-5 hours as you mentioned) and they have the option to take it in a bunk.
Bear in mind also, that there are further duty periods on either side of the 7 hour flight time (90 mins prior to departure and 45 minutes after arrival). At LHR it is also often the case that crew are waiting for up to 90 mins for transport back to base. There are fatigue issues to consider when a crew has operated a nightflight, crossing time zones and then has to drive home after the flight. This has had fatal consequences over the years.
On BA, if a crew is operating a 7 hour flight, then generally no, they would not join another flight. This really is due to how the route network is set up. There are exceptions to this, Bahrain-Doha and Abu Dhabi-Muscat being two examples. Zoom Airlines is another carrier where crew will operate a flight to Bermuda and then carry on to JKF.
On a charter airlines, you will find that crew will work harder and for longer with no rest period. For example a crew can operate a flight to Antigua and then carry on to St.Lucia. Charter airlines will generally not have areas for crew to "disappear" - neither seats nor bunks. Another factor to consider is that these airlines operate on a minimum crew basis, so it would be unsafe for groups of crew to go "on rest".
Having flown for both I can honestly say that sometimes, it is actually better to have crew out of the galley and out of the way resting when there is little to do, especially on night flight. More crew = more noise, which will disturb sleeping passengers. Cabin crew are meant to regularly offer water in the cabin during the down times, so as long as regular patrols are made of the cabin (with water) then all safety and service requirements are met. Carriers like BA have crew compliments to enable rest periods to be taken safely without affecting the service.
Summing up, I guess there is an argument that a rested crew is a safer crew. As long as you are getting the service you paid for, does it really affect you?
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VS-LHRCSA,
Thanks for the info, it's pretty useful to know. I wasn't having a 'dig' at crew who rested, I really did want to know if some poor souls were nowadays expected to attend to other flights after landing from, say JFK overnight.
It just seems to me that many cabin crew look very tired, and I wondered if this was due to competitive pressures pushing up the working hours, with shorter breaks off duty (actually away from the airport).
I have a great deal of sympathy for those who work on the charters you describe.
I agree with the idea of having fewer crew available during overnight flights, but I often notice that on daytime flights as well, where even in club, getting cabin service can sometimes be tricky.
Thanks for the info, it's pretty useful to know. I wasn't having a 'dig' at crew who rested, I really did want to know if some poor souls were nowadays expected to attend to other flights after landing from, say JFK overnight.
It just seems to me that many cabin crew look very tired, and I wondered if this was due to competitive pressures pushing up the working hours, with shorter breaks off duty (actually away from the airport).
I have a great deal of sympathy for those who work on the charters you describe.
I agree with the idea of having fewer crew available during overnight flights, but I often notice that on daytime flights as well, where even in club, getting cabin service can sometimes be tricky.
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I think it has to be noted that Crew also have several different responsibilities aside from cabin service after the main service/s have been completed.
Certain positioned Crew may have bar reconcilitation duties and or Bond forms to fill out between gally's and other paperwork which is their responsibility for the flight, so they may not have dissappeared but are just away working on something else, out of view. Crew who are in Assist positions or soley service roles may then be the "skeleton" Crew you see offering active service to the passengers. And when operating on a minimal Crew ratio this can make it very busy, especially on a 7 hour flight where it requires a full service and then a full replenishment/snack service (or another full service dependant on the Airline).
Certain positioned Crew may have bar reconcilitation duties and or Bond forms to fill out between gally's and other paperwork which is their responsibility for the flight, so they may not have dissappeared but are just away working on something else, out of view. Crew who are in Assist positions or soley service roles may then be the "skeleton" Crew you see offering active service to the passengers. And when operating on a minimal Crew ratio this can make it very busy, especially on a 7 hour flight where it requires a full service and then a full replenishment/snack service (or another full service dependant on the Airline).
