United Airlines is implementing a new rule for flight attendants that will lead to cabins being prepared for landing earlier than at present in an effort to protect them from injury from turbulence.
United Airlines Implements New Rule To Protect Flight Attendants
Effective December 1, 2023, flight attendants must be safely buckled into their jumpseats for landing no later than the double chime, at approximately 10,000 feet above ground.
In a memo reviewed by Live And Let’s Fly, this is being implemented for safety reasons.
This new standard operating procedure (SOP) was developed by the collaborative hard work of multiple departments, including Inflight, Flight Operations, AFA, ALPA, Corporate Safety and was approved by the highest levels of United leadership. United conducted Line Operations Safety Assessments (LOSA) with the help of AFA and ALPA. This included pilots observing turbulence SOPs in the flight deck and flight attendants in the forward and aft cabins. These observation narratives and other data were analyzed to help create our new SOP.
At lower flight altitudes, the pilots are conducting approach maneuvers and aircraft sensor data has shown an elevated risk for turbulence. Flight attendants have sustained significant injuries in the final approach phase of flight, and data indicates a higher risk when they are not buckled in at this point. Simply put, it’s not safe to be up. The goal of this new procedure is to reduce flight attendant low altitude injuries.
Thus, starting next month flight attendants will more quickly clean and secure the cabins at the top of the descent. A pilot will say, “Flight attendants, please prepare the cabin for landing” above 10,000 feet, giving flight attendants time to make final cabin preparation in order to be strapped into their jumpseats ahead of the double chime.
The practical effect will be that service will end earlier. Trash will be collected earlier and beverage service will end earlier.
Currently, it is upon the double chime that seatbacks must be placed into their full, upright, and locked position for landing…every moment of sleep becomes so important on a redeye flight. Though not explicitly stated in the memo, I would expect that flight attendants will ask that seats and tray tables be retracted earlier than is currently required to avoid having to rely upon the passenger honor system.
CONCLUSION
Starting on December 1st, United Airlines will ask flight attendants to prepare the cabin for landing earlier. This is being done to “reduce flight attendant low altitude injuries.” Practically, we will see service end earlier and the cabin prepared for landing a bit sooner than most are currently unaccustomed to.
If this meaningfully protects flight attendants from injury, I support this move.
Given harsh turbulence in & out of Denver, particularly makes sense there
So your telling me after the double chime I can recline my seat back and no one will be this wiser?
Flew on Delta two days ago and the stupid passenger in front of me had his seat reclined the entire flight including take off and landing. No FA said anything.
You’re a jerk.
It’s a good rule because some crew don’t work as prescribed. Having them prep for landing early will encourage them to do something even if it’ s for the safety of all. The airlines have a hard time with keeping good work oriented inflt crews. The mindset of a flt attendant differs from each other, flt to flt, base to base, position to position. Distinguishing crew vs pax priority needs is an understatement.
Their service is so disappointing ; this shortens even the beverage service; it’s nice to have another water, later in the flight.
Buy water in the airport!
Some airlines have this in place for particular markets… like Alaska does for a few like LAS, DEN, SNA.
On a slight tangent, does anyone know whether there are any standardised international rules prohibiting the use of electronics during takeoff and landing? On a recent Aegean flight a fellow passenger was sat across the aisle (I think I was 8C and he was 7D) reading something on his laptop/tablet thingy (admittedly neither huge nor very heavy, but definitely not palm-sized) that was resting on his legs. I mentioned it to the FAs who basically told me that it’s not their job to tell the guy to put it away for takeoff, so I spent the next few minutes fearing that it would fly away and end up on my head.
Man, people like you really do deserve to get something in the head. Mind your own business, you little bitch.
Does this mean we will get the annoying credit card pitch earlier as well?
I would really appreciate if you could write a post about the proper/correct amount of announcements in flights. On some flights they make SO MANY announcements and on other flights (same airline) they barely announce anything. I wish f/a´s just stayed mute!
It’s a good question. I’ll think about doing a post on this.
There is nothing more annoying than you watching something on the IFE and the FA starts reading their pitch about credit cards and all BS that the airline offers while the IFE is then frozen. Leave me alone!
I agree and the playing of adverts for 5 minutes after the safety briefing. Just off a flight from YYZ-FRA with Air Canada who show several adverts after the safety video. I did not pay $1000’s for a J class seat to be hawked to, it’s not like the ads are subsidizing the cost of my seat. It’s extremely frustrating.
Please address that with the company. Flight attendants don’t like making those announcements either but we will get in trouble if we don’t do them. So please complain to the company about them.
I’m sure Flight attendants get just as upset when passengers totally ignore them while their doing their safety demo.
Glad they are instituting the rule. A friend of mine was a UA FA and injured her neck in turbulence and had to go on permanent disability.
@TravelGirl – Sorry to hear about your friend’s injury, but in the spirit of the topic of this discussion I must ask, did it occur below 10,000 feet?
I don’t know if you or if someone else chose the picture of the F/A sitting on the jump seat, legs up and feet against the wall wearing 5 inch heels and dress up high..but it is a very condescending picture and downright sexist
I think you or whoever could do a lot better!
I’m curious why so many FAs publish pictures of themselves in that position. There are hundreds.
That’s not areal photo. I thought you knew everything about flying. Moron.
It was when I started with it.
You must be an FA who wears clogs. Which would explain your anger.
A high risk market approach would be preferable. For overnight long haul flights, I’d appreciate the extra bit of sleep time.
Haha
Yeah, US-based FAs are usually way fatter than that.
Jealous much???
You could do even better and keep your hate to yourself.
Meanwhile, Etihad served all Y class passengers with a tasty bag lunch during a 37-minute flight between Doha and Abu Dhabi yesterday.
I have noticed that over the years things have seemed to change regarding turbulence concerns.
It used to be uncommon for the pilot to make an announcement prior to takeoff indicating that cabin service would be limited due to potential turbulence, but it seems to happen on almost all of my flights now.
I’ve noticed that too…on US carriers.
I am tired of all those turbulence announcements. It’s so they can say we told you to put your seatbelts on so don’t blame us if you get hurt. If I have to go to the toilet, I have to go and will get up even if the lights are on.
And you can’t sue them if you get you’re head cracked open. Fingers crossed
Agreed. Seems to be part of the preflight briefing from the cockpit on most flights from MCO on Delta, lately. Sometimes, this is justified by the cumulonimbus buildups in the area. Other times, and in most of my recent experience, after the climb it’s smooth as glass all the way to TOD near ATL. The “Flight Leader” standing up in the galley, curtains drawn, while first class (and in a paid seat) goes unserved makes my day brighter.
And the Unions are now ramping up efforts to implement that all FA’s should be seated the entire flight, of course, for their safety.
Mr Klint, I hope you had fun making Flight Attendants look trashy. For those onlookers, the door is not ARMED meaning, the airplane was not operating a flight. We are spit on, verbally and physically abused daily and because the airline is concerned about our safety, Mr Klint makes it sound as if 10 minutes less of service is going to ruin everyone’s flight – and makes sure you feel that we are all trashy people with this demeaning picture. You certainly aren’t a very good journalist!
Not my intent. If you have a better stock photo, please send it to me and I’ll use it.
Your intent is appalling and done explicitly for advertising $$$.
Like you do waking everyone up hawking credit cards on flights? Everyone’s gotta make a living!
You’re probably the guy that photocopies his butt at company Christmas parties.
No, I work for myself.
That photo is photoshopped. If you were a professional you would know.
Photoshopped how? You a photo editor too?
The door is in the armed position, but the strap is not over the window. No flight attendant would take that risk just for a photo. Did kids make fun of you when you were young?
The door is not armed in the photo. The girt bar is plainly resting in the slide container hooks and not attached to the floor brackets.
Or perhaps you are not a very good FA. One who is lazy, union driven, and cares more about doing less than actually having the heart to serve and be kind to customers.
Safety IS service, and their safety is worth more than any passengers opinion, including yours.
Providing safety is not a service. It’s a duty. Providing service is not a duty, it’s a choice by those who take pride and care in their chosen career.
Perhaps you’re a low life passenger, with an entitled god-like complex that expects the rules to be bent in your favor. Lol, go get a life.
That’s because 75% of US flight attendants ARE trashy. Let me put it in plain words: you suck!
I can’t count the number of international flights where United FAs shut down service over AN HOUR before landing. Why? Safety? I don’t think so. Try union-backed laziness.
Every other country, including Bulgaria, has better flight attendants — they actually care about passengers. US (and particularly United) FAs focus on doing the absolute minimum and treating customers like adversaries.
Another idiot passenger who doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Of course service is wrapped up a hour before the end of the flight. Could you imagine preparing the cabin/ galley of a 767,777,787 with less than an hour? You people are really stupid lol
Why is it then, that FAs on Alaska and from every other country in the world can manage it, yet you can not?
I’ve seen Lufthansa FAs do an entire meal service between Berlin and Frankfurt — a one-hour flight.
Are you admitting that you and your colleagues are lazy, lame asses?
Then, pray tell, how was AA able to serve full lunches to the entire plane, even in coach, on short 727 flights (with 106 passengers) back in the early 1980’s? I flew Dallas to San Antonio in coach back then and during lunchtime they served everyone in coach a drink, a club sandwich, and potato chips on those flights. Sure, that plane has half as many passengers as you’re talking about, but it’s also only a 45 minute flight.
>We are spit on, verbally and physically abused daily
Well, FAs in the United States deserve it. You’re so lazy, so power-hungry, and so, so fat.
Proof of the Darwin theory of natural selection. Trust a Captain to fly you and see out his window but not when the pilots see something unsafe ahead. They can actually see ahead of the plane when you only see where you have been, so go on with your smart decisions. Natural selection at its best!
Loretta
Sounds like the airlines wouldn’t hire you and your a bitter runt
Grammar. Try it some time, dear.
I guess you just looked at your self in the mirror.
“And then we leave the briefing room and head to the gate…” I’m truly sorry to hear about that kind of treatment. Do other passengers ever try to intervene when this happens? Is it more in Y class and J or F?
Good heavens. I can’t believe they don’t already do that.
Jumpsuits … Setbacks?
Spell check please!
Thanks.
The most annoying announcement is when they wake me up on a long flight to announce, we would like to remind you that the Fasten seat belt sign is still on.
I wish they would avoid that, but believe they are required to do that.
I noticed that this STRICT seat belt rule happens mostly in America. Foreign airlines are not as strict except when flying over the United States. It’s all about how many Lawyers & Lawsuits we have here in America.
How do you weirdos even get access to company emails?
Why do you people forward them to me?
In reference to the picture:
Imagine taking anyone’s picture on their unpaid break, no matter where they work. Inbetween flights while cleaning, etc is going on, what is one supposed to do while others are doing their jobs? She’s obviously in the aft galley of an empty plane.
In reference to the quicker end of service:
The current rule is a double chime 10 mins before touchdown, a tad longer in EWR usually. The announcement is finished in approximately a minute. Now walking through, offering personal invitations to all those who didn’t hear the announcement for whatever reason, getting the lavs emptied of passengers so they can be locked, asking lie flat pax to get themselves into compliance which must be rechecked since they’re still asleep at the 8 minute mark and then clearing the service items of those who wouldn’t give it back after the initial descent/final trash announcement before taking jumpseats while the gear is already down. Not to mention ensuring the galley is secured all within the next couple minutes.
This required extra time is necessary. Pre-landing meal services usually start 1:30 before landing and beverage-only services about 1:15. Then dozens of people have to use the lavatories. This new policy is definitely a safety issue.
Why did you feel the need to insert the word ‘meaningfully’ into the last sentence? If this standard reduces flight attendant injuries then I support sitting without service for a few extra minutes.
Because I do note that not all US carriers and almost zero foreign carriers adapt this approach, so it does make me wonder whether it is necessary if no one else is doing it. However, I’ve been on some very rough descents and this rule makes sense to me as long as people don’t have to put up their seats any earlier. I’m well-trained to put up my seat at the double chime and I don’t want that to change.
Turbulence can happen at any time. It’s not a matter of how much time it takes for the service to get done. They just want to get it done sooner so they don’t work as long.
I noticed that at the twitch of turbulence, the pilot will immediately come on and say “Seat belt folks.” even though this may only last a minute. It becomes mostly focused on the Lawyers & Lawsuits that are predominant in America.
For a country as over reliant as the US is on air travel, they don’t half shoot themselves in the foot with all this whoreshit. No wonder those who can fly private, however inconvenient it might be.
United are following where many other airlines have led.
Strange to read this now and know that most meal service has been cut on so many routes. SMH.