AlmostBritish

This is getting serious, and I am genuinely curious about the experience from other passengers.

As I am former cabin crew, I am a little bit more sensitive to how the flight safety checks are done than any other passenger.

This is number 3 out of 4 flights with AA within 2 months that no pre flight cabin checks have been made(and a whole lot more that was supposed to be done). Currently sitting in First from MIA to LAX and several people were reclined, had their ipad on their lap, tables out etc while taxiing and during take off. This all while one of the flight crew was having her diner on her lap (once again during taxiing and takeoff).

These are serious FAA violations and the fact that this has been happening more than once, I am genuinely considering writing them regarding these serious issues. As I wish to CC American Airlines to that email, I hope someone could give me a direct email address for their Customer Relations or Inflight Services team.

I have written a complaint but I still haven't received a confirmation back. So far the customer representatives I have been speaking with do not understand the issue regarding flight safety, which (in my opinion) should be something they should be taken seriously.

So I would like to use this thread to discuss your experiences with AA where the flight safety checks haven't been done at all. Please note that you do not need to be cabin crew in order to understand what flight checks have to be done, just listen to all the announcements they make.

Secondly (as I already mentioned) I hope one of you could provide me with a direct email address for Customer relations or Inflight Services so I am able to CC them in the email towards the FAA.

RogerD408

It seems AA (and many other companies) is cutting off the ability to directly email certain groups. You might try going to Twitter and see if anyone from AA there can put you in touch with someone in AA management.

Dave Noble

Rather than write to AA, perhaps just submit the information to DOT

VegasGambler

I wouldn't worry about CC'ing them. If you file a legitimate complaint with the FAA I'm sure that they will get a copy.

alphaod

Just contact the FAA. I hope you took a few pictures.

hillrider

The FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) overseeing AA can be contacted as per http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...o/ntx/contact/

FSDOs are responsible for the enforcement of airmen & aircraft regulations.

I agree with other posters that you're wasting your time with AA: you already contacted them, and they ignored you. If you witnessed an FAR violation, report it to the FAA.

PiedmontFH227

I would agree that you would need to contact the FAA about this. As tech savvy as everyone is, I am surprised you didn't take any photos. I find it questionable that you would say this has happened 4 times in 2 months. I seriously doubt it. Must have some kind of grudge against AA. Meal trays out and crew eating in their lap on take off? Yeah, it happens all the time....NOT.

AA777

In the future, pull out your phone, video the infractions, swing camera to show out the window showing the plane moving and then use the contact link that Hillrider provided and inform them you have video evidence of said violations.

If you have multiple videos, from multiple flights, I promise you it will raise some flags.

Cheers,
AA777

AlmostBritish

I am not saying it happens all the time, the fact that it happens is a violation on it's own. @PiedmontFH227 I do not have a grudge against AA, however I expect every airline to perform their flight safety duties within a minimal level. Currently this does not apply to the flight I have experienced.

Not making picture evidence means that I was hoping AA would have done things differently, but unfortunately the opposite is true. the fact that it's more than one occasion suggests that it's an operational issue.

I will make video evidence next time I am seeing these things happening. I was just hoping I was wrong but clearly I am not.

Accusing me of having a grudge is not making any sense and I will not take this seriously

Perhaps I have had some bad luck, but 3 out of 4 flights is quite a lot and should give a fair idea.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will certainly consider all of them while writing my complaint.

austin_modern

Filming the flight crew is going to go over well....

JDiver

Id think twice about videotaping AA employees; it has been known to get their dander up. And... recent sources have stated the following:

boardingarea.com

and from JonNYC at travelingbetter.com

Perhaps documenting your experience to USDOT might suffice? Or, try NOT BY EMAIL:

Sean Bentel
Vice President Customer and Relations
4333 Amon Carter Blvd
Fort Worth, TX 76155

Or

Robert Isom
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
4333 Amon Carter Blvd
Fort Worth, TX 76155

I may be a bit more concerned than others about these issues, because I've observed some very unsafe procedures carried out by aircrew in the past - and because I've lost two good friends, one a colleague and the other a cousin, in loss of life accidents both certified as having occurred to to crew error. (PSA 182 and LANSA 502, respectively.)

robsaw

Why would you doubt the OP? The post had no indication of a grudge or rant. And, no implication by the OP that "it happens all the time".

While the frequency may be coincidentally high for the OP that in itself doesn't reduce the OP's credibility. I'm far more concerned about safety checks that involve airworthiness, the observed conduct still increases risk.

AlmostBritish

This is my issue as well, but I was in the position to actually make a vid during taxiing. During take-off and landing I am usually to busy with my won checks.

And @Robsaw, thanks for your words. I have nothing against AA at all. Had a lovely flight with them on their new 777 and I do like their service, however you can combine flight safety and service, as long as you know what you are talking about

FWAAA

While passengers should be holding their iPads (not just resting them on their laps), this one appears to be nit-picking, as passengers no longer have to discontinue use of certain PEDs for taxi, takeoff and landing.

Nearly every flight I'm on features someone who reclines their premium cabin seat after the flight attendants perform their checks and take their jumpseats. It's against the rules, but FAs can't see every premium cabin seat from their jumpseats - so what are they to do? They can't be up walking around once we hit the runway.

I would second (or third) the advice to not record the crewmembers.

mvoight

I would have no problem recording these kind of violations. Do you really think AA is going to punish you for recording its employees doing something that violates federal regs?
That alone would seem to be a cause for a DOT complaint.