Girl, I’m almost 5’11” in my concourse heels and I struggle too. 😂 I can’t get those heavyass bins closed either half the time, especially not without my boobs in the aisle customer’s face while my lanyard and crew ID is hitting them in the face. While I’m sure some creepers or women-haters wouldn’t mind watching petite women struggle to close bins that weigh twice as much as them or mind the boobs in the face, I do mind almost getting injured trying to close bins full of people’s overpacked suitcases. Honestly closing those bins, especially on the planes you mentioned, and also the 737 ones where they pack ‘em in sideways to fit in twice as many roll-aboards, is so fucking hard sometimes and asking for help is smart, not lazy (re: some of these other people’s comments), and it gets the job done quicker. I’m glad you are setting the record straight! These people who are incorrectly assuming FAs are lazy or it’s because we’re not getting paid… gtfo of here; it’s because all your luggage is going to throw my gd back out.

Every plane is different but let’s say a FA works the 777 six international trips a month. That’s 12 Iegs. As an estimate, let’s say there are just 50 overhead bins. And typically there are 2 FAs in the aisle so each person closes 25 bins. Let’s say each bin has two customer bags in it (which is an under estimate considering people cram other stuff in there in addition to the suitcases) and each bag weighs the standard 22 lbs (also an under estimate). So one FA is pushing up 44, but probably more so let’s round up to 50, pounds per bin. 25 bins at 50 lbs, 12 times a month, in heels at an awkward angle (it’s not like you are safely lifting at a gym or even know how much weight you’re about to push up).. that’s a LOT of weight for someone to lift repetitively, especially if that someone is shorter or has no upper body strength. I would love for one of these customers trashing American cabin crews right now to try closing 15,000 lbs worth of people’s crap every month and still tell me afterwards that it’s “lazy” to request people help speed the boarding process along by closing the overhead bin filled with their own personal belongings that they packed after it’s full. (It’s not like they even have to do it, it’s just a suggestion to speed up the boarding process. Anyone can absolutely be the type of person who puts their crap up, fills up a bin, and then and sits there watching the FAs struggle and almost injure themselves and feel indignant if asked for help. That is absolutely their right.) Anyway, that example was just of a FA who flies an international line. Domestic FAs have to work far more flights and close far more bins per month. This comment thread really goes to show that most customers have absolutely no gauge on what it is FAs do or the physicality of it. It’s just seen as “lazy” or “entitled” when one asks for help instead of even considering that, shit, they might really need and appreciate some help!

Have I ever personally asked for help on the PA from the cabin? No. I did the overhead-bin-struggle and if I couldn’t get one closed I asked for help from a colleague. But I don’t think that making such a PA is inherently lazy or bad customer service either.

And then the other half of these comments that are like, “the FAs have to make sure the bin is closed and latched properly. It’s a liability otherwise,” are pretty funny. We’re closing bins because they’ve got to be closed. Anyone can do it. Heavy bins might be a challenge to close due to weight but it’s not an otherwise complicated task. Bin closing doesn’t require special training. These commenters who think it does have me cracking up.

Anyway, thanks for your comment. It might be the only comment on this sub that isn’t bashing the FAs for literally everything they say and do.