Date: 202106
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZZ.Airport, FO
Aircraft: A321
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked; Cruise
Aircraft component: Air Cycle Machine
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant In Charge
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Physiological - Other; Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Crew; Person Flight Attendant
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate; Routine Inspection
Result: General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: During boarding; all of a sudden Flight Attendant 1 (FA-1) and Flight Attendant 3 (FA-3); in the front galley; [and] I smelled like a scorched cloth smell when you turn on an oxygen bottle; or a burnt crayon smell. The smell spread in the first-class cabin. I experienced this smell before and knew right away that it was a fumes/cabin odor event. Most likely; the aircraft has an oil leak in or close to the engine. I informed the Captain immediately; and he smelled it; too. After a few minutes; my throat became scratchy; and I started getting lightheaded. When I turned my head; I felt as if my eyes caught up with my head with a slight delay. (said she smelled it; but that she was OK. I went on the jetway as the smell was really getting to me. My heartbeat became faster; and my speech even became slurred: my words were not coming out as fast as they were usually. I started losing the ability to function; almost. Name FA-3 kind of took over and made some announcements or was listening to the Captain; when he was calling me. The Captain reported the fumes/odor; and a mechanic came onboard. The boarding was complete; but the Captain notified the agents of the problem. I needed some fresh air; so I went to the jet way door; opened it; and took a few breaths; but a customer service supervisor; I think; told me to close the door immediately; as in a few minutes some machine was going to be turned on; 2 gates away from ours; and the smell would have come to the jet way from the open door. I did not smell anything outside; but I closed the door immediately; as I was instructed; well before the machine 2 gates away; was turned on; so there was no way that any smell/fumes could have come in through the door. The Captain made an announcement that the passengers needed to deplane; and everybody deplaned. We deplaned as well. I immediately went to sit down; as I felt dizzy. I took a bottle of water with me; to keep me hydrated. After the flight kept being delayed further and further; it was finally delayed until the next morning; to allow the mechanics to work on the plane. The Captains were given the name of the hotel where they were going to layover; but it took over an hour for the Hotels and Limo department to work on our hotel stay. We waited and waited and finally decided to go with the Captains; hoping that Company would put us in the same hotel. When we went outside; still not knowing where we were staying; a van driver flagged us and told us we were going to stay at the hotel with the Captains. As we were driving; I received a phone call from ZZZ Flight Service; Name; confirming that we were staying at the hotel. After a good night sleep; the next morning; I felt much better; however; both of my hands were shaking; and; when I put my contacts back on; I realized that they were foggy. The driver who took us to the airport told us that the plane was fixed by the mechanics. The plane we boarded was; in fact; the same plane we had the day before. When I looked in the logbook; I read that the mechanics could not reproduce the problem; and that; therefore; nothing was done to the plane. They wrote that it could have been a smell/fumes coming from outside and reaching the plane from a door left open. As I described above; the fumes/odor started on the plane long before anybody operated any machine or equipment outside. There were no fumes/smoke/smells outside. In the morning; though; I did not smell the smell from the day prior. However; I felt the presence of the fumes; as by the time we were taking off my throat became scratchy again. Name FA-3 didn't look that good; either. As soon as she came onboard; she did not have the energy she displayed the day prior and sat down immediately in a first class seat. I asked her if she was feeling OK; and she said she felt tired. She did not feel like herself. She said she could not sleep well; as she felt heaviness on her chest. She thought that maybe she ate too much food during the flight; but that now she realized that it was not what she ate. I told her that it could definitely be an increase in blood pressure or other symptom related to the fumes. As the flight progressed; she went to the back. I continued to serve in first class; and; twice; I couldn't even speak; as my throat became really scratchy. I went to the galley to drink some water and felt better. When we arrived in ZZZ; I felt better; but; at night; I had headache; so I had to call sick for the trip I had the next day. After a good night sleep; I felt much better. I thank the Captain for reporting the problem; however; I don't think that the plane is fixed. The problem was not fumes or smell coming from outside but something wrong with the plane; probably an oil leak causing toxic fumes and odor to come in the cabin. It would be nice if they could check and try to find the leak. I do not feel safe flying on this airplane. As far as the operations went; there was a lot of confusion with our hotel accommodations and with communication from the Company to us. The next day; there was also a lot of confusion regarding the new departure time; as the flight info on our tablet; Company; and the information the Captain's had showed all different departure times. Communication between the Company and the crews really needs to improve. Scheduling should contact us directly; instead of relying on automated methods of communication.




Synopsis: A321 Flight Attendant in Charge reported a fume event during boarding.