Date: 201403
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Dawn
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
ATC / advisory: Ramp ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Human factors: Workload; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: Pre-flight
Result: Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Company Policy
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: Report time was near dawn. I boarded plane at ten minutes before check in; and I was the first Flight Attendant to board. I completed my equipment check and had just began my TSA Security Check (other flight attendants had now boarded) when at two minutes before check in while I was standing on seat looking into bins (part of my TSA Security Check as 'D' is to check all bins; and I cannot see all the way back into them without standing on seat); I heard a noise and looked up and saw people boarding. It was two minutes before our report time. The 'B' was just placing her suitcase into a bin. There had been no boarding announcement from the 'A.' I went forward as far as I could; passenger were at Row 3; and said to the 'A;' 'Please stop boarding I have not completed my TSA Security Check.' The 'A' responded; 'I sighed off for you and the other flight attendants and turned it into the Operations Agent.' I said; 'Please get it back; you may not sign for me. I have not completed it; and it is two minutes before report time and you did not announce boarding. Please stop boarding; get the TSA Security sheet back; allow me to finish the Security check and sign it; and assume my boarding position.' He did not stop boarding; but said he would get the slip back and cross out where he had signed for me. I asked him to get the Captain; but he did not. I finished my Security Check and returned to as far forward as I could. After boarding; he handed me the TSA Security Check/sign list and I could see where he had crossed out where he had signed my employee number. I then signed it. On the next leg; I was in my boarding position at the front of the aircraft when boarding began. The 'A' again did not make any announcement. The 'C' was at the back of the plane and saw people boarding and quickly moved to her boarding position. These were the only two legs I flew with the 'A' as I was 'D' and moved to another aircraft. Boarding should not begin before out scheduled report time; 'A' should allow all the flight attendants to do their equipment checks and TSA Security Checks and should never sign for them in any instance and especially when they have not completed said check. 'A' should always make a boarding announcement and get a positive response from each flight attendant that they are ready to board.


Second narrative: We arrived at the plane about 5 minutes prior to our report time. Myself; the 'B' and 'C' flight attendants were doing our Security Checks and getting ready to board. The 'D' Flight Attendant was in the back arranging snacks. The 'D' took an earlier van and had been on the plane before we got there. The agent asked if we could board; and I said yes. The passengers began to board; and the 'D' Flight Attendant asked me to stop boarding as she had not finished her security check. I immediately stopped the passengers from boarding. We had two passengers standing in the forward entry area. No passengers were in the aisle or seated. 'D' completed her security check; and I continued the boarding process. I wrote the 'D' Flight Attendant's employee number on the security sheet and gave it to the agent. 'D' told me she did not feel comfortable with that so I got the sheet back and let her rewrite her employee number herself.


Synopsis: A flight attendant crew did not have time to complete their originating flight TSA Security Check before the A Flight Attendant began an unannounced boarding. He had already signed the TSA Security sign-off sheet for the other three flight attendants.