Date: 201908
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: SAN.Airport, CA
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Cockpit Door
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant In Charge
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Attendant; Person Flight Crew
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Company Policy; Human Factors; MEL
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: During our briefing with the Captain; he informs us that the flight deck door keypad is inoperative. Meaning the door cannot be opened from the outside. Cabin crew voiced concern of safety. Captain calls Maintenance to find out more.FAA say it's not MEL; that the plane can fly with the keypad not working. Captain thought it was fine because what's the likelihood of us needing to get into the flight deck in an emergency or them both being incapacitated?We did not feel it was safe to be flying this plane. Not just us but anybody. We voiced this to the pilots and had our Inflight Supervisor come to the plane to discuss as well. It is not the plane itself that we felt unsafe about. We all understand that the plane itself is safe to fly. It is the operation that is not safe. If both pilots are incapacitated there is no way for us to get into the flight deck to either help land the plane or help them. How is this safe? It puts the entire crew and all passengers at an unnecessary risk.We were informed after the flight that the First Officer did not feel safe flying the plane as well. I asked the Captain on another flight what could we do in that situation with the keypad being broken and he said there was nothing we would be able to do.SAN Supervisor called Crew Scheduling Manager and was told if we called out not safe there would be disciplinary action up to discharge if we stepped off. Flight would just be re-crewed still putting all passengers and new crew at the same safety risk.I did not feel supported by company or pilots in this safety situation. There is no other way of getting into the flight deck. We are always taught safety first yet there was no support. This was not 'ready; safe; go.'Policies need to change; both [Company] policy and FAA. The plane should be a no go if the keypad to the flight deck door is broken and there is no way for flight attendants to get into the flight deck in an emergency. This policy as it stands not only puts the crew at risk but the entire plane full of passengers. It is absolutely it safe to fly.


Second narrative: Captain informed my crew and me that the flight deck door would not be able to be opened from the outside.C FA (Flight Attendant); myself and B FA were immediately concerned but boarding was about to start so C FA and B FA went to the back. C FA then called to voice her concern and I agreed. I talked to Captain and he said he would call Operations. I also called our Supervisor to our plane whom I told about the situation.Captain then got off the phone and told her and me that the plane is not MEL'd and the plane is 'safe' to fly according to Operations. I then called C FA and B FA up to talk with me and Supervisor. We again voiced our concern to Supervisor about how unsafe this is and how we don't think we should fly. Supervisor then called Management. She came back and told us we could fly in 'not safe' but there would be an investigation. Insinuating we could lose our jobs. The Supervisor stepped off so we could discuss as a crew. We all decided that it was unsafe to fly. We know the chances are low of having both pilots unable to fly but there is that chance. I felt very unsafe for my entire crew and the passengers.Supervisor then came back and said she got off the phone with the CS (Crew Scheduling) Manager and said there would be 'disciplinary action up to discharge' if we chose not to fly. As a crew; we love our jobs and couldn't imagine not having them. I felt no option but to fly in a very unsafe environment.


Synopsis: Flight attendants reported being forced by management to continue a flight after voicing safety concerns due to an inoperative keypad for the flight-deck door.