Date: 201903
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Physiological - Other
Anomaly: Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: As I boarded the flight I noticed a burning; electric smell in the fwd FC galley. It could also be smelled at the fwd Jump seat and fwd coat closet. It smelled the strongest in the galley. I had the same smell and experience on [a previous flight]. I have an extremely sensitive nose and system that is affected by harmful chemicals and irritants. The smell was continuous and it started while we were on the ground with none of the ovens or coffee pots on or engines running. I reported it to the pilots but none of them could smell it and two of the flight attendants checked it out and didn't smell anything. It was tolerable when we were boarding and the door was open and fresh air coming in but the smell was definitely there in the galley. Once we took off and I had to work in the galley my throat got very irritated; my sinuses in my forehead and below my eyes started hurting and my crew notices they swelled up and I was very red with blood shot eyes. I had a very bad headache and felt light headed. I had a hard time breathing the fumes. Since I had 12 [first class] customers to serve I had to figure out how to work in this situation. I had a paint mask in my bag that while I made drinks in the galley and prepare my soup; salad and rolls; then entrees; next desserts and finally snack basket and drink refills I wore the mask and was able to breathe much better. I took off the mask each time I served my customers and as I returned to the galley used the mask which helped tremendously! When the pilots were fed their meals and had a bathroom break I used oxygen in the cockpit. After I picked up trash in the back D FA (Flight Attendant) said for me to take a break in the back and she would go up front so I could have some fresh air. We only could smell it forward and not throughout the cabin. After about 10 minutes she came back and said she never smelled anything but her body was feeling very sick. Her throat; headache; very tired etc. B FA then went up front and she didn't smell anything still; but it took her only 30 seconds to feel sick. C FA decided to stay out of the forward cabin and got out oxygen for the three of us to use. The captain was called and Medlink. We all were the whole six hours able to perform our cabin duties. We made it very clear to the Captain and Medlink that we would finish deplaning the passengers in ZZZ and then I said I would like to meet with a mechanic supervisor to explain my situation since this is my second flight like this in 3 months and we would also like a flight attendant supervisor to talk with after the flight. We did not need reserve flight attendants to come on and deplane the aircraft. We were highly capable of finishing our duties and then addressing any tests we might have to do. We felt strongly about not alerting the passengers since that usually has people making false claims against the company to seek compensation and we didn't need their panic. Much to our dismay we were greeted with 2 supervisors; 4 replacement crew members and 5 paramedics. There were also two mechanics. We still waited until our customers deplaned to handle the follow up off the aircraft. I wish we could have had it more clear to those on the ground that we didn't need 4 reserves to come on and deplane our customers. That would be a shame to expose more FAs to the harmful odor and it wasn't requested by me or necessary. We all did all of our FA duties for the six hours in the cabin and were capable of finishing our duties and not alarming all our customers with the flight crew leaving and a jet way lined with emergency people. We had conveyed the message we thought to meet in the boarding area. I as the A FA was not asked by the captain if any of this was necessary.I would love to have the situation checked out by the mechanics and see what is causing these problems. Coffee pot wiring could be an issue? [Two aircraft] have had these problems recently and also let the pilots know of these issues if the FAs complain of harmful odors.




Synopsis: Flight Attendant reported burning electric fumes in forward cabin.