Date: 202103
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: A321
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise; Parked
Aircraft component: Air Cycle Machine
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight; Pre-flight; Routine Inspection
Result: Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: During boarding there were 2 JS riders; plus nonrevs with seats; plus working crew in the aft galley which I attempted to work around to complete duties. There was some impediment. During MX (Maintenance) delay a NONREV from Cabin C came to aft galley and argued with me about why it was not OK for her to charge her cell phone with the vacuum outlet in the galley. I advised her of the safety policy regarding that. After demo I was in aft galley when I smelled strong oil and oil exhaust smell that extended a few rows into the cabin past Row 31; including lav. It seemed to dissipate after several minutes with forward movement of plane which is common so did not report then. During cruise a pax (passenger) from Row 33 came aft to complain of nausea and headache asking for water and pain med and denied having symptoms prior to flight and complained of fumes bothering him. I smelled oil in the aft galley area intermittently throughout flight; and was experiencing some mild symptoms myself but still did not write report on paper prior to calling CA (Captain) to keep him informed. All 3 MC crew were in galley when pax complained. FA (Flight Attendant) 4 provided water and med to pax. FA3 and FA4 both went forward for pilot breaks and cabin surveillance AFTER I called the FD about this issue so I assumed FA1 would be informed by someone else including the CA; but he was not. My mistake which I apologized to him for. During cruise we were experiencing turbulence in the aft so I waited several minutes before calling the FD to notify we were experiencing turbulence in the aft and to request SB (seat belt) sign on if they felt it was appropriate. During cruise I went forward to provide CDW about aft lav to FA1 but he was in the lav for an extended period of time and I had MC duties to attend to so I slipped the form under the FD door and called the FD to tell them same. At gate arrival a stronger smell of oil entered the aft galley area and cabin and lav so I called the FD; for a 4th time; with out calling FA1 first; to confirm AFT doors showed unarmed; asking to vent aft galley and report the very strong fumes of oil. He asked me to fill out the info on paper and to see him to debrief together and asked who all was involved. I tried to do an ALLCALL from the aft but was unsuccessful in reaching the entire crew with one call so tried to do individual calls. I was only able to reach FA3 and FA1 who began to yell at me about my poor CRM and said he only found out when the FD door opened and the CA said something about it. Both the CA and FA1 said I did not follow CRM procedures and said only the FA1 is to call the FD on cabin issues. I was unaware that was the case even for safety situations; including turbulence in the aft; that I was primarily aware of and apologized. FA1 accused me of intentionally creating conflict and of having a pattern of same. Each of the last 3 times I have flown with him he asks me what I want to be when I grow- up in front of passengers; another time we flew together he yelled at me for making a PA about the seatbelt sign prior to XA:00 as FA2 because he thought the IFM said XB:00 not XC:00 and people were sleeping; and only the FA1 makes announcements. I suppose this factored into why I was directly calling the FD and not using the loud interphone to call FA1 as well. And why I did not opt to make the turbulence without seat belt sign on announcement instead. I can't speak to why no one else told him about fumes and pax complaint. There was an opportunity during the crew briefing to establish cabin to FD flow that I think was missed. With multiple employee pre-boards and a full flight we were all highly tasked during the pre-boarding and boarding processes I have experienced both FD wanting only to speak with FA1 and stating such and also being invited to call with any safety concerns regardless of position in cabin. In my main concern and focus for safety of flight I unintentionally possibly violated CRM flowon this flight.




Synopsis: Air Carrier Flight Attendant reported physiological symptoms from intermittent cabin fumes which were also reported by passengers.