Date: 202001
Location: ZZZZ.Airport, FO
Aircraft: B737-800
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct
Detector: Person Flight Attendant; Person Passenger
When detected: Taxi; In-flight
Result: General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: I was working as the #4 on Aircraft X; leaving ZZZZ to ZZZ.  We boarded once; had a fume event; deplaned and boarded again. I conducted my exit row briefing as all passengers were already seated in the exit rows. I went to the front to tell the #1; exit rows briefed.  While standing near the boarding door; a woman boarded and said to us; 'the three guys behind me are drunk.'   Behind her were three tall men; one was very big; who were loud and rambunctious.  I said the #1 and #3 that they should not be allowed to board. They dismissed my comment and said they would talk to them.  I entered the cockpit and calmly said to the Captain; 'three drunk passengers just boarded and it is policy per our manual to not allow drunk passengers to board; but I will respect your decision whatever you decide to do.'  At this point the passenger who sat in XXC (my tablet showed that as an empty seat) was loudly going through all the overhead bins looking for a missing bag.  He finally found it. Prior to that he had trouble finding his seat and had to go back up to row 14 from about row 25.  I did smell alcohol on XXC passenger. (I have; unfortunately; a very good sense of smell.) The #3 apparently spoke to him (I did not see that) and the #3 and #1 said the passengers in XXA; XXB and XXC were fine to fly. The agent and CRO (Complaint Resolution Officer) came on and told the Captain they were OK to fly.  Based on the information from the #1; #3; agent and CRO the Captain made the decision to let them remain on board. While taxiing out; we stopped and sat for about 20 minutes or longer; due to weights and balances that needed to be done by hand (as explained by the Captain via a PA). When we started to go again we were close to take off and there was yelling and screaming; and the call light being pushed at around row 14.  The #1 started walking back.  I was concerned the #1 would be in the aisle during take-off so I made an announcement that if it was an emergency to ring the call light again; otherwise the flight attendants had to remain seated as we are about to take off.  I then called the Captain.  He said he heard my announcement and stopped. The #2 went up to the passenger and spoke with him.  The #1 went back up to the front.  The #2 said that XXC said we 'were delaying the flight to make more money and that he pays our _____ salary.'  (You will have to check with the #2 about details of that conversation.)  The #2 came to the back; called the captain and said we could go. When ready to start the service; the #2 said he is not comfortable serving any alcohol on this flight with these rowdy passengers.  I said ok; you are the galley; I am fine with that.  When pushing the cart up I told the #3 that the #2 did not want to serve alcohol.  At about row 3 the #3 asked me to go to the back to get a vodka.  I said the #2 isn't comfortable serving alcohol.  He made a comment I didn't hear.  I then said if you want one vodka; then get it from first.  He went to first and got it.  He then proceeded to get several other drinks for a few rows from first.  This put me in an awkward middle situation between the #2 and #3. When we got to row XX; I worked the cart so the #3 could deal with XXA; B; C.  Of course they requested alcoholic drinks. I did not hear what the #3 said; but he did not give him alcohol that I could see. Then my passengers were asking for drinks also.  If the #3 had complied with the request of the #2 not to serve; I wouldn't have; but because the #3 was serving; I did.  I went to the #2 and requested wine; vodka.  He said we aren't doing drinks.  I said but the #3 started serving so we kind of have to.  He said what about the last three rows that I told we aren't serving.  I said; I don't know. Just before landing I called the Captain and said I wanted to update him on what has occurred so he wouldn't be blindsided with anything later on.  He said we would discuss once on the ground. When we got to ZZZ; the Captain wanted tohave a debrief. During the debrief (there was also a fume event on this flight); the Captain said he allowed the passenger to board because the #1; #3; agent and CRO said the passenger was good to fly.  When he finished I said; 'Captain; the #2 and I have 22 years of flying each.  The #1 and #3 are new hires.  In this case; experience trumps opinion and while their opinion was that these passengers could fly; experience tells us that if there is a problem on the ground; it is much worse in the air. The #1 and #3 then got mad and said some remarks (frankly at this point I stopped listening to them.  I had had it.)  I added; 'it is in our manual as part of flight attendant procedures not to board drunk passengers.' He said that he made the decision based on what the #1; #3; agent and CRO said.  I said I understood that and then added; 'the agents just want to get rid of the passengers and have a history of boarding them when they shouldn't so they don't have to deal with them.' The #1 rolled her eyes and said I complained about everything. She abruptly stood up and said she was leaving and didn't need to hear anymore of this. The managers and Captain finished the meeting and everyone left.  Suggestions: For new hires to follow procedure and not allow drunk passengers to board.  Also for them not to mislead the Captain on how drunk they were. Other station operation issues: Agents boarded drunk passengers and when asked they just responded that it is OK.'; 'Agents boarded drunk passengers and when asked they just responded that it is OK. Other individual factors: #1 and #3 advised Captain to allow drunk passengers to board when I informed the Captain and the flight attendants that this was against policy.




Synopsis: B737-800 Flight Attendant reported a fume event resulting in Maintenance delay prior to departure. (Reporter's narrative mostly description of passenger misconduct.)