Date: 201703
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Aircraft: A321
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Climb; Taxi
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant In Charge
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Physiological - Other
Second reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: Taxi
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Just as we were cleared for takeoff making final turn onto runway; I smelled a strong burn-off or fuel smell. I heard a few of the passengers (pax) sitting forward of wing area (rows 14-16) say their throat was burning. I had a pilot from another airline sitting in front of me and asked his opinion. He said he felt that it was residual burn-off. With the position we were in; I made the decision that it was unsafe to contact the pilots at that critical phase of take-off. Shortly after we took off the odor began to dissipate. I waited until we were out of 10;000 feet and had received bells from Capt. I asked other Flight Attendants (FA) if anyone else smelled anything. Forward cabin was okay and the #2 FA smelled nothing in the aft cabin. The #4 FA said she smelled a little something; but was not concerned at the time. I called Capt and asked if I could go in flight deck and speak with him. He took the situation very seriously and wanted to know and be kept informed if the odor returned. He also wanted the other FAs take on the issue. He said he would return to [departure airport]. Everyone else had agreed that the odor had gone away; including the pax sitting in the affected rows where it was strongest prior to take-off. The decision was made to continue on with the flight. Nothing else was detected during the flight. After landing and on taxi -in; I started noticing the odor returning. When we parked aircraft and doors were opened; the odor became unbearably strong. It was worse than before and was choking me and burning my eyes and throat. As soon as last pax deplaned; I walked out to top of deplaning stairs to get fresh air. We advised Capt what was taking place. The Capt instructed us to close aft deplaning door as the odor was stronger in the back of aircraft at that point but was quickly getting just as strong throughout aircraft and in the forward galley/cabin. At that point we all stood outside of the aircraft. It was decided after a short time that we should get our bags and get off aircraft entirely.[Suggestion:] more thorough maintenance checks.


Second narrative: During Taxi in to gate and prior to gate arrival; FAs and pax noticed strong fume odor in cabin. FAs complained of eye and throat irritation. I noticed odor in cockpit after pax deplaning. Contract Maintenance could not duplicate problem. I elected to have [Company] Maintenance look at aircraft before agreeing to fly aircraft. Maintenance arrived some hours later to troubleshoot issue. Maintenance indicated to me that a 'significant' hole was found in the low pressure duct.It would be helpful to have an absolute protocol in place for these events. I have never been (and will never be) comfortable relying on contract Maintenance to deal with fume issues.


Synopsis: A321 Flight Attendant and Captain reported smelling a strong burn-off or fuel smell during takeoff; then once again after landing.