Originally Posted by
DAL 88 Driver
I just sent the following email to KS (the person who's name is on the bulletin). I would suggest that any of you who are concerned might want to considering emailing him as well. He's a good guy and I've found him to be responsive in the past.
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I just read the bulletin regarding the FDRA. I guess I don't understand what it is you are trying to accomplish with this. The agent has to come within a few feet of the cockpit to give us our updated weather, etc. and obtain our concurrence with closing the door. I don't see how this saves any time or results in the door being closed any sooner.....
When they board through door #2 on the 757, the agent has to walk through the first class cabin to get the release (probably 20 steps round trip). I bet a few of them blamed late door closings on these extra steps and the company responded with this new policy.
At NWA, we used to leave the release at the gate with the agent all the time. But, we also used to do the paperwork at the gate all the time, too. I still try to tear/cut, review, and fill things out at the gate, but it's always a fight for space with the agents.
With this new policy, they should get used to making room for us up there and maybe have a ruler, or straight-edge for us to use.