B737-700 CABIN CREW IS FATIGUED DURING FLT.

Narrative

I BECAME EXTREMELY FATIGUED (TO THE POINT OF FEELING WEAK; DIZZY; AND DISORIENTED) DURING THIS FLT. THIS WAS THE LAST OF 5 LEGS TOTALING 9 HRS 20 MINS BLOCK TIME OVER A 13 HR DUTY PERIOD. ALL 5 FLTS WERE DELAYED TO SOME EXTENT AND WERE ALL OF GENERALLY EQUAL LENGTH IN FLT TIME. LOAD FACTOR FOR THESE 5 FLTS WAS AT LEAST 90%-95%. THE PROB AROSE FROM BEING SCHEDULED ONLY 10 HRS OF REST PRECEDING A 13 HR DUTY PERIOD (WHICH ENDED UP BEING 14 HRS 20 MINS). ACTUAL SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE WAS APPROX 6 HRS; INSUFFICIENT SLEEP FOR STANDING/FLYING FOR 14 HRS STRAIGHT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE DELAYS AND THE INABILITY TO TAKE A LONG ENOUGH BREAK TO EAT A NUTRITIOUS/ENERGIZING MEAL. THE ONLY MEAL EATEN WAS AT THE HOTEL. I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO EAT A FULL MEAL AGAIN UNTIL COMPLETING THE 5 LEGS (16 HRS LATER). MY PERFORMANCE BECAME SEVERELY DEGRADED IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I DID NOT CONSIDER CALLING OUT FATIGUED BECAUSE OUR COMPANY DISCIPLINES FLT ATTENDANTS WHO DO SO; AND BECAUSE BACKING BY THE FAA SEEMS RELUCTANT AT BEST (THIS IS BASED ON HOW THE CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED FATIGUE STUDY HAS BEEN HANDLED). HAD AN EMER OCCURRED; I HAVE SERIOUS DOUBTS THAT MY PERFORMANCE WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPARABLE AT ALL TO REGULATORY STANDARDS. I COULD NOT EVEN RECALL BEVERAGE REQUESTS WITHIN SECONDS OF THE REQUEST. OUR COMPANY ROUTINELY DISREGARDS SENSIBLE SCHEDULING PRACTICES (IE; LONG LAYOVERS PRECEDING/FOLLOWING HIGH BLOCK/DUTY DAYS) IN FAVOR OF LOW-COST EFFICIENCY. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A THREAT TO SAFE OPS. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE LACK OF GND TIME PROVIDED ON LONGER DAYS THAT WOULD FACILITATE A HEALTHY/NUTRITIOUS/NUTRITIONALLY SUSTAINING MEAL. IN OTHER WORDS; CURRENT PRACTICES AT OUR COMPANY ARE ALSO A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO FLT ATTENDANT FATIGUE/EXHAUSTION/SLEEP DEPRIVATION.