AN INTL FLT ATTENDANT DISCUSSES THE STRESSES OF LONG FLTS; REST CYCLE SCHEDULING PREFERENCES (2 VS 3); AND CREWS COMMUTING TO WORK ARRIVING ALREADY FATIGUED AND TIRED.

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HOW THE PROB AROSE: PURSER ON THE FLT VIOLATED CREW REST BREAK POLICY (AN ACR POLICY OF HAVING 3 REST BREAKS SPREAD AMONG THE CREW) WHICH CAUSED A THIN COVERAGE ON THE PLANE. INSTEAD OF DIVIDING THE TIME BY 3 (THUS HAVING MORE PEOPLE IN THE CABIN); SHE DIVIDED IT INTO 2 BREAKS. EXAMPLE: 2 BREAKS = 3 HRS. 3 BREAKS = 2 HRS REST. THIS MEANS INSTEAD OF 4;4;3 ON BREAK -- IT MEANS 5; 6. THIS LEAVES A LOT MORE COVERAGE FOR FEWER FLT ATTENDANTS TO MAINTAIN THE CABIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR: FATIGUE -- THIS IS A HOTLY DEBATED ISSUE AND CAUSES MANY HARD FEELINGS: TOO MANY FLT ATTENDANTS (AND PLTS) ARE COMMUTING FROM COAST-TO-COAST OR CONTINENT-TO-CONTINENT AND WITHOUT MUCH REST ARE COMING TO WORK TOO TIRED TO WORK; AND THE FLT ATTENDANTS DEPEND ON SLEEPING ON THE PLANE (INTL FLTS) CAUSING COVERAGE PROBS. I HAVE SEEN THIS CONTINUOUSLY. CREWS FLYING ENTIRELY TOO FATIGUED DUE TO HUGE COMMUTES WITHOUT REST BEFORE TRIPS. DOMESTIC -- WITH NO BREAKS. INTL -- WITH AS MUCH SLEEP AS THEY CAN FORCE THE PURSER TO GIVE THEM BTWN SVCS.