Hey Jim,
Isn't using the cart in the aisle approved now? I thought that on the 737, S-80 and 757 it was OK to use the carts in the aisle. Doesn't really matter, just curious. I know that doesn't mean that you have to take the cart out.
Despite what some domestic f/as will tell you, taking the cart out in the aisle is not approved on narrowbody a/c. I've even seen some f/as take the BEVERAGE cart out in the aisle on a beverage only flight. Now, that's lazy.
However, I've heard that the service procedures and standards for all a/c are being re-written. I believe that a FOOD cart in the aisle will be approved for narrowbody if the load is over a certain threshold.
I don't like to take the cart in the aisle for several reasons. First off, most of the carts are so beat up looking. If I were a passenger I would have a hard time believing that the food in that cart had been kept clean. Second, since they don't give us the linens to drape the inserts anymore, those gray plastic inserts just look tacky on top of the cart.
Three, I HATE sitting on the jumpseat for long periods of time. On a 4 hour flight from SLT-SFO, hand running the trays helps use up some of the time.
Four, (but no less important), when pulling trays out of the cart, if they've been packed badly--like one side on one rail and the other side of the tray on another rail, or the plastic wrap on one tray partially stretched over the adjacent tray or worse, one below--stuff can fall/get pulled off the tray, especially the wineglass and napkin. It's hard to cover that up if you're out in the aisle.
