I agree and flights that are supposed to have lodos should not ever go out without a lodo. I had to work a flt from CLT-MEX and MEX-CLT. We were on a 757 and we were supposed to have a lodo. Guess what? We didn't! Is anyone surprised? The flight was full and 99% of the people did not or would not speak English. I made the grave mistake of opening my big mouth and speaking Spanish. Let me tell you, I didn't sit down the entire flight. It was that bad. I made all announcements in Spanish and we played the safety video in English and in Spanish. I went to do the cabin walkthrough and I had to stop at just about every row and tell people to bring their seat backs and tray tables up and turn off PEDs and stuff. No speaky english they would say so told them in Spanish and made an additional announcement half way through the cabin. Then, when the did our beverage service, again, all in Spanish so I did my orders and interpreted for the other f/a on the cart at times but they made it through ok. Then, the real fun began - forms! I spent at least 2 solid hours on forms. I made the announcements with thorough instructions in English and in Spanish. We handed them all out. Then people kept calling me for another form or for help. I had people who couldn't read and write, they didn't understand what to do, they messed up and needed another form, had a million questions, etc. Since many didn't speak English the other f/as couldn't really help since they couldn't understand. Then, it was time for duty free and the other f/a set up the cart and we went through and people were still stopping me for forms. They wouldn't leave me alone for the rest of the flight. Lesson learned: next time I will get on the PA and tell everyone we will pass out forms and for them to get a black or blue ink pen and passports out and wait for me because we will do them together and I will go through each section as they fill it out. That's the teacher in me! It was the most stressful flight I have ever worked. We were all stressed and frustrated after that flight. The people were nice, they were just needy and didn't speak English. Luckily an agent was on board to help with bags. Our flight from MEX-CLT wasn't quite as bad but it wasn't all fun and games either. When I got back I claimed understaffing and lodo pay since I had to do the job of 2+ f/as but they wouldn't give it to me. I was furious. Even when I used to fly to MAD I never had a problem like that. It was pure craziness. All narrowbodies should have at least on lodo or it doesn't go and wide bodies at least 2, but 3 would be ideal, especially on the 330.
