Narrative:

After long delay due to WX on taxiway, departures suddenly opened up. We were also moved up in the sequence. Therefore, we were starting an engine and running checklists in a bit of a hurry. We made the pre takeoff PA and flight attendants were readying the cabin. We were in position and cleared for takeoff awaiting 'cabin ready for takeoff' from the head flight attendant. I could hear some discussion on the interphone between flight attendants and then the word was passed that the cabin was ready for takeoff. As rushed as we were, I still could have -- and should have -- given the cabin crew an earlier 'get ready for takeoff' signal. In cruise, I learned that about 20% of the rows in the cabin had not been checked for trays and seat backs, and trash pick-up. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that they had probably sat on the taxiway for 2 hours in a WX related delay, so when they got clearance to go, he wanted the flight attendants to be prepared. He regrets that he didn't trust his instincts (that the cabin wasn't ready), when the lead flight attendant gave such a tentative 'cabin ready' for takeoff. The flight attendants did make it to their jump seats in time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT RPT, MD90, 2 HR WX DELAY ON TXWY. SUDDEN TKOF CLRNC. CAPT RECEIVED PURSER'S CABIN READY, TKOF ANNUNCIATION, 20% OF CABIN NOT COMPLIANCE CHKED.

Narrative: AFTER LONG DELAY DUE TO WX ON TXWY, DEPS SUDDENLY OPENED UP. WE WERE ALSO MOVED UP IN THE SEQUENCE. THEREFORE, WE WERE STARTING AN ENG AND RUNNING CHKLISTS IN A BIT OF A HURRY. WE MADE THE PRE TKOF PA AND FLT ATTENDANTS WERE READYING THE CABIN. WE WERE IN POS AND CLRED FOR TKOF AWAITING 'CABIN READY FOR TKOF' FROM THE HEAD FLT ATTENDANT. I COULD HEAR SOME DISCUSSION ON THE INTERPHONE BTWN FLT ATTENDANTS AND THEN THE WORD WAS PASSED THAT THE CABIN WAS READY FOR TKOF. AS RUSHED AS WE WERE, I STILL COULD HAVE -- AND SHOULD HAVE -- GIVEN THE CABIN CREW AN EARLIER 'GET READY FOR TKOF' SIGNAL. IN CRUISE, I LEARNED THAT ABOUT 20% OF THE ROWS IN THE CABIN HAD NOT BEEN CHKED FOR TRAYS AND SEAT BACKS, AND TRASH PICK-UP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THEY HAD PROBABLY SAT ON THE TXWY FOR 2 HRS IN A WX RELATED DELAY, SO WHEN THEY GOT CLRNC TO GO, HE WANTED THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO BE PREPARED. HE REGRETS THAT HE DIDN'T TRUST HIS INSTINCTS (THAT THE CABIN WASN'T READY), WHEN THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT GAVE SUCH A TENTATIVE 'CABIN READY' FOR TKOF. THE FLT ATTENDANTS DID MAKE IT TO THEIR JUMP SEATS IN TIME.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.