Narrative:

Upon initial climbout from ZZZ about 1 minute after takeoff at 2500 feet MSL; the flight deck vent airflow decreased significantly. Engine; pressurization and pack indications were normal. The first officer (first officer) and I noticed that I had adjusted the temperature selectors full cold due to the very humid 100 degree conditions at ZZZ. We both agreed that the air conditioning systems had likely iced up based on previous aircraft experience. The first officer selected higher temperatures to melt any ice. About a minute later; airflow returned to normal. At the same time we received an interphone call; which the first officer answered; from FA1 (flight attendant 1) saying hot air was flowing into the cabin and it smelled like dirty socks. The first officer said we turned the temperature up but would now turn it down and to call back if the problem did not get better. Cool air returned to the flight deck and cabin and we continued to ZZZ1 uneventfully. During the post flight walk around at ZZZ1; the first officer discovered a bird strike in the right engine with feathers on the bypass fan blades and core compressor blades. During the van ride to the hotel; FA2; FA3; & FA4 said they called FA1 during the hot airflow incident on initial climbout and reported they smelled burned chicken; cooked chicken; and a burned bird strike smell. When FA1 called the flight deck; she said it smelled like dirty socks. My decision to continue to ZZZ1 would have [been] different if I had heard any words like burned; cooked; chicken; or bird strike. The decision of FA1 to not relay the very accurate observations of FA2; FA3; & FA4 to the flight deck was not good and could have allowed serious consequences to develop including engine failure; engine destruction; human injuries or loss of life. As a captain; I listen very carefully to the observations of flight attendants and consider everything seriously. I suggest flight attendants do the same for each other.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 flight crew reported a communications between flight deck crew and flight attendant crew regarding odor in the cabin.

Narrative: Upon initial climbout from ZZZ about 1 minute after takeoff at 2500 feet MSL; the flight deck vent airflow decreased significantly. Engine; pressurization and pack indications were normal. The FO (First Officer) and I noticed that I had adjusted the temperature selectors full cold due to the very humid 100 degree conditions at ZZZ. We both agreed that the air conditioning systems had likely iced up based on previous aircraft experience. The FO selected higher temperatures to melt any ice. About a minute later; airflow returned to normal. At the same time we received an interphone call; which the FO answered; from FA1 (Flight Attendant 1) saying hot air was flowing into the cabin and it smelled like dirty socks. The FO said we turned the temperature up but would now turn it down and to call back if the problem did not get better. Cool air returned to the flight deck and cabin and we continued to ZZZ1 uneventfully. During the post flight walk around at ZZZ1; the FO discovered a bird strike in the right engine with feathers on the bypass fan blades and core compressor blades. During the van ride to the hotel; FA2; FA3; & FA4 said they called FA1 during the hot airflow incident on initial climbout and reported they smelled burned chicken; cooked chicken; and a burned bird strike smell. When FA1 called the flight deck; she said it smelled like dirty socks. My decision to continue to ZZZ1 would have [been] different if I had heard any words like burned; cooked; chicken; or bird strike. The decision of FA1 to not relay the very accurate observations of FA2; FA3; & FA4 to the flight deck was not good and could have allowed serious consequences to develop including engine failure; engine destruction; human injuries or loss of life. As a Captain; I listen very carefully to the observations of flight attendants and consider everything seriously. I suggest flight attendants do the same for each other.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.