11.21.25 – APFA ORD Base Brief – Friday, November 21, 2025

Friday, November 21, 2025

Happy November, Chicago!

The winter weather is finally here, and so are the holiday travelers. Next week will be busy for the airline, busy for us, and stressful for passengers. Be mindful of the incentive point / critical period and holiday pay days.

• Click here for information on Critical Periods and Banked Points.
• Click here for Holiday Pay Reminders.

---

Reserve Acknowledgement

There has been a severe uptick in people receiving missed trips for not acknowledging reserve assignments. If you or someone you know is on reserve, please take a moment to remind them of our obligations when it comes to acknowledging our reserve assignments.

A few basics:

• RSVs must acknowledge their ROTA assignment by 2230 (or within 1 hour of release from a sequence).
• On RAPs that start 0500 or later, you must check crew portal at the commencement of your RAP to see if you have been assigned anything.

Reserve Flight Attendants: Please click here to read reminders for ROTA/ROTD Acknowledgements

---

EFB Compliance

The company has recently pushed multiple EFB updates. Please ensure you perform the necessary updates.

• iOS 26 – Effective date October 29
• Comply365 13.3.1 – Effective date November 12
• IFM 18.4 – Effective date November 16

---

Deadhead Reminders

With the Electronic Communication System (ECS), it is now easier than ever to communicate with the company your intent to no-show a deadhead. To actually change a deadhead (DH), you may use the self-booking tool on Crew Portal.

• Click here to learn more about the self-booking deadhead feature in Crew Portal.
• Click here to learn how to use ECS to no-show your scheduled deadhead.

To deviate from a DH, reserves must ask for permission, whereas lineholders are simply notifying tracking/scheduling. Regardless, every deviation from a DH requires the company to be made aware.

Review the Deadhead section on the APFA website to keep up with the many changes we have seen lately, thanks to the ability to communicate via ECS.

Reminders:

• You may book an alternate DH from the fifty states and Puerto Rico.
• Reserves:
  • 16.G – Crew Scheduling with approval will not be unreasonably withheld.
  • 16.H – With Crew Tracking consent.
• Lineholders: 16.G & 16.H – you are notifying Crew Scheduling or Tracking of your No-Show (NSHW) election.

• Once you no-show your original scheduled deadheads, the trip cannot be dropped or traded in any of the scheduling tools.

Reminder: Simply submitting the form in ECS does not constitute being accepted – once accepted and processed, you will receive an EFB notification (or any additional methods as preferred) advising that your request was processed.

---

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The holidays, and winter in general, can bring up a mix of emotions for a lot of us. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, stressed or just not yourself, American Airlines EAP is available 24/7.

American’s EAP offers completely confidential support for many things life throws your way: mental health, family challenges, financial stress, substance concerns, or just someone to talk to. You don’t have to be in crisis to reach out, and the first sessions are free.

If you or someone you know could use the support, don’t hesitate to connect with EAP 24/7 at 833-721-2322 or my.aa.com/eap.

---

Post Flight Checks 

As a reminder, all Flight Attendants are required to do a post-flight check, and the FA 1/Purser is required to complete post-flight checks to double-check on behalf of the entire crew. This is a physical walk-through, not just a phone call.

All crew and any unaccompanied minors are to remain onboard until these checks are completed.

Inflight Manual path:  Home -> Crew Duties -> Post-Flight -> Post-Flight Duties.

Happy Holidays to you all.

In Solidarity,

Justin Patterson
APFA ORD Base President
ORD Base Number: (773) 645-0809
Cell: (509) 720-0067
[email protected]

Dray Howard
APFA ORD Base Vice President
ORD Base Number: (773) 645-0809
Cell: (630) 215-8410
[email protected]