1.26.26 – Winter Storm Fern Update- January 26, 2026

Winter Storm Fern Update

Monday, January 26, 2026

This weekend, and into today, Flight Attendants are still waiting for hours to reach Crew Tracking to have sequences repaired. Once sequences are repaired, crews are waiting even longer for hotel and ground transportation assignments, some without hotel assignments at all.

Weather disruptions are not an excuse for operational failure—timely hotel and limo accommodations are a basic obligation. For additional support, APFA extended weekend Live Messaging hours with volunteer representatives to assist Flight Attendants who were left with no way to contact American Airlines.

As the operation unraveled, on Friday evening, APFA assisted 68 crews via chat. That number surged to 345 chats on Saturday, and on Sunday, APFA Reps assisted 360 Flight Attendant crews with help navigating hotel delays, reschedules, and cancellation questions.

Today’s APFA Phone Volume

As of 1400CT, APFA phone lines are open, and we have completed 235 calls since 0900CT, with approximately 44 Flight Attendants currently waiting to speak with an APFA Representative. We understand how frustrating it is to be unable to reach Crew Tracking or the Hotel/Limo desk. Please know that every Flight Attendant in the APFA phone queue will be helped as quickly as possible.

Below are some of the most common questions which may help you if you are unable to reach AA Crew Tracking or Hotel/Limo.

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Q1: My first leg of my sequence has canceled and I cannot reach Crew Scheduling. Do I have to show up to the airport?

Yes. If crew scheduling has not contacted you, you may either continue to try to make contact or report as scheduled. You may be rescheduled to catch up to the rest of your trip or be rescheduled to prevent a delay or cancellation if there are insufficient reserves.

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Q2: I waited hours for my hotel assignment this weekend. Can you tell me a little more about how the Compensation for Hotel Delays provision in our new contract works?

The new Compensation for Hotel Delays provision (Section 6.B.5) in our contract states:

• If the Company fails to notify the Flight Attendant of a hotel assignment within one (1) hour from the later of block-in at actual layover city or schedule modification*, the Flight Attendant shall be paid at the rate of one hundred and fifty percent (150%) and credited at one hundred percent (100%) for the duty period preceding the layover.
• If the Company fails to notify the Flight Attendant of a hotel assignment within three (3) hours from the later of block-in at actual layover city or schedule modification*, the Flight Attendant shall be paid at the rate of one hundred and fifty percent (150%) and credited at one hundred percent (100%) for the entire sequence instead of the duty period.

This new provision does not erase the long waits or the operational failures Flight Attendants face during IROPs—but it does provide compensation for qualifying Flight Attendants and holds the company accountable for its inability to properly support crews.

Each eligible Flight Attendant should submit a claim via Direct Connect in Crew Portal. Additionally, please make sure that you fill out the APFA IROPs Report Form so we’re able to compile data.

*For more information on Compensation for Hotel Delays, along with examples, click here.

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Q3: Why does my sequence say “failed continuity”?

If you experience a disruption that removes flying from your sequence due to a delay or cancellation, the company must first “fix” or “repair” the sequence. Until the sequence is repaired, your HI3 may show “Sequence Failed Continuity”.

Below are examples of a sequence that has failed continuity and needs to be repaired (click images to enlarge):

DECS:

Crew Portal:

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Q4: Where can I find more information on our contractual rescheduling language?

Our rescheduling language is broken down into different scenarios, including:

• Prior to Report: Full sequence cancellation
• Prior to Report: The first leg(s) of your trip has cancelled, and your sequence has a deadhead or live segments remaining.
• Prior to Report: First segment(s) cancelled, no notification from crew scheduling.
• After Report but Prior to Origination: Sequence changes (prior to first flight).
• After Origination: Sequence changes.
• Last Sequence/ Last Series of Sequences for the month.

Click here for the Rescheduling & Pay Protections section of
APFA.org for Rescheduling Reminders

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Q5: How do I know if a removal code on my HI1 is a pay protected removal?

The APFA website includes a search feature explaining what the removal code means and if it is a paid or unpaid removal.

To find the ‘DECS add/remove codes‘ search feature, click on the ‘Resources‘ tab on the landing page, or click here.

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Q6: I am receiving pay protection for a canceled trip. Am I able to pick up another trip on ETB and not forfeit my pay protection?

If you pick up flying over a trip with cancellations, remember that a Flight Attendant with a pay protected removal may pick up another trip in TTS/UBL. You may pick up a sequence from ETB outside of the footprint of the original sequence without negating your pay protection.

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If you have not already been in contact with APFA about an issue related to these IROPs, please fill out the APFA IROPs Report Form.

In Solidarity,

Jeff Petersen
APFA National Contract Chair
[email protected]

Marti McMillan
APFA National Scheduling Chair
[email protected]