2.01.26 – Company Accountability for Contract Violations: Winter Storm Fern

Company Accountability for Contract Violations:
Winter Storm Fern

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Late last night management put out a CCI that constitutes the company’s acknowledgment that it failed to uphold the Collective Bargaining Agreement during Winter Storm Fern.

Now that the storm is largely behind us, the focus turns to holding the company accountable by ensuring management compensates Flight Attendants for the violations.

APFA’s expectation is that the company will remedy all violations and provide appropriate compensation without delay. For most concerns, the company is requiring Flights Attendants to file a Direct Connect.

Included in this hotline is information on submitting claims for compensation or reimbursement. The length of this hotline is indicative of the breadth of the contract violations.

If you were affected by the storm, please follow the company paths below and use Direct Connect to ensure you’re properly compensated. 

The compensable violations of the contract Flight Attendants suffered include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. CBA 6.B & C – Lodging and Transportation – Failure to provide hotel rooms and transportation, in some cases leaving Flight Attendants stranded in airport terminals and hotel lobbies with no accommodations.
   1. For Hotel Penalty Pay claims, file a Direct Connect: Crew Portal > Links > Compensation > Direct Connect > Hotel Delay.
   2. For reimbursements for out-of-pocket hotel room bookings, use this path: Jetnet > Money and Attendance > Concur > Create Expense Report. 
   3. For reimbursements for out-of-pocket transportation expenses, submit the Reimbursement Form 3.0 in Comply365 > My Forms > Reimbursement Form 3.0 > Transportation. 

For the violations below, Flight Attendants should file a Direct Connect: Crew Portal > Links > Compensation > Direct Connect > Miscellaneous.

2. 10.J.3.d – For disruptions that occurred After Report but Prior to Sequence Origination – Failure to reschedule within four (4) hours after the originally scheduled sequence sign-in time or three (3) hours after the disruption was known.

• a. If the company failed to notify you of your rescheduled flying after report but prior to departure of your first flight:
  • i. If you were released, ensure you have been given the appropriate callout pay/duty RIG or full sequence pay protection.
  • ii. If you were illegally rescheduled to additional flying because you did not receive a phone call or were called after the 3- or 4-hour window, you should file a claim for Crew Schedule error per CBA 10.T.3.
  • iii. In both cases, ensure that your HI3 accurately reflects what you actually flew, and/or your correct report and release time.

3. CBA 10.J.4.c – For disruptions that occurred After Origination – Failure to notify of reschedules within three (3) hours after the disruption was known.
   1. If you were illegally rescheduled to additional flying after the 3-hour window, you should file a claim for Crew Schedule error per CBA 10.T.3.
   2. If you were given a missed trip and/or were not pay protected because you did not fly the illegal reschedule, file a Direct Connect to ensure the pay protection is added.

4. CBA 10.J.3 & 4 – Failure to offer reschedules in seniority order, and to assign in inverse seniority order. If you were illegally rescheduled in this scenario, you should file a claim for Crew Schedule error per CBA 10.T.3.

5. CBA 10.J.11– Notification of Delay – Failure of the company to use its best efforts to notify Flight Attendants of delays to their originating flight of the day.
   1. If you reported to the airport at your originally scheduled sign in time, ensure your report time reflect the original sign in time so your time on duty is correctly captured.
   2. If you reported to the airport and your sequence cancelled, ensure you have callout pay or duty RIG, whichever is greater, on your HI1.

6. CBA 10.L.3 – Last Sequence of the Month: Unable to Originate – Failure to correctly split Flight Attendants on to their sequence following the cancellation of their originating fight. If you were rescheduled to flying other than what would directly catch you up to your remaining flying, you should file a claim for Crew Schedule error per CBA 10.T.3.

7. CBA 10.L.5 – Last Sequence of the Month: Rescheduled prior to origination – Illegally rescheduling Flight Attendants before origination. If you were on your last sequence of the month and you were rescheduled to different flying prior to departure of your first flight, you should file a claim for Crew Schedule error per CBA 10.T.3.

8. CBA 11.O,14.D.1.b & 14.D.3.b – Voluntary Waiver of Flight Duty Limitations – If you chose to VE and the correct VE/V3 code is not reflecting on your HI1/HI3, you should file a Direct Connect.
   1. If you did not agree to VE, but the company violated the contract by forcing you to remain on duty involuntarily, you should file a Direct Connect.

9. CBA 12.B.2.a – Golden Days – Illegally rescheduling Reserve Flight Attendants to flight duty on a Golden Day. If you were assigned or rescheduled to work a flight on a Golden Day, you should file a claim for Crew Schedule error per CBA 10.T.3.

10. CBA 12.D.3 – Flex Days – Illegally rescheduling Reserve Flight Attendants into Flex Days when no more days of availability remain to be converted into Golden Days. If you were utilized on a Flex Day with nowhere to replace it, you should file a claim for Crew Schedule error per CBA 10.T.3.

11. CBA 12.M – Tagging – The company cannot add additional flying to the end of a Lineholder’s sequence, or a Reserve on an ETB trip. If you were illegally rescheduled at the end of your sequence, you should file a claim for Crew Schedule error per CBA 10.T.3.

12. CBA 14.M.7 – Location Delay Incentive – If you were delayed departing from an IPD station for more than ten hours and your LE pay is not correctly reflected on your HI1, you should file a Direct Connect. Path to file: Crew Portal > Links > Compensation > Direct Connect > LE.

13. For any other contract violations, file a Direct Connect.

What compensation is due for Crew Scheduling errors?

CBA 10.T.3 – Crew Scheduling Error – Compensation for Crew Scheduling errors is due if, after a Flight Attendant has reported for a sequence, the company violates the following sections of the contract: Scheduling (CBA 10), Hours of Service (CBA 11), Reserve (CBA 12), International (CBA 14), or Speaker (CBA 15). Pay for the violations is an additional 50% (pay no credit) of the value of the entire sequence.

Missed Trips and POs:

APFA’s position is that all missed trips should be removed, and any POs given should be non-chargeable and not count against the two contractual Personal Days provided for in CBA 25.L.2. In addition, any Reserve Flight Attendant whose guarantee was reduced as a result of a missed trip because of an inability to get to work during the storm should have their guarantee restored.

You should first reach out to your Crew Attendance Manager (CAM) for assistance, preferably by sending an email so there is a written record. If your CAM is unable or unwilling to provide mitigation, reach out to your base reps.

Need help with filing these claims?

As your employer, the company is responsible for providing support and guidance. Reach out to your Senior Crew/Base Manager if you need assistance with filing a Direct Connect or submitting for reimbursement.

Did your claim result in a Direct Denial?

If you receive a Direct Denial for any of these claims, submit an IROPs Form on the APFA website. Please wait until you receive a denial response before reaching out to APFA for assistance.

In Solidarity,

Jeff Petersen
APFA National Contract Chair
[email protected]

Marti McMillan
APFA National Scheduling Chair
[email protected]