4.10.26 – APFA LGA Base Brief – April 2026 Update

Friday, April 10, 2026

🔵 LGA VIRTUAL BASE TOWN HALL – SAVE THE DATE 🔵

We are excited to announce an upcoming Virtual LGA Base Town Hall.

🗓 Date: May 7, 2026
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM (ET)

🟡 Mark your calendar and plan to join us for this important session.
🟢 More details, including the meeting link, will be shared soon.

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As you begin bidding for May, we encourage you to save the date and plan to attend. During this session, we will bring members up to speed on the work your Base Council is doing on your behalf, provide updates on ongoing issues impacting the base, and discuss key operational, contractual, and quality-of-work-life matters. This will also be an opportunity to address trends we are seeing.

We will host a live Q&A session and will share details in advance on how members can submit questions ahead of time. We encourage all members to stay engaged. Your awareness and participation are critical to how we advocate moving forward.

LHR CATERING

We want all New York Flight Attendants to know that we clearly recognize the real and ongoing challenges the LHR catering situation has created, not only in the cabin, but physically on our crews. The current conditions have materially changed how service is executed, and the added burden, particularly from double provisioning and modified service flows, has created a significantly increased and often unpredictable workload. There is no question that Flight Attendants working these flights are doing more work under more difficult conditions, without any corresponding adjustment to staffing or compensation, and that is not acceptable.

While we acknowledge management’s efforts to stabilize the catering issue for LHR and restore service, the reality is that crews continue to operate under conditions that are far more demanding than those originally scheduled. Flight Attendants have stepped up, as we always do, to support the operation and deliver for our customers, but that effort cannot continue to go unrecognized. Accordingly, on April 1, I filed a base notice of dispute (2026-LGA-48) seeking additional compensation for all Flight Attendants working LHR flight segments under these conditions, as we continue to push for a full and timely return to normal operations. To be clear, when workload increases, compensation must follow, anything less falls short of what is fair.

HOLIDAY INCENTIVE DAY PAY DISPUTES

We continue to await a response on the significant number of Holiday Incentive Day pay disputes filed and want to assure all members that our focus remains on securing the compensation you have rightfully earned. We understand the frustration and will provide updates to each member as responses are received. Every case is being carefully reviewed, and we do anticipate movement in the near term. We are also continuing to receive new requests from Flight Attendants reviewing their February 2026 e-Pays, and we encourage you to reach out if you believe you were impacted. Please remember that we must have a signed Authorization to Represent on file before initiating any dispute, as these cases often involve detailed research and the exchange of personal information with management. This process protects both you and the Union as we advocate on your behalf. If you have specific questions or concerns, please reach out directly. Thank you for your continued patience as we work through each case.

NEW HIRE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

We continue to welcome new hires to our base each week, with Class 26-07 scheduled to arrive on Monday, April 13, 2026. It is important that staffing levels stay proportionate to the flying at our base, which is the reason we are receiving less new hires that we have in the past. New York continues to be a truly working base, evidenced by consistently low absenteeism and one of the lowest reserve percentages in the system, and to us maintaining that balance is important. The number of new hires is never our focus, it to ensure we are extending a professional welcome and helping guide our new colleagues through their probationary period. In New York, we take care of one another.

For our new hires, we encourage you to reach out to us for any questions, concerns, or support needs. The most efficient way to contact us is via email at [email protected] so we can properly assist you and document any necessary action.

MEETINGS WITH MANAGEMENT

We continue to see an increase in the number of meetings Flight Attendants are being called into, not only for performance or attendance matters, but also for issues that could often be resolved more appropriately through Professional Standards. While every concern deserves attention, matters between colleagues are frequently better handled through that process, and we encourage its use where applicable. We also want to recognize that with new leadership in EAP, dedicated representatives have stepped up to support and advocate for our members in a meaningful way. As a reminder, meeting notices typically appear in two forms: a PW code placed on your schedule (sometimes even on a day off), and a corresponding notification sent to your company email. If you are scheduled for a meeting, you should immediately forward that notice to [email protected] to request Union representation. Please understand that APFA is not provided specific details in advance of the meeting, so early communication from you is critical to ensure proper preparation and support. Our base council is actively working every day to represent over 3,400 Flight Attendants, and we ask for your cooperation in using the proper channels. We are unable to manage cases via text message; email remains the most efficient and documented method of communication. You may also contact our member line at 800-695-4265 if needed. Thank you for your patience and continued trust.

REPORTING OPERATIONAL ISSUES

It is critical that Flight Attendants consistently report operational issues through CERS, including onboard customer interactions. In today’s environment, passenger experiences are often shared publicly on social media rather than directly with the airline, limiting your opportunity to provide context before an issue escalates. Even when information is incomplete or inaccurate, it can still impact the company’s brand and trigger unnecessary investigations. Submitting a CERS report ensures your perspective is documented early and helps protect you in the event of follow-up. No issue is too small, consistent reporting is key. If you need guidance on how to document an event, please reach out to us at [email protected].

JFK PARKING LOT 10 UPDATE

We continue to actively address all issues related to JFK Employee Parking Lot 10, and every report submitted by Flight Attendants is being documented and elevated in our weekly operational meetings. Bus reliability, especially when one of the two large buses is out of service, remains a key focus, and we are pushing for consistent, reliable solutions. While discussions with management remain confidential, please know this is a standing priority for me as your Base President. Safety is non-negotiable, and we will continue to advocate until meaningful improvements are in place. We encourage all Flight Attendants to continue submitting their experiences so we can ensure they are properly tracked and addressed.

2024 CBA – IMPLEMENTATION

APFA has released Contract Implementation Update #57 as of April 10. These are not routine hotlines, they contain critical information that helps you understand how the contract protects you and where there may be opportunities to maximize your earnings. We strongly encourage all members to take the time to review each update carefully. Staying informed is key to ensuring you are fully benefiting from the provisions we fought to secure.

If you have questions or need clarification on any section, please reach out to us at [email protected] so we can assist.

RESERVE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ISSUES

We have seen intermittent issues where Reserve Flight Attendants are not seeing the acknowledgment option for assignments. If this happens, please do not assume you have acknowledged, take immediate steps to protect yourself. Contact Crew Scheduling to verbally acknowledge the assignment and document the time of your call. We also recommend taking screenshots of your screen to show the missing acknowledgment prompts, so that you can later challenge any infraction this may cause.

We recommend while on reserve, that you check your schedule frequently for updates. As always, document everything and reach out to us at [email protected] if you need assistance or to challenge any infraction caused by a technical issue.

SOCIAL MEDIA

We want to remind members that the Base Council is here not only to support you, but also to help you navigate situations that could lead to unnecessary challenges—particularly on social media. We understand the urge to vent, and there is always an audience ready to engage and validate those feelings. However, what may feel like a quick post can later be scrutinized and used in ways that impact your career. If you are considering posting about a work-related issue and want a second set of eyes, we are available to provide guidance on whether it may conflict with company policy. We fully respect your right to express yourself, but we also regularly sit in investigations where posts, comments, or shared content become part of the case. A quick check-in with us can help you avoid unintended consequences.

We are living and working in challenging times. As always, we thank you for your support, and remind everyone that In New York, We Take Care of One Another.

Thank you, and fly safe!

In Unity,

Christian M. Santana
APFA LGA Base President
[email protected]

Megan Blanchard
APFA LGA Base Vice President
[email protected]