Last week the American Airlines flight attendants union reminded cabin crew at the airline that they aren’t allowed to strike or take other actions that hurt the company, unless first permitted by the government to do so. The union has been asking for this permission but has so far been rebuffed.
Now they’re telling flight attendants that they can’t do anything detrimental to the company. They even have to make the optional credit card announcements. At a minimum, they’re warned, that if they write on social media that they aren’t going to pitch the credit card they may be fired.
Under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), we are prohibited from resorting to “self-help” until the National Mediation Board officially releases us and after the thirty-day cooling-off period concludes. “Self-help” includes social media posts containing the following:
Individual Flight Attendants may be disciplined and terminated for advocating for “self-help” outside the RLA provisions. At American, Pilots and Mechanic Unions have faced legal action from the company, and we do not want to put individual Flight Attendants or our Union at risk.
- coordinating sickouts.
- refusal to pick up open time, including red flag.
- harming American’s revenue streams, including onboard credit card solicitation.
This is not Julie Hedrick, union president, asking flight attendants not to take action. The union’s notes often are signed. This one is generic and unsigned.
- The union wouldn’t mind flight attendants being unhelpful to the airline, and costing them money, putting pressure on them to get a contract done.
- Here they’re telling flight attendants not to do this. That gives flight attendants the idea to do this.
- But by putting in writing that they instructed flight attendants not to, they’re insulating themselves from any flight attendants who do it anyway – protecting the union against a potential court judgment (whether injunction or damages).
Put another way, this is ‘CYA’ on the part of the union while some cabin crew will interpret it with a ‘wink, wink’.
What’s interesting though are the specific ideas they’re giving to flight attendants actions that they warn could be considered ‘illegal self-help’ if flight attendants undertake them before the National Mediation Board releases the union from negotiations.
- Coordinated sick-outs are essentially like strikes. They stand in the way of the company doing business. Those are explicitly prohibited.
- Refusal of overtime is an interesting one. Overtime is voluntary and no crewmember is obligated to take it. Advocating that others refuse overtime to hurt the company would be a prohibited practice. Even without advocacy, a court might believe that a statistically significant drop in overtime acceptance rates was evidence of coordinated action – even if it could just as easily be attributed to low morale.
- Refusing to pitch the credit card inflight. No flight attendant is required to promote the American Airlines co-brand credit card (inflight it’s the Barclays card). Cabin crew are paid commissions on card approvals tracked to their announcements. I’ve seen significant discussion in social media about flight attendants being unwilling to promote the card while there’s still no contract and perhaps even suggesting that other flight attendants follow suit.
Once a flight attendant starts advocating that other crewmembers act in a way that hurts the company economically, they enter the zone of actions prohibited by the Railway Labor Act prior to being released to self-help… even though no flight attendant has to pitch the card, and even though the card is not part of the current collective bargaining agreement at all.
Flight Attendant’s Makeshift Inflight Card Presentation
In 2012 American Airlines pilots decided that CEO Tom Horton had to go, and that played a part in why US Airways was able to take over the airline while inside of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They even engaged in a sick out but with a ‘wink wink, nudge nudge’ rather than putting it in writing. They’d learned their lesson thirteen years prior.
In 1999 when American acquired Reno Air, pilots engaged in a job action. It’s illegal to do this without being released from negotiations by a federal mediator under the Railway Labor Act. American went to court and got an injunction, but it continued, and then the airline obtained a judgment against the pilots union for over $40 million — representing the airline’s losses due to the sickout from the time the injunction was issued until the sick out ended.
The judgment was upheld by a federal appeals court, the union appealed to the Supreme Court which declined to hear the case. The judgment was for an amount greater than the assets of the union. Ultimately American forgave an unpaid $26 million of the judgment as part of its 2003 pilots’ contract.
In summer 2019 mechanics engaged in an illegal job action and obliterated the carrier’s reliability. Pilots have even greater power to disrupt an operation. They can call in sick in large numbers. They can come up with reasons not to fly, or slow down their flying.
As far back as 15 months ago some flight attendants were taking matters in to their own hands and doing it openly. They were smart enough not to put it in writing – but weren’t keeping their voices down, either.
Good times. Flight attendant on my @AmericanAir flight instructs her colleagues, "it's work to rule, we're not doing anything extra for the company. Contract negotiations."
— gary leff (@garyleff) January 19, 2023
If you haven’t heard credit card solicitations on your recent American Airlines flights, contract negotiations could be the reason why. And if you start hearing more, it may be because the union is telling crew they’re required to – even though it’s not in their contract.
First, the union can’t fire anyone, so the title of this article is wrong. Second, it’s a stretch that telling members they can’t self-help is a wink and that they should. Sounds like they are guilty if they do or don’t warn members. I agree one of the reasons for this memo is to cover themselves, but to insinuate that they are actually wanting them to do the CC pitch is unfounded.
Not doing the CC pitch is a work action everyone can support
AA’s pitch is way more intrusive than DL’s or UA’s.
AA is not an Airline company, it’s a Credit Card company that just so happens to fly planes.
This FA Union needs to go. Wasn’t there something about the AA FA’s wanting to join a different Union at one point?
On a another note, I don’t mine the CC pitches. IF the crew actually give pre-departure bevs and is attentive and doesn’t leave trash on my tray for 1 hour while playing candy crush and gossiping. But if they are awful and then spend a bunch of time enthusiastically pitching the CC: It ticks me off. I don’t care about your bonuses, I already paid a premium to sit on the plane and supposedly get “premium” service.
I believe cc sales on board the aircraft erode the already faltering credibility of the flight attendants.
I appreciate being given the option to not engage.
The company won’t discipline for not selling – but derogatory comments on social media? Trying to “hurt” the company…come on –
I hate all of the ancillary pitches. Let me get to my seat, start my movie, and leave me ALONE. I don’t even bother the flight attendants for a Coke. They’ve usually got enough to deal with without me adding to it.
This story is not true. As a flight attendant, I have never made that announcement. I am a very good flight attendant, who does an excellent job! I have never sold credit cards because that is not what I was hired to do. Customer service is my main objective. I know I am so sick of those announcements as well as our customers. Peace and quiet is what everyone wants. ❤️
Can we as passengers vote to have them NOT do the pitch?
I’m reminded of a story an ex-US friend of mine told me at dinner recently that involved a US Airways executive getting a call at 2am on his personal number at home that started with… “Is this H Travis Christ? Can I talk to you about a great credit card offer…”
All I know is this: AA wants to convert Basic Economy fliers to being “loyal” to AA. The FAs, as part of the NEW contract should be obligated to go to each of the people who are in BASIC ECONOMEE and give them a hard-sell in front of everyone else. I mean HARD SELL. Like what can I do to have you fill out one app for you, one app for your husband and an app for each of your kids. Ply the people with liquor, free anything just to get the apps in bro. That’s a business plan.
Just another reason why I question why anyone in their right mind would fly American Airlines.
@ Ben G
I guess it’s all about you!!!
And your dirty tray!!!
Self centered person who needs to have a drink.
Flew American Airlines last month to LAX with my boyfriend. When we flew there, we heard nothing but when we flew back we heard the ‘pitch’ twice. The first time, we were checking our bag and I seriously thought I won something. Woman handed me a brochure and said I could get a free flight on American, no mention of a credit card whatsoever. Then she winked at my boyfriend and said, “Here you take one too.” Like she was doing us a favor. Then on the flight back they have the more typical pitch, you get x number of miles which was enough to fly anywhere in the country and a few international locations. They’d wave the annual fee for your first year. First pitch came off as lacking info which was sketchy. Second one they sounded like the guy advertising prices on The Price is Right.
I’m hard of hearing and also suffer from selective hearing, so the noise cancelling feature with my AirPods or headphones on full blast really insulates me from this nonsense.
My personal favorite is the “it’s too bumpy to do service in the cabin” excuse when suddenly it’s safe to pedal a lousy credit card towards the last hour of the “specially selected flight”.
I personally find these credit card pitches degrading to the airline brands. I’m a UA Mileage Plus card member and hold a personal and business Chase card. When I flew last, I commented to the flight attendant, “I think these pitches downgrade the branding of United.” I haven’t written to United to share my opinions, but feel that this should not be part of a flight attendant’s job responsibilities. Shame on the unions for negotiating this task into their contracts.
I am concerned about this threat to not read cc sales pitches. What if they also begin to be surly most of the time, sit and read or surf on their phone for 70%of the flight, and act in an overall whacko way.
It’s a slippery slope.
I just flew four Delta flights and not a single CC pitch. How refreshing! The CC pitches on AA make them look like a shoddy, also-ran airline. It’s hard to believe AA management doesn’t realize this. But they probably just don’t care.
King of clickbait
I remember when in Europe they would sell cigarettes and perfume on the planes at duty free prices.
I wish they would all stop with these ridiculous pitches. It’s noise pollution.
Just shows how important credit card revenue is to the airlines. Easy Money!!
Yet, ticket revenue is treated as a burden and drag on operations as reflected in very poor in-flight service.
Now, I fully understand the focus of those in the airline C-Suite!!
I hate being held hostage and subjected to advertising. I used to enjoy flying. They would close the door and I had peace. Now I have to listen to sales pitches And there’s no escape. Certainly it must be illegal to subject people to such inhumane torture.
Airlines barely makes any money on selling seats. Their main income comes from ancillary sells and selling co branded cc. That is their bread and butter.
They legally can not do anything about this as CC’s are not described as part of their job description.
Where is the America that I once knew? FA’s are not hired to be hucksters. I experienced this on a Spirit Airlines flight. I felt sorry for them. It was like a circus side show. How tacky and demeaning AA.
How much commission does the flight attendants get? Is the commissions still equally divided by 4 even if 2 flight attendants elect not to participate?
“Safety professionals” shilling credit cards.
Go get me a coke.
Nothing like being 2/3 into a movie, actually enjoying it and BAM… EVERYTHING STOPS because an announcement is in progress. Is it an emergency? Are we having some mechanical issues? Nope…just the flight attendant pushing some stupid credit card. AA, UA, DAL – PLEASE STOP! Or wait… Great idea, let’s just make the ENTIRE FLIGHT a freaking advertisement. You’ve got everyone trapped anyway. You might be able to make 25 or 30 cents more. Who cares if passengers actually like the experience they paid for anyway.
I’ve mostly been flying Alaska.for work for the past five years (as opposed to Delta and British prior). The Alaska.credit.card pitch around top-of-descent is extremely annoying if you are trying to finish a movie (which on Alaska is on your own device) – it kicks you out of full-screen mode. It is annoying even if you are just trying to get a little more rest.
Flight attendants are just waitresses in the air…yet they want tk be paid like their engineers..no way!
I hate these announcements. It’s very annoying and it surprises me they get any applications due to these announcements. The airlines have a very captive audience and take advantage of it. I shouldn’t have to listen to a sales pitch.
Have never heard the credit card pitch, but I cannot imagine it being very successful unless for young flyers who don’t already have a credit card.
I always avoid American Airlines if I possibly can because they have the very worst seats that push your shoulders forward and have no back support. It is agony after the first hour. They thank you for choosing American Airlines, but they have a monopoly on some Caribbean routes, so really there’s no choice.
I haven’t been on an airplane in more than 20 years. I had no idea this was happening. I’d be p.o. but next flight, have ear plugs with me. And I’d be writing and filing as many complaints as possible. Baggage fees out the wazoo, and this bullcrap??? Glad I have no reason to fly.
Frequent flyer 2, ya beat me to it. Ben G , an unhappy alcoholic who has to pay to have someone pay attention to him.
Tony, the commisions can be very good. And no each individual has their # on the applications. They alone get commisions based on their distribution.
Captain UA. Does U A stand for U ain’t? Cause no self respecting pilot would say something that [ unknowledgable]..
This article is all over the place and incoherent. I worked in a heavily unionized aviation industry for 25 years and still can’t follow this. Maybe you should limit your article to focusing primarily on what the headline is and cover 2 or 3 points supporting that. This article rambles in several directions and goes nowhere.
I work there never have or will promote those
When i worked for said airline, the card announcements were not mandatory. There were cheaters too. One reads, one walks with handy pens available, another might collect. Next flight we might rotate. Handing applications were to be equally distributed so that those participating would have an equal chance of getting a returned form. But, a smarty pants would figure a way to have their forms passed out first! Commission depends on the banks promos. Maybe one month instead of $50 per rtned and accepted form, the anti would double or triple. Some made thousands per quarter. I found it embarrassing hassling “customers.” Duty-free sales (no longer), but we made commissions on those purchases.
I like the airline credit card pitch when you are flying. Often times it is a better deal than you could bet online. I collect tons of miles and have used them for decades…….I have a couple million miles and points in my accounts and my wife’s right now…..and like I say, we use them. Too bad getting business and 1st class seats are getting harder to afford due to dynamic pricing. But, I will stay in this game! Been at it for around 34 years now. Thought I could not keep up after I retired from federal law enforcement travel job at 57…..but, it has been easy to keep on going! Great hobby.
Did everybody hear that? There are whaaaambulance’s meeting every AA flight that pulls into a gate. Just like the bus drivers union, the stank ho union is making it seem like these people are more important than they really are. The ONLY time they really earn their money is when there is an actual EMERGENCY and everybody walks off alive. Other than that, they are paid way to much, demand way to much, have a GOD complex, an treat others that work for same airline like crap. Over this union garbage they keep spewing all of the time. A trained monkey can do their jobs and not bitch as much. These people are not that special, educated, or really all that talented. Takes a lot to punch in commands into a computer, or go around the cabin asking coffee, tea, chicken, or fish, or me.
I recently flew AA. Yes I heard the cc pitch, it was annoying. I also hit my head on their ticket counter, was knocked out, and spent 3 days in the hospital. All they cared about was if I had a release to fly. When I got to me destination, things were stolen from my checked bag. I’m still trying to resolve that issue. What am I saying. Caveat emptor..
Comment of Bradley Kyle…you hit a homerun, well said Sir.
As a 36+ yr UA Capt, I agree the above self proclaimed UA pilot isn’t one. Every union member knows compensation is never about what one deserves, it is about what you can negotiate..
How long before AA execs demand the FA’s start hustling lottery tickets, cell phone service and flight insurance?
This kind of carnival huckstering is utterly shameless on the part of AA and needs to be stopped now, before it’s copied and becomes commonplace on all airlines.
This is an absolutely ridiculous claim. I’m an AA flight attendant and know there is no way we are getting fired for not slinging credit cards.
The flight attendants job is for safety,but like most airlines most Could Not Qualify for the card…the union needs to defend the Flight Attendants not American Airlines…I am not sure but what happened to America west airlines who gave the best service any where in this country…unions have been duped by companies before looking at yellow roadway…they stole their money to keep the company afloat and it still went under
As a passenger I am infuriated by these credit card pitches which are a nuisance to a captive audience and an indulting indignity to the prifessional flight attendants. Stop it!
Fake news!
It seems funny to denigrate an airline on this platform for doing exactly what this platform does!