During late January’s winter storm Fern, American Airlines melted down and cancelled nearly 10,000 flights. Crews couldn’t get through to the airline, and didn’t know where they were supposed to sleep.
The airline didn’t know when they made it to hotels, so they didn’t know when they’d met rest requirements set out by the government – so even the next day they’d be delaying and cancelling flights after passengers had boarded, because flight attendants and sometimes pilots turned out not to be eligible to work.
Flight attendants made profit sharing a key priority in their recent contract negotiations, winning the same profit sharing formula that Delta gives to its cabin crew. But whereas Delta winds up distributing about a month’s pay, American flight attendants may have received $150.
The operational meltdown combined with American’s poor financial performance in 2025 led the flight attendants union to call for leadership change at the airline. The pilots union then sought a meeting with the Board of Directors to discuss steps needed to return to meaningful profitability. (They did not get this meeting.)
We now know a bit more about what actually happened – with the actual volume of flight attendants who were stranded by the airline, and what the union has discussed doing about it – thanks to internal union materials reviewed by View From The Wing.
At the Executive Committee meeting of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants last month, union President Julie Hedrick reported that the number of flight attendants who did not get hotel rooms “far exceeded” the 200 that happened during the May 2025 storm. However, she suggested that American was withholding the full total.
She laid out to board members that the airline’s in-flight was not prepared, the service center could not book hotel rooms, the Crew Recovery Tool failed, and American was the only airline that did not handle the storm well.
She first spoke about the system’s biggest meltdown during the recent weather event in DFW, Storm Fern.
She believes the number of flight attendants who did not get hotel rooms far exceeded the 200 from May 2025. She did not feel that the actual number would be given to the APFA. A lot of work was done after the May 2025 storm, meeting with IOC and In-Flight to formulate a plan for these IROPs. Sequence repair is a major problem with flight attendants stuck without a hotel. There supposedly was a plan, but In-Flight was not prepared for the plan. The service center where flight aHendants were being sent did not have the ability to book hotel rooms.
What struck me, though, is that Hedrick seemed to make excuses for the airline rather than demanding make-goods. She says that management felt bad about it, and blamed technology (which managemnet was responsible for!).
National President Hedrick felt that not only were the flight attendants frustrated, but management personnel as well, because they were unable to help them.
The “Crew Recovery Tool” did not work as agreed by both the Union and the Company. It could not repair the huge number of sequences involved. American was the only airline that did not handle this storm well.
She considers the call for leadership change at the airline to have been “a successful media campaign.” The union then discussed the possibility of obtaining “a seat on the American Airlines Board of
Directors.” However, “[t]he Unions on the AA property have had discussions previously
about this issue and how to obtain a seat, which is highly unlikely.”
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom acknowledged flight attendants sleeping on floors during the recent weather disruption, but in a leaked employee meeting called it unacceptable but shrugged it off as something that “comes with the business.”
Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer David Seymour publicly denied it ever happened despite first-hand testimonials, the claim by his boss, and the union’s internal report that there were over 200 instances of it.
The idea that the President of the union empathizes with management being frustrated over her members being stuck sleeping in airports is almost surreal, but this is the same union president who didn’t publicly object when the airline furloughed more flight attendants than any other in history in 2020 – even as neither Southwest nor Delta furloughed a single one – calling for government subsidies instead. (In fact, she signed onto the statement that airlines had no choice but to furlough.)
It’s somewhat ironic that the union is now calling for the CEO’s ouster, since he likely wouldn’t have his job had the union itself not not supported the US Airways takeover of American in the first place.
Yeah… Ayatollah Isom… only got $34.1 million compensation in 2023… poor fella…
So AA sucks, Southworst now sucks (how the mighty have fallen), can I keep flying JetBlue?
@Lucky Larry — Sorry, since the ‘partnership’ with United, B6 will suck, soon, too. (They’re already scaling back on routes where United already provides an inferior service.) *sigh*
And Delta just had scores of flight attendants sitting on an a/c well into the morning waiting for a gate. I’m sure they all were past duty limits.
Airlines do not want to invest in recovery delay, particularly at large hub airports. Raise fares and invest and cut the excess unprofitable capacity.
@George Romey — “invest in recovery delay”… Ok, we’ll do this all-over-again… Let’s start with an EU261-equivalent in the US. No, it doesn’t raise fares (see Ryanair). It creates the right incentives for airlines to prioritize reliability. The ‘free market’ won’t help here. Reasonable regulations must be enforced.
@1990 You’re not very bright, are you? Most of this is caused by weather and compensation would not be due in the case of weather. Show me where EU261 would pay out for weather?
@George Romey — That’s a great point. Ok, so, let’s say, there is a storm on Day 1. But, the delays continue until Day 3 (not merely ‘the weather’), that’s an operational failure, under the control of the airline (compensation may be due). So, maybe let’s ‘bootlick’ a little less on here, Mr. Key…
As usual. Don’t invest enough into your infrastructure, blame them when it collapses under a surge. This is 100% management’s fault.
I hate these stock AA photos showing everybody touching each other. I have very warm, decades long collegial relationships at work but don’t touch me.
@George Romey If an airline can’t book a room for its flight attendants and therefore their duty time does not reset, as they can’t get a rest period, that is no longer a weather issue.
I am generally speaking anti-regulation but if an airline can’t get hotel rooms for its crew I think it needs to be forced to invest in recovery. The sad thing is if they did it on their own it would lead to greater long term profits.
AA sucks,never flying them again. Took flight crew and plane gave it to higher profitable route..saw it happen for 3 days in a row at dfw,jan 26-29th.
No excuse for what they did tired of excuses its the same story over and over again and nothing is done about it but hey new bolinger champagne! Oh your ep well sorry we have only 5 cheese plates for 15 of yall . Then they strand our passengers for days on end create total chaoes and claim its weather related. Again they offer voluntary time off for January and then when all hell broke lose nobody wanted to come in because word had gotten out about the mess. Then they wonder why they cant make a profit. I flew from slc to dfw on delta they had buy on board multiple snacks us we have pretzels or cookies and oh 2 tequila for 190 seat A321 on same route.
Sounds like it is time to fire the COO and CEO. Maybe they can make a profit.
The flight attendants have to deal with the disrespectful passengers treating them like crap. Not all flight attendants work hard but so many do.
I am not sure if AA now pays the flight attendants during boarding, if so, they weren’t always paid during this time. For years and years, CEOs of airlines make sooooo much money and the hard working flight attendants had to show up and work for free until the door closed. Their pay is very low as well. Having to clean the planes after the plane landed. I believe that started around 2020. They help people put luggage into overhead bins. People, if you can’t lift your carry-on, check it!!
The airlines rip us off charging to check a bag. Now everyone takes a carry-on and if you are not in the first couple of groups boarding, you are forced to check your bag anyway.
Take the HUGE bonuses from the CEOs and pay the flight attendants what they deserve.
Obviously the CEO of American Airlines is not making profit, he should go. If the airlines can afford these astronomical bonuses for their CEOs and still making profits, they should be able to make flights better for their passengers and compensate their flight attendants. Airlines are nickel and diming the passengers to death. Last minute flights should not be any more than the price for an advanced purchase. Maybe you could sell even more seats!
It is ridiculous that the travel industry can change their prices due to last minute, in season, during special events, etc. I am sure their employees aren’t getting additional pay, except maybe holiday pay on the actual holiday.
To the person that is talking crap that due to weather, the flight attendants don’t deserve crap, go F yourself. The article states that other airlines did not have this issue.
Truth is is overtime. Most of AA management has been purged!
I’VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM ON AA. FEMALE FLIGHT ATTENDANT’S
VERY NICE & SEXY LADIES. PILOT’S
PROFESSIONAL AND FRIENDLY.
I APPRECIATE THEM FOR EVEN TRYING TO PUT UP WITH THE NONSENSE FROM THE PASSENGER’S TODAY. ONE EVEN LOST FRONT TEETH, FOR ASKING THEM TO WHIER A MASK.
A union leader that recognizes the difficulties that domino from an extreme weather event. The never have ran a company class are apoplectic.
AAL has a standing issue with managing predictable disruptions. They simply don’t plan for them. Several years ago I was taking a trip to Mexico. Three days before, the media reported huge thunderstorms were expected. And they did hit. And the airport closed for hours . Flights were cancelled. The day of my trip 24 hours later, there were passenger assistance booths set up to help with rebooking etc… lines 10 gates long.. and only 2 people helping. One had to go on lunch break and there was no replacement for a 1/2 hour. 1 customer helper, 1000 customers.. 48 hours to prepare … All AA had to do was have more people on duty to help. But no. That would have been logical. That would have been MANAGED.
“…the have never ran..” Lousy grammar. There are force majeure events that the airlines, or many other companies, can’t predict nor control. Sadly, the airports/airlines have few, if any, boarding stairs to, at least, get the people off of the jets. You have 101 aircraft waiting and 100 gates available…now what? Tugs can’t push or move the aircraft in the ice/snow, etc. Then, when the people are off of the jets, where to put them? It appears to be an unsolvable conundrum.
I’ve had to spend the night at airports. The airlines were good for “sorry”. Nothing else. They got your money so they are good. You’re on your own.
Not sure what this disjointed opinion piece is supposed to convey other than the rabble-rousing so prevalent everywhere else. Why not stick to facts and let them speak for themselves?
Flight attendants were also using the crew lounge to get rest. They usually have changing rooms, rest rooms, and sofas to crash out on.
After my experience, I personally feel that American Airlines was not the right company for me. During my time there, I saw many loyal employees furloughed and several talented flight attendants and Aircraft Maintenance Technicians leave the company. It felt like a lot of experienced and motivated people were pushed out, which unfortunately affects the overall culture and morale within the operation.
In my view, management challenges across different departments, from Flight Ops to Tech Ops, made it difficult for employees who genuinely wanted to contribute and grow. I also experienced internal conflicts and workplace politics that ultimately led to my departure.
That said, I’m grateful to now be with an airline where I feel respected and valued for the work I do. Having a supportive environment and strong leadership makes a huge difference, and I’m glad to be part of a team where professionalism and teamwork are prioritized.