American Airlines to Compensate Crews After Winter Storm Strandings, Amid Union Pressure
American Airlines has initiated a compensation process for flight attendants who were left without proper lodging during the severe Winter Storm Fern last week, following mounting pressure from their union. The move comes as tensions between the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) and airline management escalate over operational failures and alleged breaches of their labor agreement.
The carrier canceled over 9,000 flights due to the storm—the largest weather-related disruption in its history—with its main hub at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport particularly hard hit. Unlike northern airports, DFW lacks extensive winter weather infrastructure, magnifying the impact of just four inches of snow and freezing rain. The union stated that some crew members were "stranded in airport terminals and hotel lobbies with no accommodations" as the airline struggled with logistics.
In a letter to flight attendants on Saturday, American outlined procedures for submitting claims related to hotel and transportation reimbursements. The APFA responded on Sunday, calling the letter an acknowledgment that the company "failed to uphold the Collective Bargaining Agreement." The union also highlighted additional compensation claims, including for the "illegal rescheduling" of reserve attendants during protected days off—known as "golden days"—which could trigger penalty pay rates of time-and-a-half or more.
"Now that the storm is largely behind us, the focus turns to holding the company accountable," the APFA told members. The union has demanded prompt compensation and recently criticized American's leadership amid falling profits. Last week, American reported a pre-tax profit of $352 million for 2025, an 80% drop from the prior year, lagging far behind rivals United and Delta.
Industry analysts note that the incident underscores broader challenges at American, including strained labor relations and operational vulnerabilities at its key southern hubs during extreme weather. The airline did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Michael Torres, Former Airline Operations Manager (Dallas, TX): “This was a perfect storm of infrastructure gaps and scheduling breakdowns. DFW simply isn’t equipped for ice and snow like Chicago or New York. The compensation is a necessary step, but it doesn’t fix the underlying preparedness issue.”
Linda Chen, Flight Attendant & Union Member (Miami, FL): “Finally, some accountability. We were treated like an afterthought—sleeping in chairs while managers were in hotels. This isn’t just about one storm; it’s about respect and honoring our contract.”
David Park, Travel Industry Analyst (Denver, CO): “The financial context matters here. American’s profit slump puts pressure on cost control, but cutting corners on crew support during disruptions damages morale and service reliability. It’s a false economy.”
Rebecca Shaw, Frequent Flyer & Business Traveler (Atlanta, GA): “This is outrageous but not surprising. Airlines pocket billions in aid, then strand their own employees? If they can’t take care of their crew, how can passengers trust them? It’s a failure from the top down.”
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