AFA-CWA, The Flight Attendant Union

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The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, (AFA) AFL-CIO represents nearly 55,000 Flight Attendants at 20 airlines. Proudly #1u.

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There’s only one place to be on December 9 – walking the picket line. Save the date and join Regional Flight Attendants across the industry for a National Day of Action to demand an end to poverty wages, tiers in aviation, and improve quality of life.

National Day of Action for Regional Bargaining
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The FAA recently proposed a rule relaxing its requirements around what items are mandatory in an onboard emergency medical kit (EMK). The rule is not yet final. Here’s why our union opposes this proposed rule.

AFA Opposes Proposed FAA Emergency Medical Kit Rule, Pushes Congressional Mandate The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently proposed relaxing its rules around what items are required in an onboard emergency medical kit (EMK). The FAA’s proposed rule walks back specific item requirements and gives airlines much more discretion in deciding what an EMK should contain. This is contrary to the direction given by Congress in Sec. 367 and 368 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which calls for experts to “mandate” EMK content. The proposed rulemaking ignores expert recommendations that the FAA itself requested. In October 2024, the FAA convened a working group of medical experts and aviation industry stakeholders (including AFA) to review EMK requirements. The FAA did not follow all of the working group's recommendations. Our comments to the FAA read in part: While AFA understands the FAA’s desire to increase operator flexibility in managing the contents of first aid and emergency medical kits, our experience is that this approach undermines safety, creates confusion for medical response teams, and disadvantages carriers who would now carry the burden of determining necessary tools.The rulemaking is not yet final. In addition to expressing concerns through our comments, we also used this as an opportunity to double down on the working group’s recommendations. We will continue to press the FAA for the tools we need to do our jobs as aviation’s first responders.
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We cheered on all 79 who graduated and now join or rejoin us in the sky. Also in the class were former AFA members from Endeavor and ATA. Many former Spirit Flight Attendants who were already flying at United also pinned wings and welcomed their former flying partners back!

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This is the first big class of Spirit Flight Attendants graduating since the shutdown. As a 30 year Untied Flight Attendant, our AFA International President @flyingwithsara.bsky.social had the honor of pinning the wings of several former Spirit Flight Attendants.

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Today marks exactly 5 months since Spirit Airlines ceased flying & thousands of AFA Flight Attendants’ wings were suddenly clipped. Yesterday, 23 of these former Spirit FAs regained their wings at United. Congratulations Class 2633! Welcome (back!) to the skies 💙🐝🌐

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TSA provided Labor Stakeholders with an update on the transition from Known Crewmember (KCM) to Crewmember Access Point (CMAP). Here’s what you need to know, and remember: the program is completely voluntary.

CMAP technology has now been installed at all 112 airports that provide KCM. However, all crewmembers should continue to keep their KCM credentials with them when flying through December 31, 2026. Both CMAP and KCM will run concurrently at those 112 airports until KCM equipment is removed sequentially from each airport this fall, starting on the West Coast and moving eastward across the entire US by the end of 2026. Visit the CMAP Ops website, operated by TSA, to see the status of your airport: tsa.gov/for-industry/cmap/locations_hoursThings to keep in mind: This is a voluntary program that crewmembers will need to opt-in if you choose to participate. Your individual airline will distribute and store the opt-in attestation once the program is in full force – each airline has a different roll out process. Your crewmember name on your airline's Master Crew List (MCL) must match your passport exactly. Additionally, please ensure that your place of birth city and country and any FAA Airman Certificate information (if applicable) has been transmitted to TSA. Once an airport no longer has KCM, crewmembers who have opted into CMAP may use it, or process through the nearest screening location (either TSA Pre Check or standard).If you have not been able to access the airport sterile area via CMAP, contact your aircraft operator or, using only your airline email address, email CMAPOps@tsa.dhs.gov (TSA will not respond to personal emails). Be sure to specify the airport and CMAP terminal location within that airport, date, and exact time. This information will enable better analysis of the event. CMAP training is ongoing for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) and some crew have reported differences in interpretation of CMAP procedures at different airports. This is because TSA slightly modified the training based on lessons learned and field observations. TSA will implement a final version of CMAP training for TSOs to ensure that all TSOs at CMAP airport locations throughout the US will be level set, or on the same page as to procedures.Want to opt out? “Should crewmembers decide not to participate in CMAP, they instead may go to a TSA passenger checkpoint to enter the sterile area.” Read more in the Privacy Impact Assessment Report for CMAP published by DHS. More information: More CMAP information and answers to other questions may be found at: tsa.gov/for-industry/crewmember-access-point Please be patient with regards to response. TSA has added additional resources to support the crewmember experience.
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AFA pledges a strong voice for our profession with government and industry in the regulatory and legislative process. Our member-driven union will continue advancing the issues that matter most to Flight Attendants.

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Our work is not finished and we remain resolute in our mission to advance the career in honor of our founders and the Flight Attendants who continue their work as safety professionals on flights around the world.

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Today, we stand on the shoulders of five amazing Flight Attendants who started our Union. Throughout the years, AFA has played a crucial role in advancing the profession and today, Flight Attendants are recognized as aviation’s first responders.

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She flew for United Airlines for over 40 years and witnessed the evolution of our profession from "sky girl" to Safety Professional and First Responder.

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Today, October 1, 2026, we celebrate our annual AFA-CWA Founder's Day. October 1st was chosen because it was the birthdate of our last surviving founding member, Edith Lauterbach, who passed away in February 2013.

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The 2013 AFA-CWA Board of Directors moved to recognize our Flight Attendant and Union history by establishing AFA-CWA Founders' Day. Founders’ Day was established to honor our Union's founding members and to recognize the important role of our active retirees.

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Use this month to encourage your mothers, spouse, sisters, and flying partners to get an exam or perform a self exam. Remember, your AFA EAP is available to confidentially assist you with any health-related issues. You can find a listing of your local EAP committee members by calling 800-424-2406.

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Early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. When caught in its earliest, localized stages, the 5-year relative survival rate is over 99%. This is something that affects all of us within our Flight Attendant community and the world.

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