American Airlines investigates cabin crew over alleged black market for flight assignments
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American Airlines has launched an internal investigation into a group of its flight attendants suspected of illegally selling flight assignments for high-demand international routes, including coveted destinations such as London, Paris, and Rome. The alleged scheme was conducted covertly, with participants using coded language to signal monetary transactions in flight swaps.
According to reports from aviation news site PYOK, employees exploited the airline’s seniority-based flight assignment system for financial gain. Innocent-sounding terms like “cookies,” “hugs,” “kisses,” and even “thanks” were used on internal communication platforms to indicate that a payment had been made for a schedule swap.
The airline, based in Fort Worth, Texas, explicitly prohibits the sale of assigned schedules, although mutual swaps between colleagues are allowed—as long as no payment is involved. In a memo sent to cabin crew, American Airlines reminded staff that “assigned trips are not personal property and cannot be bought, sold, or brokered.” The memo also warned that offering or accepting money—even through coded language—violates the flight assignment system and corporate code of conduct.
The investigation was triggered after a detailed review of the company’s flight swap system revealed patterns suggesting financial transactions. American Airlines considers the practice a threat to the integrity of its seniority-based system, which plays a central role in building monthly rosters for crew members.
Under this system, as with many legacy carriers, senior flight attendants receive priority in selecting schedules, destinations, and days off. Newer or lower-seniority crew members typically receive less desirable assignments or remain on reserve status, awaiting available trips. The frequent presence of relatively new staff on high-profile international routes raised suspicions among veteran employees.
Key facts: American Airlines investigation
What are the allegations? Flight attendants are accused of illegally selling desirable international flight assignments using secret code words in internal platforms.
How did the scheme allegedly work? Phrases like “cookies,” “hugs,” or “kisses” were used to indicate that an assignment was available for sale, bypassing the seniority system.
What penalties could crew members face? Offenders may lose access to the flight selection system and be assigned schedules automatically, similar to newly hired staff.
What is the union’s position? The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) has not opposed the investigation. In fact, the most recent collective agreement includes a clause authorizing the use of objective metrics to detect and limit abuse in the assignment system.
Cabin crew found to have violated these rules may face the loss of self-selection privileges, meaning they would receive automatic schedule assignments—a condition comparable to that of new hires, stripping them of the ability to choose routes or shifts. The investigation remains ongoing to determine the full scope of the scheme and identify individual responsibilities.
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