{"id":410582,"date":"2026-07-24T09:06:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T09:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/410582\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T09:06:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T09:06:14","slug":"american-airlines-new-flight-attendant-tracking-system-sparks-surveillance-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/410582\/","title":{"rendered":"American Airlines\u2019 New flight attendant tracking system sparks surveillance concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"

American Airlines is facing backlash<\/a> after rolling out a new employee scoring system that critics say keeps tabs on flight attendants\u2019 every move<\/a> \u2014 from passenger reviews to their activity on Microsoft Teams \u2014 igniting accusations of workplace surveillance and putting California\u2019s tough privacy laws in the spotlight.<\/p>\n

The Me@Work program, launched in April, tracks a year\u2019s worth of employee data<\/a> before generating individual scores<\/a>, according to the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), the union representing the carrier\u2019s flight attendants.<\/p>\n

American has told the union the platform is meant to help employees monitor their performance and development<\/a>, not serve as a disciplinary tool.<\/p>\n

American Airlines is facing backlash after rolling out a new employee scoring system that critics say keeps tabs on flight attendants\u2019 every move \u2014 from passenger reviews to their activity on Microsoft Teams \u2014 igniting accusations of workplace surveillance and putting California\u2019s tough privacy laws in the spotlight. Weston Hancock\/SOPA Images\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

The Me@Work program, launched in April, tracks a year\u2019s worth of employee data before generating individual scores, according to the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), the union representing the carrier\u2019s flight attendants. Getty Images<\/p>\n

But that explanation hasn\u2019t quieted critics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The score pulls from a long list of workplace metrics, including passenger satisfaction surveys, attendance, operational performance, flight-attendant-related delays, compliance with company procedures, Microsoft Teams usage, electronic flight bag compliance and how quickly incident reports are filed.<\/p>\n

Flight attendants argue many of those measurements are influenced by factors they can\u2019t control.<\/p>\n

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A poor passenger survey, for example, could reflect a delayed flight, faulty Wi-Fi, catering problems or a dirty aircraft rather than the performance of the cabin crew.<\/p>\n

Workers have also questioned how the airline calculates \u201coperational contribution\u201d and whether system-wide disruptions could unfairly drag down individual scores.<\/p>\n

The union is also demanding more transparency about how the ratings are created and what information feeds into them, arguing employees should be able to review and challenge data that could affect their records.<\/p>\n

Flight attendants argue many of those measurements are influenced by factors they can\u2019t control. FG\/Bauergriffin.com<\/p>\n

The fight has drawn particular attention in California, where some of the nation\u2019s strongest consumer privacy protections also extend to employees of many businesses.<\/p>\n

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as expanded by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), California residents, including employees covered by the law, have the right to know what personal information is being collected, how it is used, access that data and request corrections to inaccurate information. Businesses must also notify people about their data collection practices.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder the law, workers have the right to know when employers are monitoring them, what information is being collected, and how that information is being used,\u201d the union wrote in an internal memo.<\/p>\n

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\u201cEmployees must also have access to their personal data and the ability to request that inaccurate information be corrected or deleted.\u201d<\/p>\n

The memo added: \u201cThe reality is that me@work demonstrates American Airlines management has been compiling data on individual Flight Attendants without providing us the opportunity to request corrections or deletion when appropriate, view the specific data collected, verify its accuracy, or challenge incorrect or misleading information.\u201d<\/p>\n

APFA said it is seeking additional details about how Me@Work operates and insists flight attendants must be able to review and contest performance-related information tied to their records.<\/p>\n

APFA said it is seeking additional details about how Me@Work operates and insists flight attendants must be able to review and contest performance-related information tied to their records. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post<\/p>\n

American Airlines, meanwhile, may argue it has already provided the required notices and remains compliant with applicable privacy laws.<\/p>\n

The controversy comes as the airline grapples with a sharp squeeze on profits despite reporting record revenue.<\/p>\n

American posted quarterly revenue of $16.74 billion, up 16.3% from a year earlier. <\/p>\n

But net income plunged 88% to $71 million, while its operating margin fell to 2.7% from 7.9%.<\/p>\n

Premium ticket sales jumped 19%, and corporate bookings climbed 26% year over year. At the same time, soaring jet fuel prices added $2.2 billion to quarterly costs after fuel expenses surged<\/a> 83%.<\/p>\n

The carrier also slashed its full-year earnings outlook to a range centered on break-even, -$0.65 to $0.65 per share, sending its stock tumbling 8% as investors reacted to the weaker profit forecast.<\/p>\n

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