In the near future, American Airlines passengers may notice a subtle change to when crews prepare the cabin for landing, and it has some implications for passengers, as flagged by PYOK.
In this post:
American updates cabin landing preparation policy
As is standard on virtually every airline, flight attendants prepare the cabin for landing at some point prior to arrival. This includes suspending inflight service, having passengers store their belongings (including laptops), and asking passengers to put their seats and tray tables in the upright position.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents American’s flight attendants, has just informed members of a policy update that’s coming soon.
With the new policy, flight attendants will prepare the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet, and will then be seated in their jumpseats as soon as possible, well before the plane descends through 10,000 feet. So with the updated procedure, when you hear the double chime (at 10,000 feet), all flight attendants should already be in their jumpseats.
Previously, American flight attendants made final cabin preparations as the plane passed through 10,000 feet. So with these updates, that procedure will start 8,000 feet higher. While it will vary depending on a flight’s descent profile, you can expect that this will typically translate to the cabin being prepared for landing roughly four to eight minutes earlier than before.
As you probably guessed, this means that passengers will have less time to use their laptops, and crews will also have less time to perform service. This shouldn’t impact service on longer flights, though on very short flights with a drink service, this could limit the crew’s ability to perform a full service.
Why American is changing its cabin preparation policy
Why are we seeing this policy change at American? Well, here’s how the union describes the change:
“Turbulence remains one of the leading causes of occupational injuries for flight attendants. Unlike passengers, flight attendants are frequently standing, walking, conducting service, or completing compliance duties when turbulence occurs. The revised procedures are intended to provide additional time to prepare the cabin, improve communication regarding anticipated conditions, and reduce the time flight attendants are exposed to turbulence while performing required duties during descent.”
Interestingly, Southwest introduced a similar policy change a couple of years back. At the time, the airline claimed that the policy change reflected years of research, plus reports through the carrier’s safety management system.
Based on thousands of data points from flight attendants and pilots, paired with information from the flight data analysis program, the belief was that this policy change would reduce flight attendant injuries by at least 20%.
While turbulence can happen at any altitude, there’s of course a greater risk at a lower altitude, when it’s more common to encounter turbulence, and to fly through thick clouds. Reducing injuries is of course a logical and fair objective.
I’d be curious to know what the total number of injuries among flight attendants during the descent phase is, and how many of those are considered serious. Yes, stuff happens, but in the case of Southwest, we’re talking about 20% of what number?
Bottom line
American Airlines crews will shortly start preparing cabins for landing at 18,000 feet, rather than at 10,000 feet. The idea is that by the time the plane gets to 10,000 feet, crews are already strapped into their jumpseats. This is intended to reduce injuries among flight attendants, given the increased risk of turbulence at low altitudes. This is fairly minor, but passengers may still notice this policy change, as it will impact seat recline, laptop use, etc.
What do you make of American changing its cabin landing procedures?
You are much more likely to encounter moderate or greater turbulence above FL180 than you are below it. Rather than have a hard and fast rule give the crew some latitude based on anticipated conditions while using 10,000ft as the maximum altitude to prepare for landing.
These comments—yea, there was a ton of service occurring in descent. I don't think most will notice any change. It would be interesting to know what the policies are on other airlines. Last point, note the change is coming from the company; the APFA (union) is alerting them to the new guidelines.
More time to sit in the jumpseat and read Marie Claire magazine...
US aviation is such a joke. Reducing service but calling it safety. What a race to the bottom. Every US mainline airline is essentially a European discount carrier now. Surprised there’s not a fee to use the toilets yet.
Interesting that Ben uses the phrase "passengers store their belongings." What I always hear is "stow" -- just another nautical term adapted to aviation. People who grew up around or associate with adults with non-rhotic accents, are probably more likely to hear "store."
It’s that Merriam Webster dictionary to blame Ross. Corruption of the English language became an obsession in the colonies …. :-)
Another excuse to minimize service
Yeah. Also, flying extensively in Europe and the US, I noticed that European airlines tend to turn off the seatbelt sign shortly after take off, while on Delta and other US carriers it tends to be on forever… Are US skies so turbulent compared to Europe? Or is it lazy flight attendants who just want to sit in the galley and chitchat?
The policy is coming from management. The pilots control de seatbelt sign, not the flight attendants. Pilots are held accountable for the safety of the crew and passengers. They are the ones who cover themselves from having many injuries in their record.
Carts in the aisle are 300 pounds heavy , with hot beverages on top.
As mentioned on the post. This will affect four to eight minutes of the flight. It is not that tragic.
What a joke. I remember flying in the 70's when they prepared the last ten minutes. I can put my tray table up, my seat up, and my lap top away in a minute, and without endangering anyone. You could even order a drink back then the last half hour.
So by now we should have 2 years worth of data from Southwest regarding this practice.... I'd love to see the stats...
There should be absolutely no excuse to not offering at least a limited express beverage on all but the very shortest flights, unlike what DL has just done.
Just like greenwashing, another excuse to primarily save $$$ be it in catering & OJI payouts ...Expect more enshitification as the fuel costs bite even longer ...
you do realize there are plenty of flights on other airlines including WN where the FAs do not attempt a beverage service.
DL is just setting the expectation
Anyone who thinks this change is actually “safety” related doesn’t know how unions work
Yeah this is terrible. Frequently, I hear the captain mention at takeoff. "I expect turbulence, so i'm going ask the flight crew to stay in their seats longer" and of course, there's no significant turbulence 9 out 10 times, so it just translates to less service. Now they're actually institutionalizing it as part of the landing process. Ridiculous!
They use data from previous aircraft and weather information. Turbulences are serious , and someone ending up on the ceiling has happen.
as previously noted, DL changed its service on shorthaul flights in line with the fact that most US airlines are now preparing the cabin at 18K feet
Other airlines aren't telling you that their service will be reduced but it will.
A little late to the party Walter, however, Ben will appreciate your click. The rest of us will give thanks for your minor contribution to future flight reviews which your clicks bring.
So, remind me Walter …. where is your chosen location for our forthcoming heart to heart?
thank you for acknowledging that you haven't been reading what matters for the past 9 months while you have been fixating on me.
guest account my backside
@ Tim Dunn -- We're waiting to learn which EWR-LAX frequencies UA operates with 737-900ERs, please!! These are the important details!
Obfuscation is your only defence against the truth Walter. Trust me, there are too many who comment about your incompetence or lack of integrity when it comes to actually offering a straight answer to a straight question.
Your “Backside” holds no interest to me or anyone else as far as I am aware. What “Guest account” has to do with my repeated question is just another one of your silly side stepping statements.
You...
Obfuscation is your only defence against the truth Walter. Trust me, there are too many who comment about your incompetence or lack of integrity when it comes to actually offering a straight answer to a straight question.
Your “Backside” holds no interest to me or anyone else as far as I am aware. What “Guest account” has to do with my repeated question is just another one of your silly side stepping statements.
You are unwilling to disclose your aviation background, yet you post: “You wanna know my credentials? jet in for a visit w/ your passport in tow”.
I am willing to comply and have repeatedly requested further information, yet in all instances when clarification is requested (on any subject matter) you slip away like a thief in the night.
I put it to you the login ‘Tim Dunn’, that you are nothing less than a Walter Mitty character who has no more true aviation experience than your dear leader Donald ‘rump!
Anything for these overpaid union women to not serve us drinks. Ridiculous.
The question is Dave, a drink followed by a very rapid decent, alternatively, no drink followed by a normal decent?
“Overpaid union women.” Sexist much?
Dumbass. Male FAs exist.
This is really going to cut in to their phone browsing time.
Increase it I would think. Less time for a customer to have the gall to ask for something if they're winding down the in flight service 8000ft earlier
Delta has already been doing the double chime at 18k feet since June 2, 2025.
But AFCM, Walter Mitty Dunn (as far as I can recall) has failed to mention this fact …. is the poor darlink asleep on the job do you think? :-)
United has been doing it, as well. Not sure if it's at 18k, but it was a policy change to do it sooner than the 10k chime. On a few of my flights, they started cabin prep (seats upright, carryons stowed, etc) 30 minutes before ETA.
AA is represented by APFA, *not* AFA.
Tomato/tomarto.
"I’d be curious to know what the total number of injuries among flight attendants during the descent phase is, and how many of those are considered serious."
How many in the last year? I bet it's been zero.
250+ is the number. You are welcome.
"Prepare for landing" as soon as reach cruise altitude . Too late for drinks or meals . Ha .
They already use the fake turbulence excuse when they can’t be bothered with service, so this just gives them another reason to spend more time sat down on their phones
I don't care if they use turbulence as a excuse for less service, I'm so tired of having a little turbulence, see the seat belt light go on, and have it lit for 45 minutes of clear flying after. This seems more frequent with US carriers. Please stop this garbage.
Obviously the purpose is to reduce service time.
Less work, more time to gossip.
On long haul flight in premium cabins, breakfast service will now start 20 minutes after the dinner service finishes.
I’ve been noticing a lot of crew start preparing as soon as the captain makes the announcement that they’ve started any descent. I find it very annoying because I don’t want to give up my drinks or put away my laptop.
Yet another "safety"-related excuse to curtail service.