The safety and well-being of our team and customers is our unwavering focus and priority always, but especially in response to coronavirus (COVID-19). We continue to refine our approach to account for updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health officials. That’s why, last month, we began providing face masks for team members who wanted to wear them while at work. That’s also why, beginning May 8, face coverings will be required for all team members when 6 feet of social distance can’t be maintained at work.

Here’s what you should know:

• It’s required: Beginning May 8, all team members are required to wear face coverings while they are at work — especially in customer areas, onboard and while working with customers.
• There are exceptions: Though you should wear face coverings while in customer areas, when interacting with customers, and generally when you are within view of customers, there are exceptions. In team member areas and office settings, team members who can maintain at least 6 feet of social distance do not need to wear a face covering, unless required by state or local law.In customer areas, face coverings may be removed if 6 feet of social distance can be maintained and you are not overly visible to customers. Of course, because customers have told us they would be more comfortable flying with us if team members wore face coverings, we strongly encourage team members to keep their face covering on even in these instances. Team members who have medical conditions that may prevent them from wearing a face covering should follow the medical accommodations process. Flight attendants should check with their manager to learn more.
• Face coverings may be company-provided or brought from home: You may choose to wear a face mask provided by the company or a face covering of your own, as long as it is in line with departmental face covering standards. We encourage team members to follow CDC guidance related to face coverings.
• They’re not required when eating or drinking: Face coverings can be removed when eating or drinking. If you need to remove your face covering to eat or drink, you should maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet and handle and store your face covering safely to avoid any cross-contamination.
• They are required in break areas and crew rooms: Face coverings are required in all team member spaces when 6 feet of social distance cannot be maintained.
• Regional partners are included: Our regional partners (wholly owned and affiliate partners) will follow the same requirement for their team members.

Protecting yourself and others

In addition to wearing a face covering, it’s important all of us continue taking normal precautions to protect against COVID-19, including:

• Staying home when sick.
• Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Covering with a tissue or inside of an elbow when you cough or sneeze if not wearing a face covering.
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

Additionally, the CDC continues to emphasize that maintaining 6 feet of social distance between each other will help prevent the spread of the virus.

 

Frequently asked questions

General

Why is American requiring team members to wear face coverings?
The safety and well-being of our team and customers is our unwavering focus and priority always, but especially in response to coronavirus (COVID-19). We continue to refine our approach to account for updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health officials. That’s why, last month, we began providing face masks for team members who wanted to wear them while at work. With an increased supply of masks and the CDC’s guidance that wearing a face covering can help prevent the spread of COVID-19, requiring face coverings while at work when social distancing cannot be ensured or maintained is one of the many ways we can help protect our team and customers.

Additionally, our customers have told us that having the team wear face coverings would help them feel more comfortable flying. That’s our entire team’s goal as we do all we can to help the demand for travel return.

That’s also why we signed on to the Airlines for America requirement that customer-facing team members from member airlines wear face coverings and why we recently announced customers will be required to wear face coverings when they fly with us beginning May 11.

 

Why have we changed our approach on face coverings?
Earlier guidance from the CDC was that the general public did not need to wear face coverings. That guidance has since been updated and the CDC now recommends face coverings in public places. According to the CDC, respiratory droplets are the main way COVID-19 is transmitted. So, when you wear a face covering, you help protect others from your respiratory droplets and when others wear face coverings, they help protect you from their respiratory droplets. This includes people who are asymptomatic (those who have the virus but lack symptoms) or pre-symptomatic (those who eventually develop symptoms).

Additionally, our customers have told us that having the team wear face coverings would help them feel more comfortable flying. That’s our entire team’s goal as we do all we can to help the demand for travel return.

 

On what date are face coverings required?
Beginning May 8, all team members will be required to wear a face covering or mask while they are at work.

 

Are face coverings required or optional?
Beginning May 8, face coverings for team members will be required while they are at work.

 

How long will team members be required to wear face coverings?
Though we don’t anticipate this being a permanent requirement, given the current situation, face coverings will be required for the foreseeable future. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and follow the CDC’s guidance when it comes to the use of face coverings.

 

Who is required to wear a face covering?
All team members are required to wear face coverings while at work.

 

Are there any exceptions?
Yes. If you’re able to maintain 6 feet of social distance, you do not need to wear a face covering unless required by state or local law.

That said, if you’re working in a customer-facing area or capacity, you should be wearing a face covering. If you’re in a customer area, but no longer in close proximity to a customer, our customers may still see you. That’s why it’s important to continue wearing a face covering.

 

If I have a medical condition which may prevent me from wearing a face covering, what process should I follow?
You should follow the Americans with Disabilities Act process to request a reasonable accommodation. You can start the process here. If you have any questions, reach out to the ADA team at ADA.Team@aa.com.

Flight attendants should check with their manager to learn more.

 

What if I work in a location where a state or local ordinance requires face coverings at all times?
You will need to follow that particular state or local ordinance.

 

Do I need to wear a face mask provided by the company or can I bring my own?
You can bring your own or wear one provided by the company. If you choose to bring your own, it must meet the following requirements:

• It must be professional and in good taste.
• Colors and patterns should be complementary to the uniform and without advertising, slogans or logos.
• It cannot be deemed offensive, distracting or in violation of community standards.
• It cannot be made from fabric or pieces of the current or previous uniform programs.

If you choose to bring your own face cover, we encourage you to follow CDC guidance related to face coverings.

 

Can I wear a bandana as a face covering?
Customer-facing team members should not wear bandanas as face coverings.

 

Am I required to wear a face covering while I’m eating or drinking?
No. You may remove your face covering to eat or drink while at work. Just remember to follow the steps to safely remove your face covering and put it back on after eating or drinking. If you need to remove your mask to eat or drink, keep in mind:

• You should practice social distancing of at least 6 feet.
• Your mask should be handled and stored safely to avoid any cross-contamination.

 

Do I need to wear a face covering immediately upon entering my work facility or just when I get to my work location?
You should have your face covering on when arriving at your work facility, especially given 6 feet of social distance may be difficult to ensure and you may be within view of our customers.

 

Will this requirement extend to our wholly owned partners?
Yes. Our regional partners will have the same requirement for team members.

 

Will our vendor partners follow the same requirement?
A number of our vendors are already requiring face coverings and providing them for their employees. We are working closely with all our vendor partners to understand how they will be complying with the recent Airlines for America announcement that its members — including American — will require all customer-facing employees to wear face coverings.

Team members who are customer facing

Do customer-facing team members always need to wear face coverings when interacting with customers in person?
Yes. Customer-facing team members must wear a face covering when interacting with customers.

 

What if my job is customer-facing, but I’m not interacting with customers? Can I take off my face covering?
It depends. If you’re in a customer area and customers may approach you or you’re within view of customers, you should wear a face covering. However, if you’re in a customer area and you’re completely secluded, you could remove your face covering. Keep in mind, though, that customers may still be able to see or approach you, and they’ve told us that they would feel more comfortable flying if they see our team members wearing a face covering.

Additionally, if you’re customer-facing, but in a team member area (such as a breakroom), you can remove your face covering as long as you can maintain 6 feet of social distance.

 

What are some examples of times customer-facing team members should wear a face covering?
When in doubt, customer-facing team members should wear a face covering when they are in a customer area or within view of customers. That’s because customers have told us that they would feel more comfortable if they see our team members wearing a face covering. Among other examples, this would include times when you are:

• Working a flight
• Checking in a customer
• Working the check-in desk
• Bringing a bag up to a jetbridge
• Exiting the cockpit
• Greeting customers during boarding and deplaning
• Addressing a maintenance item on a boarded flight

Though this list isn’t exhaustive, the guiding direction is that you should wear a face covering when you’re interacting with customers, in customer areas or within view of customers.

 

Are pilots and flight attendants required to wear face coverings?
Yes. A face covering is required of all pilots and flight attendants when onboard. The exceptions are when a face covering interferes with operational duties such as making announcements or donning oxygen masks. Additionally, face coverings are optional on the flight deck when the full crew agrees.

 

What about deadheading or commuting?
Beginning May 11, just as all customers are, pilots and flight attendants are required to wear a face covering when traveling onboard the aircraft as a passenger.

 

Do I need to wear a face covering if I’m non-revving?
Beginning May 11, all customers (including non-revenue passengers) must wear face coverings while onboard. If you’re non-revving before May 11, we strongly encourage you to wear one.

Team members who are not customer-facing

What if I’m not customer-facing? Do I need to wear a face covering?
It depends. If you can maintain 6 feet of social distance between yourself and any other person, you are not required to wear a face covering at work. This includes office settings.

 

If I’m in Reservations, am I required to wear a face covering?
Reservations team members are required to wear face coverings while they are out and about in the office if social distancing can’t be maintained, but should not wear face coverings while they are on the phone with customers. In these instances, given the changes we’ve made, you should be able to maintain 6 feet of social distance.

 

If I work in an office setting, am I required to wear a face covering?
Yes. You are required to wear a face covering unless you can maintain 6 feet of social distance from other people.

 

I’m in an administrative/support role in the operation and don’t regularly interact with customers. Am I required to wear a face covering?
Yes. You are required to wear a face covering unless you can maintain 6 feet of social distance from other people.

Proper wear and care

How long can face masks be worn?
Face masks can be continuously worn for the duration of your shift or can be removed and reused so long as the mask does not become soiled or saturated.

 

What about other face coverings? How long can they be worn?
Face coverings can be worn for the duration of your shift. The key difference is that cloth face coverings should be cleaned after each use. These can typically be washed in a washing machine.

 

If my face covering becomes wet, including because of weather, do I need to replace it?
Yes. If your face covering becomes soiled or saturated, you should replace it. Your manager can help you get a replacement.