American Airlines crew members are blowing the whistle on filthy, hazardous lounge conditions at major U.S. airports, exposing mold, bedbugs, and broken facilities in rest areas meant to support flight crews between routes.
At a Glance
- Crew lounges at DFW and LAX airports are reported to be moldy, infested, and unsafe
- Photos shared by whistleblower @JonNYC show broken furniture, bugs, and poor hygiene
- Employees say Delta and United offer far superior crew facilities
- Critics blame American’s CEO for ongoing cost-cutting at the expense of staff
- Airline claims renovations are underway, but workers remain skeptical
Filthy Lounges Spark Outrage
American Airlines is facing backlash from its own employees after photos and reports emerged showing dangerous and degrading conditions in its crew lounges at Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) and Los Angeles (LAX). These areas—intended for flight attendants and pilots to rest during layovers—have reportedly fallen into extreme disrepair.
Photos shared by prominent aviation account @JonNYC show cracked furniture, stained ceilings, and what appears to be a bedbug crawling across the floor. “These are the spaces we’re expected to rest in between long-haul flights,” one anonymous crew member wrote. Multiple employees described the lounges as “deplorable” and “hazardous,” raising alarms over possible mold and asbestos exposure.
Watch a report: Fed-up employees at top airline are blowing the whistle on ‘deplorable’ lounge conditions.
Industry Criticism Mounts
Industry bloggers and travel experts are calling the situation unacceptable. Ben Schlappig of One Mile at a Time emphasized the health threat posed by bedbugs in shared sleeping quarters, while Gary Leff of A View From The Wing pointed fingers at American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, accusing him of prioritizing budget cuts over crew welfare.
Employees also drew comparisons to Delta and United Airlines, where crew lounges are reportedly cleaner, modernized, and better equipped for recovery between flights.
American Responds, But Doubt Remains
In a statement, American Airlines claimed that both the DFW and LAX crew lounges had recently undergone “refreshes” and updates and that further improvements are planned. The airline did not deny the images shared online but said it was “committed to providing safe, clean rest areas for our team members.”
Still, employees remain unconvinced. They are calling for immediate, transparent improvements and formal health inspections—warning that without significant changes, crew morale and in-flight safety could be jeopardized.
As public pressure mounts and images continue to circulate, American Airlines is now under the spotlight not just for its passenger services—but for how it treats the very people keeping its planes in the sky.
