5.28.04 – (LAA) – 25th Anniversary of AA Flight 191 Crash, Turbulence, Paris and Rome Long Layovers, 420 Look-back Threshold

Hello everyone. This is Michael Truan, DFW InfoRep Captain, with the APFA Hotline for Friday, May 28th, 2004.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 191, which crashed on May 25th, 1979. Please take a moment to remember all those that were lost in this tragic event.

With your continued help, our efforts in Washington D.C. are certain to ultimately be successful. We are posting two additional ACTION ALERTS on the Capwiz page of the APFA web site. Click on the Government Affairs page, then click onto Capwiz. We ask that you send the letters from Senator Boxer and Holling to your Senator asking for their support. Once you have sent your letter, click on TELL-A-FRIEND. This allows you to send up to six flight attendant friends an e-mail message and allow them to respond with their own letter. We must all pull together and send these letters soon, as we only have until the middle of June. Senator Hollings letter is asking the TSA to develop a basic Safety and Security Training Program for all Flight attendants. Senator Boxer’s letter is asking the FAA to review and recommend changes to the flight attendant duty and layover rest regulations for flight attendants. We need our voices to be heard in Washington, so log onto the APFA web site and start sending those letters.

Taking you around APFA:

• From the Safety Department: The summer travel season is upon us, which means full airplanes and changing weather patterns. This week alone we had three APFA members injured due to turbulence. Please review turbulence procedures and stay safe. We encourage Flight Attendants to visit the SSI Web site for the very latest safety and security information. The web site has recently been updated. The SSI Web site can only be accessed through the Flight Service Web site. Also from the Safety Department, please be aware that the FAA is currently conducting observations aboard our aircraft. As always, it is important to ensure that your manuals are up-to-date, you are in possession of your FAA required equipment, and continue challenging all individuals for proper identifications. We have been notified that the FAA is issuing individual fines to Flight Attendants. For your continued safety, while on layovers try to always travel with other crewmembers. Please stay in well lit areas and around the general public. We discourage that you travel alone if at all possible.
• The Hotel Department would like to remind you that the APFA continues to meet with the company to discuss the issue of both the Paris and Rome long layover hotels. The hotel review was conducted in January 2004. We are very disappointed that to date the company has not yet made a decision. We will continue to update you with any new information via the hotline and the APFA web site.
• The Health Department feels it is worth reminding you again this week, that the 420 look-back threshold from May 2003 to May 2004 will be conducted by the company in June. If you did not maintain the 35-hour AVERAGE per ACTIVE month during the previous 12 months, you will be charged the FULL amount of your monthly health benefits (your contribution and the Company’s contribution) monthly, until you have once again reached the 35-hour AVERAGE on any 12-month look-back. You may view your eligibility hours and your threshold requirements in your personal mode in DECS by accessing your HISK (for the current year) and your HISK/L (for last year). Flight Attendants are invited to participate in a 420 Conference call with AA Flight Service Administration on June 1st at 11:00a.m. We encourage Flight Attendants who have 420 look-back questions to dial into the conference at the following number 1-877-331-6867. You will be prompted by an automated response to enter the participant code, which is 595103. The line will accommodate 200 callers.

In Industry News:

Good news for IMA Flight Attendants-American Airlines announced on Monday that it would begin seasonal service between Miami and Manchester, England on November 1st. The service, using a Boeing 767, will continue through April 30th, 2005.

Southwest Airlines is offering a cash buy out and other perks to its employees. The airline has stated that it has an overage of employees in many positions. The buyout offer expires June 25th.

On Monday, United Airlines announced that it might have to furlough additional employees due to the rising cost of fuel. Airline management said they would continue to look for other ways to cut costs, but furloughs could not be ruled out. Continental Airlines acknowledged that it might also have to furlough employees to deal with rising costs.

US Airways is asking The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) for an additional $160 million in concessions. AFA, the union that represents US Air Flight Attendants, has not reached a decision on whether to engage in a third round of concessionary negotiations with the airline. That decision was deferred to allow the Union’s outside financial advisor team to analyze US Air’s finances.

The APFA Offices will be closed on Monday, May 31st in observance of Memorial Day. An officer on duty will be available to assist Flight Attendants with emergencies. If you do encounter an emergency situation on Monday or at any time after regular business hours, please call 817-540-0108 or 800-395-2732 and follow the prompts very carefully for assistance. All calls of a non-emergency nature will be directed to the appropriate representative or department for assistance during business hours.

That’s it for this edition of the APFA Hotline. Please visit the web site at www.www.apfa.org for more information.

There are currently 5,760 Flight Attendants on furlough.

Thanks for calling.