1.31.14 – (LAA) – Wings and Pin Induction, Make Up vs Option II, Reserve, VEOP-2 Roadshows, BOS Vice Chair WTS

Wings and Pin Induction, Make Up vs Option II, Reserve, VEOP-2 Roadshows, BOS Vice Chair WTS

 

9/11 AA WINGS AND UNION PIN INDUCTION
Yesterday, more than 100 Flight Attendants gathered alongside our fellow AA employees and many family members of the crew members we lost on 9/11 to witness the induction of a pair of AA Flight Attendant wings and an APFA Pin found among the Flight 77 wreckage at the Pentagon. The AA Wings and APFA Pin are now permanently housed at the CR Smith Museum, which maintains a meaningful collection of 9/11 documents. Click here to read more about how the Wings and Pin were brought to AA, a few photos of the event, as well as the complete text of Laura’s speech from the induction ceremony.
 
MAKE UP vs OPTION II
Effective January 31, 2014, Flight Attendants will see a “No Option” limit of 90 hours under their Schedule Projection (SPROJ) column and an Option I limit of 95 hours SPROJ. Make Up over the monthly max will be limited to the 100 hours SPROJ maximum. Flight Attendants will no longer be eligible for a MU trip that brings their SPROJ over 100 hours even if it is below 100 hours prior to the plotting of the MU trip (as was the case under the LBFO). Flight Attendants desiring to fly over 100 hours SPROJ may need to place their names on both the MU list for to be eligible in any MU round as well as the Option II list for the 1330 round. If trips are available, Option II will be open every day after 1330.
 
For example: If a Flight Attendant has an SPROJ of 90 hours, s/he may be awarded a MU sequence worth up to 10 hours in any MU round. However, if s/he wants a 12-hour sequence, s/he would have to wait for the Option II round for the award, because MU may only be awarded up to a total of 100 hrs SPROJ. By placing her/his name on the Option II list, a Flight Attendant may still be awarded that sequence if it remains open after the HISEND and 1330 MU rounds have been processed. 
 
RESERVE UPDATE 
APFA met this week with AA’s IT team responsible for implementing Flight Attendant-related programming. We made it clear that Flight Attendants are anxious to see a solution to the inherent problems that accompany maintaining two Reserve lists and assigning Reserves to their adjacent operations. 
 
While we had hoped that more progress would have been made, it’s clear that we are many months from implementing either a combined Reserve list or moving toward a single operation with International and Domestic combined. We know this is an important issue to our members and we will continue to push for a solution.
 
VEOP-2 ROADSHOW SCHEDULE IS SET!
As we announced earlier this week, VEOP-2 opens on Monday, February 3rd and ballots are due by 1000 Central on February 28th. APFA Retirement Specialist Patrick Hancock will be on the road visiting every base for a 3-hour meeting between February 4th and February 25th. If you are thinking about taking the VEOP, this is the best place to have all of your questions answered. Bring your paperwork with you and plan to be thoroughly educated and entertained by Patrick Hancock!
 
Click Here to see the Voluntary Early Out information on the Flight Service website.
Click Here to see a sample of the online election form.
Click Here to see a sample of the departure date ballot.
Click Here to see the VEOP-2 Q&A
 
MIA
February 4
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Miami International Airport
Concourse D Auditorium, Level 4
(above the American Airlines Credit Union)
NW 20th Street & Le Jeune Road
Miami, FL  33122
(305) 871-4100
 
RDU-I
February 5
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn Raleigh-Durham/ 
Research Triangle Park
4620 South Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC  27703
(919) 941-6066
ATTENTION: Hotel cannot provide shuttle service to/from airport. Suggest calling Rite Choice Cab Company for a ride to the hotel.
 
STL
February 6 
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel 
9801 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO  63134
(314) 429-1100
 
DFW
February 13
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hyatt Regency DFW
2334 North International Parkway
DFW Airport, TX  75261
(972) 453-1234
 
ORD
February 14
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
O’Hare International Airport
Mezzanine Conference Room
 
BOS
February 18
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Embassy Suites Boston at Logan Airport
207 Porter Street
Boston, MA  02128
(617) 933-5103
Parking vouchers provided by APFA
 
LGA
February 19
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
LaGuardia Airport
LGA Flight Service Training Room
 
JFK
February 20
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
JFK International Airport
JFK Dupont Conference Room
 
DCA
February 21
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Radisson Hotel DCA 
2000 Jefferson Davis HWY
Arlington, VA  22202
(703) 842-4033
Parking vouchers provided by APFA
 
LAX
February 24
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ayres Hotel Manhattan Beach
14400 Hindry Ave.
Hawthorne, CA  90250
(310) 536-0400
 
SFO
February 25
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport
250 Gateway Boulevard
South San Francisco, CA  94080
(650) 589-3400
 
ELECTRONIC MANUALS
The six-month testing phase for our electronic in-flight manuals this month. The FAA and Flt Svc have already begun conducting random audits on Flight Attendant use and knowledge of the tablets and our ability to access manual refernces in flight. The audits are non punitive and the data collected does not include Flight Attendant names, employee numbers or bases. In order to be granted FAA approval for Flight Attendant electronic in-flight manuals, data must be collected through the random audits confirming the following information:

• Each Flight Attendant assigned to a flight has a fully charged and working tablet with the latest updates
• Flight Attendants are carrying an extra battery for the tablet on their assigned flights
• Flight Attendants are able to quickly and easily access various manual sections and pages on the tablet when instructed by an auditor

We want to eventually switch from our current “paper” in-flight manual requirement to the more convenient version of an electronic manual so it is crucial we prove to the FAA through these random audits that we are prepared and ready by carrying our tablets (fully charged and updated) with us on every single flight. If you have any questions or are experiencing problems with your tablet, please immediately contact your local base Flt Svc Tablet Specialist before your next trip.
 
LIQUID 3-1-1- REGULATION CHANGE
Effective today, all Flight Attendants and Pilots traveling to/from destinations where liquid restrictions are enforced on Crew Members. will be able to carry their liquid prescriptions beyond the 3-1-1 restriction, including all destinations in the UK. All prescriptions must be in their original presciption containers and placed within a plastic bag. Email APFA Safety and Security if you come across any problems with this new change.
 
BOS VICE CHAIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE
The National Ballot Committee would like to advise all Flight Attendants based at BOS Domestic that there will be a vacancy in the postion of Vice Chairperson effective March 2, 2014,  for the remainder of the term ending March 31, 2015. A Willingness-to-Serve Notification will be posted on the APFA website by February 4, 2014. Any BOS-D Flight Attendants interested in the position should return the completed Notification to the address located on the bottom of the form by 1000 CT, March 6, 2014.
 
READ: FIRST US AIRWAYS PLANE FLIES IN AA PAINT
 
REMINDERS
___________________________________________________________________________
 
Cell Phones in the Cabin
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) comment period remains open to weigh in on the use of cell phones on planes. Please take a moment and provide your comments to the FCC on this important issue.
 
Follow this link http://www.fcc.gov/comments, then select: 13-301 – Expanding Access to Mobile Wireless Services Onboard Aircraft
 
Staffing
As a reminder, if you have reports concerning staffing related issues, please email details to [email protected]. In order to evaluate any potential violation of our contract language, which states that APFA has the right to grieve an unreasonable workload, we must have detailed reports in order to build a successful case to present to an arbitrator. In the past, when the company violated this provision, it was the initial detailed reports from our members that helped us develop a successful case. Generic or non specific reports are not helpful in this instance. Necessary details include city pair, cabin worked, loads, booking and final numbers, specific galley and  catering challenges, etc. 
 
We thank you in advance for your email to [email protected]. Should you require a representative to contact you to discuss further, please indicate as much in the email subject line, as this email box is used for feedback and research purposes only. 
 
Executive Committee Willingness-to-Serve
The National Ballot Committee would like to advise all members in good standing that a Willingness-to-Serve (WTS) has been posted on the APFA website for Ad Hoc Positions 1 and 2 of the Executive Committee. If you are interested in serving on the Executive Committee, you are asked to return the WTS to Jeff Pharr, APFA Secretary, by March 10, 2014. Jeff’s email address is [email protected]. For more information, visit www.apfa.org. Please direct any questions to the National Ballot Committee at [email protected] or 817-540-0108, ext. 8311. 
 
Administrative and Committee Positions
APFA is now accepting resumés for the positions of Division Representatives (5), National Coordinators (6) – Communications, Contract, Health, Hotel, Safety/Security, Scheduling), the National Balloting Committee (5), and the National Budget Committee (4). Resumés must be submitted to APFA Secretary Jeff Pharr by March 12, 2014.

AmericanAirlines + US Airways 
“On Our Way”

Leslie Mayo
APFA National Communications Coordinator