5.13.16 – (LAA) – Interim Pay Protections – Question & Answer

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Friday, May 13, 2016

JCBA Update – Interim Pay Protection – LAA

Since launching interim pay protection at the beginning of the May bid month, we’ve received some questions that were not covered in the original communications we sent. We’ve answered those questions below:

Mid-Sequence MIC

Q: If my original 3-day trip experiences a mid-sequence MIC and now turns into a 2-day trip, I have no further obligation on DOSTF, but can I pick up another sequence on day 3?

A: Once you have been rescheduled after a MIC that occurred away from base or once you have contacted Crew Tracking if the MIC occurred at home base, there would be no further obligation to be pay protected for a mid-sequence MIC. If you then decide to pick up flying from the Company on day 3, you would be paid for those hours in addition to the pay protected hours for your original MIC sequence. As stated in our original communication on 3/9, if you pick up flying (OE, TT, or OR) from another FA on DOSTF you will forfeit pay protection for the original sequence.

NOTE: The ability to “double dip” is only allowed in conjunction with a mid-sequence MIC.

Call-Out Pay

Q: Is call out pay paid on top of pay protection?

A: No, it measures against any pay protection and pay protection is based on the value of the original MIC sequence.

Example: FA Smith reports for her 2 day sequence worth 10 hours on 2MAY. It cancels, she is paid 3 hours call out and released. She chooses to participate in HISEND for the 2nd day of her trip in order to protect and flies an 8 hour turnaround. She will be paid a total of 11 hours (3 hour call out + 8 hour sequence flown). Alternatively, if she flies a 5 hour turn, she will be paid a total of 10 hours, which was the value of her original MIC trip (3 hour call out + 5 hour sequence flown + 2 hours of protection).

NOTE: You must call Crew Schedule prior to leaving the airport to be eligible to for Call-Out Pay.

Notification of MIC While Still Flying Preceeding Trip

Q: What is my obligation if I’m notified of a MIC for my next trip departing tomorrow and I have not terminated my current sequence?

A: At the point you receive the MIC notification, you must contact Crew Schedule as soon as possible. Depending on where Crew Schedule is in the future coverage process, Crew Schedule may choose one of the following options:

Require FA to deadhead to pick up balance of sequence
Reschedule FA to another trip or trip sequence
Hold for Days Originally Scheduled to Fly (DOSTF)

Please refer to the online On-Duty Contract Guide for additional details regarding MIC procedures.

Last 5 Days

Q: If I originate my Last 5 Day trip, am I protected if I lose any time due to a mid-sequence MIC?

A: Yes, Interim Pay Protection will protect hours lost mid-sequence for a L5D trip. If you lose your entire sequence during L5D, the obligation and pay protection will work the same as today.

MIC for LO Trip Award

Q: What happens if I am awarded a trip during the HISEND round and then that trip ends up with a MIC?

A: If you are a lineholder, you maintain your obligation for DOSTF from your original MIC.

A: If you are a reserve, you maintain your original obligation, so if you are assigned a trip during your 4 hours of airport standby and the trip cancels within those 4 hours, you would still be required to complete the remainder of the 4 hours. If the trip cancels after the original 4 hours, your obligation is fulfilled. In either case, you should call Crew Schedule before leaving the airport to confirm any obligation.

Make Up List

Q: How do I add myself to the Make Up (MU) list?

A: HIHP/Start Date/End Date/MU

HISEND Form

Q: What HISEND form do I use?

A: You must use the proper HISEND form for your base:

HISEND Form

Q: What should I include on my HISEND form?

A: The best thing to do is include specific sequence numbers. If you are willing to fly anything to protect the sequence, follow those with “Plot to Protect” as a backup. “Plot to Protect” without preferences or specific sequences means Crew Schedule may plot any trip you are legal for that does not conflict with a DFP or future assignment. If you provide preferences, Crew Schedule can try to honor them if assigning a sequence. The preferences must be specific (e.g. sign-in prior to 0800) and not general (e.g. early sign-in).

HISEND Form

Q: What if I would like to be contacted in later rounds of MU?

A: Make sure to include “Call in Later Rounds”. If Crew Schedule does call, you must answer or return the call – even if you are not interested in anything that is currently open – to be called in later rounds. Otherwise “No Call Back” is added to your name on any lists pulled until approximately 0600 the next day for same day flying. After that time a new list is pulled and you should be included in calls for sequences originating the same day. A FA protecting a sequence is never required to participate in any MU round except the HISEND round at 12p Home Base Time (HBT).

HISEND Round

Q: What happens if I am not awarded a sequence during the HISEND round but did include “Plot to Protect”?

A: Your HISEND message will be discarded at the conclusion of the HISEND round and you will not be contacted in later MU rounds. Your obligation will be satisfied for that day of Days Originally Scheduled to Fly (DOSTF).

HISEND Form

Q: What if I am willing to accept a MU sequence I’ve requested via HISEND from 1330-1700 without first party contact?

A: Make sure to include “Call in Later Rounds”. Crew Schedule can plot sequences from the HISEND without making a call until 1700 HBT, but they won’t if you don’t include that in your HISEND.

HISEND Form

Q: Where can I find more information about the HISEND MU form?

A: Review page 25 of the LAA On-Duty Contract Guide.

Obligation While on a DFP

Q: What is my obligation if I’m notified of a MIC for my next trip and I’m on my duty-free period (DFP)?

A: At the point you receive the MIC notification, you must contact Crew Schedule, who then may choose one of the following options:

Require FA to deadhead to pick up balance of sequence
Reschedule FA to another trip or trip sequence
Hold for Days Originally Scheduled to Fly (DOSTF)

Please refer to the LAA On-Duty Contract Guide for additional details regarding MIC procedures.

SK During DOSTF

Q: What if I have a MIC and subsequently call in SK during my MIC obligation period?

A: If you are awarded a trip during the HISEND round and later call in SK for that trip, you would be paid for the trip picked up in the HISEND round, if you have available SK hours, but you would not be eligible for any additional pay protection.

A: If you call in SK during DOSTF prior to being assigned another trip or fulfilling your MIC obligation, you would not be eligible for any pay protection.

Deferred Flights

Q: What if my flight is deferred and I am not willing to waive my minimum rest?

A: If you decline to waive your minimum rest in order to be legal for the deferred flight, you would not be pay protected for the trip.

Home Base Layover

Q: Can Crew Schedule/Tracking require me to layover at home base if my trip is impacted by a mid-sequence MIC?

A: Yes, the priority is to try to keep the FA on the remaining legs of the original trip, which may require a home base layover. However, in IROPS or on limited coverage days, the FA may be required to layover at home base and fly additional legs that were not part of the original trip. When a MIC does occur at home base, the crew is required to contact Crew Schedule and cannot leave the airport unless released by Crew Schedule.

Exclusions

Q: What is not included with Interim Pay Protection?

A: Same as today, carryover, international override or other premiums are not included. Same as today, pay protection for trips originating on reserve days (RF and SB flying) are not included. All schedule conflict trip removals, including FA- initiated conflict after bid awards.

Schedule Conflicts

Q: Can you explain the difference between a Schedule Conflict and a MIC (Misconnect /Illegality/Cancellation)?

A: A Schedule Conflict is defined as either a conflict or illegality for the first trip of the month that is created by the bid award. The FA has the option to resolve the Schedule Conflict through trading or dropping either sequence. If no action is taken, 72 hours prior to the new month the first trip of the new month would automatically be removed. The removed trip would not be covered by the Interim Pay Protection.

A MIC is an illegality that does not exist when the FA has received their award or has been scheduled throughout the month, but is generated through subsequent circumstances i.e. weather, mechanical, etc. The removed trip would be covered by the Interim Pay Protection if MIC procedures are followed.

FA-Initiated Conflicts

Q: What is a FA-initiated conflict after bid awards?

A: The FA does not have a conflict for the subsequent month, but decides to pick up additional time from the company at the end of the current month and, as a result; the additional flying creates the conflict in the next month. The Flight Attendant does have this option, since current month flying takes precedence over next month flying. The removed trip would not be covered by the Interim Pay Protection.

Company-Initiated Conflicts

Q: What is a conflict that the FA did not initiate?

A: The FA does not have a conflict for the subsequent month, but due to an assignment by Crew Schedule at the end of the current month, a conflict is created in the following month. I.E. Reassignment (RA) Reschedule due to MIC, a reserve assignment or an Availability assignment by Crew Schedule. The removed trip would be covered by the Interim Pay Protection when MIC procedures are followed.

The Joint Scheduling Implementation Committee (JSIC)

Alin Boswell (APFA)
Linda Haertling (APFA)
Julie Hedrick (APFA)
Keith McCarty (Flight Service)
John Petronzi (Crew Schedule)
Nick Riva/Thomas Wooten (Crew Schedule)