6.14.16 – Disappointing DCA Trips/PBS Bidding Helpful Hints/Hotel Issues Rising/Orlando Shootings

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Disappointing DCA Trips
PBS Bidding Helpful Hints
Hotel Issues Rising
Orlando Shootings

Disappointing DCA Trips

Nothing affects a Flight Attendant more than their schedule. Almost daily, I receive complaints about the decline in the quality of trips since this merger. The frustrating thing is unlike weather and mechanical delays, it is preventable. There is no reason to build pairings in which the length of the duty day continually surpasses the layover.

We certainly understand there is an Operation to run. But these fatigue inducing 4 and 5 leg trips, on top of more 3 and 4 day Pairings, teamed with a higher Minimum Line Value greatly reduces flexibility and handcuffs Flight Attendant’s (both Reserve and Lineholders) ability to pick up more time.

DCA is not alone. All Bases have been giving their recommendations to the Crew Planning Team via monthly Allocations Call for some time. We do not need more justifications on why they program the Optimizer this way, we need better results.

Let the Company know how the decline in quality trips are impacting you, and please copy in your Leadership.

Crew Planning Team:

APFA:

PBS Bidding Helpful Hints

For July 2016, DCA has 45 Flight Attendants that qualify for Vacation Low.
As a bidding guideline, in July 2015 the first Critical Coverage requirements was 31-July-1999 seniority.

Hotel Issues Rising

Just as we don’t want customers to “suffer in silence”, neither should you. Even during normal operations Flight Attendants are dealing with delayed transportation, “missing” hotel rooms, lack of notifications, and other disruptive and aggravating circumstances that impact our layovers and possible security.

In addition to the APFA Hotel and Transportation Debrief Form, please notify us for Base Notice of Disputes.

Orlando Shootings

Speaking of safety, we extend our deepest condolences to those lost in the horrific and senseless tragedy of the Orlando shooting. It also reminds us to stay alert and watch out for one another. We may now be an airline of over 100,000 employees, but we are still family.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

In Unity and Strength,

Di