10.06.17 – Line Averages and Pairing Construction

Friday, October 6, 2017

 

Line Averages and Pairing Construction

We hear you and we continue to express your concerns about PBS line averages and pairing construction.

The November trip pairings have been reviewed and though we see some positive changes, we are still concerned about the construction of excessive duty days, short rest periods, lack of ODANS and one day pairings.

We have told the company that these high line averages and lack of movement during ISAP and ETB are causing many issues for our DCAU Flight Attendants. Keep in mind that more folks that participate in ISAP, the better the results will be. That being said, we have suggested to the Company a higher percentage limitation in ISAP, but have not heard back. We feel that this would provide for greater movement and more flexibility.

Your local leadership will continue the battle for better schedules and quality of work life.

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Last Live Leg Swap

Last Live Leg is a contractual provision that allows a crew member the ability to seek a qualified LUS Flight Attendant to work the last live flight of his/her pairing. The Flight Attendant requesting to split off the pairing may call 1-800-327-0117 prompts 2,1 and inform Crew Scheduling of his/her intention. You will find the full contractual language in the Redbook, Section 10.P  (page 10-48).

FYI, the Flight Attendant swapping off the pairing will still receive flight pay and per diem as if he/she flew the leg.

If you are having trouble contacting Crew Scheduling to Swap, please let your local union reps know.

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Communication with Crew Scheduling/Crew Tracking

Reaching a Supervisor

There will be times during your communication with Crew Scheduling that you may need to speak to a scheduling supervisor. Unfortunately, the new phone tree doesn’t have a direct prompt to reach a shift supervisor. The crew schedulers are trained to help you to the best of their ability, but if you need to speak to a SOD, ask the scheduler to transfer you to the supervisor’s desk.

Reschedules – Crew Tracking

During a reschedule, at the time of release, ask the crew tracker to remark the time of your release to start your legal rest period.

Example:  Duty period 1 has a 2-leg flight segment DCA-CLT-MCO. After landing in CLT, you discover your plane has a mechanical issue. The flight to MCO is now delayed by 3 hours. Once the 3 hours is up, you find out that the flight will be canceled. You speak with a crew tracker, and you are told you will RON in CLT and pick up duty period 2 the next day. This is when you would inform the tracker that your rest period will begin 15 minutes after release from the cancelled flight segment.

The reason for this is that CAT CREW will show your release time as 15 minutes after you blocked in from the first flight segment, DCA-CLT, but ultimately, you were still on duty awaiting the repair to your plane prior to the cancellation of the MCO segment.

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Tablet Access to CREW PORTAL and ROTA 

I had confirmation from the Company that you can access Crew Portal and ROTA on your Flight Attendant tablet on the ground or in-flight. This is especially useful for reserve Flight Attendants entering daily bids in Crew Portal for ROTA while flying.

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Known Crew Member – KCM

We have been getting reports that KCM at Ronald Reagan National Airport has not been opening on schedule. If you experience this, please document the date and time and make base management and your local APFA leadership aware of the situation.

 

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Updated JCBA Implementation Schedule – 9.30.2017

The JCBA Implementation Schedule was updated on 9/30/2017 and has been posted to the APFA website. It is suggested that you review and make a copy for your personal use to answer questions about what has been implemented from the JCBA.

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Benefits

Don’t miss the opportunity to enroll or change your annual benefits during the 2018 Annual Benefits Enrollment period. Enrollment opens on October 16, 2017 and runs through October 27, 2017. Go to https://my.aa.com/ for more information.

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Bag Policy

Flight Service updated the crew member bag policy effective October 1, 2017.

Bags Allowed:

In uniform – TWO Carry On bags + One Personal Item: 47 linear inch carry-on bag. EXEMPTIONS: Lunch cooler or other food items for personal consumption, purse, FA manual, reasonable amount of reading material, umbrella, and overcoat .

Out of uniform– ONE Carry On + One Personal Item. EXEMPTIONS: NONE

A company communication dated Tuesday, September 26, 2017  was sent to all crew members via the FA tablet accessing the company email. Please print this email as verification, and carry it with you as you travel for pleasure or commute for your protection in the event there are any questions.

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Safety

A Cabin ASAP Report is a tool that allows you to self-disclose an inadvertent FAR violation or a specific/general safety concern that you observe on the aircraft. This FAA sponsored, voluntary safety program is a non-punitive, deidentified method to report safety related issues.

You can access the report by logging in to Jetnet, navigating to the Flight Service Website, and then clicking on the safety and security tab. Once there you may then select  Cabin ASAP Report .

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Flight Service

Recently many of you have received  letters indicating that DCA Flight Service was realigning Flight Attendants and Flight Service Managers (FSMs). APFA was told that this was a necessary process to align the ratio of Flight Attendants to FSMs.

If you have not received a letter of change from Flight Service than you will still have the same FSM that you had prior to any changes. Please direct any questions or concerns to your FSM or your local APFA union leadership.

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APFA Fall BOD Meeting

Both I, and DCA-US Base Vice President Lori Vitto Glatley will be attending the Annual APFA Fall Board of Directors Meeting (BOD) on October 11 – 12, 2017 from 0900-1800.  ALL members in good standing are urged to attend. 

Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Solana 
1301 Solana Boulevard, Building 3
Westlake , Texas  76262

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DCA-US Facebook Page

We invite you to join our Facebook Page, DCA-U Flight Attendant Union. Simply “like” the page to join.

Thank YOU and Fly Safe!

John Pennel
APFA DCA-US Base President
[email protected]