1.8.19 – Last Live Leg Deadhead Swap vs. Live Leg Swap

Last Live Leg Swap (10.P)Last live leg allows Flight Attendants the option of flying another Flight Attendant’s last live leg, subject to certain conditions. This option could be mutually beneficial to commuters.

Example:

Conditions:

• You must be in uniform and have all required items (e.g., tablet, keys, ID) to work.
• You have to be legal to work both the other Flight Attendant’s last live leg as well as your originally scheduled trip.
• You both must contact Crew Tracking (in a single call ahead of time) to make the request.
• The swap cannot cause a delay to either customer boarding or the flight’s departure time.
• The Flight Attendant removed from their last live leg is paid and credited as originally scheduled and retains the legalities of the trip.
• By swapping on to another Flight Attendant’s last live leg, you’re also agreeing to waive your duty and block limitations as well as rest requirements down to FAR minimums and you will not receive any pay and credit for flying that last live leg.
• If for some reason you become illegal to work your original trip, you’re not pay protected for that trip.
• If the other Flight Attendant was scheduled to deadhead following that leg of the swap, you must be legal for that deadhead. Additionally, if that deadhead turns into a working leg, you’re responsible for working that leg.

Examples:

You’re based in LGA, but you commute from MIA. You’re standing by for a flight from MIA to LGA (to commute to work) which is pretty full. You don’t want to risk not getting on. There happens to be another LGA-based MIA commuter who is working the same flight. You can volunteer to work their last leg to LGA. This assures you get on your flight to LGA to report in time for your regular trip. At the same time, your fellow LGA-based colleague doesn’t have to worry about commuting home, is released from the trip in MIA, and paid as though they completed their entire trip.

You are a PHX based Flight Attendant in LAX trying to commute to PHX to start your trip. There is a DFW crew who is scheduled to work LAX – PHX (live leg) and then deadhead PHX – DFW on the last day of their sequence. One of the crewmembers happens to be a LAX commuter or decides to stay in LAX. You agree to swap onto their trip and work the LAX-PHX (live leg). By doing this you also assume their deadhead leg PHX-DFW. If for some reason, you are needed to work the PHX-DFW leg, you are required to do so.

Remember:

You do not have to be commuting to work to volunteer to work another crewmember’s last live leg. This can be done any time you are traveling using your pass travel privileges.

If you are a reserve, you must be released into either a day off or released for a future assignment in order to do this. Additionally, you may not work someone else’s last live leg if you are scheduled to sit standby later on the same day.

Example: Flight Attendant Pratt is operating Flight 1648 CLT to PHL. Flight Attendant Brown is currently on a Golden Day. Flight Attendant Pratt and Flight Attendant Brown make a single phone call to Crew Tracking to request a “Last Live Leg Swap”.

 – Erik Harris, APFA National Contract Chair, [email protected]