10.02.19 – Weekly Scoop

Join the ConversationAPFA National Officers, the Negotiating Committee, the Joint Scheduling Implementation Committee (JSIC), and the National Department Chairs & Specialists will host a Telephone Town Hall Thursday, October 10^th from 12:00 to 1:00 pm CDT.

Click the image above or click here to register for the event.

Letters of Agreement for Hurricane Dorian

This week we were able to secure Letters of Agreement for those affected by Hurricane Dorian.  These agreements will mitigate all missed trips (TM) and personal days (PO) from August 26^th, 2019 thru September 5^th, 2019 that were hurricane related. View the LOA’s in their entirety by clicking the links:

Hurricane Dorian Letter of Agreement 1

Hurricane Dorian Letter of Agreement 2

Article III, Section 3, C. of the APFA Constitution

Sign up Today For SMS Notifications

The SMS text message notification service will only be used to send out urgent and important reminders to APFA members. The SMS text message notifications is NOT the same as or connected to the Live Chat feature on the APFA website. Click the image for more info.

Fun Fact: During the month of September, APFA Headquarters received 2,613 calls from members. That’s about 131 calls a day!

Under the “Armor” of Our Uniform

This is a common phrase that we express to crews that have experienced a traumatic event and understanding the levels of stress that we experience.  Many of us feel that we can remain strong and steadfast and do our services as if our uniform was an armor protecting us.  We are told that when we take that uniform off after a critical incident that we will feel exhausted, we may be numb, we may feel sore in our joints from the adrenalin dump after an event, and we will be extremely tired.

But what if we haven’t experienced a critical incident?  What if we are just scheduling ourselves so many hours to make ends meet, to be able to afford being a caretaker for a parent, caring for a special needs child, going through a divorce, or experiencing the loss of a loved one?  We have a different type of job that many people think is a “dream job”.   The many places that we travel are glamorous to many, but in reality we face the same stress and anxiety as many people do, but we do it at 30,000 feet in the air in a safety sensitive environment, in different countries, different time zones, experiencing weather delays, mechanical delays, unruly passengers, and even unruly Flight Attendants.

Yet we continue to put that “armor” on, get back on that plane and continue to fly and we continue to compartmentalize our stress.  This then becomes chronic stress.

When the stress response fails to shut off and reset after a difficult situation has passed, this can then become depression. Loss of any type can also lead to major depression.

The connection between stress and depression is complex and circular, and after a prolonged period of chronic stress, it eventually can develop into depression.

Depression left untreated causes a loss of pleasure in life and can adversely impact our work life. Individuals with depression can fully recover with effective treatment but less than half seek treatment because they think it isn’t serious or don’t recognize the symptoms.

Learn to Recognize the Common Symptoms of Depression:

• Persistent sad or anxious mood
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Change in appetite which cause weight loss or weight gain
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
• Thoughts of suicide or death

If you or someone you know has five or more of these symptoms for two weeks or more, it could be caused by depression.

Confidential help is available by calling your APFA EAP department at 1-817-540-0108 ext. 8701 or email us at [email protected]

Updates from Government Affairs

Annual Benefit enrollment for 2020 benefits is October 21 – November 1, 2019. The brochure is on its way to your home for review.

Annual Enrollment is a once a year opportunity to select medical, dental, life insurance and other benefits for your and your eligible family member for 2020.  If you experience a life event during the year you can elect changes.

Qualifying Life Events

In addition, you may enroll yourself and/or your dependents in the Medical Benefit Option if one of the following events occurs:

You have a new dependent as a result of your marriage, common law marriage, or declaration of a Company-Recognized Domestic Partnership (for the CORE Option), your child’s birth, adoption or placement for adoption with you.

Why Can’t I See My Hotel in HIHTL?

Effective October 1^st, hotels will no longer display in HIHTL, but will display in Crew Portal and a new location in mobileCCI.

Where in Crew Portal can I see my hotel?

1. Go to faportal.aa.com
2. Under the monthly calendar you will see three tabs
3. Click “Hotels/Shuttle”
4. Click the “v” arrow to the left of sequence number
5. Hotel/Shuttle information will be displayed via a drop down

Where in mobileCCI can I see my hotel?

1. Go to Calendar icon at bottom of page
2. Touch day of sequence for that night’s layover information
3. Touch last leg of day, which will direct you to flight information page
4. Scroll to bottom of page to find Hotel and Transportation
5. For pickup information, touch Pre-Flight Documents
6. Scroll to and touch HIDIR/HTL

Please Note:

• ODAN hotels will now reflect in Crew Portal, previously only available in HIHTL
• “Hotel Vouchers” are no longer needed or issued

A.  A Flight Attendant who becomes ill or injured as a result of an occupational incident shall receive Workers’ Compensation benefits in accordance with individual state laws.