5.19.22 – APFA PHX Base Brief – Thursday, May 19, 2022

Thursday, May 19, 2022

APFA PHX Mid-Month Update for May 2022

We were notified 15 more vacancies, that will be filled by our displaced Flight Attendants, were opened up for August. Secorra, Sharitta and I met virtually with Manpower Planning and discussed the need for more Flight Attendants here In PHX. After very productive discussions, especially our concerns with insufficient Flight Attendants to cover PHX flying and Reserve numbers, we were pleased to learn of the vacancy openings of 15 more Flight Attendants. Of course, we asked for all PORs (Priority of Return) to be returned; but will not turn down any openings that will bring relief to this base.

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LHR Update

One of the most important changes that have occurred on our PHX-LHR sequences since their reinstatement is we no longer have a ten (10) Flight Attendant compliment. We are currently working these round-trip sequences with nine (9) Flight Attendants. With full flights on the horizon, both directions, it has been requested by the Flight Attendants that have worked these sequences that we remind everyone the importance of knowing your assigned duties and working together as a team.

To assist with this we are suggesting you bookmark the following information in your EFB or, for those who have not yet transitioned, the Tablet.

IFM

• Section 2.3 — Border Regulations
• Section 2.14 — Passport and Visa Requirements
• Section 9.2 — Bassinet
• Section 10.1 — IFE forms
• Section 10.2 — Audio equipment
• Section 10.3 — Wireless internet
• Section 10.4.5 — Panasonic (eX2-eX3)
• Section 11.10.2 — TTL Aircraft Reference Guides, 777-200ER (Super Diamond) 777-200ER (Concept-D) sections
• Section 11.10.4 Passenger Seats—Troubleshoot and Malfunction Guide, Concept D and Super Diamond seat details
• Section 14—777

Destination Information publication

• All sections and the Europe Destination section

Onboard Service Manual

• 4.2.3.5—777-200 IPD
• 4.3—Service Position Assignment Charts
• 4.3.28—IPD FA 1- Purser and BC aisle for position 1
• 4.3.31—IPD FA 4*, 5- BC galley & aisle for position 5
• 4.3.32—IPD FA 4, 6, 7, 10 (12)- BC aisle for positions 4 and 7
• 4.3.33—IPD FA 2- MC galley & aisle for position 2
• 4.3.34—IPD FA 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 (10), (13)- MC aisle for positions 3, 6, 8, 9
• All of Section 5

As a reminder for those who do not usually work IPD flights, they require a report for duty of one hour and fifteen minutes (1.15) prior to departure. Flight Attendants should be onboard the aircraft ready to receive the passengers at fifty (50) minutes prior to scheduled departure. Please review JCBA Section 14 – International Flying. Tt covers all information with regards to contractual guidelines for IPD flying and can be referred to if you feel there is a contractual violation occurring.

It is also important that we know the restrictions for LAG’s coming out of LHR as security in that airport are very strict regarding there adherence:

The following restrictions apply to all liquids, creams, gels, pastes and aerosols taken through security control:

• Liquids may only be carried in containers holding 100ml or less.
• They must be carried separately in a single bag which is:
  • Transparent and resealable
  • No larger than 20cm x 20cm (8in x 8in)
  • Able to close properly with all the items inside.
• At security control, place the bag in the tray with your other items.
• Liquids in containers over 100ml will not be permitted through security – please pack them in your hold baggage instead. (hold = checked).

The Pursers have all the necessary information you need to assist with the London experience.  Up to and including the new hotel assignment for PHX that begins June 2, 2022.  Please remember to have fun and don’t forget to take that obligatory phone booth photo once you are on your layover!
LHR Crew Seniority Information

June 2022 Bid Month: Most Junior Non-Purser to hold LHR – June of 1995
May 2022 Bid Month: Most Junior Non-Purser to hold LHR – May of 1988

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Medical/FMLA Leave

As you may be aware, the Company has implemented a new system to request Medical and FMLA leaves. To access the Absence Tracker, sign on to Jetnet > Team Member Services > Leaves & Returns > Flight Service. This will take you to a page that is exclusively yours. On that page you can look at the status of a pending leave or request a new leave. When you request a new leave, the paperwork is prepopulated with all your personal information.

APFA National Health Department Hotline – Absence Tracker

The Company has reminded us that if you are aware of an impending need for a Medical/FMLA block leave, to send in your paperwork as soon as possible. This will allow you to ensure all necessary documentation for the leave to be approved has been sent to the ARC before the procedure, and you won’t have to worry about getting approval while on the mend. Until your line is recoded for the leave, you are still responsible for calling out sick to avoid any Missed Trips (TM) or Late Sicks/Sick on Contact (LC).

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Correction to May 2022 Staffing and Allocations Base Brief

In our Staffing and Allocations Base Brief, dated May 10, 2022, we stated that APFA National President Julie Hedrick spoke out for all the bases and the unacceptable high reserves and line averages… “Calling out the continued mantra of using 2019 figures to project the percentages needed in 2022, stating that most reserves in all bases were only utilized to an average of 52- to 54%”. This information was incorrect. We should have reported Julie mentioned in her statement that in 2019 most reserves were used to an average of 52- to 54 credit hours. If we gave the impression or led anyone to believe that FAs are only being used to 52-54% of their guaranteed line average in 2022; or that in 2019 FAs were only used 52-54% of their guaranteed line average, we apologize. It was an error that was not caught during proof reading and for that we apologize.

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PBS Mis-Award Process

Any Lineholder or Reserve who has an inquiry or believes she/he may have received a mis-award must submit a PBS Award Challenge on Crew Portal > Links > Support Tab, no later than Tuesday, May 24 at 1200 (CT).

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Hot Cabin

There is no longer a set 90-degree threshold, if you feel the cabin is not comfortable or safe for our passengers, and pilots are not available, contact the Gate or Daily Operations (888-222-4737) to have Maintenance come to the A/C immediately. Do not remain on the aircraft if it is too hot. Proceed to the boarding area, if possible.

The Captain has final authority to determine if cabin conditions are adequate for passenger boarding. Please continue to communicate and coordinate with Gate Agents and the Pilots as appropriate to ensure the best possible boarding conditions.

As a First Responder, remember to review signs and symptoms of heat related illnesses, and remain prepared. Should you become ill, submit an AMR Event Report, and consider reporting via a Cabin ASAP report as well. ALL cabin heat events, especially those involving a delay in the boarding process and/or departure, should be reported to [email protected].

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Hotel or Transportation Delays

If a delay in transportation or hotel accommodations delays your rest period, please make sure to reach out to Tracking to have the release time for the duty period adjusted.  There may be some circumstances a longer duty day may trigger a pay component, so keep this in mind as well.  Don’t forget to fill out the APFA Hotel and Transportation Feedback Form.

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Deadline to Order iPhone EFB is Near

The Company has a hard cutover date to the iPhone EFB is 6/15/22.  In order to have your new EFB up and running for this hard cutover, you must order the device by 6/8/22. Click Here to access the ordering portal.

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Reserve Tidbits

It is imperative that if you are a reserve, call scheduling and tell them they are “calling out of time” once you reach 85.01 or higher RSVCOT for the month.  If you do not and you are given a sequence on the last day of the month that transitions to the next month, you may very well be legal for that sequence.  Please remember that transition sequences that begin on the last day of the bid month are based on actual flying time for the day and not the variable minimum.

For Example: FA Secorra is currently at 87.30 for the month, she does not call out of time.  On June 1st she is given RAP C and subsequently called for a sequence with one leg to SNA with a duty time of 1.25.  She would be legal for this sequence as 87.30 and 1.25 = 88.55.  If you see that you have been given a RAP at the end of the month and you are already at RSVCOT of 85.01 or higher, immediately call scheduling to tell them you are calling out of time, if you haven’t already done so. But you must do it before that assigned RAP begins. ***The Company cannot fly you over 90 RSVCOT hours without your approval. ***

Reserve reminder, be cautious with Standing Bids.  The ROTD programming will not assign two reports in one calendar day, but it will award two reports in the same calendar day.  Having a Standing Aggressive Bid can cause quite the wakeup call or cause a missed trip.

Also keep in mind, after you have 40 hours on your schedule an aggressive award while on a RAP will not count towards yours RSVCOT.  Trips or STBYs awarded by ROTA will.  The 40 hours is calculated by what is today and the past.  So vacation hours at the end of the month are not included until the date of the vacation day.  Example: 40 hours of vacation at the beginning of the month count and if awarded an aggressive bid, the trip would not count towards calling out of time.  If the 40 hours of vacation are at the end of the month, they have not yet occurred and would not count yet, and you could bid aggressive and use the trip to call out of time.

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AFA/APFA Optional Short-Term Disability Insurance

In early 2013, former Legacy US Airways Flight Attendants were provided an optional Short-Term Disability plan through the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA). Many Flight Attendants, both active and retired, remain enrolled in this plan. The short-term disability plan was completely voluntary and provided tax-free benefits in the event you are disabled due to an injury, illness, or pregnancy.

American Airlines currently offers an optional Short-Term Disability plan during Annual Enrollment through MetLife. Under the Company’s plan, you would not be able to collect OSTD benefits until you have exhausted all of your sick time.

In January of 2019, APFA announced a newly negotiated direct relationship with AFLAC for voluntary supplemental benefits to be offered to APFA Members. One of the benefits is also a Short-Term Disability plan.

It has recently come to our attention that some Flight Attendants are enrolled in and are paying into all three of the above Short-Term Disability plans. It is important to note that the AFA-CWA and APFA plans are both underwrote and wholly-owned under AFLAC incorporated. Therefore, you are unable to claim both plans.

If you are currently paying into both plans, it is important to contact either National Group Protection or AFLAC to cancel either plan and request a refund for your paid premiums. Here is the contact information for both companies:

National Group Protection (NGP): 800-344-9016

AFLAC: 877-453-2385
No action is needed if you have only the AFA-CWA plan or only the APFA plan. Also, if you have the STD plan through American, you are allowed to double-dip once you deplete your sick bank.

If you have any questions, please contact Joe Klimek, Broker with CAOP, LLC at [email protected].

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APFA PHX Phone Number
800-595-1471

• Ext. 1 – National Office and Contract & Scheduling Desk
• Ext. 2 – PHX Base President Robin Agee
• Ext. 3 – PHX Base Vice President Secorra Flowers
• Ext. 4 – Mandatory Meeting Representation
• Ext. 5 – Medical and Injury on Duty
• Ext. 6 – Reserves
• Ext. 0 – General Questions

Save the image below, for when you do not have access to the internet:

Secorra will be on vacation May 20 through May 27th, returning on May 28th. Robin will be on vacation from May 29th thru June 4th, returning on June 5th. If you have any questions during that time, you can call 800-595-1471 and leave a voicemail at ext. 0. Or you may call Robin at 480-238-2303 during Secorra’s vacation.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

In Solidarity,

Robin Agee
APFA PHX Base President
480-238-2303
[email protected]

Secorra Flowers
APFA PHX Base Vice President
602-551-8116
[email protected]