9.26.22 – APFA Reaches Letter of Agreement for San Francisco

Monday, September 26, 2022

APFA Reaches Letter of Agreement (LOA) for San Francisco

From the moment the company abruptly announced the closure of the SFO base, APFA leadership on the local and national levels fully support Flight Attendants impacted by management’s decision. This situation is agonizing. We want to ensure you have all the support you need during this difficult time.

APFA has signed a letter of agreement that provides flexibilities for displaced Flight Attendants that go beyond the language of the JCBA. Some of these items, namely transfer information, were previously communicated. We want to share with you the details of this letter.

Priority of Return (POR)

• A POR will automatically be filed for all displaced SFO Flight Attendants.
• You do not need to do anything to qualify for Priority of Return.
• Priority of Return Reference: JCBA Section 22.H.

Vacancy Transfers 

• If you are not awarded your first choice in September, you may bid again in October and be awarded any preference that is higher than your September award.
• When you rebid in October, you should enter your bid preferences in the same order you bid them in September.
• Please review the hotline sent out last week for more information on transferring out of SFO.

Mutual Transfers and Aircraft/Service Qualifications 

• Once you are awarded a vacancy transfer out of SFO, you will be eligible for a mutual transfer even if you don’t hold the required aircraft and/or service qualifications at the time of the match for the mutual transfer.
• This exception will be in effect for Flight Attendants displaced from SFO and awarded a mutual transfer through the February 26, 2023 award (transfer effective date of May 2, 2023).
• You must become qualified on the required aircraft and/or service by the effective date of the awarded mutual transfer.

Moving Expenses

• Flight Attendants displaced from SFO will be eligible for contractual relocation expenses to your base of record as of January 31, 2023.
• However, if you aren’t initially able to hold a transfer to your first or second choice of base, you will be eligible for contractual relocation expenses to your base of record as of January 31, 2024.
• This exception applies to the first or second choice base preference you bid for in the October 2022 transfer award.

Commuter Parking 

• If your new base parking rate is less than $100, the company has agreed to reimburse displaced SFO Flight Attendants commuting out of SFO or SJC up to $100 per month for commuter parking for six months from the date of displacement.

We know you have many more questions than can be answered in one or two hotlines. We will continue to communicate more information as this process unfolds. Please reach out to your base and national leadership if you have any questions. We are here for you.

In Solidarity,

Jeff Petersen
APFA National Contract Chair

Tim Schwartz

SFO Base President

Julie Hedrick
APFA National President