2.08.24 – APFA CLT Base Brief – March 2024 Staffing and Allocations

March 2024 CLT Staffing and Allocations

Thursday, February 8, 2024

We had our monthly call with the company to discuss the trips for March. There were some minor changes to the trips from February to March. We don’t know if the changes are a test or permanent as we anticipate the vast amount of time we will see added to the schedule happening in April and continuing throughout the summer. Our total flying hours are slightly down for March as the banks of flights will have reductions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. There are five weekends in March. This directly reflects the bank reductions, and for those who have an aversion to flying weekends, your PBS bidding strategy has to be realistic to the schedule and where the time is. Five weekends create a different schedule than we would typically see. There will be a few schedule changes reflecting spring break, and the Easter Holiday will signify the beginning of the summer ramp-up in flying. Our flight hours will be 168,022. We will see the addition of IPD flying with Dublin returning daily and Rome beginning at the end of the month.

Once again, our Reserve numbers are way too high. Our Reserve numbers are not based on our absenteeism rate. The company maintains our Reserve numbers are based on usage. We dispute the company numbers. Our data shows the Reserve planning model is not in line with actual usage. In other words, they do not have an effective model for when they schedule Reserves. We believe the numbers in CLT are high because the company has created an unrealistic schedule and trip construction model that is too fragile. This is evident when looking at the number of systems trips that are created each day. The model relies on a huge number of Reserves to cover a broken system. The company has also made the decision to have more Reserves rather than offer incentives, such as Red Flag pay, during critical coverage periods like weather events. January was the first time we had seen Red Flag offered since last summer and the need to do so was driven by the cold wave that disrupted operations for a few days. The high Reserve numbers cause higher seniorities to rotate onto Reserve. The high numbers also cripple a large number of our most junior flight attendants to have earning power to pay their bills. They are sitting around and do not have the same earning potential as Lineholders. Many of our Flight Attendants need a pay increase to make ends meet. Putting more flight attendants on Reserve than needed is causing an unnecessary financial burden on our most junior Flight Attendants. Here is the Reserve usage chart for January 2024:

As you can see, other than the singularity of the weather event, we had more Reserves than we needed for most of the month. The planning for Reserve coverage did not mirror where the spikes in time were. In many cases, it was the opposite.

Our trips break down as:

• 1 days will make up 22% of our trips (↓)
• 2 days will make up 18% of our trips (↓)
• 3 days will make up 31% of our trips (↑)
• 4 days will make up 3.7% of our trips (↓)
• 2/3 days will make up 13% of our trips (↑)
• 3/4 days will make up 2% of our trips (No Change)
• ODANs will make up 6% (No Change)
• Red eyes are down
• Pink Eyes and Bullets (All Night Turns) are less than 1%

There were two significant changes to the trips from February to March. The 1- and 2-days have been cut, and they have built more 3-days. There are fewer Red Eyes, which have been incorporated into All Night Turns.

The one days are down mainly because the full island schedule that allows for more turns will not be realized until April. The amount of 4-leg one days were reduced, and this cut the total number of 1-days. We have been asking to cut the number of 4-leg days in 2- and 3-day trips, but they cut the number of 4-leg 1-days instead. The 4-leg days built into a multiple day trip actually increased for March. We are scratching our heads on that one.

The 2-days were cut and absorbed into more 3-days. Remember, splitting a trip such as a bad 3-day does not create a 2-day and a 1-day. It may create two 2-days and require more Flight Attendants to cover the same flying. The same holds true with the reverse. Creating more 3-days adds to their perceived productivity by using fewer people to cover the same flying. The resulting 3-day may be what we would call an ugly trip, but they see them as more productive.

The majority of the 4-days remain non-commutable. The amount of 4-days is less, but the number of 2/3 and 3/4 days has increased. We have been watching these, and they were stable at about 14% of the total trips, but now we see the total number of mega layovers creeping up to 16%. We do not get a lot of complaints about these as flight attendants enjoy the long layovers. However, these trips are worth less and provide yet another source of expendable bodies for reroute when the system goes haywire. We have not asked for any cuts to these types of trips, but with the fragility of the current construction model, we need to ensure they are kept in check.

The Red Eyes have been the largest type of trip that is clogging the 3% open time limit and preventing flexibility in the ability to trip improve. We have been advocating changes for some time, and March seems to be the test month on these. There were fewer traditional Red Eyes because more of these have been built into All Night Turns or Bullets. We hope the change is welcomed and adds some relief to this problem.

The ODANs remain strong with very little changes. ODAN construction and their numbers are directly linked to the last and first banks of flights each day. March will see the usual reduction in banks on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The ODANs on these nights reflect the reductions in flights. April will be another story as the company is planning on running at max -flight capacity which will include full banks most of the week.March 2024 Bidding Timelines

March will be the last of the winter type schedule. We anticipate April will be the most challenging month as we will be moving to a full schedule in Charlotte and the next phases of the airport construction goals will not happen until May. If you encounter problems with the employee buses, EFB connectivity, or any other matter related to local obstacles, please document, document, document. Last June’s operation and November’s operation was dismal and the result of poor planning. The only thing more dismal than the operation was that Flight Service reacted by issuing more discipline and blaming the shortcomings on the flight attendants. When something goes awry, protect yourself and document, document, document.

Right now, we are in a fight to gain a new contract that will impact the quality of our lives and our working environment. We are committed to exercising our right to self-help if necessary and set a tone for the entire industry.

Join us on Tuesday, February 13, at more than 30 airports for a worldwide day of action and picketing event. Stand in solidarity with us to demand that airline management stop the stalling tactics and negotiate the contract that we are due.

11:00 AM • Charlotte Douglas International Airport – Across from the Crown • 5501 Josh Birmingham Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28208 US

RSVP Here!

Take care of yourselves and each other.

The Charlotte APFA Team

In Solidarity,

Scott Hazlewood
APFA CLT Base President
[email protected]