3.05.24 – APFA LAX Base Brief – April 2024 Staffing And Allocations And Base Update

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Our LAX reserve percentage remains in the bottom three systemwide, continuing the trend that started in October 2023. However, our base seniority distribution in the absence of the return of our displaced Flight Attendants and the lack of transfer activity into LAX drives our reserve seniority higher than where it should be.

The lowest Reserve percentages are in two bases, with the highest percentage of new hires and Flight attendants under three years.

If AA were to return our displaced Flight Attendants, open up vacancy transfers, and send new hires to LAX, combined with the lower percentages, Reserve seniority at LAX would drop dramatically.

APFA HDQ continues to press the company for transfer activity into LAX, but the company remains noncommittal. Our operation can support hundreds of Flight Attendants, especially because hotel accommodation opportunities for out-of-base crews have become fewer and more expensive. As many of our commuting Flight Attendants can attest, the Los Angeles hotel room market is very difficult.

A frequent question relates to the fact that we cannot get accurate numbers on Reserve forecasts extending out several months. The announcement of Reserve seniority only 27 days prior to the contractual month makes it impossible for us to plan. APFA HDQ confines to push for reserve forecasts a few months in advance. This is absolutely critical in a rotating reserve system such as ours.

On a separate but related note, Reserve life MUST be dramatically improved in the contract being negotiated. This company’s draconian treatment of reserves adversely affects all who serve Reserve, from the most junior to the most senior. EVERYONE is entitled to humane treatment and reasonable work schedules.

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April 2024 Allocations

• LAX Total Block Hours: 97,076
• Widebody Percentage: 48%
• IPD/NIPD Widebody Hours: 43,113
• Domestic Widebody Hours: 3,043
• IPD/NIPD Narrowbody Hours: 12,427
• Domestic Narrowbody Hours: 38,493

Satellite and Co-Terminal Block Hours

• ONT: 3,597
• SNA : 4,711
• LAS: 1,594
• SAN: 1,557

Trip duration distribution continues to be unsatisfactory.

• LAX has a greater appetite for turns than 22% for April 2024, down from 25% for March 2024 and 24% for March 2023.
• Two days increased by 6% to 34%  from March 2024, and increased by 5% from March 2023.
• Three days decreased by 3% from March 2024  and decreased by 5% from April 2023.
• Four days increased from 8% in March 2024 to 10% in April 2024, compared to 8% in April

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LHR Hotel Rumors

There are a lot of rumors swirling and the bases flying LHR regarding Summer 2024 London hotel allocations.

Michael Malool, APFA’s National Hotel Chair, has sent out this explanation as to where the process currently stands:

“As you know, it’s important to note that LHR allocations are determined and managed by the AA Hotel Contracts department. APFA Hotel maintains regular communication with the Company and frequently engages in discussions regarding LHR hotel allocations, given its status as the layover market with the highest monthly room count system wide.

Below are the LHR contract expiration dates for the incumbent long LHR layover hotels. A site review, consisting of AA upper management, the LHR AA Hotel Contract Specialist, APFA Hotel and APA Hotel was conducted in January 2024. An APFA Hotel update, post the site inspection of the LHR layover market can be found on the homepage of the Hotel section of the APFA website.

It’s important to highlight that APA Pilots, similar to APFA, receive LHR updates from the AA Hotel Contracts Department on the same email communications. If you possess any additional insights or information from APA Pilots, regarding LHR summer flying, APFA Hotel would be grateful to receive such details.

All contracted hotels are available for use by all bases, and while monthly changes are possible at the discretion of AA Hotel Contracts, historical trends suggest stability. Various factors, such as arrival and departure times, hotel room caps, influence the allocation of bases to LHR hotels. The company has expressed a preference to minimize mixed crews from different bases. While not guaranteed, this approach is currently under exploration to streamline operations, potentially leading to changes in hotel arrangements for the 2024 summer LHR schedule. Additional details are currently unknown, and APFA Hotel has no recent updates regarding the matter.”

Michael Malool

Unfortunately, the AA Hotel Department does not give local APFA reps or local management a vote in the process…a far cry from our LAA and LUS days when company hotel departments sought our feedback, and when we could each pick up the phone and call them ourselves.

However, APFA’s Michael Malool works tirelessly to follow up on our feedback. His email is [email protected]. The easier to remember [email protected] goes to the same place.

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That’s all for this update. Safe travels.

In Solidarity,

John Nikides
APFA LAX Base President 
[email protected]