7.09.24 – APFA PHL Base Brief – August 2024 Staffing and Allocations

August 2024 PHL Staffing and Allocations

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Hello PHL,

The monthly staffing and allocations call took place on Wednesday, July 3. PHL flying decreased by 721 hours, and our Reserve numbers decreased by 1.9%. The last time we saw new hire Flight Attendants in PHL was last year, which continually draws more senior Flight Attendants into the Reserve rotations. As more people come off straight Reserve, more senior Flight Attendants are added to the rotations.

Staffing

The system-wide projected line average is 80.9 hours, while the line average for PHL is projected to be 82.1 hours. These numbers are subject to change based on multiple factors including bidding behaviors and the final active headcount when PBS processes.

Allocations

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IPD

Our seasonal flying is still in full swing. ATH, FCO, DUB, and CPH will fluctuate between the 787-8 and 787-9. When bidding in PBS, pay attention to the dates they operate and on what equipment.

Now, to address the elephant in the room. Management has again decided to staff Doha (DOH) with only nine (9) Flight Attendants beginning on August 3. In doing so, Management is signaling that retaining this profitable route is not a priority for American Airlines. We have been discussing this with Management and providing data that justifies a staffing model of ten (10) Flight Attendants.

It should not surprise anyone, but Management is not budging. They are determined to set up this flight to fail without regard for our customers and the physical toll this particular flight takes on our Flight Attendants when not staffed correctly. The difference in duty time to determine if it is staffed with nine (9) or ten (10) Flight Attendants is only five (5) minutes! It is impossible to comprehend their resistance to support this very lucrative market. We will continue to fight the reduction in staffing.

Domestic Wide-body Flying

We have 1-day and 2-day sequences to DFW, and MIA. PVD (charter opportunity) on the 12th and 15th.

ODANs

We have a slight increase in ODAN flying. RDU, BOS, CLE, DTW, BTV, CVG, BGR, PWM, BDL, and BUF are available to bid in August.

PIT Satellite

PIT flying lost 66 hours.

Transition From Reserve to Lineholder

PHL has many Flight Attendants holding lines for the first time. It is important to understand the transition from a Reserve month to a Lineholder month has some challenges.

JCBA 12.Q. – Month to Month Integration: Reserve to Lineholder

• If an assignment of a sequence which continues from one month into the next is necessary, she/he shall operate such sequence in its entirety. Such Reserve shall not be assigned a sequence until after the point in the Reserve order of assignment language in which Reserves have been assigned sequences into Flex Days. Such Reserve shall be pay protected for any flight time lost, if applicable, as a result of operating the continuation of such sequence. If an assignment of a sequence in the current month causes an illegality for a sequence in the subsequent month, pay protection provided for consistent with illegal through no fault shall apply.

As a Reserve, you are guaranteed 12 days free of duty. As a Lineholder you are guaranteed 11 days off (JCBA 11.H.) unless the Lineholder chooses to waive minimum days off. With month to month flying,  the order of assignment allows the company to fly you into your Lineholder days off.

There are many strategies to make it less likely that you will have transition challenges:

• Bid to have days off at the end of the Reserve month.
• Bid to have 6 days of Reserve duty at the end of the Reserve month.
• Bid to have flying at the beginning of the Lineholder month.
• Pick up a trip from TTS or ETB that originates in the first couple of days of the Lineholder month.
• Use ROTA/ROTD to bid for trips that would not work you into your Lineholder month, or to bid for trips that would touch fewer Lineholder days off.

General Reminders

• Be prepared for weather delays. Please review Rescheduling Reminders: Spring Storms on APFA.org.
• When Do I Go Illegal? is a great tool to use to calculate your maximum duty day.
• August is move in month for colleges and universities. If you commute, please plan accordingly as seat availability will be a challenge.
• Negotiations Update #65: Progress Made in Talks; Agreement Not Reached
• Our PHL office number is (215) 360-3115. You can call or text that number. Please include your ID# in any message or text.

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PHL STRONG! PHL PROUD! 

In Solidarity,

Tracey Montanari
APFA PHL Base President
[email protected]

John Pratt
APFA PHL Base Vice President
[email protected]