10.25.24 – APFA LAX Base Update- October 25, 2024

Friday, October 25, 2024

Hey all…

This update will cover 7 topics:

1. Meeting with David Seymour
2. LAX-Specific Purser Proffer
3. Retro Pay
4. Commuter Policy Changes
5. Calling in Well – Intermittent FMLA
6. Compensation for Hotel Delays
7. JFK KCM-Adjacent Exit

Meeting with David Seymour

We met on October 14th at AA HDQ with AA Chief Operating Officer, David Seymour, and AA VP of Manpower Planning, Anne Moroni, as well as Cindi Simone, as planned.

We presented to the company our request for an increase to the flight attendant headcount at LAX through returning our displaced flight attendants, followed by the awarding of vacancy transfers and the assignment of new hires.

We explained how the stagnation and shrinkage at LAX serves neither the LAX flight attendants nor the company. We proffered a test whereby our displaced flight attendants would be returned to LAX.

Management continued to express their dissatisfaction with the LAX reserve sick numbers.

We discussed how the return of the displaced flight attendants to PHX, followed by vacancy transfers and new hires, has helped that base. Management asserted that the recent headcount additions to PHX have not yielded the results they wanted.

Management claimed that they added headcount to PHX due to network considerations, i.e. increased flying at PHX. However, network flying from PHX is also easily covered by LAX, and would support adding headcount at our base.

Management declined the test we proffered.

We also brought up increased growth in flying at LAX as segments of the terminal expansion come online. The company would not confirm increased flying at the LAX station in the near future.

We realize that the company typically remains tight-lipped for competitive reasons about new routes being considered, but the truth remains that American Airlines is investing billions into the LAX infrastructure for a reason. The persistent rumors of LAX-Singapore and LAX-Incheon are two examples of potential growth.

Regarding sick numbers at LAX, the company claimed that reserve sick on awarded/assigned IPD trips is far less than on domestic trips awarded/assigned to reserves, their implication being that some sick calls for domestic reserve trips are not legitimate.

We countered their implication.

Julie Hedrick asked for proof of those numbers, and we are awaiting that breakdown. I suggested that, if true, reserve sick call-outs on awarded/assigned IPD trips could be lower because a reserve can more easily drop a reserve IPD trip rather than call out sick when they are unwell.

We asserted repeatedly that returning our displaced flight attendants, followed by the awarding of vacancy transfers and the assignment of new hires, would help restore morale and result in increased reliability.

Anne Moroni repeatedly asserted that the current size of the LAX flight attendant base is the size they wish to maintain at the moment.

We proffered that the company should, at the very least, consider backfilling the recent loss in headcount, and should additionally be willing to backfill future attrition. Backfill is not growth. If the company is happy with the current size of LAX, then backfill should be used to maintain the current number. Neither David Seymour nor Anne Moroni would commit to backfill.

We emphasized to the company that this meeting is a beginning….and that we would continue to meet with them to discuss and explore growth opportunities for the LAX flight attendant base.

We all know that circumstances change constantly. We know that there is a great deal of opportunity for AA at LAX, and our base needs to grow with the station.

The meeting concluded without a resolution, but the company knows we will be back.

LAX-Specific Purser Proffer

Michelle Lummus, Program Manager for the Purser Program, has confirmed that she is working on an LAX-specific Purser proffer.

I have asked that the number be set as high as possible so as to ensure that our more junior coworkers be given the opportunity to become Pursers.

Our goal is to have significantly more than enough Pursers so as to eliminate the need for bid denials.

We do not yet have a specific date for the proffer but it is in the works.

In tandem with this proffer, I will once again be requesting consideration to allow that qualified Pursers be given preference for open Purser trips while on reserve. The IT exists as it is currently being employed for speakers.

Retro Pay

Important Dates:

Commuter Policy Changes

Important changes to the Commuter Policy went into effect on October 1st, as outlined in the CCI message of September 27th:

What’s new: Effective Oct. 1, 2024, we will implement changes to the commuter policy (CBA 37.I).

Key changes:

•  Other airlines (OAL): The policy now includes OALs for travel, in addition to American Airlines and wholly-owned carriers.

•  Load factor consideration: In lieu of this requirement and until further notice, you will be required to provide a picture/screenshot of your OAL listing showing you listed 24 hours in advance (unless listing is required at the gate the day of).

•  Jumpseat protection: Flight attendants who are removed from a flight or denied a jumpseat due to an inoperative jumpseat(s) now qualify under the commuter policy as weight restriction is covered today.

•  Documentation: You’ll need to submit proper documentation that shows your attempts at commuting, including that you listed for the flight and were present at the gate.

Diving deeper

•  To qualify under the commuter policy, one of the following must apply:

a.  Your first flight: Must experience cancellation, equipment downgrade, delay or be full. Your second flight must experience cancellation, equipment downgrade, 30+ minute delay or be full.

b.  Inoperative jumpseat: If you’re removed or denied a jumpseat because of an inoperative jumpseat.

•  If you’re unable to commute, you’ll need to call Crew Scheduling. At their discretion, they’ll either:

◦  Split you back on your original sequence; OR

◦  Assign you to a comparable sequence; OR

◦  Release you from duty (you’re responsible for making up lost time if possible).

Regardless of which option is taken, you’ll initially receive a Trip Missed (TM).

Making it easier to submit documentation

•  If you were unable to commute and qualify for the commuter policy, you have seven days from the day you were unable to commute to submit proper documentation to your Crew Attendance Manager via a new form in Comply365.

•  This form will ask for specific flight information and ask you to upload proof of commuting. This includes:

◦  A picture of the gate monitor with your name on the standby list (or from the airline’s standby list in the app).

For demonstration purposes only.

◦  A picture/screenshot of your email confirmation showing that you were listed 24 hours prior to departure. At this time, we are not requiring you to show a load factor of 90% or less.

◦  A copy of your boarding pass.

•    You can find the form in Comply365 under My Forms:

Comply365 > My Forms > AA Admin > Unable to Commute

Remember to sync Comply365 to submit your form(s)!

Looking to see if your form was submitted? Go to the web version of Comply365 look under the “Submitted” forms section.

Comply365 > My Forms > List: Submitted

Crew Attendance Manager review:

•  After you’ve submitted your documentation, your Crew Attendance Manager will review your request.

•  If you meet the requirements for the commuter policy, your initial TM will be recoded accordingly.

◦  Keep an eye out in your aa.com email if follow-up is necessary.

•  If you do not meet the requirements or you’ve exceeded the contractually allowed number of unable-to-commutes, your submission will be denied and will remain as a TM.

◦  If denied, an email will be sent to your aa.com email with more information.

•  You can also view changes under My View on the Inflight website.

A reminder about the commuter policy:

1. The first three (3) unable-to-commute incidents within a rolling 12-month period will not be treated as attendance issues, provided they meet the policy criteria.

2. You will not be paid or pay protected for missed trips, even if they qualify under this policy.

Still have questions? If you have any questions about these changes, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Crew Attendance Manager.

Regardless of which option is taken, you’ll initially receive a Trip Missed (TM).

Making it easier to submit documentation

•  If you were unable to commute and qualify for the commuter policy, you have seven days from the day you were unable to commute to submit proper documentation to your Crew Attendance Manager via a new form in Comply365.
•  This form will ask for specific flight information and ask you to upload proof of commuting. This includes:
◦  A picture of the gate monitor with your name on the standby list (or from the airline’s standby list in the app).
◦ A picture/screenshot of your email confirmation showing that you were listed 24 hours prior to departure. At this time, we are not requiring you to show a load factor of 90% or less.
◦ A copy of your boarding pass.

You can find the form in Comply365 under My Forms.

Calling in Well- Intermittent FMLA

Effective immediately, if you are calling in well in conjunction with an Intermittent FMLA, you no longer have to call and leave a message. Simply fill out the form in Comply365 which can be found in the Inflight Admin Requests section of My Forms.

Compensation for Hotel Delays

From the October 17th CCI:

Should a schedule modification occur (reschedule, cancellation or other schedule change) that requires a hotel room, there are new pay provisions in effect with the new CBA. In certain situations, you will be compensated when experiencing an extended delay in securing a hotel room according to the guidelines/rules set forth in CBA 6.B.5.

Key points:

• Eligibility for compensation is calculated from when you’re assigned your hotel based on the later of block-in at the actual layover city or from the time your sequence is repaired and you are notified after a schedule disruption (i.e., reschedule, cancellation or other schedule change)
• This provision can apply after report or mid-sequence.
• Compensation for hotel delays is not eligible if there is a delay in hotel/limo pickup, a delay in receiving a room from the hotel, or if a day room is not timely provided due to a delay/reschedule.

Read more in Comply365, including examples on when eligibility applies.

JFK KCM-Adjacent Exit Closed

On October 23, 2024, the company announced via a CCI message sent only to NYC-based flight attendants that the door adjacent to the KCM checkpoint at JFK could no longer be used as an exit.

This message should have been sent to all flight attendants systemwide.

Effective immediately, the double doors adjacent to the JFK T8 KCM are “entry only.” Those doors are the only exit from the secure area to the landside on the departure level. Our pickup point for the JFK Marriott is on the departure level, which is also convenient for the drivers as the departure level roadway is typically less congested.

Arriving flight attendants will now have to exit into baggage claim, and then take the escalator back upstairs to the departure level to access the departure level roadway and pickup point.

Further investigation revealed that this change occurred as a result of a TSA decision to reduce the number of TSA personnel assigned to that area to one.

The question remains as to whether the company is planning to relocate the short layover pick up to the lower level. Andrew Masiello has promised to get back to me on this issue.

Safe Travels!

In Unity,

John Nikides
APFA LAX Base President 
[email protected]