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February 11, 2016 17:00

AFA Alaska has compiled the following information for Premium Open Time trading, Open Time trading, Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs) during month end overlap, and Sit Pay/Stranded Pay.

Premium Open Time trading

Effective February 1^st, Crew Scheduling now manually processes trades within legalities for trips posted as Premium Open Time. See Inflight Bulletin # 2016-0032 Premium Open Time Trade Update for additional information. The current programming in eMaestro does not allow for automated trading of/with Premium Open Time trips (indicated by dollar signs: $, $$ or $$$).

Management has agreed that Crew Scheduling will manually process the trading of Premium Open Time sequences for Flight Attendants until an updated program or successor system is able to process the “trade” function automatically. Please be aware that the posted premium will not follow the trade unless it is a straight pick up from Open Time by the Flight Attendant. The “pick up” function is fully operational and does not require that you contact Crew Scheduling.

The trade will be day for day or greater on the same date(s) unless the day of departure is open, which is very unlikely if the Company is offering premium pay.

Open Time Trading Helpful Hints

What code allows me to trade my 2-day trip on the 15^th for a turn in OT on the 15^th?

If you have a 2-day trip on the 15^th, and the trip in OT is coded TO/DD/CP, then you can trade down out of your 2-day and into the turn within contractual and/or FAR legalities.

***AFA and Alaska Airlines management have heard your feedback that there are too many codes, which causes confusion. In the replacement to eMaestro/Maestro, Jeppesen Crew Tracking Enterprise (JCTE), AFA and management have requested to reduce the number of codes–ideally we would like to combine the TO/DD/CP codes into one code (to be determined).***

What if a 2-day trip in OT is a TX (or not coded)?

If a trip in OT is coded TX, then you can trade for trip length of the same or greater number of days and covering the same dates as the trip you are trading off of your line, within contractual and/or FAR legalities.

Month End Overlaps and Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs)

“Whole sequence” minimum pay rules (MPRs)—the Extended Overnight Rule (EOR), Multiday Sequence Minimum (MSM) and Average Duty Period Guarantee (ADPG) were being paid at the end of the sequence in the subsequent month when there was month end overlap. However, management has agreed in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that a Flight Attendant may file an Activity Claim Form in order to have a “whole sequence” MPR (e.g. EOR, MSM, ADPG) paid in the preceding month during month-end overlap. Otherwise by default the “whole sequence” MPR is paid in the subsequent month—no paperwork is necessary.

Sit Pay and Stranded Pay

If there is scheduled Sit Pay (sit over 2 hours) and the flight subsequently is delayed over 2 hours more than the scheduled sit (total ground time 4 hours and 2 minutes or more), is the F/A able to retain 1.0 TFP for Sit Pay and then file for 1.0 TFP Stranded Pay?

No. You are eligible for Stranded Pay only when it exceeds Sit Pay. Each occurrence of Stranded Pay is reduced by 1.0 TFP for Sit Pay already paid in that duty period (CBA §21.N.2.c. [Stranded Pay]). In order for Stranded Pay to exceed Sit Pay, the delay causing the stranding must be greater than 6 hours—or in other words, the flight must block out more than 6 hours past scheduled departure time. Total ground time must exceed the scheduled sit time (over 2 hours) plus the subsequent delay/stranding (over 6 hours).

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If you have any additional questions, contact one of your Local Executive Council officers (ANC 30 | SEA 19 | PDX 39 | LAX 18 | SAN 15) or local Scheduling Committee chairperson(s) or committee members.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones

February 11, 2016 09:00

Ever smelled dirty socks onboard? A dirty socks smell in the cabin could be engine oil fumes in the ventilation air. You read that right: the air that comes through the cabin and flight deck vents is first compressed in the engines, and it isn’t filtered before you breathe it on all aircraft except for the Boeing 787. AFA regularly receives reports from members who report dirty socks or musty fumes in the cabin supply air. This exposure can result in problems with memory, balance, speech and other long-lasting symptoms. Nobody thinks it will happen to her or him until it does….

Remember Clean Up Cabin Air and the GIVE TEN, GET TEN campaign? Clean Up Cabin Air is led by volunteer flight attendants—including some of our very own (who wish to remain anonymous)—and their supporters. Clean Up Cabin Air has re-launched its campaign and “re-branded” it as Airline Crew and Passenger Health Research: Blood Test for Oil.

From Clean Up Cabin Air’s campaign page:

We are re-launching our campaign on this important subject, having raised more than $3000 which has already been forwarded to the research team. We are again calling everyone who flies to join our campaign to make air travel healthier. Please GIVE $10 (or something comparable, any currency) to a talented university research team to finish developing an important blood test for airline crews and passengers (more information below). Also, GET 10 more people (Facebook friends, any friends, anybody with a pulse…) to do the same….

Aviation engine oils contain neurotoxic additives, so breathing the fumes can cause lasting damage to your brain. Also, flight safety can be compromised when crews are impaired inflight. You will meet some affected crew members in our video….

Join us. Change the way the industry handles the air you breathe on regular commercial flights. Donate now! Currently, 95% of your donation goes directly to the researchers, and 5% to Indiegogo, per their rules. We have been approved as a non-profit organization, such that contributions (made in the US, at least) will be tax-deductible. EVERY dollar, euro, pound, peso and yen, every bit – however small – helps. Larger contributions are also encouraged… Go ahead, watch our video and add your voice to the people who want clean cabin air now. We thank you.

All flight attendants and pilots need this blood test to be available, so the MEC is encouraging everybody to GIVE TEN, GET TEN. (Helpful hint from your MEC: Remember to confirm that the donation level matches your desired contribution prior to submitting.) As an added incentive and in keeping with the GIVE TEN theme, AFA Alaska will automatically match each member’s donation dollar for dollar up to a maximum of $10,000 total donation. We will work directly with Clean Up Cabin Air to make that happen—it’s easy to contribute, and there is no need for you to do anything for the donation matching!

If you are exposed to oil fumes onboard, then you need to be able to prove it. All of us need the industry to feel more motivated to clean up the cabin air!

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; MEC Air Quality Chairperson Karyn Kobe; and AFA-CWA Air Safety, Health and Security Department Industrial Hygienist Judith Anderson

February 2, 2016 12:00

After years of discussion and speculation, Alaska Airlines management has announced the launch of a new brand identity. As part of the rebranding, management has discussed the intent to produce a new “custom” uniform. The production of a custom uniform can take anywhere from 18 to 24 months from initial approval. This means that Flight Attendants will continue to wear the current “interim” uniform for the foreseeable future.

New Ties and Scarves Developed By Management With NO AFA Input

Because a custom uniform is still in the design phase, management has made the decision to produce and issue a new tie and scarf to all uniformed employees to include new brand elements in the mean time. This new piece has been designed and developed exclusively by management, without any input from the AFA Uniform Committee or the AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC), despite contractual language requiring them do to so. The new piece is not being produced by Land’s End, but by a different vendor whom AFA has not had the opportunity to vet or review. Additionally, we have been given no information about the safety standards employed by this new vendor or any fabric testing performed on these new pieces.

AFA Not Allowed To Wear Test The Final Product

The AFA Uniform Committee has a long history of working with management to wear test new uniform pieces and accessories. Wear testing allows working Flight Attendants the opportunity to trial new uniform items in a real-life environment. Uniform and Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Members are able to evaluate fit, function, comfort, and possibly discover whether the combination of fabrics, dyes, and other garment components used will cause adverse reactions. This testing increases the chance that the final uniform will meet our needs and is safer to wear.

In the case of the new uniform scarves and ties, management declined to give AFA the opportunity to conduct a full wear test of the final uniform product. Management instead offered the committees the chance to wear test uniform “blanks”, solid color ties and scarves that did not contain the actual mix of fabric and dyes that Flight Attendants will be expected to wear onboard the aircraft. AFA was told that a wear test of the actual ties and scarves was not possible because it was important that the new pieces remain a surprise for employees and the design not be leaked to the public. Because a test of anything other than the final product would not effectively determine how those actual pieces would react to our work environment, the Uniform Committee and ASHSC declined to participate in a test of “blank” pieces.

We feel that it is important that you are aware that AFA has not participated in the production or design of these new pieces.

If you have any questions, please contact your Local Uniform Committee.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt, MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Bob Moore and MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple

February 1, 2016 11:18

We will resume layovers in IAH starting in March. Please be advised that some of the trips in IAH had to be moved to a new secondary layover hotel. Management was only able to contract a limited number of rooms at both properties. There were also some short layovers that needed to be moved out of the long layover hotel.

Unfortunately, the bid packets will still show the primary layover hotel for the trips that were moved. The hotel information will be updated in eMaestro (in the notes sections) and the trips that have been moved are listed under the news and announcements section on the hotel tab of the Flight Attendant websites. Specific hotel information for both hotels is also listed on the hotel tab of the Flight Attendant website.

A direct link to management’s information about the move can be found here (AS log-in required)

February 1, 2016 10:46

A new scam where con artists try to get credit card numbers out of hotel guests is on the rise. Always be alert on your layovers and never give your credit card number out to anyone who calls your room. If hotel staff need to get payment information for your incidental charges, they will always ask you to come down to the front desk and will never ask for your credit card number over the phone. Alternately, you can hang up and then call back down to the front desk so that you know exactly who you’re talking to.

A recent NBC news story provides some more background on the scam. You can read the story here: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43662080/ns/business-consumer_news/t/summer-travel-alert-scammers-target-hotel-guests

January 31, 2016 16:22

January 27, 2016 19:00

eMaestro update tonight

There will be an eMaestro outage beginning at 11 pm Pacific Time tonight (Wednesday, January 27^th) for a system update. This update should bring the programmed Open Time (OT) trading rules into contractual compliance with the language in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) §12.F [Open Time Trial]. Changes to trading rules will be effective when eMaestro is brought back online.

Pairing codes and trading rules

The new OT system will include codes displayed next to the pairings. The codes will be TO (“Trading down is Open”) / CP (“CouPon Drop”) / DD (“Direct Drop”) / TX (“Trading down is eXcluded”)—or the code may be blank. Each pairing with the code TO, CP or DD on a particular day of departure together make up the Threshold Sequence Number (TSN), which determines if the day is “limited” (closed). Any trip with the TO/CP/DD code may be traded up or down regardless of the number of days as long as the trip exchanged reports on the same day.

Day for day trading!

With this update there will be additional trading capabilities regarding day for day trading, including multiple sequence trades in Open Time! The multiple sequence trading rules are more favorable than the language currently in §12.F [Open Time Trial], which was a pleasant surprise to AFA when discovered earlier this week. Management has agreed to incorporate these multiple sequence trading rules into the OT Trial. Due to the short lead-time, the parties were unable to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to supplement the language of §12.F prior to the programming patch going live. However, we will publish that MOU as soon as possible.

Single or multiple sequence trade: TX or uncoded

If a pairing in Open Time is labeled TX (“Trading down is eXcluded”) or it has a blank designation, then that pairing can be traded for one or more pairings on your line as long as the trips being traded off of your line cover the same dates as the trip being picked up in OT even if there is a gap between the trips being traded off of your line. The trip(s) on your line does not necessarily have to report on the same date of report as the trip in OT as long as the trip(s) being traded off of your line covers the same dates as the trip in OT or more.

Example: Two turns on your line starting on the 1^st and 2^nd can be traded for a 2-day in OT starting on the 1^st that is coded TX and the 1^st is “limited” (closed).

Example: A turn starting on the 1^st and a 2-day starting on the 3^rd on your line can be traded for a 4-day in OT starting on the 1^st that is coded TX and the 1^st is “limited” (closed)—even though there is a gap between the trips being traded off of your line.

Single sequence trade: TO/CP/DD

No change to current trading rules.

Multiple sequence trade: TO/CP/DD

If a pairing in Open Time is labeled TO/CP/DD, then that pairing can be traded for one or more pairings on your line as long as the trips being traded off of your line cover the same dates as the trip being picked up in OT—even if there is a gap between the trips being traded off of your line; none of the days of departure of the trips being traded off of your line can be “limited” (closed) in OT. Again, the trip(s) on your line does not necessarily have to report on the same date of report as the trip in OT as long as the trip(s) being traded off of your line covers the same dates as the trip in OT or more.

Example: Two turns on your line starting on the 1^st and 2^nd can be traded for a 2-day in OT starting on the 1^st that is coded TO/CP/DD if both the 1^st and the 2^nd are open.

Example: A turn starting on the 1^st and a 2-day starting on the 3^rd on your line can be traded for a 4-day in OT starting on the 1^st that is coded TO/CP/DD if both the 1^st and the 3^rd are open—even though there is a gap between the trips being traded off of your line. In this case, it does not matter whether the 2^nd and the 4^th are “limited” (closed) or open.

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More information can be found in §12.F [Open Time Trial]. Because so much of this is new to everybody, naturally there will be questions. Use your Local Executive Council (LEC) officers or Scheduling Committee members as resources but please be patient while everyone familiarizes themselves with the new rules. We’ll have several weeks to play with the new trading rules prior to March Open Time opening on February 17^th for Seattle and February 16^th for all other bases. The Open Time Trial as referenced in §12.F.10 will officially commence on those dates.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones

January 27, 2016 17:00

At the January meeting of the Master Executive Council (MEC) earlier this week, your MEC interviewed candidates for the position of MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson for Pairing Construction, commonly referred to as the AFA Pairing Analyst. In total, four candidates interviewed for the position (one Anchorage-based flight attendant, two Seattle-based flight attendants and one Los Angeles-based flight attendant). The MEC sincerely thanks the candidates for stepping forward. After much discussion, the MEC has appointed Karen Ferrell to the position.

About Karen

Karen has worked for Alaska Airlines for over 37 years in various job capacities. Currently she is an Anchorage-based flight attendant and has been for 17 years. Karen is also the AFA Council 30 Anchorage vice president and Local Executive Council (LEC) co-chair of the Scheduling Committee.

Karen says, “I have always been interested in the scheduling aspect of our job, and before the current system sat with [Anchorage based flight attendant and former AFA line builder] Anita Davis on a few occasions to try to learn and understand what was then ‘line building.’ …Over the last several years, the quality of our pairings has continued to deteriorate. And though I understand there are many variables to consider, it is my hope that there is a solution that will satisfy the Company’s desire to save money AND create a variety of pairings that can satisfy the diverse needs of our work group.”

* * *

The MEC thanks MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones for continuing to run pairing solutions on behalf of AFA until Karen can be brought up to speed. She is scheduled to attend training at a Jeppesen training facility in Montreal in early April. Congratulations, Karen!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones; and AFA Pairing Analyst Karen Ferrell

January 22, 2016 14:00

PBP is 9.3% of 2015 eligible earnings

Congratulations for another generous Performance Based Pay (PBP) payout! The 2015 PBP for most employees—including flight attendants—is 9.3% of eligible earnings, which is the equivalent of nearly five weeks of pay. More information about PBP can be found on Alaska’s World at https://splash.alaskasworld.com/News/2016/01/21_pbp.asp (login required).

PBP has averaged 8.8% of eligible earnings for flight attendants

Flight attendants first received PBP in 2009, which was paid in early 2010 and incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement as part of the 2010 Contract Extension. Flight attendants previously participated in the Variable Pay Plan (VPP), which had a maximum payout of 7.0% of eligible earnings. PBP has averaged 8.8% of eligible earnings over the past seven years that flight attendants have been receiving PBP.

PBP is very competitive when compared to profit sharing plans at other carriers

If you have heard that profit sharing at another carrier is better than our PBP, know this: Profit sharing for line employees at most other carriers has been lucrative only in the last few years. When you consider that PBP has paid out an average of 8.8% of eligible earnings in every year we’ve been on the plan (since 2009), PBP is very competitive when compared with the best of other profit sharing plans in the industry.

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Thank you for all your hard work—now let’s all pull together to achieve the maximum PBP payout in 2016!

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

January 22, 2016 12:25

AFA and Alaska Airlines management have agreed to extend the provisions of 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] to Philadelphia (PHL) due to Winter Storm Jonas.

Currently covered under 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] for Winter Storm Jonas: JFK, EWR, PHL, BWI, IAD and DCA.

Questions? Contact your Local Executive Council officers or Scheduling Committee members.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Scheduling Chairperson Jake Jones

Premium Open Time trading

Open Time Trading Helpful Hints

Month End Overlaps and Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs)

Sit Pay and Stranded Pay

* * *

New Ties and Scarves Developed By Management With NO AFA Input

AFA Not Allowed To Wear Test The Final Product

eMaestro update tonight

Pairing codes and trading rules

Day for day trading!

Single or multiple sequence trade: TX or uncoded

Single sequence trade: TO/CP/DD

Multiple sequence trade: TO/CP/DD

* * *

About Karen

* * *

PBP is 9.3% of 2015 eligible earnings

PBP has averaged 8.8% of eligible earnings for flight attendants

PBP is very competitive when compared to profit sharing plans at other carriers

* * *

Council 30 (ANC) LEC Officer Election Results

Apps To Help You Save Money On Food

What You Need To Know About The FAA Capacity Cuts

Council 47 (LAX pmHA) LEC Officer Election Results

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—December 2025

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Premium Open Time trading

Open Time Trading Helpful Hints

Month End Overlaps and Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs)

Sit Pay and Stranded Pay

* * *

New Ties and Scarves Developed By Management With NO AFA Input

AFA Not Allowed To Wear Test The Final Product

eMaestro update tonight

Pairing codes and trading rules

Day for day trading!

Single or multiple sequence trade: TX or uncoded

Single sequence trade: TO/CP/DD

Multiple sequence trade: TO/CP/DD

* * *

About Karen

* * *

PBP is 9.3% of 2015 eligible earnings

PBP has averaged 8.8% of eligible earnings for flight attendants

PBP is very competitive when compared to profit sharing plans at other carriers

* * *

Recent Posts

Local Councils

Master Executive Council

Negotiations

Contract

Committees

News By Month

News By Category

Want To Stay In The Loop?

Connect With AFA