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AFA Update – April 10, 2020

In This Edition

  • Temporary Commuter Policy Expansion to Include Other Airlines
  • Reserve Bidding Information
  • Hawaii Turns
  • Pre-Cancellation (10.S) Quick Reference Flow Chart
  • AFL-CIO COVID-19 Resource Guide

Temporary Commuter Policy Expansion to Include Other Airlines

Master Executive Council (MEC)

In the wake of the significant flight schedule reduction throughout the airline industry, AFA and management have agreed to expand section 28.G [Domicile: Commuter Policy] of the JCBA to temporarily include flights operated on other airlines (OAL) in addition to flights operated by Alaska and Alaska capacity purchase agreement (CPA) flights operated by Horizon and Skywest.  The temporary agreement allows OALs to be used to meet the two consecutive scheduled flight requirement in section 28.G.1.b.  Registered air commuters utilizing this provision should be prepared to provide Crew Scheduling with relevant flight information for verification (e.g. air carrier, flight number, city pair, scheduled departure time, projected or actual departure time, reason for delay).

The temporary agreement is effective immediately and will remain in effect until May 31, 2020.  Registered air commuters are encouraged to review section 28.G. of the JCBA as well as AFA LOA 2020-04-07 [Commuter Policy and Utilizing Other Airline (OAL) Carriers During COVID-19 Schedule Disruptions] which details the specifics of the temporary expansion.  

Questions?

Please contact your LEC Officers with any questions about the temporary expansion of the commuter policy.

Reserve Bidding Information

Scheduling Committee–PBS Subcommittee 

Your AFA PBS Subcommittee wants to offer assistance to those of you who might be on reserve for the first time in many years OR for those of you choosing to bid a reserve line.  A Bidding for Reserve guide can be found at the inflight website under schedule & bidding > line bidding > PBS QA/Help.  The guide can also be accessed directly by clicking here.  

The PBS Subcommittee anticipates being extremely busy this month and will respond to emails as quickly as possible given the increased volume of correspondence. However, with the sheer number of people affected, there is no possible way to help everyone individually with entering a Reserve bid. Prior to contacting the PBS Subcommittee, please review the Bidding for Reserve guide.  It will likely answer most, if not all, of your questions and provides examples of multiple bidding scenarios.  

When the May lineholder and reserve numbers are posted on the PBS Info Page you will have a better idea where you fall in your base. Check your May bidding order number on the inflight website > Schedule and Bidding > Line Bidding > Seniority List. Compare your bidding number to the May numbers for your base on the PBS Info Page. This comparison will help you determine if you can possibly hold a line or will likely be on reserve. Some Flight Attendants senior to you may choose to bid for a reserve schedule but specific details such as “who?” or “how many?” will not be available this until bidding closes. 

The current situation is unprecedented in the history of our airline.  Your PBS Subcommittee  appeals to you to try and manage your bids on your own this month as the need for help will be unprecedented. 

Questions?

Please send all requests for assistance to the PBS Subcommittee group email at pbs.qa@alaskaair.com.  This group inbox is regularly monitored by all Subcommittee Members and will ensure that you receive the fastest possible response.  Alternately, you can also contact your Local Reserve Committee for assistance.

Hawaii Turns

Master Executive Council (MEC)

With the previously announced reduction in flying, Hawaii flying is being reduced to two daily roundtrips from the mainland—one from SEA and one from LAX.  AFA and management have agreed to continue operating Hawaii flying as turns through the end of June out of an abundance of caution and due to the State of Hawaii’s quarantine requirements.  Effective Thursday, April 16, these turns will be operated in accordance with AFA LOA 2020-04-10 [Hawaii Turns Due to COVID-19 Restrictions].  Key provisions of this LOA include:

  • The 4-person crew (A, B, C, and D position) will work both legs of the turn.
  • Turns will be augmented with two additional Flight Attendants; one of the additional Flight Attendants will work to Hawaii as an augmented crewmember (E position) and deadhead back to the mainland.  The other additional Flight Attendant will deadhead to Hawaii and work back to the mainland as an augmented crewmember.
  • All Flight Attendants will be paid two times (2.0x) the rate of pay for any TFP flown on a Hawaii turn.
  • For the remainder of April, F/As will receive compensatory “double-out” rest at the end of a Hawaii turn sequence.  Beginning in May, regular domicile rest will apply. 
  • Crew rest seats and breaks will be provided (see the LOA for specifics).
  • Reserves may be assigned Hawaii turns

The May bid packet will contain pre-built Hawaii turn sequences that are available for bidding through PBS.  Flight Attendants who would like to bid for these trips will need to opt-in using the corresponding “Allow Long Duty (4k) Pairings” waiver.

Questions?

If you have any questions about Hawaii turn sequences, please contact your LEC Officers or Local Scheduling Committee.

Pre-Cancellation (10.S) Quick Reference Flow Chart

Scheduling Committee

The number of changes being loaded into the flight schedule by management have driven a record amount of pre-cancellation activity over the past several weeks.  To help Flight Attendants better understand the provisions of section 10.S [Scheduling: Pre-Cancellations] of the JCBA along with the recently enacted AFA LOA 2020-03-28 [Pre-Cancellations Due to COVID-19 Schedule Changes], our Scheduling Committee has made a quick reference flow chart available outlining how pre-cancellations work.  You can access this flow chart by clicking here.

Note: The MEC wishes to thank MEC Inflight Training Committee Member Justin Wetherell for formatting the flow chart and the Local Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Members for providing valuable input and feedback.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding pre-cancellations, please contact your Local Scheduling Committee.

AFL-CIO COVID-19 Resource Guide

AFA and CWA are affiliated with the AFL-CIO, a voluntary federation of over 55 national and international labor unions.  The AFL-CIO has put together a state-by-state guide of resources, programs, and benefits available to workers affected by COVID-19.  You can find the guide on the AFL-CIO website under COVID-19 resources or by clicking here.

Grievance 36-99-2-30-19 Violation of §28.G.2 Ground Commuting Policy

Management did not allow Flight Attendants to use the Ground Commuting Policy for the recent snowstorms

AFA filed Grievance 36-99-2-30-19 Violation of Section (§) 28.G.2 [Ground Commuting Policy] prior to close of regular business hours yesterday. This contractual grievance alleges the Company violated Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement §28.G.2 when management did not allow Flight Attendants to use the Ground Commuting Policy during the February 2019 Pacific Northwest snowstorms. Management’s stated reasoning for the denials is because apparently management does not consider snowstorm-related ground commuting failures to be unanticipated. 

AFA disagrees with management’s interpretation

AFA disagrees with management’s interpretation for all the reasons obvious to Flight Attendants. After AFA filed the grievance, AFA leadership requested that management provide notice to Flight Attendants by publicly disclosing its position on the issue. Management subsequently posted an alert on the World of Inflight homepage in response to that request.

The Master Executive Council (MEC) believes it was very short-sighted of management to deny Flight Attendant access to the ground commuting failure provisions for this weather event. A Flight Attendant who has experienced a ground commuting failure is contractually required to be utilized for other flying pursuant to the Commuter Policy recovery provisions in §28.G.3. How was it more beneficial to the operation to have Flight Attendants be granted Management Drops (§32.C.14) or charged with No Shows (§32.C.1)? Neither carries a subsequent scheduling obligation and Flight Attendants are assessed points for both under the Attendance Policy in Section 32. It’s a “lose, lose” for everyone.

Open a new ticket at the AFA Alaska Online Support Center for snowstorm-related concerns

AFA will be meeting with management in the near future to discuss various concerns related to the snowstorm operations. If you have any concerns related to the severe weather (e.g. transportation, hotels, irregular ops scheduling or pay inquiries, Attendance Policy points assessed as a result of ground commuting failures, et cetera), please open a new ticket at the AFA Alaska Online Support Center. Fill out the appropriate information, select “Feb 2019 Pacific NW Snowstorm” under the “Help Topic” dropdown menu and provide as much documentation as possible (including screenshots, pictures, etc.). We kindly request that tickets be submitted by 9am PT on Tuesday, February 19, so that AFA can present your concerns to management in a timely manner.

Be assured that AFA will continue advocating on behalf of our members and defending our contract!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee; MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones

[VX] Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy Survey

This message is for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants

AFA and the Virgin America (VX) leadership team (management) agreed to test the Commuter Policy through January 2018. As a reminder, the Commuter Policy is paired with a third Short Call Reserve (SCR) reserve availability period and a sunset clause for the Stuff Happens Pass (SHP). A sunset clause for the SHP means the SHP would be phased out if the Commuter Policy were extended beyond January 2018. See the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA (9/14/2017) for details.

AFA is polling the Virgin America Flight Attendants to determine if there is sufficient interest in continuing with the Commuter Policy beyond January 2018. For security reasons, the survey link will be included in this communication but only via email to personal addresses on file in the AFA Newsletter Sending System. The survey link will not be available on the afaalaska.org website or on social media, and AFA requests that you do not repost the link.

The survey is now open to VX F/As only and will close on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at 9am Pacific Time.

[Survey link is located here in the emailed version of this communication.]

 

If you have any questions or if you need the survey link sent to you, email your Local Council 35 officers or from a personal email address. If you are requesting a survey link, please provide the following for verification purposes: your name, employee number and current domicile.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

[VX] Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy

Commuter Policy Survey Results

AFA received 128 complete responses to the survey:

57% FOR

29% AGAINST

14% UNDECIDED

As a result, the Master Executive Council (MEC) has agreed to the implementation of the Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy, starting October 1, 2017, for a duration of 4 months. AFA will send another survey out to VX F/As in November to gather feedback about whether the Commuter Policy should continue or cease. If the trial is successful, the Commuter Policy will remain in effect until Virgin America Flight Attendants are covered under a merged agreement with Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants.

AFA VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA FINAL DRAFT (August 2017) >

FAQs

What will happen to the Stuff Happens Pass (SHP) during the trial period?

The SHP will be available for use concurrently with the Commuter Policy during the trial period. Flight Attendants will also be able to accrue SHP during the trial period. If the Commuter Policy is officially adopted after the trial period, the SHP program will be phased out through a sunset provision.

Does this policy cover ground transportation issues?

Yes. This policy covers both ground and air commuting challenges.

How many times may I use this policy?

There are no limits to the number of occurrences an F/A can use the Commuter Policy to cover transportation challenges.

Are there any black-out dates?

Unlike the SHP program, there are no blackout days for using the Commuter Policy.

Can you clarify that this policy does not cover recurrent training?

The Commuter Policy does not cover recurrent training, company events, or other events related to maintaining currency. Please refer to VX Work Rules Chapter 2, Section B.10 for information regarding calling in sick, missing, or rescheduling recurrent training.

If a line-holder is released to rest after being assigned RRR on the calendar day of the original report will the line-holder be provided with a hotel?

No hotel will be provided. In-base hotels are only provided if an F/A is displaced re-assignable (DRA) from a pairing.

Will a Flight Attendant on LCC be able to use the Commuter Policy on a subsequent day of a pairing if they are not able to return to base a second time?

The Commuter Policy is intended for use once per assigned pairing. Section E.3.d of the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA stipulates that corrective action will occur if an FA calls out late due to a commuting issue for the replacement assignment.

If I’m a Flight Attendant using the Commuter Policy, could I be assigned reserve in another base? For example, if I’m a commuter out of JFK and I can’t get to SFO, would I ever be asked to sit in JFK to help the operation?

It is management’s right to send one or more reserves to an outstation to help cover the operation. However, in the case of JFK, management has indicated that they will no longer be sending F/As to sit reserve in that city once the base is closed.

If a pairing originates in another city will it be up to the Flight Attendant to get her-/himself there?

Management has agreed that the company will be responsible for getting the VX F/A to the origination point of the trip. As an example, if a VX F/A is stuck in LAS and the trip assigned originates in LAX, CSS would deadhead (DHD) the F/A from LAS to LAX.

Will Flight Attendant feedback be gathered in anticipation of the trial period closing?

Yes. AFA will send another survey out to VX F/As in November to gather feedback about whether the program should continue or cease.

Can you confirm that if the Commuter Policy is not extended through January 2018, that the SHP program will remain in effect without a sunset?

The VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA stipulates that if the Commuter Policy is cancelled, the SHP program will remain in effect

Can you confirm that if the Commuter Policy is extended past January 2018, it cannot be terminated until both VX and AS F/A’s are covered under a merged agreement?

If the Commuter Policy is extended past January 2018, the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA will remain in effect until we have a merged agreement.

* * *

Contact your Council 35 Officers Melissa or Jamie (email: vx@afaalaska.org) if you have any questions or concerns.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Pre-Merger Hawaiian Inflight Service Committee Update – March 2026

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Joint Contract Negotiations Session 13 – March 2026

Our JNC met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC focused on clarifying questions about moving expenses and presented a proposal for Sick Leave, using feedback from Flight Attendants to guide improvements. The Committee is working to incorporate the strongest elements from both contracts to ensure better support for all members.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – March 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, March 24, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met virtually to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Rebekah Olds (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – March 2026

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Hawaiian Seattle Domicile Council 43 and Council 47 Meeting Recap

The Negotiating Committee continues to advocate for clear and consistent guidelines regarding moving expenses and reimbursement for Flight Attendants. Despite management’s refusal to participate in recent meetings, the committee remains committed to addressing members’ concerns and ensuring contractual compliance. As the grievance process moves forward, Flight Attendants are encouraged to document their interactions and stay engaged in upcoming opportunities to seek clarification from management.

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