Open Time – Page 9

Miscellaneous Scheduling Information February 2016

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).

* * *

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

Open Time Programming Changes

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.

* * *

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

Open Time Trial

January 15, 2016 05:00

AFA wants to clear up any confusion regarding the open time trial. CBA §12.F.10. [Trial Period], states that, “Minimum trial period of twelve (12) months from the month of initial implementation (unless canceled earlier pursuant to F.9., above), which will be determined in the Contract Implementation Schedule. The trial period may be extended by mutual agreement.”

AFA and management agreed when all or most programming is updated the trial period will begin. AFA wants the trial period to commence when all contractual open time features are available and programmed.

The purpose of the trial is, “to create a better more equitable trading system that increases Flight Attendants’ flexibility in modifying their schedules and to improve predictability of staffing and limit the impact of sequence drops to OT on reserve coverage.” CBA §12.F.

In order to fulfill the purpose of the trial, the system must be completely programmed allowing the Flight Attendants and management to utilize it under real conditions. “If the trial creates a liability that cannot be supported, either the Association or the Company may decide to end the Open Time Trial prior to twelve months provided the parties have attempted to modify the Threshold Sequence Number pursuant to §12.F.8.” CBA §12.F.9.

During the trial period, AFA will survey Flight Attendants regarding their satisfaction with Open Time trading on a monthly basis per §12.F.8.d.5. The Master Executive Council (MEC) will continuously review all available information—including the survey—in order to determine if the Open Time trial is working for the Association. The voting members of the MEC (the LEC president of each base) will decide on behalf of the Association whether or not to end the Open Time trial pursuant to §12.F.9.

eMaestro is currently being reprogrammed with the correct contractual applications for the Open Time trial. Once the new code has been properly tested and approved, it will go live. Based on the latest estimates, we are anticipating the Open Time trial to officially begin in the next month or so.

If you have comments, concerns or suggestions please contact your LEC president.

In solidarity,

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

Temporary Waiver to Allow Crew Scheduling to Withhold Trips from Open Time for Assignment to Reserves at Noon

December 23, 2015 13:16

Temporary contractual waiver in order to minimize Junior Assignment

In order to minimize Junior Assignment for tomorrow, the Master Executive Council (MEC) has granted the temporary ability for Crew Scheduling to pull trips from Open Time for Christmas Eve assignment to Reserves effective immediately (approximately 12:30 PM PT at the time the waiver was granted).

Therefore Section 10.E.d [Open Time] should be temporarily interpreted as the following:

Crew Scheduling may remove sequences from OT no earlier than 2:00 12:00 PM PT for reserve assignments for the following day except as provided for in Section 7.F.1.a. [“Job Familiarization” Flights…]. Any sequence not assigned to a Reserve by 6:00 PM PT will be returned to OT. Any sequences that become available after 2:00 12:00 PM PT will be subject to the withholding provisions of 1.d., below.

Any other contractual citations that refer to the withholding of trips at 2:00 PM PT for assignment to Reserves should be temporarily interpreted as noon. Example of 10.E.1.c [Open Time]:

Crew Scheduling may withhold a sequence from OT for up to fifteen minutes (:15) when necessary to determine a Like Sequence pursuant to Section 10.R. [Reassignments] and 12.J. [Crew Scheduling Trading Errors], or a Reserve or JA assignment. This includes sequences that become available between 2:01 12:01 PM PT and 6:00 PM PT the day prior to report. If Crew Scheduling does not assign the sequence within fifteen minutes (:15) but neglects to return it to OT, a Flight Attendant may contact Crew Scheduling and request the trade/pickup on a first-come, first-served basis. If the Flight Attendant then flies the sequence, s/he will be paid one (1.0) TFP in addition to all applicable compensation.

Although the contractual time is 2 PM under the current contract, trips could be pulled at noon in the previous contract. Therefore, the MEC does not anticipate a significant impact compared to the benefit received by minimizing JA.

“Premium” Premium Open Time

Inflight management has agreed to start widely using “premium” Premium Open Time, so we are appreciative of the step in the right direction. Crew Scheduling has posted double time (2x or $$ in eMaestro), but AFA will continue to strongly advocate for the use of additional premiums in order to further minimize JA and protect the operation.

Premium pay

Any premiums are paid on flights flown and not on Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs) or Sit Pay. All TFP is credited at straight time towards your 480 TFP thresholds, Quarterly Productivity Premium (QPP) and other similar provisions. For example, a 5.0 TFP trip at 2x premium is paid at double your trip rate but still credited at 5.0 TFP towards your thresholds. It is somewhat of a flight attendant urban legend that “the trip is worth 10.0 TFP.” It is true that the trip is worth the equivalent of 10.0 TFP at straight pay, but it’s really not paid out that way.

* * *

We apologize in advance if anybody is inconvenienced by this temporary departure from the norm.

In solidarity,

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

Junior Assignment December 2015

December 22, 2015 18:00

CSKD is currently JA’ing in Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles

Crew Scheduling is currently utilizing the new Junior Assignment (JA) language in Section 9 Junior Available and Premium Open Time in order to staff flights over the next several days. AFA believes JA is currently limited to the Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles domiciles, but there are no guarantees that other domiciles will remain unaffected.

So what happened to staffing?

Going into this week management believed staffing was more than adequate. However there has been a significant spike in sick leave utilization over the past several days that exceeded staffing resources. Inflight management directed Crew Scheduling to start JA’ing in order to maintain the operation just after 10 AM Pacific Time this morning.

No “premium” (2x or greater) Premium Open Time

Despite the fact that your Negotiating Committee specifically advocated for a tiered Premium Open Time system in order to maximize flexibility for Crew Scheduling and minimize the potential for JA, management has refused to utilize Premium Open Time higher than a 1.5x premium. Why would management want to force flight attendants to fly when they are scheduled to be off duty and pay them a 2.5x premium rather than offering Premium Open Time to eager volunteers at, say, double time (2x premium or listed as $$ in eMaestro)? Or alternatively, if the Company anticipated that it was going to pay the JA premium of 2.5x, but Crew Scheduling could find an eager volunteer through Premium OT at the same premium (2.5x premium or listed as $$$ in eMaestro), wouldn’t it make sense to take the volunteer over the draftee?

We believe Inflight management has been unwilling to offer Premium Open Time any higher than the standard (1.5x premium or listed as $ in eMaestro) because they fear creating an expectation that such premiums will be routinely available around the holidays. There is a certain logic to that line of thinking, but the Master Executive Council (MEC) does not understand how avoiding setting expectations for “premium” Premium OT is better than JA’ing. The Company is going to spend more money JA’ing than if management had sweetened Premium OT to 2x premium prior to JA’ing.

JA eligibility

A flight attendant cannot be Junior Assigned on vacation or while off duty—any JA notification must occur while on duty and prior to the conclusion of the scheduled debrief period. The list is comprised of all flight attendants on duty during the JA period in question and who are legal to accept a JA. Assignments are made off that list in reverse seniority (junior) order.

A flight attendant cannot be JA’d into any day that was traded away or dropped from her/his original schedule as long as the day(s) has not been subsequently restored prior to JA. There are several other contractual provisions in Section 9 that govern JA procedures, which are too numerous to detail here. A JA list will be posted after the fact and accessible via the World of Inflight. If you believe that you were JA’d out of order, you will have the ability to review the list yourself or you can seek assistance from AFA.

JA procedures

Under the new contract, Crew Scheduling may JA up to the full calendar day prior to the trip. Unfortunately, Inflight management waited until after 10am this morning to JA, which very likely resulted in artificially inflating the seniority of those who were ultimately JA’d. You see, Crew Scheduling lost the opportunity to potentially JA anybody who returned to domicile prior to 10am this morning. If JA had been initiated earlier, many more flight attendants would have been in the JA pool.

AFA believes management waited so long because they were seeking a contractual waiver from the MEC. Management asked if the MEC would allow Reserves to be assigned earlier than provided by contract, believing this would minimize the need to JA. The MEC declined the waiver, and JA began shortly thereafter.

In our opinion, Inflight management ironically made JA worse by going more senior as a result of the wait. This is extremely unfortunate considering that AFA provided the exact same feedback and recommendations to Inflight management earlier this year. Very similar circumstances occurred during the last and only other time we have JA’d under the new contractual rules.

Trading JA and Pay

Flight Attendants may trade or give away JA assignments. Until the new JA rules are programmed into the new crew management system, flight attendants will be able to post a JA trip on the eMaestro bulletin board using a workaround: Crew Scheduling must first remove the default “PP” label code. Crew Scheduling was initially unaware of the workaround earlier in the day, but going forward they have been informed of the interim procedure. For your information, the new system is called Jeppesen Crew Tracking Enterprise (JCTE) and it is scheduled to go live later in 2016.

Suggestion: use the “Comments” field to indicate the trip is a Junior Assignment at 2.5x premium. Junior Assignments are paid at 2.5x premium for all flying (excludes Minimum Pay Rules and Sit Pay). If a JA is flown on a flight attendant paid holiday (e.g. Christmas), the total premium is 3.5x for flights flown on the holiday.

Crew Scheduling must manually process the actual trading of the trip(s) in eMaestro. It is Crew Administration’s responsibility to reconcile the JA pay with the trip, but we anticipate this will all be automated in JCTE. Until implementation of JCTE, we recommend that you submit an Activity Claim Form on the World of Inflight in order to claim the JA premium.

Recommendations so far

In summary, AFA would have preferred that Inflight management had more aggressively utilized “premium” Premium OT once management had identified a staffing need prior to the date in question. If increasing premiums did not improve staffing and management deemed it necessary to JA, that decision ideally should have been made much earlier in the morning in order to sufficiently widen the pool.

* * *

There are many moving parts to the operation at the moment, so it will likely take some time to gather all the facts and for management and AFA to debrief the holiday staffing. In the meantime if you have any questions or concerns, contact one of your local Scheduling Committee members or Local Executive Council (LEC) officers (ANC 30 | SEA 19 | PDX 39 | LAX 18 | SAN 15).

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

Premium Open Time trading

Open Time Trading Helpful Hints

Month End Overlaps and Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs)

Sit Pay and Stranded Pay

* * *

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

* * *

Temporary contractual waiver in order to minimize Junior Assignment

“Premium” Premium Open Time

Premium pay

* * *

CSKD is currently JA’ing in Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles

So what happened to staffing?

No “premium” (2x or greater) Premium Open Time

JA eligibility

JA procedures

Trading JA and Pay

Recommendations so far

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