FRH – 10.15.15

FACT Rep Update –
Flight Attendant Communications Team

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Reserve Assignments – LAA
TSA Policy Regarding LAGs for Crewmembers – LAA/LUS
Moving to an Open Customer Seat After Departure – LAA/LUS
Changes to Jumpseat Travel – LAA/LUS

Reserve Assignments – LAA

How are Reserve assignments made?

There are actually two contractually permissible ways to assign Reserves.

Per Article 10.H, assignments during the month should be made in time accrued order. The lowest time Reserve receives the highest time trip.

Duration is an exception and an override to the system (Article 10.K.6) that should be justified when used. Duration means that instead of assigning lowest time Reserve to highest time trip, the assignment program called Time Accrued Reserve System (TARS) also takes into account how many days the reserve is available to fly. It then matches the Reserve’s days of availability with sequences of the same length and assigns lowest time reserve with highest time matching trip.

The best way to be prepared for possible assignments is to monitor both your relative position in the time accrued system and also in your days available grouping. Remember, the HI25 is a guideline and doesn’t indicate who ahead of may be legal for the same assignments.

Looking forward, the JCBA includes improvements to the transparency of assignments and the method of bidding for assignments. Watch for updates from the JISC regarding the implementation timeline.

Clarification to TSA Policy Regarding LAGs for Crewmembers – LAA/LUS

We received a clarification from the TSA regarding a recent policy change for crewmembers. APFA, APA and AA were provided incorrect information by the TSA regarding the change in the LAGs (Liquids, Aerosols and Gels) policy for crewmembers traveling while out of uniform before messaging was sent to all AA crewmembers in September. Please refer to the following link to review the latest update from the Joint Security Committee (JSC) on the TSA LAGs for crewmembers. Policy Update (APFA website login required)

Jumpseat Travel and Moving to an Open Customer Seat After Departure – LAA/LUS

Section 37.G of the JCBA outlines the policies and procedures for cabin jumpseat travel and while the full contractual language for jumpseat travel will not be implemented until October 17, we’d like to clarify the language currently in effect.

After the aircraft door is closed and before the aircraft moves, a cabin jumpseat rider may move to an unoccupied passenger seat in any cabin. Since jumpseat travel requires you to be in “First Class” attire – this means you may also move to an unoccupied seat in a premium cabin (First or Business class).

As a courtesy, you should coordinate with the working crew as well as the Lead/Purser if moving to an open seat in a premium cabin.

If there are multiple jumpseat riders, including Pilots, and the number of people assigned to jumpseats (cockpit or cabin) exceeds the number of unoccupied customer seats, priority for open customer seats is determined by the order in which people appear on the standby list.

Please note that while the language in the JCBA references “Business Class”, it is also permissible to sit in an unoccupied First Class seat in accordance with the procedures outlined in Section 37.G.11.

Changes to Jumpseat Travel – LAA/LUS

Beginning October 17, 2015, the interim cabin jumpseat policy introduced in 2014 will be discontinued and Section 37.G of the JCBA will be fully implemented.

The order of accommodation, in accordance with the JCBA, will be in check-in time order within pass classification as follows:

1. Mainline American deadheading flight attendants who have been requested and voluntarily agree to occupy the jumpseat;
2. Mainline American flight attendants traveling on company business;
3. Mainline American flight attendants traveling for personal reasons
4. Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont flight attendants
5. Mainline American new hire trainees
6. Flight Service management holding flight attendant qualifications

When checking in for flights, mainline American flight attendants will automatically have “CJ” (cabin jumpseat) appended next to their name on the standby list, allowing agents to easily identify and process jumpseat qualified travelers in the correct priority order.

Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont flight attendants will have “CJ EAG” appended next to their name on the standby list at check-in.

Flight Service management holding flight attendant qualifications will have “CJX” appended next to their name.

Pilots will have “FDJ” (Flight Deck Jumpseat) appear next to their names. (Note: Pilots may not occupy a flight attendant jumpseat.)

Steve Chen
APFA Fact Rep. Coordinator
[email protected]