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9.05.24 – APFA DCA Base Brief – October 2024 Staffing and Allocations

October 2024 Staffing and Allocations

Thursday, September 5, 2024

When PBS processing begins, if additional Lineholders are needed, those with Reserve status will be changed to Lineholder status in the following order:

  1. Tentative Flight Attendants whose preference was Lineholder in the LRD process.
  2. Reserve Flight Attendants who toggled to Pref LH in the LRD who were unable to hold Lineholder status in LRD.
  3. Most junior Reserve Flight Attendants involuntarily moved to Lineholder status after all the above have been utilized.

Important: If you are in one of these 3 categories above, you will want to bid 7 layers of Reserve and 7 layers of Lineholder in PBS.


  • DCA: 40,379 (+1265)
  • IAD: 2,307 (+678)
  • BWI: 3,219 (-199)

45,905 total flying hours (DC, IAD, BWI) (+1744 month-over-month) (+1291 year-over-year)

  • October will not be a flex month
  • The contractual targeted credit range default is 70 -90 with an opening line average of 79.2
  • No VLOAs are being offered due to increased block and vacation
  • DCA reserve seniority for October begins at system seniority 24,772 OCC date of 27 April 2023
  • Reserve percentage is + 1.1% compared to October 2023 with an increase of 18-  line holders and an increase of 14 reserves over October 2023
  • Block Hours year-over-year is +4.6%
  • The overall headcount year-over-year is + 44 Flight Attendants

October Events and Timelines

  • Schedule Change: October 7
  • Columbus Day: October 14
  • Halloween: October 31

Allocations Notes for October:

  • 1744 additional block hours compared to September 2024
  • 804 sequences +8 sequences from September 2024
  • ODAN flying slightly up from last month BOS, BTV, PWM, SYR
  • No LAX high time turns
  • LAX 2-day one leg/one leg 20 hr. RON operating 26 days
  • LAX 2-day one leg/one leg 15 hr. RON Operating 7 days
  • LAS high time turns operating 6 days
  • PHX ‘pink eye’ operating 30 days
  • PHX 2-day 17Hr RON operating 5 days
  • BWI 1 day DFW turns operating 21 days
  • 18 charter/ honor sequences: 13023 13139 13151 13192 13195 13200 13210 13218 13257 13271 13329 13358 13360 13383
  • 266 sit times over 2.5 hours
  • 2 Spanish speaker positions
  • 34 DCA NIPD sequences RON – BDA
  • No NAS / BDA turns
  • Canada layovers: YYC, YYZ
  • 53 total sequences for BWI
  • 34 total sequences for IAD
  • 101 Boeing 737 MAX sequences

In September 2024, DCA had one minimum line constraint of 70 hours at base seniority 54 and had 28 VLOAs.

In October of 2023, DCA had a line constraint of 70 hours at system seniority 1 and a second line constraint of 78 hours at system seniority 14423 (about 20 years seniority).

This October, DCA has +1291 block hours from October 2023 with 18 more-line holders at the opening of PBS. October 2024 opening line average is 79.2 hours. Last October, our line average at close of PBS was 79.9 hours.

It can be assumed that the October 2024 PBS results could look like September 2024 taking in consideration of the bidding practices of the FA’s.


Scheduled Duty Days:

  • <8 hours: 49.1%
  • 8-10 hours: 26.2%
  • 0-12 hours: 22.2%
  • >12 hours: 2.5%

Scheduled Legs in Duty Day:

  • 1-leg: 31.8%
  • 2-legs: 49.1%
  • 3-legs: 17.5%
  • 4-legs: 1.6%

Scheduled Layover Rest:

  • < 11 hours: 0.2%
  • 11-12 hours: 6.1%
  • 12-14 hours: 28.2%
  • 16-18 hours: 17.1%
  • >24 hours: 10.1%

Scheduled Sit Times:

  • 2-2.5 hours: 10.9%
  • 2.5-3 hours: 8.3%
  • >3 hours: 2.8%

October 2024 Bidding Timelines


October 2024 System Reserve Seniority


As we approach the anniversary of September 11th, we take a moment to honor and remember our fallen brothers and sisters. APFA will attend numerous memorial services nationwide to pay our respects. This solemn day reminds us of an unprecedented attack on our soil, one that has forever changed the way we live and perceive the world. They used weapons of mass destruction that left a lasting impact on our hearts and minds.

If you have the opportunity, we encourage you to visit one of the memorial sites. These beautiful spaces are powerful reminders of what we must never forget. This year, Dianne and I will be attending the services at the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol.

September 11th Nationwide Ceremonies


Congratulations Classes 24-01 and 24-02
You are officially off probation!

We look forward to more classes ending their probationary period through the end of the year!


We Have a TA!
It’s critical that every member’s voice is heard in this important decision. If you haven’t already voted on the tentative agreement, please take the time to do so before the official vote closes on September 12th at noon central. You can cast your vote on the APFA website. Your participation is vital in determining the outcome, so make sure your voice is counted.

Our DCA Contract Action Team CAT has been essential in bringing the tentative agreement to life,  walking the terminals, engaging with our members, and answering many questions. Thank you, Dylan, Gina, Sara, and Alex!


Monthly Virtual APFA DCA Base Meetings

Keep a watch out for monthly virtual base meetings with your local APFA base leadership. These meetings will provide information and updates as we move forward about current issues and contract information. It’s important to stay engaged and informed, so take advantage of these opportunities to connect with your base leadership. We will provide more details soon!


  • Planned Ditching Checklist Overview
  • Operational Reliability-3Q2024
  • Basic Data Cybersecurity Awareness

This quarterly training must be completed by Thursday, September 12 at 23:59 (CT) to avoid a Missed Assignment (MA).


In Solidarity,

John Pennel
APFA DCA Base President

[email protected]

Dianne Britton
APFA DCA Base Vice President

[email protected]

Lisa Barnes
APFA DCA Base Council Representative – Allocations

[email protected]

APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040

M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108

Call APFA

Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108

Chat APFA

After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)

APFA Events

2024 APFA Board of Directors Fall Meeting

October 16 @ 8:00 am - October 17 @ 5:00 pm

Safety/Security Virtual Town Hall

November 7 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040

M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108

Call APFA

Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108

Chat APFA

After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)

APFA Events

2024 APFA Board of Directors Fall Meeting

October 16 @ 8:00 am - October 17 @ 5:00 pm

Safety/Security Virtual Town Hall

November 7 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040

M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108

Call APFA

Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108

Chat APFA

After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)

APFA Events

2024 APFA Board of Directors Fall Meeting

October 16 @ 8:00 am - October 17 @ 5:00 pm

Safety/Security Virtual Town Hall

November 7 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
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