12.06.24 – Unpaid VLOAs for January 2025

Unpaid VLOAs for January 2025

Friday, December 6, 2024

In accordance with CBA 25.B, full month, unpaid Voluntary Leaves of Absence (VLOAs) are being offered for the January 2025 bid month at all bases. The Company has communicated that VLOAs for January are being offered as a result of a projected routine seasonal pulldown in flying.

Bidding for January 2025 full month, unpaid VLOAs opened on Tuesday, December 3 at 1200 (CT). The bidding window closes Saturday, December 7 at 1200 (CT). You may access the ballot in Comply365 > My Forms > AAFA > FA Voluntary Leave of Absence (VLOA). Flight Attendants awarded a VLOA will receive a CCI message.

VLOAs and the Lineholder/Reserve Designator (LRD)

• For the month of January 2025, you will either be in Lineholder, Tentative, or Reserve status in the LRD.
• The LRD is used to indicate your status preference by allowing you to toggle onto or off of Reserve.
• The LRD for January 2025 opened on Tuesday, December 3 at 1200 CT and will close Saturday, December 7 at 1200 (CT).
• When logging into Crew Portal, the LRD will be visible, similar to the example screenshot below.

• The LRD will show your status seniority within the group you are associated with.
• For the purposes of awarding VLOAs, each status will be processed as follows:
  • Lineholder – You will be processed as a Lineholder in the VLOA, even if you toggle to Reserve
  • Tentative – You will be processed as a Lineholder in the VLOA, even if you toggle to Reserve
  • Reserve – You will be processed as a Reserve in the VLOA, even if you toggle to Lineholder
• If your status is Lineholder or Tentative and you would like to be on Reserve (Senior Bump), you should toggle to “Pref RSV”.
• If your status is Reserve and you would like to be a Lineholder, you should toggle to “Pref L/H”.
• If you are satisfied with your designated status shown when LRD opens, you do not need to do anything.
• The result of the LRD process, showing your status as either Lineholder or Reserve, will display on your PBS dashboard.
• If you have more than three (3) days of vacation in the bid month and senior bump onto Reserve, it will not count as your Reserve obligation.

What exactly does Tentative in the LRD mean?

Tentative status in LRD is only present in months when VLOAs are being offered. Since VLOAs have not been offered on a regular basis over the last couple of years, it’s important to understand what the Tentative status means.

• Flight Attendants in the Tentative status are tentative Lineholders, but are subject to reserve for the bid month based on their reserve rotation and relative base seniority.
• Flight Attendants in a Tentative status would only be moved to Reserve in the LRD process if there is a need for additional Reserves as a result of the VLOA award.

This LRD Tool PowerPoint Presentation will provide you with more information and examples regarding the LRD tool.

Important notes:

• VLOAs will be awarded by base in the following order:
  • Lineholders in seniority order until all available leaves are granted, or until there are no more requests.
  • If leaves are still available after awarding Lineholders, Reserves will be awarded in seniority order until all remaining leaves have been granted or until there are no more requests.
• If you are awarded a VLOA as a Lineholder or Tentative and you toggled to Reserve in the LRD, you will be considered a Lineholder and will not receive Reserve credit.
• Per the CBA, if you are awarded a VLOA as a Reserve, you will NOT receive Reserve credit for the month (CBA 12.A.4.b).
• Because VLOAs are awarded to Lineholders first, a junior Lineholder would be awarded a VLOA before a senior Reserve Flight Attendant.

Additional Information about VLOAs

• If you are on an absence ending on or after the 1st contractual day of the bid month of the VLOA, or have expired qualifications, you are not eligible for a VLOA.
• You must be eligible to hold a bid award for the bid month. (Absences ending in the month prior to the voluntary leave request month are eligible).
• You will continue to accrue sick and vacation while on VLOA.
• Your health, life and other insurance, as well as non-rev travel benefits continue as though you are active. However, you will not have access to KCM while on VLOA. For questions about benefits and direct billing while on VLOA, reach out to the Benefits Service Center at 888-860-6178.

1. Can I request a voluntary leave for a different span of days other than the full month option?
   No. Voluntary leaves are only available for a full bid month.
2. Can I ballot for a VLOA if I have a carry-over trip into a VLOA month?
   Yes. You are eligible for a VLOA even if you have a carry-over trip. If you are awarded a VLOA and you have a carry-over trip, you are responsible for the trip. You may work it or drop it. If you drop the trip, you should submit a form on Crew Portal > Links > Support Tab > FA Manning/Planning > VLOA, so that your VLOA can be adjusted to begin on the 1st day of the bid month.
3. Is it mandatory to attend CQ Training during my VLOA?
   At your option, you may attend CQ Training in your base month while on VLOA. However, you will be required to attend CQ Training in your grace month.
4. How will I be paid for the January 2025 VLOA?
   VLOAs are an unpaid leave of absence (CBA 25.B).
5. I have vacation in January. What happens to my vacation if I take a VLOA?
   Your January vacation days will be paid out.
6. Can I pick up trips from TTS/UBL/ETB while on VLOA?
   No. This is an unpaid leave of absence, and you will not be able to work while on VLOA.
7. Will taking a VLOA for January make me ineligible for an attendance incentive point for the holiday critical period?
   No, it will not disqualify you. As long as you meet all the other criteria for earning the incentive point, taking the January VLOA will not affect your eligibility.

In Solidarity,

Jeff Petersen
APFA National Contract Chair
[email protected]

Marti McMillan
APFA National Scheduling Chair
[email protected]