11.21.25 – Sequence Loss Due to Extraordinary Circumstances/Natural Disasters

Sequence Loss Due to Extraordinary Circumstances/Natural Disasters

Friday, November 21, 2025

December cancellations are occurring due to Hurricane Melissa’s impact in the Caribbean. CBA Section 10.J.1.b provides pay protections for lost sequences from natural disasters, removing the need for Letters of Agreement for extraordinary circumstances.

Q1: What is the language in the CBA?

Section 10.J.1.b states:

In the event a Lineholder loses three (3) or more full sequences (not pay protected by Section 10) because of a schedule change, including natural disaster and/or extraordinary circumstances, the following shall apply: A Lineholder shall be required to make a “reasonable effort” in order to receive pay protection under this Paragraph. A Lineholder may choose to waive pay protection for all or some of the sequences and be released from any obligation to remain available to the Company. This provision is to address the major issues specified above and is not intended to apply to normal scheduling changes affecting individual Flight Attendants.

Q2: What constitutes “reasonable effort?”

In order to fulfill the “reasonable effort”, a Lineholder will be required to satisfy all of 1 and 2 below:

1. Bid for “like sequences” in TTS for the applicable bid month following notification of the full sequence cancellation. TTS requests do not have to be for the original days of canceled sequence(s) and do not have to be consecutive.

A like sequence (comparable to the cancelled sequence) shall have:

• Comparable check-in/out times (at least one (1) hour before and one (1) hour after the original report and release times); and
• Same number of day(s); and
• Domestic for Domestic or IPD for IPD or NIPD for NIPD.
• Bid all positions

2. Make themself available in TTS for the equivalent number of TTS runs equal to the number of duty periods in cancelled sequence(s). A Lineholder may ballot for multiple sequences in 1 (one) TTS run.

This means that if you lose a turn (one duty period) you would need to ballot for like sequences in one TTS run. If you lose a two-day trip with two duty periods, you would need to ballot for like sequences in two TTS runs. If you lose a three-day trip with three duty periods, you would need to ballot for like sequences in three TTS runs.

Q3: What if I lose three or more sequences and I want to waive any pay protection for some or all of the sequences lost?

Section 10.J.1.b.iii states:

iii. A Lineholder may choose to waive pay protection for all or some of the sequences and be released from any obligation to remain available to the Company. 

This means you are not required to participate in this process. If you choose to waive pay protections, you are under no obligation to participate in the TTS run(s) as described above. 

Q4: If I bid for like sequence(s) to protect my canceled sequences, what will my pay protection look like?

Section 10.J.1.b.iv states:

iv. A Flight Attendant who bids for like sequences shall be pay protected for the value of the sequences lost.

This means that if you are not awarded in the TTS run(s) as described above, you will be pay protected to the original value of the sequence lost, including premiums. If you are awarded one or more sequence in this process, you will be pay protected up to the original value of the sequence lost if greater than the TTS-awarded sequence. 

Q5: Do I have to submit a Direct Connect claim to be pay protected?

• If you’re awarded a sequence in TTS and the value is the same or more, including premiums, than the lost sequence, no further action is required, and no additional pay protection is due.
  • If either the premiums or the sequence value awarded is less thanyour lost sequence, and you fly the awarded sequence, you must submit a Direct Connect  within five calendar days of the TTS award and include the awarded sequence details and date of the canceled sequence. Crew Compensation will then pay the difference.
• If you’re awarded (and fly) a sequence in TTS without the same premiums as the lost sequence(s), you must submit a Direct Connect within five calendar days of the TTS award and include the awarded sequence details and date of the canceled sequence. Crew Compensation will then pay the difference.
• If you’re not awarded a sequence in TTS, you must submit a Direct Connect within five calendar days of the TTS ballot and include:
  • The TTS run date; and
  • The run number; and
  • The date of the canceled sequence being protected.

In Solidarity,

Jeff Petersen
APFA National Contract Chair
[email protected]

Marti McMillan
APFA National Scheduling Chair
[email protected]