11.25.25 – APFA DCA Base Brief – Reserve & Rescheduling Guidance – Holiday Season Reminder

Reserve & Rescheduling Guidance – Holiday Season Reminder

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

As we enter the busy holiday season, including Thanksgiving, many reserves will be flying higher hours than usual. Please review the following reminders regarding scheduling, rescheduling, RAP responsibilities, and lineholder assignment issues.
Reserve Call Out of Time (COT) – Monthly Thresholds

• Monthly threshold: 85.01 hours.
• Crew Scheduling cannot schedule you over 90 hours.

If you reach 85.01 hours and wish to call out of time, contact Crew Scheduling. Once marked out of time, you may pick up trips on ETB without restriction (other than FAR limits) or simply enjoy the time away.

Reminder: Only the first 40 Aggressive hours awarded will go toward your RSVCOT.

Reserve Contact Requirements

• A reserve must receive positive contact from Crew Scheduling before the 3-hour report window begins.
• Voicemail does NOT count as positive contact. If a voicemail is left, the reserve has 15 minutes to return the call to Crew Scheduling.
  • Exception: Electronic acknowledgement removes the requirement for positive contact.
• If you are contacted with less than the three-hour minimum call out (short call), please inform Crew Scheduling of your intent to take your full three hours to report per the CBA or report at the short call time, this is your option.

RAP Requirements

• RAP B/C/D: Check Crew Portal at the start of your RAP. Acknowledge any assignment electronically. No further checking of Crew Portal is required after the initial check. If you are going to be assigned a sequence or standby later, Crew Scheduling must make positive contact by phone.
• RAP A: There is no requirement to check your schedule on Crew Portal at the start of RAP A because of quiet hours (0000–0500). Any assignment of a sequence or standby during RAP A requires Crew Scheduling to call and make positive contact.

Trip Missed (TM) Reminder

• If you receive a Trip Missed, immediately call Crew Scheduling and place yourself back on a RAP to reinstate daily guarantee pay.
• Receiving another sequence while on your RAP can help mitigate punitive attendance points.(TM)

Lineholder Improperly “Tagged” or Assigned

• Additional flying (“tagging”) may not be added onto the end of a Lineholder’s sequence.
  • Note: A reserve who is legal and available may be tagged under CBA Section 12.O.
• If this occurs: advise Crew Scheduling or Crew Tracking of the illegal reschedule and ask to be released. Please notify APFA DCA in real time so that we can help correct the situation.
  • When contacting APFA DCA, please have the sequence number and the flight attendant names, and EE numbers.

Rescheduling Reminders – CBA Section 10.J

• Review CBA Section 10.J for rescheduling language and protections, or see the latest APFA Rescheduling Reminders hotline.
• Visit APFA.org and the APFA Contract & Scheduling page for guides, bulletins, and prior holiday/IROPS reminders.

APFA DCA leadership is available for clarification and support.

In Solidarity,

John Pennel
APFA DCA Base President
[email protected]

Dianne Britton
APFA DCA Base Vice President
[email protected]