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More Reserve Information
Hello RSV F/A’s,
The intent of this letter is to give you some
examples, definitions and answer some questions you
may have. It’s intended to prepare you for the time
you’ll spend as a RESERVE F/A. Whether,
you’re a new-hire or have been a RSV F/A for a
while, you should find some of this information
useful. I know how frustrating it can be on RSV, I
too am on RSV, which is the reason I took on this
position with the union. I’d like to try and make
our time spent on RSV a bit better an easier. Since
I started with “Eagle” in 2002, my first base was
MIA. I held a “line” the first two months I
was there. However, after that, I was on RSV for the
next 14 months. You might wonder, “Does he really
know what he’s talking about?” The answer will be
YES, I’m no rookie to the airline industry.
I
was a F/A for Trans World Airlines (TWA) and turned
into AA when they bought TWA in early 2001. I was
very lucky when I was at TWA since I only spent one
month on RSV. So when I became a RSV F/A at Eagle it
was very hard for me. I started to read my contract
and the pilot contract and learn new things by
asking others and by always trying to stay on top of
new developments. I recommend you check the website
regularly for the most current information at
http://www.afaeagle.com.
Well, enough about me. Let’s get started!
In
Solidarity,
Edwin Davila
First,
it’s very important that you Read and
Understand your contract new
AFA-AE 2005!
Knowing
your contract will allow you to challenge Crew
Scheduling whenever you believe they’re doing
something wrong and it’s a violation of your
contractual rights.
Remember;
when you talk to Crew Scheduling there are certain
guidelines you must follow:
·
Always, always, always get the name
of the person you talk to and the time and date of
the call.
·
Avoid being disrespectful to the
Scheduler. Sometimes they may be disrespectful to
you, but remember that all calls are recorded. If
they say you were rude and you weren’t, we can
always go back and listen to the tape to see who
disrespected whom.
·
If you’re told to go to the aircraft
to do a flight, while on the phone with a Scheduler,
ensure it’s in your HI1 & HI3 before proceeding to
the aircraft. That is the only proof and
documentation you’ll have, in the event you have to
defend yourself if something goes wrong. Ex. (pay
credit, etc.)
·
Print and save a new copy of your HI3
each time your schedule is changed. Again, this will
serve as proof of the history of your schedule in
the event something goes wrong.
Now,
I’ll give you some definitions and examples of
different situations.
1.“Check out time” means the time a F/A is released
from duty as set for the in Section 7.B. of the
Agreement, which normally will be fifteen minutes
(:15) after block-in of a flight or thirty minutes
(:30) after block-in of a flight where customs
clearance is required.
Ex. If your flight blocked-in at 15:25, your actual
release time is 15:40. If your flight blocked-in at
20:11 and you have to clear customs and immigration,
then your actual release time will be 20:41. You
must also remember to call crew scheduling to be
released.
2.
“Schedule on Duty” means that you will not be
scheduled to be on duty more than 14 hours per duty
period. However, you can be required to remain on
duty up to 16 hours if you experience weather or
mechanical problems or assigned new flying. (Section
7 paragraph C.1.)
Ex. This means that your schedule, on paper can
never exceed 14 hours however, you may need to
exceed the 14 hours in actual practice to
accommodate unforeseen circumstances such as weather
or mechanical. You cannot be on duty
for more than 16 hours in actual practice. If you
ever find yourself in this situation, let Crew
Scheduling know that you’re about to be illegal for
flight. Once you tell them, they will be held
responsible if they tell you that its OK for you to
fly but you end up with 16:01. Remember the
conversations are taped. A detailed duty time and
rest chart can be found on the MEC website.
3.
“Days Off” –You are guaranteed 11 days off per
month. When you are required to fly on one of your
guaranteed days off, the day off will be given back
to you in the same month when possible but no later
than the following month. You are not required to
work more than two of your guaranteed days off in
any bid period. (Section 7 paragraph D.5.)
Ex. Unfortunately the Company may Junior Man you to
work on one or two of your guaranteed minimum 11
days off. However, your day(s) off must be given
back to you that same month or next month at the
latest. There is an RF entry you must do in DECS to
request your payback day or days off (see RF message
list on the last page). Additionally, your 11
guaranteed minimum days off must be in your
domicile.
4.
As a RSV F/A you are allowed to trade days off or
days of availability with other RSV F/A’s, pick up
from Open Time, and you can also pick up a trip from
a line-holder on your days off and as long as it
doesn’t create a conflict your RSV duty. You can
also engage in Optional Exchanges.
Ex. You can swap your days off for another RSV
Flight Attendants days off or, you can swap your
days of availability with another Reserve Flight
Attendants days of availability. This can help you
to be flexible and get days off that you need. You
can also do a one way trade known as an Optional
Exchange. This means that you can help a fellow
Reserve Flight Attendant by simply picking up one of
their days of availability and working for them,
thus giving them a day off they may need.
Additionally, if you pick up Open Time or a trip
from another Flight Attendant, you can still trade
it, drop it or get another Flight Attendant to work
it for you, if something comes up after you’ve
picked up the time.
5.
“Golden Days” – means a set of three days off in
domicile for Reserve Flight Attendants that cannot
be removed or changed by the Company or on which a
Flight Attendant cannot be otherwise made available
for duty by the Company.
Ex. While Golden Days protect you from being
involuntarily given an assignment by the Company,
you can pick up Open Time, pick up time from another
Flight Attendant or trade these days. When trading,
keep in mind that Golden Days may only be swapped as
a complete set or block of days (Section 7.D.2.).
You may not trade only one Golden Day. Please also
be aware that once you pick up Open Time or time
from another Flight Attendant, you will lose your
protective status and will be considered to be
available. This means that while you may not be
given additional Reserve flying, you may be extended
or Junior Manned in accordance with Section 8.K. of
the agreement.
6.
“Junior Manning” is when the company involuntarily
assigns you a trip on your days off. You need to
know and confront Crew Scheduling, if you’re Junior
Manned and believe you were not assigned correctly.
Crew Scheduling must follow the guidelines as listed
under Section 8 paragraph K of the agreement. The
checklist must be followed in the exact order as
listed in the contract as follows:
·
Flight Attendant who have requested
Sick Leave Make-up.
·
F/A who have volunteered for drafting
assignments and are in the drafting list at the time
of the assignment.
·
Available RSV’s (on RAP, finishing a
trip, not yet started a trip, etc. excluding Airport
Reserves in the domicile.
·
Available RSV’s (on RAP, finishing a
trip, not yet started a trip, etc) including Airport
Standbys in the domicile.
·
The most junior available F/A in the
domicile, on a day(s) off.
·
The junior available F/A from another
domicile, on a day(s) off.
Ex. This one is common sense, if you’re on days off
DON’T ANSWER YOUR PHONE, if your caller ID shows
those notorious words: “call one”, “unavailable”,
etc. When you’re on days off, you are not required
to answer calls from the company or return calls to
Crew Scheduling and they don’t have to be aware of
your whereabouts. Once you have answered the phone
however, and Crew Scheduling has been able to make
positive contact, you will have to do the
assignment. If you are Junior Manned, you will
receive pay and credit at 150% of you applicable
hourly rate of pay for all of the hours as set forth
in Section 4. You can also find a more detailed
checklist for Junior Manning of the MEC website. It
can be printed and you should carry it with you.
7.
“Released from RSV duty” means when you’re on RSV
duty at home, you may request to be release for a
period of time when there is adequate staffing.
(Section 9 paragraph B.3.)
Ex. If you need to do your laundry or go to the
supermarket, or whatever reason you may have, you
can call Crew Schedule and ask them to release you
for a few hours while you do your laundry or go
grocery shopping. To be honest with you, they will
only do it if they have more than 20 F/A’s on RSV
duty at home. My advice to you is, get a cell phone
or pager, pack your bag and leave it in your car or
ready at home, same with your uniform and go out and
“do your thing” whatever it might be. You may also
request to drop days of reserve availability. If
approved by swaps/drops, your monthly guarantee will
be reduced by the value of a reserve day(s) dropped
or (3:45 hrs per day).
8.
“Full and Partial Releases” – Section 9.C.3. allows
you to submit a preference for a full or partial
release.
Ex.- If staffing permits, Crew scheduling may honor
your request to be fully or partially released from
a day of Reserve availability. You should submit
this between the hours of 1000 and 1400 Central Time
each day when submitting a list of your preferences.
A request honored under these circumstances will not
reduce your monthly guarantee.
9.
Reserve Day Slide – Section 9.J. allows you to
“slide” the beginning or end of a block of reserve
days.
Ex.- Your slide request should be granted so long as
reserve coverage is not comprised on the days you
will now be off. If you are scheduled to be on
availability Tues. – Sat. in a given week, you can
request to slide the block of days to cover Sun. –
Mon. If the slide is granted you will now be on
availability Sun. – Thurs. and you will have Fri. –
Sat. off. You will need to submit your request for
reserve slide with an RF message. (please see RF
message list on the last page)
10. Time Balancing – Section 9.C. references time
balancing. It tells us that with the exception of
the first day of each bid period, Reserve Flight
Attendants will be placed on one list in inverse
seniority order or accumulated credited hours (i.e.
least time flown is first on the list).
Ex
– We do not have a system of issuing assignments
based on seniority or by submitting proffers, unlike
some Reserve systems you may have worked under
previously. Assignments are made based on least
amount of credited hours accumulated. You may
however enter certain preferences of assignments.
11. Preferencing - We operate under a system in
which, Reserve Flight Attendants may submit a list
of trips from open time that they would prefer
(known as a preference). You may also submit a
preference for Reserve Availability Periods,
uncovered Airport Reserve Periods and full and
partial releases. Preferences will be submitted each
day between 1000 and 1400 CST. Crew Scheduling will
process reserve assignments in least time accrued
order assigning trips based on Flight Attendant
preferences while also taking your days of
availability into account. If you have preferenced
for all three-day trips and you only have two days
of availability left, your preference will be passed
over.
While the contract does not require the Company to
absolutely grant each Flight Attendant’s preference
it does require them to use their best efforts.
For example, if you are the Flight Attendant with
the least time accrued, thereby placing you first on
the time balancing list, and you preference for
three different trips all of which you are legal and
available for, and do not receive any of them, you
may be able to show that crew scheduling did not use
their best efforts to honor your preference.
12. “Call Out Time” Section 9.E. states: The minimum
call-out period will be two (2) hours prior to
departure time.
Ex. Remember that call out times for all domiciles
is 2 hours. You will have a maximum of 2
hours to report to the airport for your assignment.
Don’t let Crew Scheduling tell you otherwise. The
Union has had reports of Crew Scheduling calling a
Reserve Flight Attendant, for example, at 12:00 PM
for a flight scheduled to depart at 2:00 PM. They
then advise the Flight Attendant that he/she has to
sign in by 1:00 PM. When the Flight Attendant
objected, the scheduler claimed that this was in
accordance with the contract since it was now 12:00
and this is two (2) hours prior to departure. THIS
IS NOT CORRECT! AFA has discussed this thoroughly
with the Company and you have 2 hours to get to
the airport and sign in after you have been
contacted by crew scheduling. If you are able to
make it to the airport before the two hours that is
great, but you are not required to. If giving you
your contractually required two-hour call out means
that Crew Scheduling has to delay the flight, then
so be it. Make sure you perform your required safety
checks prior to boarding, even if you find yourself
in this position and rushed.
13. Confused about RAPs and NAPs? It’s no wonder as
the specifications are not really spelled out in the
contract. Section 7 paragraph E. of our contract
provides us with the applicable rest provisions for
those of pilots as set forth under Part 121 of the
Federal Aviation Regulations including any
modifications thereto during the life of the
Agreement. What exactly does this mean to a new
Flight Attendant who will be on Reserve? FAR
121.471(b) establishes a 24 hour “look back” from
the end of a flight assignment during which
appropriate rest must have been scheduled. Reserve
time, while not defined in the FARs, is generally
understood to be a period of time when a flight
crewmember is not on duty but must be available to
report upon notice for a duty period. Therefore, a
Flight Attendant on Reserve could not be scheduled
for or accept a flight assignment unless at the end
of the flight assignment one could look back 24
hours and find the required amount of rest.
During a 24 hours period, a Flight Attendant must
have a scheduled rest period of 9 hours which can be
reduced to no less than a period of 8 hours. This is
also known as a NAP or “non availability period.”
Flight Attendants can be assigned to an
“availability” period that is 15 hours in length but
may not exceed a maximum period of 16 hours in
length during a 24 hour period. This is known as a
RAP or “Reserve Availability Period.”
Simple math tells us if you add 8 (minimum reduced
rest period) and 16 (maximum scheduled availability
period) it totals 24 (the amount of hours in the
look back period). These periods are examples of the
bare minimum/maximum requirements.
For a more detailed explanation of RAPs and NAPs go
to the MEC website and print the article.
14.
To protect yourself in the event you
are improperly assigned flying, during or
immediately after a 7-day conflict, please review
the following:
·
You cannot fly 7 days in a row. You must be given
one calendar (not a 24 hour duty free
period) off after working 6 consecutive days.
·
If you are unable to be returned to domicile and are
placed into rest on the 7th day in an
outstation, due to cancellation, bad weather,
mechanical or a duty time limitation - it is
considered just that: rest and not a day off. Per
section 2.P. of the collective bargaining agreement
“Day Off” means a period of
time between the hours of 0001 and 2400 based on
local time at a Flight Attendants domicile,
when a Flight Attendant shall be free of all duty
with the Company.
·
Your “Day Off” will commence upon return to your
domicile the following day, regardless of any
previously existing flying obligations. Follow up
with crew scheduling to ensure you have been given
your required “Day Off”.
·
All of your 11 minimum days off must be given at
your domicile.
·
The removal code for a 7-day conflict is 7D. Reserve
Flight Attendants, please be sure to count any 7D
codes in your HI1 as an off day; If you are junior
manned you may not qualify for a payback day.
·
If Crew Scheduling will not cooperate ask for a
supervisor and/or see your In-Flight Manager. Tell
them AFA has informed you there is a sideletter of
understanding between Management and the Union and
dated July 15, 2002, in this matter and you are
seeking your rights as provided in this letter.
Sideletter W of the CBA.
15.
The Association is pleased to notify
you that we have reached a settlement agreement in a
dispute between the parties which was challenged via
an MEC grievance #22-99-2-43-01 “Assignment Past
Standby Reserve.” Please
refer to Sideletter X of the CBA.
The Grievance arose as
a result of the Company’s action of assigning flying
to Airport Standby Reserves which departed more than
forty-five minutes past the end of their assigned
Standby Reserve period. The Association maintained
this was in violation of Section 9, Paragraph F., of
the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Prior to the actual
arbitration of the case, the parties were able to
reach a settlement. To better assist you in
understanding the terms of the settlement, we offer
the following examples of legal and illegal
assignments. It is also important to remember that
Section 9.F.3. requires assignments among Airport
Reserve’s to be made in least time accrued order.
Examples of Legal Assignments For an
Airport Reserve Shift Beginning
at 0530 and Ending at 1330
-
Flight Attendant is signed in for
his/her Airport Reserve shift, is contacted by
crew scheduling and receives the following two
day trip in its entirety:
SEQ 8190 BASE ORD SEL 233 ORG SCH DOM EMJ
FA1 SMITH M EMP NBR 123456
DT EQ FLT STA DEP STA ARR AC FLY GTR
GRD ACT
SKD 04 EB 4159 ORD 0810 GSP 1053 1.43
0.34
SKD 04 EB 4362 GSP 1127 ORD 1217 1.50
1.05
SKD 04 EB 4261 ORD 1322 PIT 1548 1.26
0.33
SKD 04 EB 4344 PIT 1621 ORD 1655 1.34
0.42
SKD 04 EB 4217 ORD 1737 CMI 1830
0.53
D/P SKD 7.26 P/C 0.00 TL
7.26
HALF DAY COUNT CMI 4
SKD TL 7.26 ACT TL
0.00
SKD ONDUTY 11.35 ODL
13.12
SKD 05 EB 4401 CMI 0842 ORD 0934 0.52
0.45
SKD 05 EB 4201 ORD 1019 LSE 1117 0.58
0.33
SKD 05 EB 4202 LSE 1150 ORD 1246
0.56
D/P SKD 2.46 P/C 0.00 TL
2.46
SKD TL 2.46 ACT TL
0.00
SKD ONDUTY 5.04
SEQ SKD 10.12 P/C 0.00 TL 10.12 TAFB
29.51
This is a legal
assignment. The Flight Attendant’s duty day began at
0530 and was scheduled to end at 1845 for a total
scheduled duty time of 13 hours 45 minutes. The
“assigned trip” was scheduled to depart no later
than forty-five minutes (:45) after the end of the
Airport Reserve period. Remember, we look at the
departure time of the trip as a whole and not the
individual legs contained within sequence in this
case to determine if the “assigned trip” was given
within the (:45) legal assignment window.
2.
The
Flight Attendant is signed in for his/her Airport
Reserve shift, is contacted by crew scheduling and
receives the following work assignment:
SEQ 28217 BASE DFW DOM
EMJ
FA1 SMITH M EMP NBR
123456
DT EQ FLT STA DEP STA ARR AC FLY GTR
GRD ACT
SKD 02 E5 3533 DFW 0645 LIT 0754 1.09
0.31
SKD 02 E5 3534 LIT 0825 DFW 0944 1.19
1.16
The Flight Attendant
completes this assignment and returns to domicile to
sit the remainder of the Airport Reserve shift. At
1230 he/she is contacted by crew scheduling and
receives the following new/additional work
assignment:
SEQ 6506 BASE DFW DOM EMJ
FA1 SMITH M EMP NBR
123456
DT EQ FLT STA DEP STA ARR AC FLY GTR
GRD ACT
SKD 01 E5 3621 DFW 1410 LBB 1518 1.08
0.41
SKD 01 E5 3620 LBB 1610 DFW 1715 1.05
1.31
This is a legal assignment. The Flight Attendant’s
duty day began at 0530 and is scheduled to end at
1730 for a total scheduled duty time of 12 hours.
The new/additional flying assigned departs 40
minutes after the scheduled end time of the Airport
Reserve shift, therefore it is within the (:45)
legal assignment window.
Examples of Illegal Assignments For
an Airport Reserve Shift Beginning
at 0530 and Ending at 1330
-
Flight Attendant is signed in for
his/her Airport reserve shift and is contacted
by crew scheduling and receives the following
work assignment:
SEQ 7207 BASE SJU SEL 245 ORG SCH INT ATR
FA1 SMITH M EMP NBR
123456
DT EQ FLT STA DEP STA ARR AC FLY GTR
GRD ACT
SKD 08 53 9564 SJU 1400 SDQ 1510 1.10
0.25
SKD 08 53 9844 SDQ 1535 SJU 1645 1.10
2.15
SKD 08 53 5384 SJU 1900 EIS 1942
0.42
D/P SKD 3.02 P/C 0.00 TL
3.02
HALF DAY COUNT EIS
3
SKD TL 3.02 ACT TL
0.00
SKD ONDUTY 7.12 ODL
10.53
SKD 09 53 5379 EIS 0750 SJU 0831 0.41
1.29
The assignment is not legal. Although it’s scheduled
depart 30 minutes after the scheduled end time of
the Airport Reserve shift which of course, is within
the (:45) assignment window, the Flight Attendant’s
duty day is scheduled for over 14 hours. The Flight
Attendant’s duty day began when he/she signed in at
0530 and would be scheduled to end at 1957. This
would be a total scheduled duty time of 14 hours and
27 minutes and would therefore not be legally
assigned trip.
-
Flight Attendant is signed in for
his/her Airport Reserve shift, is contacted by
crew scheduling and receives the following work
assignment:
SEQ 14104 BASE BOS DOM
EMJ
FA1 SMITH M EMP NBR
123456
DT EQ FLT STA DEP STA ARR AC FLY GTR
GRD ACT
SKD 04 EB 4638 BOS 0656 DCA 0830 1.34
2.30
SKD 04 E4 4546 DCA 1100 BOS 1215
1.15
D/P SKD 2.49 P/C 0.00 TL 2.49
SKD TL 2.49 ACT TL
0.00
SKD ONDUTY
6.34
SEQ SKD 2.49 P/C 0.00 TL 2.49 TAFB
6.34
The Flight Attendant completes this assignment and
returns to domicile to sit the remainder of the
Airport Reserve shift. At 1300 he/she is contacted
by crew scheduling and receives the following
new/additional work assignment:
SEQ 14036/15227 BASE BOS DOM EMJ
FA1 SMITH M EMP NBR
123456
DT EQ FLT STA DEP STA ARR AC FLY GTR
GRD ACT
SKD 04 E4 4644 BOS 1420 BGR 1515 CH 0.55
0.30
SKD 04 E4 4649 BGR 1545 BOS 1640 CH 0.55
2.20
The assignment is not legal. Although the Flight
Attendant’s total scheduled duty time for the day is
at legal at 11 hours and 25 minutes, the
new/additional flying is scheduled to depart 50
minutes past the end of the scheduled Airport
Reserve shift and has therefore exceeded the (:45)
legal assignment window.
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The following are some codes you’ll
need while on Reserve that you should keep with you
as reference.
DECS codes:
HI1.………………..To see your current
months schedule.
HI2.………………..To see your last months
schedule prior to the opening of the monthly
schedule bid for the next month bidding, once bids
for the next month are final and closed this entry
(HI2) will show you your next month schedule.
HI3.………………..To see your current or
last assignment.
HI4 …………………To see your last
assignment, only works once you have begun or signed
in for your current assignment.
HI5.………………..To see your next
assignment (only works after you confirm your next
day assignment).
HI6.………………..To retrieve your messages
(HI6A & HI6P to print).
HI16……………….To retrieve your already
read messages for that day.
HI*9.……………….To retrieve your
qualifications record (after IOE).
HI12/month………To retrieve your actual
monthly up to date per diem.
HI33/D/date/R …….To view RSV list
NS/flight# …………To view who your
flight crew is
NST/flight#/date/base …..To view your
crew with their nicknames
N3DO/base//date …………To view available
open trips
N3DR/base//date …………To view at what
time a particular trip opened and why the trip
became open.
N3D/base//date …….To see what
individuals were awarded available open time on any
given day.
N4D/base/aircraft type/date ….Open
time that includes the number of days of scheduled
flying, number of legs scheduled each day, and
overnight city.
RF 200 RSV ….To submit your reserve
preferences for the next day coverage.
RF 200 TRAD ………To swap days off with
another F/A (both F/A’s must do the same entry in
their individual personal mode).
RF 200 RTD ……………..To submit a request
for a payback day.
RF 200(base) DROP ……………To submit a
request to drop a whole RSV day (comes out of your
guarantee 75 hrs.) Example: RF 200D DROP ... means
you are a DFW F/A dropping a RSV day. RF 200M DROP
…means you’re a MIA F/A dropping a RSV day. Base
codes: LGA=L, BOS=B, MIA=M, SJU=S, DFW=D, ORD=O &
LAX=X.
RF 200 DTT ……...To submit when you
want to drop a trip or RSV day prior to recurrent
training.
RF 200 GOLD ……To submit when training
conflicts during your Golden Days off.
RF 200 SWAP ……To submit a reserve
swap within your own schedule.
RF 200 FULL……. To submit a request,
for a full open time sequence pick up.
RF 200 PART…….To submit a request,
for a partial open time sequence pick up.
RF 200 OUT……...To submit to pick up a
sequence out of your base/domicile, regardless of
full or partial pick up.
HIPH/H/home number…To add your home
phone number (substitute the /H/ for /B/ to add
business phone number and /T/ to add temporary phone
number)
The Association hopes this packet
will be of some help for you. The key to avoiding
stress while on RSV is to know your contract. Know
your rights and know what Crew Scheduling can and
can’t do. If you’re new to “Eagle” welcome, happy
and safe flying!!!
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