A Few More of My Favorite Things

United Global First Class is at the top of my "favorites" list. It's a small intimate cabin where one is pampered and treated like royalty. In the new configuration every seat is an island unto itself. The quiet comfort of a small cabin is worth it's weight in gold after the nerve jarring trip thorough the airport to reach the gate. I believe it's nice to be met by a smiling flight attendant offering a welcoming beverage while being settled into a cocoon of comfort aboard an exclusive First Class cabin. As the Wandering Aramean has indicated First Class is rapidly disappearing on US Airlines. S-UA has always been proud to offer a three class experience to Europe, Asia, The Middle East  and South America. Just recently I flew F/C from EWR to IST to my great joy I observed the passengers around me commenting on the comfort and quality of our first class cabin. Let's keep this experience alive for our guests.

S-CO has these marvelous Espresso machines for our lucky Business/ First guests. Made with espresso pods and using disposable tubes to heat and froth the milk we serve up a wonderful cappuccino and espresso. For an amazing treat, utilize the chocolate sauce from the Ice cream Sundae bar for a yummy Mocha.

All that is needed is a sprinkle of cinnamon or chocolate shavings on the top. Long live the espresso machine!

The visible stand-by list. No, not the printed list taped to the side of the podium but the real live monitor giving everyone, revenue and non- revs alike the opportunity to see where they fall on the list for seats and  upgrades. I have a feeling this could be one of the agents favorite things too.

The flying public loves Direct TV. If the first question on most passenger's lips is "Is First Class full?" the second is "Does this plane have Direct TV?" How wonderful to respond with "Yes, please help yourself to a headset." Unlike movies or "Short-Subjects" Direct TV offers something for everyone.

The Diamonds on Wings indicating years of service is a sweet reminder of time spent making passengers comfortable, working with friends and colleagues, and lastly helping to  build the best airline the industry has to offer. Everyone looked forward to those 5 year anniversaries where a new set of wings with another diamond was given in some cases with fanfare at before flight  briefings.

A bag or compartment that is dedicated to seat belt extensions. Need I say more?

Pockets!!!!! Hands down it's the one thing I miss from my S-UA uniform. Pockets sewn into jackets, vests, skirts, shirts, dresses and pants come in handy for carrying flashlights, Ids/Pairings, passenger paperwork and van tips.

This placard indicating capacity is found on all s-co aircraft. There is no guessing the aircraft type, load or lighting. Just read the placard. What was that they said in training? "If you can read you can be a flight attendant." I think we all agree it takes more than that but how nice to have information at your finger tips.

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Mea Culpa

 My friend Bob says I always leave out important bits of information when I'm giving a recipe, writing directions or just plain creating a blog. In some cases he's right, though I hate to admit it. I'm sure I can blame my parents for this personality trait after all ( In the words of my children) they born me. What is this leading too you ask? Well, I did leave a tiny something out of  the UA-Reserve blog. ;-/  A small and incidental bit of info but one that everyone needs to know. At S-UA scheduling assigns all crew training. Whether it's CQ, airplane or services training it is assigned on your reserve day on.  No bidding. There I think that sums it up. I would promise I will make no more mistakes but alas it's one promise I am sure to break. 

 

All text and photos are property of Cross Checked unless otherwise noted.

Reserve on the S-UA side.

Reserve is a dirty word. No one likes it and no one wants to share the love. It doesn't matter which subsidiary your with everyone wants a change. At S-UA they have devised the AB Rotation system. This is how it works, the top 25% of each domicile (base) is exempt from AB Rotation. Everyone else serves straight reserve for up to 5 years. At 5 years you are assigned a reserve designation letter, A or B. Now this doesn't necessarily put you on reserve, it just ensures that you are aware of the months you may be required sit reserve should reserve reach your seniority. RSVs are assigned an A or B letter in the month prior to bidding vacation, this is usually September.  This info enables to to bid your vacation around your reserve letter. "A" months are January, March, May, July, September and November. "B" months are February, April, June, August, October and December.

Flight attendants are allowed to trade their letter once, they cannot trade back. There is no limit to the amount of time you can serve on AB rotation. You are a reserve until you can hold a line or become the top 25% of the domicile.  Reserve is cyclical, some have never served reserve and many have been on reserve for over 20 years.

The Build

RSV lines are built with 12 days off on the S-UA side and a guarantee of 78 hours and  a RSV override of  $2.12 for each credited hour. Lines can be built at up to 16 days off with a proportionate reduction to guarantee.  If a reserve WOPS or GWOP (Personal Drop) a day their guarantee is reduced by 4.20 hours for a 30 day month and 4.07 hours for a 31 day month. Crew scheduling  may not assign Reserves above the maximum of 95 hours but reserves may opt to "unlimited" hours and must maintain the 1/7 rule.

Call In and Ready

On the sUA side there are 2 types of RSV lines a "call in"(CLLR) line and a "ready"(RSV) reserve line. A CLLR reserve must check on line or call-in at &PM the night before they are scheduled to work to receive their assignment. A CLLR may have an assignment,  be converted to a ready (RSV) status, or released for the day. There is no limit to the number of times your sit standby or are converted to ready reserve. 

Legal Rest

RSVs at S-UA are required to block in upon returning to their home domicile. They are either released for crew rest, 12 hours of which 8 hours they are not required to be in contact with the crew desk. The legal rest begins 30 minutes (15 minutes after deadhead) after block arrival. They can be re-assigned to avoid drafting providing all legalities are met or re-assigned to an ID departing after 15 hours from block in time. 

When a s-ua reserve is given an assignment he/she is not required to remain available for contact. If the assignment is subsequently assigned to a lineholder the crew scheduler will attempt to contact the reserve. If the reserve arrives at the airport and their flight has canceled the reserve is requires to remain at the airport for another assignment, they are covered by the "standby" rules. 

A Standby RSV will be sit for 4 hours but is paid for 5 hours if they are not used. They are not always required to stay in the crew room. Each domicile has a different system. At ORD f/as have access to pagers. They simply sign their name and pager number on the clip board and notify the crew desk of their arrival and pager number.Everyone must have a pager. They must remain in the crew room for contact. F/as in other domiciles have a choice of contact, such as being in the crew room, use of a cell phone or have the crew desk call the Coordinator (duty desk) for contact.  

Standby (Airport Alert)

 An S-UA RSV serves 4 hours of standby and can receive an assignment departing no more than 5 hours after standby begins. They do not pre-board flights. If a UA RSV walks aboard the flight, the trip is theirs. If you sit standby and are not assigned a trip, you receive 5 hours pay. 

If you receive a trip on standby your duty time reflects the time you checked in for standby.

Picking up Open Flying

A RSV can pick up open flying on their day off if the company is short. However those days off aren't restored. RSVs cannot pick up on the days they are scheduled to work. Just recently my friend Michael Yee picked up an EZE out of EWR. He was happy for the opportunity to fly the trip and earn the extra money.

Trading

At s-UA you may not trade below 3 consecutive days on and you may not trade above 6 consecutive days on. At s-UA, you can trade with other flight attendants instantly, but there is no instant trading with a pool. I repeat there is no trading with a pool. F/as can trade with their own line but can't increase blocks of days off. When trading with your own line, the request is evaluated 2 days before the earliest trade day at midnight. It will be approved or rejected with the reason stated.  In July RSVs were able to trade their reserve assignments with other f/as. In August they will be able to RDO (drop) their reserve assignment to another f/a.

Moveable Days

RSV days off are  immoveable, but due to operational needs you can be worked into your days off but it is RARE and they will be restored. Of course if it's on a reserve month into a lineholder month the days aren't restored. But like I said it is rare to be worked into your days off. If you have a RSV line with Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off the entire month then you are off all weekends.

Move Up

Move up is handled differently at UA. F/as elect to move up to a line on the bid screen when bidding for the next month. You can choose 2 protected days that won't be assigned should you receive a move up line. They are built by the F/A service center. There is no guaranteed number of move up lines. Move up lines are built pure domestic or international. I remember working with a reserve last year who lamented she was next for a move up but alas there were no trips. 

 Holiday Pay;

A RSV (ready) who is not given an assignment on a holiday receives holiday pay for the value of the reserve day, 4:20 for a 30 day month and 4:07 for a 31 day month. If your a CLLR and are released for the day you receive no holiday pay. Now it's gets complicated. The company cannot release a RSV on a holiday unless the reserve is high time and not eligible for an overlap assignment on the last day of the month ot has timed out in hours or legalities. The f/a must be advised. Also the f/a can't be released from a Holiday (with the exception of his/her birthday) for the purpose of providing 1 in 7 days off. 

A Flight Attendant qualifying for two (2) hour call-out pay or five (5) hour stand-by reserve pay shall receive double pay for those hours if they fall within the holiday period. ;-)

I understand that these items are in the works and were voted in with the new contract;

Reserve Preferencing (within 12 months);

• Ability to preference specific ID, co-terminal, ID length
• Earliest check-in, Latest arrival 
• Purser/non-purser, position, Language, Equipment, Stand by and Position

Limited Ready Reserve preferencing system;

•  Standby, Minimum or Maximum fly

Call-in 

• Ability to preference specific ID, co-terminal, ID length
• Earliest check-in, Latest arrival 
• Purser/non-purser, position, Language, Equipment, Stand by and Position

While either reserve system isn't perfect, it looks as though each union is working at building  a better system. We will never be able to recognize that better system unless we all understand both systems. "Best of Both" only becomes reality when we know what the best of each contract is.

I can honestly say I spent little time on reserve at S-UA. In order to write a post about something you know little or nothing about you need the help of experts. Scott Holman, Franco Ocasio and Andrew William Jones all  kicked in information and have been an endless resource. Thanks Gentlemen, you were invaluable.

If you would like to check out the S-UA Contract click here.

If you would like to peruse the S-CO Contract click here.

All text and photos are property of Cross Checked.

The Never Ending Vacation

Travel is one of the many benefits of being a flight attendant. You don't have to plan and anticipate that  once a year opportunity. We are always moving around the globe visiting new places. The world has become our pied-a-terre.

So if you fall in love with a destination it's not hard to leave. Just stow away the memories in your head and know in your heart you'll be back. 

I had 25 glorious hours in Istanbul and it was a feast for the senses. The aroma of spices and incense, the call to prayer, the beautiful Bosporus, the delicious grilled fish and kabobs and the soft touch of a cool breeze while dining on a roof top restaurant.

Istanbul, I love you. Your an exotic city that feels familiar, your tame but a bit wild. Thanks for the wonderful time. I'll be back.

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Stuff I forgot about S-CO Reserve

Image from FaceBook

Ok, I'm not perfect. I admit it.  There are several important items that I forgot and thanks to Andrew Williams Jones for bringing them to my attention. 

Pre-boarding is an item I wouldn't want to leave out. It's an integral part of sitting AA or Airport Alert. For instance let's say the inflight crew is late on an inbound flight and cannot make boarding time. Scheduling can assign f/as on airport alert or reserve f/as "blocking in " to go to the gate and board passengers. Readying the flight for an on time departure. If your blocking in you receive a "pre-board" assignment you are credited "one hour" toward line value. If your on AA and your pre-boarding assignment takes you beyond your scheduled 4 hour AA period one hour toward line value in addition to airport alert pay. 

 The time I was involved with a pre-boarding we got the passengers settled, bags stowed and pre-departure drinks served. About 10 minutes after departure time the crew arrived. We then swapped out our bags and left the airplane. FAST.

At S-CO reserves eligible for a move up line have their days off honored as closely as possible.. Scheduling calls the f/a and he/she builds their own line from  vacation drops, month-to-month (EOM) adjustments and open time. The Move Up list (in seniority order)  is displayed on CCS approximately 48 hours prior to the first day of the bid month.  The lines are built between the 1st and 5th day of the bid month. This gives you the opportunity to begin searching through the trips for assignments you want. Because your days off are honored, lineholders may down bid to hold weekends off. This of course enables a reserve to hold a line they may not have otherwise held. 

I believe this sums up the reserve system for S-CO.

Do you have anything to add? Please leave a comment.

All text and photos are property of Cross Checked.

Reserve

One thing I've learned about reserve is that no one likes their own system. Everyone is sure their reserve rules are the worse. I crossed over to S-CO knowing I would be on reserve for a long time. The average CO reserve seems to be enjoying the privilege  about 5 years. Some sit longer and  some less but no matter how long your on reserve we all agree it's too long! In this post I am going to do my best to explain the CO system. I will post about the UA and CMI reserve system at a later date.

After speaking with so many people on both sides I realized few of us really know the rules and guidelines of each. How many of us know anything about the reserve rules of the CMI contract? I've never heard it mentioned. If we are ever going to get a combined contract we need to understand each subsidiary's contract. Once we understand the differences perhaps we can work together to negotiate an industry leading reserve system. 

On the CO reserve system you can actually control your schedule and make reserve work for you. A flight attendant can pick up a trip out of open if they are coming from days off, have sat airport alert (stand by) but didn't get a trip and has flown under 65 hours. As you can imagine it's a lot easier to plan your life if you know you can pick up your next assignment. 

All reserves here have a 83 hour guarantee and you can preference your flying. There are 3 choices; request to fly, airport alert and request minimum fly. You can preference a choice everyday your available. I have had my requests honored more times than not. 

There are 2 different reserve philosophies the first is to basically fly as little as possible. By  flying low time 2 days trips with long layovers you build per diem,  stay under 65 hours and have control of your schedule all month. One of the cross-overs actually flew 37 hours and was paid for 83, not bad right? As Pam Pace said " I chose to "work it"  to fly minimum....there are many options for different preferences.....learning to make a system work "FOR" you ...is a beautiful thing!!" 

Others chose to fly high time. They preference "request to fly". Their plan is to fly as much as possible early in the month, because scheduling/ crew desk  will use you at the end of the month. This is the strategy a friend used to earn 110 hours for June. 

As a reserve it's always good to pick up trips with Dead Head, your fully paid for DH but it doesn't count in your hours towards 65, so essentially you are earning money and have control of your schedule longer.

Trading at S-CO is terrific. It's first come first serve. That said, reserves can trade with a pool, or with another reserve. Yep, it's a different system, you can't begin trading your days once you've received your line but you must wait for the open window. Reserves generally advertise their needs and set their trades up before the open window. For instance this month reserve to reserve trades opened on June 26th at 1700-0400. June 27th brought us reserve trades with the pool at 0500-0700. At 2100 EWR reopened for all trades. 

Another terrific option is a partial drop. Let's say your on a 4 day trip out of EWR, the last day you do a BOS turn. You can call scheduling and if there is enough coverage you can drop that turn. On my last trip two crew members dropped the first two days of their pairing/ID. We flew the first 3 legs and enjoyed a layover in YYT and were finished in EWR the next day at 1100 when they took over their pairing essentially turning a 4 day into a 2 day. How cool is that?

In another post "We Beat the 1600 Pick Up"  I talked about the 1600 reserve pick up window at EWR. Basically at 1500 CST for IAH and CLE, 1600 in EWR, reserves go on CCS and chose a trip. AT 1600 you click and hope for the best. I found though, trips are continually posted for pick up until 1800. If I don't see anything I like I wait and watch CCS for a better trip. Which brings us to Golden Pairings. A Golden Pairing departs before 1100 and a line holder cannot bump a reserve out of the trip. However any trip departing after 1100 can be taken by a line holder but there is a 12 hour cut off. If within 12 hours of check-in no one has picked up your trip.....it's yours! Let me say this, I have yet to be bumped and I've flown several nice trips. Other f/as that have been bumped tell me they have been given a chance to pick up something else.


S-Co has a two hour call out. That's 2 hours from check-in. Knock on wood, I've yet to have a two hour call out.........


Schedules are as follows, lines are built with 10, 11 and 12 days off. At 10 days off you have a 83 hour guarantee. if you have an 11 or 12 day day off line you lose 4 hours for each of those days. A 12 day off line would have a 75 hour guarantee. You can bust that guarantee and fly more or call scheduling to restore days off to increase  your guarantee to 83 hours.

Every line has 4 immoveable days. These are days where scheduling can't work you into your day off. You can always count on these. I traded my line around and put days off behind my immoveable days so that I had 7 days off. I added a personal drop (wop) for a total of 8 days for a Hawaiian vacation. If you trade an immoveable day only the day traded becomes a moveable day. The rest remain immoveable.


Rolling.........I know everyone at UA has heard of rolling. The crew desk if necessary can roll your day off. For instance let's say you have 3 days off beginning the 11th. You are good for 4 days and scheduling wants to send you to BOM on a 5 day trip. Yes they can do it but they have to restore your day off. So instead of beginning your day off on the 11th you will begin your day off on the 12th. 


Now remember you can't work more than 6 days in a row. Every 6 days you must have a day off.   So no matter what happens the 7th day is a day of rest. That brings us to break days. Since you must have 1 day in 7 off there can be a time when your exceed the 6 days on. For instance in an EOM/ End of Month Conflict. You will be given a break day, 24 hours off in between the days on to make you legal. I have worked through my break day and it was reassigned after I returned to base. 

Reserves at S-CO are able to pick up their choice of  training dates. I called scheduling and ask for 787 training on a specific date, it was open and I was awarded that day. An added bonus is that I can trade into another class if I so desire. 

Airport Alert is CO's equivalent to UA's standby. Given in 4 hour increments it can be extended to 6 hours. If you sit AA and get a trip you receive 2 hours pay and the trip pay.
If your AA is extended 2 hours and you sit any portion of the 2 hours and are assigned a trip you are credited with the greater of 6 hours or the flight time plus 4 hours for that duty period. Per diem begins when you began sitting AA.
When you are assigned a pairing after sitting 2 hours AA you receive 4 hours pay or 2 hours plus flight time which ever is greater. 

While sitting AA at CO you must be in the crew room near the phone. ;-( Scheduling will not call your cell phone.

Reserve lines are built as Call out lines and 24 hour ready lines. Call out lines have 8 hour increments in which scheduling can contact you. They can never exceed 8 hours and can be split into two 4 hour periods. Last month I held a call out line that required I be available   between 0400 to 0900 and 1500 to 1900. If the crew desk calls at 0330 I technically don't have to answer the phone. 
Scheduling can convert you to ready if needed but never more than 3 times in a bid period.  They can convert a call out reserve to ready  if he/she doesn't acknowledge their assignment at midnight CT.  
All reserves are converted to ready the first 3 days of each bid period, July 1st through July 7th, 3 days before and after Thanksgiving Day and December 21st to January 4th. 


Recently I heard the Cross-overs referred to as HPRs or Highest Paid Reserves. It's true, making a decent salary does make reserve more palatable but honestly there's more to it. The ability to pick up trips, trade with one another and the pool allows you to control your schedule so that you don't feel like a pawn in the airline game. Sure it's not perfect but worked properly the reserve rules can be used to your advantage ensuring a good quality of life.  

Last year we heard horror stories about reserve at S-CO, however things have changed. I can honestly say.....it's not a bad deal. If you have to be on reserve you certainly want the flexibility this system offers. 

All photos and text are property of Cross Checked

The Sisterhood and Brotherhood of the Traveling Scarf and Tie.

 Photo courtesy of Sara Pinto Keagle of The Flying Pinto

Mergers are like an arranged marriage, the families are thrilled with the match but the bride and groom keep wondering what the benefit will be for them. You and I are destined to marry but we're still wondering when and how it will take place. No doubt angst and concern are falling around you like rice on the chapel steps. 
Regardless of the uniform you sport you can see your flying changing, new domiciles/bases opening and your experiencing new procedures, rules and ideas. We are told the future will be rosy but like a groom on the eve of the big day we're hesitant to take the plunge. We're wondering if our new partner will be nice and cooperative.  And like those two souls in that arranged marriage for better or worse we're in this up to our necks. 

Photo courtesy of Kathe Hull

Kathe Hull, a JFK flight Attendant believes that flight attendants are the same regardless the uniform they wear. She thought that if we could exchange scarfs and ties with a kind word to our brothers and sisters on the other side that it could alleviate some of the fear and stress that accompanies a merger. Developing the idea from the movie "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"  Kathe devised a plan to allow the f/as of each subsidiary to exchange and wear one another's neck ware.  USA Today was so impressed they included Kathe and her idea in an article in today's issue. You can find it here. Flying Together also included Kathe's idea and Sam Risoli demonstrated his support saying, "We appreciate Kathe's inspiring idea and her efforts to bring us all together in such a positive way". 

Photo courtesy of Kathe Hull

Flight Attendants at each domicile/base have begun putting their neck ware and sometimes wings with a note attached telling a bit about themselves and their hope for the future. Just as the bride and groom traditionally shared a moment on the eve of their wedding we too can begin to know one another.  It's a small gesture but it's one that will help us confront the future with a less apprehension knowing our sisters and brothers on the other side (whichever side that is for you) share the same concerns. . 

Photo courtesy of Gina Boccadoro

Known as the Scarf Squad they are placing the boxes in all domiciles and bases. Take a look around for the box in your base and add a scarf or tie  and your thoughts. Chances are the recipient will be thrilled to share and who knows he/she could be you jumpseat partner in the not too distant future. 

Photo courtesy of Lucy Evangilista

Photo courtesy of Patricia Van Keer Flanagan

Thanks Kathe for sharing your terrific idea! And Thank You to the Scarf Squad for making this idea a reality! I know we will all enjoy seeing all those smiling faces sporting a sister's scarf or a brother's tie.

All text and photos are property of Cross Checked unless otherwise noted.