Source: Dear AFA

One of the key components of our 2012-2016 includes the ability for Reserves to preference their trips through new automation.  The Letter of Agreement on page 311 of our Contract outlines Reserve Preferencing, and will allow Flight Attendants on Call-In Reserve status the opportunity to request specific open positions by ID number or by indicating other criteria, such as:

• Layover city
• Earliest check-in
• Language
• Purser/non-purser position
• Co-terminal
• ID length
• International/Domestic
• Latest Arrival
• Equipment
• Standby
• Position  

You will have the ability to place up to 10 preference requests on file each day, which each request consisting of up to 6 different criteria.  Additionally, there will be an option to create a “Standing Preferences” using individually selected criteria that will, at your option remain on file permanently, until changed by you.

The company has completed the necessary programming to move forward with testing, which will be conducted system-wide in March.  Representatives from AFA are part of a joint-team that will test the new system to ensure compliance with the intent of our Contractually negotiated language. 

We are also working with the company to develop detailed training material to be sure you’re informed on how to use the new system and gain the most advantage from this first in the industry preferencing system.

Work is also being done to complete the preferencing process for Ready Reserve Flight Attendants, which will provide preferencing for criteria such as Field Standby, Minimum or Maximum flying (see pages 315 of our 2012-2016 Contract for details)

Once these new systems are in place, we will be the first Flight Attendants in the industry with this type of Reserve preferencing ability for Flight Attendant’s on CLLR status.  During the testing in March, we will be looking for and resolving any issues that we identify to be sure the system operates as negotiated.  Once we’ve gained some insight on how the testing is performing, we will update you with additional details on our anticipated timeline for training and implementation when we have that information to share.

In addition to Reserve Preferencing, Jetway Trades (Section 9.G.5.) are planned during the June schedule month with more details available in May.  

Trip Trade with Open Time with Preferences (Section 9.G.4.) is scheduled to begin in the August/September schedule month timeframe.  This provision will allow Lineholder Flight Attendants to have the ability to indicate preferences, similar to those for Reserve Preferencing, when picking up from Open Time.