Source: Elines 

We continue to receive questions about the process of filling open premium positions at briefing and what happens to that position throughout an ID when Flight Attendants leave the base crew. Section 9.F.7. of our Contract provides guidelines on how we assign open premium positions, however, new hire Flight Attendants are restricted from filling any open premium position(s) under the terms of our Contract unless they are the only Flight Attendants assigned to the flight.  In those instances, the most senior of these new hires are required to fill the open premium positions.  Keep in mind, our efforts are directed in providing support and assistance for our newest Members ensuring they successfully complete their period of probation. 

Once the open premium position is filled at briefing, it remains filled until the end of the ID or until the person filling the position leaves the crew.  This is the case even in a circumstance where the person filling the open premium position has not yet completed one year of service. This means that when a Flight Attendant, who might be more senior (or Purser qualified) joins a crew mid-sequence, may not take the position from a non-qualified or more junior Flight Attendant who has assumed the purser duties previously or at briefing. 

For example (example published in October 2000 Contract Bulletin:

An ID operates DEN-SFO-BOI-DEN. In DEN, the base crew is comprised of three reserves, all with less than one-year of seniority. The “extra” lineholder DEN-SFO has 15 years of seniority. Prior to the start of the SFO-BOI segment, the extra Flight Attendant departs the base crew leaving the three reserves. At BOI, an extra Flight Attendant with 30 years of seniority joins the reserves to DEN. In this example, who flies purser on each of the segments?

DEN-SFO: The lineholder must assume the purser positon (Section 9.F.7.b.). Flight Attendants with less than one year of seniority may not assume the purser position if there is a more senior Flight Attendant on the flight. 

SFO-BOI: The most senior of the three reserves, with less than one year of seniority, assumes the purser position (Section 9.F.7.b.).

BOI-DEN: The most senior of the three reserves from the SFO-BOI trop completes the ID as purser to DEN. Once the purser position is filled, it remains filled until the end of the ID or the Flight Attendant filling the purser position leaves the crew.  In this situation, there is no option for the 30-year Flight Attendant to assume the purser position.

Please contact your AFA Local Council if you have additional questions.