Update to this story (March 19): One of our members wrote in to tell me that the Proof of Claim form is "is not worth the paper it's written on."  Apparently, when Pan Am went bankrupt, their flight attendants were sent the same forms.  One of our members filed for ticket refunds (they had to purchase parents' tickets, upgrades, etc. in advance at Pan Am) and are still waiting for their refunds!

Proof of Claim against United?  You bet I have a proof of claim: increased stress levels in part by many questionable management decisions (US Airways, anyone?  Avolar?) spread out over the past 5 years!  And that's putting mildly!

That soapbox comment aside, all United employees should have received a notice establishing May 12, 2003 as the deadline or “bar date” for filing a proof of claim in the bankruptcy.  It's a legal document that makes little sense to me, other than irritate and remind me of the fact that we were all lead into the bankruptcy position to begin with.

AFA states that all flight attendants should hold the proof of claim forms until they have definite information about who needs to file these claims.  I had considered using it to line the bottom of Cocky's tree but decided against it in light of AFA's recommendation.