We continue to receive a flood of inquiries about line awards since United implemented its decision to break down IDs and combine widebody and narrowbody staffing. Remember that AFA objected to this scheduling change as it had created disastrous results when the company previously employed the strategy. This time we have experienced several additional issues that include complications associated with assigning the Purser position.

A Purser qualification is required in order to be awarded the Purser (FS) position on any domestic line that has scheduled within it a trip pairing that includes a working wide body segment. Combining widebody and narrowbody flying has caused an increase in the need for Flight Attendants with a Purser qualification, which has forced many Flight Attendants with the qualification into lines they did not bid. Conversely, it has denied schedules for other Flight Attendants who would have had access to certain narrowbody flying without the mixture of widebody flying in these IDs.

The end result of the company's decision to combine this flying is that some Flight Attendants are awarded less desirable schedules. As Members use our negotiated Contractual schedule flexibility to adjust their schedules, sometimes positions are left open. On a positive note, this can create opportunities and greater earning potential for other Flight Attendants who may not have had access to this flying.

Our Contract provides the company with many avenues to fill an open position requiring a purser qualification. Reserve Flight Attendants who are purser qualified should be aware that they may be assigned out of time accrued order to fill open positions requiring a Purser qualification. If the position is still open at briefing, it is filled as specified in Section 9.F.7 of the Contract. Remember Section 9.P.2. of our Contract that provides a Flight Attendant must have a minimum of one year of service prior to being assigned the purser position, unless there is no other Flight Attendant with at least one year of service working the flight. In a case such as this, the most senior Flight Attendant on the crew will assume the position. Once the position is filled it is held by the person assuming it at briefing until she or he leaves the crew, even if she or he has not yet completed one year of service.

This means that a Flight Attendant, who is purser qualified or more senior and joins a crew in mid-sequence of an ID, may not take the position from a non-qualified or more junior Flight Attendant who has assumed the purser duties.

This means that a Flight Attendant, who is purser qualified or more senior and joins a crew in mid-sequence of an ID, may not take the position from a non-qualified or more junior Flight Attendant who has assumed the purser duties. Flight Attendants with a purser qualification may certainly offer support to the Flight Attendant who has assumed the purser position in addition to fulfilling the responsibilities associated with work position determined their seniority among the crew.

Remember that a vacant qualified Purser position may be filled within two days of departure by a Flight Attendant who is not Purser-qualified provided a qualified Purser is scheduled on the base or a like ID and no other qualified Purser has requested the position through the open flying process. In such an instance, Flight Attendants without a Purser qualification may request and be awarded the qualified Purser position on the ID through trades with, or picking up open flying. Additionally, if there are no available Reserves with a purser qualification and no other qualified Purser has requested the position through the open flying process, Flight Attendants may be awarded the qualified Purser position without another Flight Attendant with the Purser qualification on the ID.

Flight Attendants flying IDs with mixed flying will be paid wide-body Purser pay as outlined in Section 5.B of the Contract for the entire duty period containing the wide-body segment. We encourage all Flight Attendants to review their pay files to ensure this activity is properly posted in the DFAP.