Source: Elines

Over the course of the past several editions of E-lines, we have been reviewing the new Contractual vacation bidding timeline & processes that will be effective for all Flight Attendants when bidding for our 2018 vacation.  The Joint Implementation Team (JIT) has been working on developing three vacation publications that, in combination, will form the basis of a vacation bidding reference guide.  These three vacation publications will assist Flight Attendants through the entire vacation process that is best described by three activities:

1. Choose Elections
2. Bid Vacation Periods          
3. 3Trade Awarded Vacations

As we have previously reviewed and as part of choosing elections, prior to the annual vacation bidding, Flight Attendants may elect to take an additional seven (7) days of “Flex” vacation.  This vacation is unpaid unless the Flight Attendants elects to have 1:54 minutes deducted from her/his earnings each month to pay for the Flex vacation week.

Flight Attendants may elect to “sell” vacation back under the vacation buy back provisions of the Contract.  When electing to sell vacation back, Flight Attendants may elect to sell at least six (6) days of vacation back to the company as provided for in Section 12.D. of the Contract.  It is important to note that when exercising this vacation buy back option, a Flight Attendant may not also elect additional vacation days under the Flex option.

In addition to these options, a Flight Attendant may also elect to contribute a minimum of seven (7) and a maximum of fourteen (14) days of paid vacation accrued for use in the following Scheduled Vacation Year to her/his 401(k) Savings Plan account or the UK Stakeholder Plan, or equivalent.  It is important to note that these contributions will be treated as employee contributions, and are subject to Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(17) limits, or equivalent regulations. 

All three of these optional election “choices” – Flex, Vacation Buy Back and 401(k) deferral must be exercised during the twenty-day period from September 25 to October 15, 2017 required by our JCBA.

In upcoming editions of E-lines, we will begin the process of reviewing Vacation Bidding and ultimately Vacation trading options.  All of this information is being compiled on a single Vacation Information page on unitedafa.org for your reference