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Harmonization of Variable Staffing Model in Preparation for Common Scheduling

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Source: AFA

Date: Jun 25, 2018

Source: Elines

Earlier today our new Senior Vice President of Inflight, John Slater, delivered to all of us a leadership message explaining the work that has gone into harmonizing the process by which aircraft will be staffed and positions will be put out for bid with the establishment of single standard to the variable staffing model. 

This model will ensure that the number of Flight Attendants assigned to a flight is consistently determined and, of significance and in response to AFA’s advocacy, ensures the 777-300W aircraft has additional staffing (up to 13 Flight Attendants) to meet the demands of passengers when the aircraft is full. These new variable staffing guidelines will go into effect as of August 1, 2018.

The premium cabin on international flights will no longer be variably staffed.  This decision recognizes the fact that our premium cabins, while perhaps not fully booked at the time lines are built and positions are put out to bid, will likely be full at departure and will always be fully staffed.  If the cabin requires five (5) Flight Attendants, the bid package will always include bid positions for five (5) Flight Attendants working the premium cabin on the aircraft.

Variable staffing will only apply to the economy cabin and only on international flights. This means that if the economy cabin if less than 80% full at the time lines are built and put out to bid, the company may elect not to put one position out to bid.  However, when the cabin is booked at 80% of capacity or more, the company will put out all positions to bid for the flight in question. Specific to the 777-300W, in response to our continue push for additional staffing to meet customer demands, when the cabin is booked to 90% of capacity or more, a thirteenth Flight Attendant will be added increasing the overall staffing on this specific aircraft.  

Most of our international flights are staffed to have each flight attendant in the economy cabin responsible for 20% of the customers. When the 80% trigger point has been reached on all international flights, an additional flight attendant will be staffed in order to support the additional customers consistent with our overall staffing rationale.

Domestic flights will continue to be staffed at FAA minimum based on the fleet type in question in exactly the same way this is done today.

This staffing model takes a very progressive approach to staffing the aircraft. This model ensures the greatest number of positions are always available for bid at the earliest point in the staffing process. In bargaining, the company made a commitment to staff aircraft consistent with Established Staffing Guidelines (ESGs). This is a good first step to ensuring the maximum number of bid positions are available in the monthly bid package.

Specifics of these new variable staffing changes, including any aircraft exceptions, can be reviewed by clicking on Flying Together Link (here).

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