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Fast Fact Friday
Commuter Policy – Reserve
Friday, April 4, 2025
Q1: “What are the requirements for utilizing the Commuter Policy when I have a block of Reserve?”
In order to be covered under the Commuter Policy as a Reserve, you must list and present for one (1) flight on Southwest or two (2) consecutive flights on an offline carrier(s) that are scheduled to arrive into domicile at least thirty (30) prior to liable for contact time on day 1 of your Reserve block.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Commuter Policy is only applicable to the first day of a Reserve block.
Q2: “Which Reserve shifts must commute in the night prior to the start of their Reserve block?”
Because of the early liable for contact times, Senior AM Reserve (SAR) and Junior AM Reserve (JAR) MOST LIKELY require that a Flight Attendant commute into domicile the night prior to beginning their Reserve block.
Q3: “Which Reserve shifts can potentially commute in on the same day their Reserve block begins?”
Because of the later liable for contact times, Senior PM Reserve (SPR), Junior PM Reserve (JPR), Junior Late Reserve (JLR) provide the best chance for commuting via air travel the day their block begins.
Q4: “I’m on Senior PM Reserve, and I did not get called. It’s now 1830 Local time and I want to commute home for the night before my next day of SPR. Can I do that?”
No. Commuter Policy coverage applies to the first day of the Reserve block only. Subsequent days, you would not be covered under the Commuter Policy and would be subject to Class 1.17 of the Flight Attendant Work Rules and Expectations (FAWRE).
Q5: “It’s day one of my Reserve block. I self-assigned a pairing on SAR that is scheduled to check in at 0800 Local Time. Can I commute in on a flight scheduled to arrive by 0700 Local Time and be covered by the Commuter Policy?”
No. The Commuter Policy for a Reserve Flight Attendant requires you to list and present for one (1) SWA flight or two (2) consecutive flights on an off-line carrier(s) which are scheduled to arrive at least thirty (30) minutes prior to your LIABLE FOR CONTACT TIME (aka the beginning of your designated shift). Because you must be available to Crew Scheduling starting at 0300 Local Time (no earlier than 0300 Central Time) up until you actually check-in for your assignment, you must be within two (2) hours driving distance by 0300 Local Time (no earlier than 0300 Central). If you were to commute by air, flight(s) to cover you under the Commuter Policy would need to be scheduled to arrive by 0230 Local Time (no earlier than 0230 Central Time) for day 1 of your SAR block.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Crew Scheduling can call a Reserve Flight Attendant during their scheduled shift times to remove or change a self-assigned pairing. It’s very important that you remain available to contact during your entire designated shift time to avoid an Unable to Contact (UTC), or even worse, a Class 1.17 violation.
Q6: “I picked up an OAK SAR block for money, and will be commuting in from Chicago. There are two non-stop red eye flights on other carriers that are scheduled to land by 0230 Local Time into SFO. Would I be covered by the Commuter Policy if something goes wrong on those flights?”
No. You must list and present on a flight or flights, which are scheduled to arrive into the SWA domicile associated with the Reserve obligation. In this situation, if you cannot make it on the flights into SFO, you would not be covered by the Article 33 language and could find yourself in violation of Class 1.17, resulting in possible discipline up to and including termination.
Q7: “If I’m on a Reserve pairing and get rescheduled into a pairing resulting in missing my commuter flight home, am I afforded a hotel room and must-ride with the new language in Article 33.3?”
No. As a Reserve Flight Attendant, you can be reassigned to staff uncovered flying to best protect the operation as determined by Crew Scheduling and our Contract. The Reschedule Commuter Protections introduced in Contract 2024 apply to Lineholder pairing reschedules only.