Tap here to download Automated Lineholder Waiving of Deadheads (CWA/CrewView)
Fast Fact Friday
Automated Lineholder Waiving of Deadheads (CWA/CrewView)
Friday, August 22, 2025
Q1: “As a Lineholder, when can I waive a deadhead(s) at the beginning of my pairing?”
The Pink Contract states that as a Lineholder, you can call to waive a deadhead at the beginning of your pairing up to twenty-four (24) hours prior to the scheduled check-in of the pairing, but no later than the scheduled check-in of the pairing.
IMPORTANT CHANGE: Currently, when you speak to Crew Scheduling about waiving a deadhead at the beginning of your pairing, they ask if you are in the outstation of your first working leg. If you are, they will automatically check you in for the pairing. If you are not in the outstation, Crew Scheduling will advise you to call them back no later than your scheduled report time at the gate for your first working leg (30 or 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure, depending on the flight). If you choose to use the new automated system, when the deadhead(s) is waived, you will receive a new “check-in” time. This means you will be required to check-in via CrewHub, CWA, or by jetway phone, no later than your newly scheduled check-in/report time. This time will be shown to you on a pop-up during the electronic waiving process. Failure to check-in for your assignment will result in a No Show. With SWA’s computer system, you can electronically check-in (without speaking to Crew Scheduling), up to six (6) hours prior to your scheduled check-in. After waiving your deadhead(s), if you are already in the outstation of your first working leg and would like to check-in earlier than six (6) hours prior, you would need to contact Crew Scheduling.
Example
Check-In and Waiving DH (See Example Below):
I am scheduled to work a MDW 2-day pairing checking in at 1305 Local Time on 10/10. The first leg is a scheduled deadhead from MDW to BNA. I live in BNA and would prefer to meet up with my trip and work out of my home station. I could waive my deadhead as early as 1305 Local Time on 10/09, but no later than 1305 Local Time on 10/10. I click the button and waive my deadhead at 1305 Local Time on 10/09. I will now check-in (via CrewHub, CrewView, or calling Crew Scheduling on a jetway phone) and report to work in BNA no later than 1730 Local Time for the BNA-MCI leg. Because I am already in BNA, I *could* elect to call Crew Scheduling when I waive my deadhead (1305 Local Time the day prior) and ask to be checked in for this assignment.
NOTE: If I was not in BNA at the time of waiving my deadhead, I would need to check-in upon arrival into BNA, but no later than 1730 Local Time.
Check-In and Report to Gate (See Example Below):
I have waived my deadheads and will begin my pairing in DAL. The first working leg is DAL-COS with a scheduled departure of 1100 Local Time (CT). When I waived my deadheads, the pop-up box notified me that I am required to check-in and report to the gate at 1030 CT, which is 1030 Local Time in DAL. If I would like to use the electronic function to check-in, I could check-in no earlier than 0500 Local Time (up to 6 hours prior to the pairing’s originally scheduled check-in), but no later than 1030 Local Time (my new scheduled check-in/report after waiving the deadheads. Because I am already in DAL (the outstation of my first working leg), I have the option to call Crew Scheduling after I’ve processed the waiving of my deadheads and ask to be checked in. This means, when I waive the deadhead at 1100 Local Time on the 23rd, I could call Crew Scheduling, tell them that I am already in DAL, and ask them to officially check me in for the assignment.
NOTE: Per diem starts being calculated at the time you are scheduled to check-in (or report to the gate) when you waive a deadhead at the beginning of your pairing.
Q2: “The last day of my Lineholder pairing consists of a deadhead back to base. When can I waive that deadhead?”
As a Lineholder, you can waive a deadhead at the end of your pairing after you have completed your last live working leg, up until scheduled departure of the deadhead (with a reasonable amount of time allowed for the process of the release). As a Lineholder, you must be released, unless Crew Scheduling has a reschedule at the time of the request. This means, you can use the “self-service” function to process the waiving of your deadhead any time after you block-in from your last flight… even if it’s the day before!
NOTE: Per diem stops being calculated at the time you are officially released from your deadhead, but no earlier than thirty (30) minutes after block-in of your last working leg.
Q3: “Are we required to use this automated deadhead waiving option?”
No. The intent of implementing more automated “self-service” functions (like this for waiving a deadhead on a Lineholder pairing) is to give each Flight Attendant the option to process contractually negotiated decisions – without having to speak with Crew Scheduling. If you do not wish to utilize the automated deadhead waiving option, you would need to speak with Crew Scheduling in order to process the release from your deadhead(s), as is past practice.
Q4: “Can I use this functionality as a Reserve to waive a deadhead?”
No. Reserves looking to waive a deadhead must contact Crew Scheduling. The new automated “self-help” function is only available for Lineholders who wish to waive a deadhead at the beginning or end of a pairing.
Q5: “When will this be available for CrewHub?”
The automated electronic waiving deadhead(s) option is currently being worked on and finalized for CrewHub. Southwest Airlines is targeting a CrewHub release for later in 2025, barring any issues. When ready, the CrewHub function will be announced with a more firm roll-out date.
UPDATED INFO: Electronic Reporting Sick (which was implemented June 2024) and this automated waiving of Lineholder deadheads are only two of the “self-service” functions being worked on by Southwest Airlines Technology department and the TWU Local 556 Joint Technology Implementation Subcommittee (JTIS). Further Pink Contract “self-service” options (via “The System”) which are also in the works include:
-
Electronic Might Be Late (MBL) reporting (targeted implementation in Q3 2025),
-
Automated release on Reserve functionality (CWA/CSS targeted implementation between Q3 2025 and Q4 2025 with CrewHub functionality following in Phase 3 between August 2025 and March 2026),
-
Automated jetway trade processing (targeted implementation in Phase 3) and
-
Automated (detailed) stranded/unscheduled RON choices (targeted implementation in Phase 4 between March 2026 and January 2027).