Education –Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions About… Reserve

Reserve. ((Sigh)) We have all been there at some point in our careers and understand the unique stresses involved with being “on call.” But with each new Contract, there have been changes to the language in Article 11: Reserve, and that can make the Reserve system a bit confusing. The Education Committee and TWU Local 556 Office Team receive multiple clarification questions surrounding this topic daily, so we’ve worked together to come up with a quick FAQ about our favorite topic… Article 11: Reserve. 

Q1: I have sat multiple months of Reserve in a row! Why is that?

There are a multitude of reasons a Flight Attendant on the lower 65% of the in-domicile seniority list may sit more often than a “normal” rotation. It’s important to remember that the only Flight Attendants who are guaranteed a line during Primary Line Bidding are those in the upper 35% of the in-domicile seniority list, those in the lower 65% who have vacation, and New Hire Flight Attendants in their first month online. One of the main reasons for Flight Attendants having to sit multiple months of Reserve in a row is the seniority of your base… and their vacations! As the number of Flight Attendants with 18+ years of service (5 weeks of vacation) and 10-18 years of service (4 weeks of vacation) continue to increase, it becomes more likely a Flight Attendant will have to sit multiple times in a rotation. On the flip side, if you have multiple weeks of vacation you may owe for the Past Reserve Rotation (this list can be found on the Cover Sheet of your base’s Primary Bidding packet). Past rotations and bases “flipping” can also cause you to sit Reserve multiple months in a row. *** If you think that you should have been awarded a line during Primary Bidding, contact Inflight Crew Planning during the protest period (6th at Noon CT – 7th at Noon CT). 214-792-4441 ***

Q2: What does the “B2” and “B3” codes mean at the end of the month? 

“B2” indicates that you are good for up to a 2-day assignment that works into the new bid month. If you are not used on the “B2” day, and you do not have a Reserve block starting on the 1st of the following month, you will be released after the last scheduled flight departs from the domicile affiliated with your Reserve block. *** Remember: You can always contact Scheduling if you’re concerned about whether you are still good for contact! If you want to pick up an assignment for the following day that reports early, you can also ask Scheduling to place a “REST” bar on your screen. ***  

“B3” indicates that you are good for up to a 3-day pairing that works into the new bid month. If you are not used on the “B3” day for a 3-day assignment, and you do not have a Reserve block starting on the 1st of the following month, you will be released after the last scheduled flight departs from the domicile affiliated with your Reserve block. *** Please Note: You can always contact Scheduling if you’re concerned about whether you are still good for contact! If you want to pick up an assignment for the following day that reports early, you can also ask Scheduling to place a “REST” bar on your screen. ***

Q3: How does Crew Scheduling assign trips and Aiport Standby (APSB)? Does it have to be that they utilize one category of Reserve (AMR/PMR/RR) before another?

Crew Scheduling will assign pairings and APSB in accordance with Article 11.5.A. The most important thing to understand is that Crew Scheduling DOES NOT have to assign pairings to one Reserve designation over another. There is no language requiring them to utilize PMR before RR or AMR before PMR. Crew Scheduling manages the Reserve pool how they see fit for the operation that day. They consider different factors when assigning an assignment, including contact time, RDV, pass/fly, previous APSB assignments, combinability, end of month liability, and overlap. While it may appear that someone is assigned “out of order”, the language in Article 11.5.A does not state that check-in of assignment must be assigned in a specific order. 

For Example: There are three (3) LAS Ready Reserve Flight Attendants on the Reserve Report as of 0900 CT.

• #1 on the list is assigned at 0910 CT to a pairing that checks in at 1300 CT. 
• #2 on the list is assigned at 0915 CT for APSB with a start time of 1130 CT.
• #3 on the list is assigned at 0920 CT a pairing that checks-in at 1130 CT.

These Ready Reserves were assigned legally according to the order they appeared on the Reserve Report, which is the only requirement. 

                                                                                                                 

When it comes to Airport Standby (APSB), Scheduling will assign APSB to Ready Reserve Flight Attendants with an RDV of zero or higher and an APSB preference bid first. This is not considered used out of order. (Article 11.5.A.2)

Keep in mind that during the overlap period, Crew Scheduling can skip over someone on the list to protect pairings in the new month. In the Contract Q&As that supplement our Contract, question #79 addresses this:

79. Is order of assignment for Reserves different during the overlap period? Yes, during the overlap period, Reserves may be assigned in an order that protects pairings in the new month. 

Please familiarize yourself with the Contract Q&As! Some of the most frequently asked questions have been clarified in this document and are considered contractually binding language. 

Q4: I am good for 3 days of ORR. This morning, Scheduling called at 0400 Local and assigned me a turn. I looked up the Reserve Report and noticed that there are two Flight Attendants good for 1 day of ORR on the list. Don’t they have to assign the turn to Flight Attendants good for 1 day before using me?

No. There is no contractual language that requires Scheduling to utilize Flight Attendants good for a certain duration for specific types of assignments before others. So, in your example, if you were contacted in order of the 3-day RR list on the Reserve Report, you were assigned legally for this turn.

Q5: I have an original AMR block followed by a traded PMR block. Can Scheduling automatically combine the two blocks and make me good for a 6-day trip? I’m confused about when Scheduling can combine Reserve blocks, how many days they can keep me flying, and when I have an option to be extended or not.

No. In your situation, you have an original Reserve block (labeled with a K) and a traded Reserve block (labeled with a T). Because the designation for the Reserve blocks (K – Original, T – Traded, or B – Picked Up) are different, they are NOT AUTOMATICALLY COMBINABLE by Scheduling. You have the option to combine the blocks, but it is not automatic or required. Keep in mind the fact the blocks are AMR and PMR have nothing to do with combinability, it is the K, T, or B label that determines combinability. Please note that Scheduling can ask if you are willing to combine Reserve blocks with a different designation, but you are NOT REQUIRED to do so.

Combing your blocks will make you good for up to a 4-day assignment. You do this by changing your overnight preferences on CWA or contacting Scheduling, either way no later than 1659 CT the day prior to the start of the Reserve day(s) to be combined. (Article 11.10.A)  

If you have two Reserve blocks, regardless of the type of Reserve (AMR/PMR/RR), that are the same designation (K – Original, T – Traded, or B – Picked Up), they will be automatically combinable by Scheduling for up to 4 days of flying. (Article 11.5.B) You may contact Scheduling to notify them if you are willing to stay out longer than 4 days, but Scheduling cannot assign you a trip longer than 4 days without your permission. 

You are invited to attend a Town Hall Zoomcast hosted by the Negotiating Committee on Thursday, September 30, at 1400 Central to hear directly from the Negotiating Committee about important Reserve issues. Click here to register and be sure to add it to your calendar!

Topics covered in the Zoomcast will include:

• Ending the 24-hour on-call Reserve system
• Education on Reserve
• Complexities and challenges associated with the system
• Status of modifying the current system or creating a new one
• Answers to questions Members have about the system or process

Please submit your questions to the Negotiating Committee before the Zoomcast via email.
The Negotiating Committee looks forward to discussing this important topic with you. Please make plans to attend!

If you have any questions about Article 11, or the FAQs above, please reach out to the TWU Local 556 Office via phone (800-969-7932) or use the Chat feature on the TWU 556 App. You can always email the Education Committee at education@staging1.twu556.org and we’ll be happy to help as well.