Contract 101
Article 8 – Duty Day
Check-in at Domicile (originally constructed pairing): 1 hour prior to scheduled departure of the first flight.
* Report at an Outstation (Domestic): 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure
* Report at an Outstation (International): 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure
Duty Day (Lineholder and Reserve): Check-in/Report to End of Debrief
* Variable report times were ratified into Contract 2024 but have not been implemented.
NOTE: If the time required to clear Customs exceeds the 30 minute debrief, contact Crew Scheduling to extend your duty day.
“When do I get extra compensation for an illegal duty day and how much is it?”
12 hours +: Double time (2x) for any legs flown after the duty day exceeds 12 hours
16 hours +: Triple time (3x) for any legs flown after the duty day exceeds 12 hours
“I’m looking at my trip sheet. How do I know when I’m making more money for an extended duty day?”
This duty day is calculated from 0545 CT (report) to 2023 CT (end of debrief), which is 14:38 hours. Any flights flown after 12 hours will pay 2x.
Because the last leg blocked in after 12 hours on duty, this Flight Attendant will be paid double time (2x) for the LIT-DEN leg. This 2.70 TFP will be paid on top of any applicable RIGs, including the DHR which has been applied to this day’s compensation, and will be found in the “DBL TIME” or “A DBL TIME” bucket on their Payroll Report.
NOTE: There will be a red bar at the top of your trip screen indicating an extended duty period. You can use this as a trigger to check for options, but the red bars are notifications for Crew Scheduling.
“What happens to my duty day if I get drug tested?”
Notify Crew Scheduling to extend your duty day.
!!! When you are selected for random drug/alcohol testing, call Scheduling and notify them. They will extend your Duty Day an additional :30 up to 1:30, depending on how long the testing takes. On an overnight, the time will be added following block-in and in base the additional time will be after debrief. This may seem like a pain, but it could mean additional pay if DHR (see Article 21-Compensation) has kicked in, it makes your Duty Day exceed 12:30 hours thus entitling you to double the time off spent on duty after returning to base, or if you’ve chosen to schedule a Domicile Break that gives the minimum amount of time between pairings.
IMPORTANT: A FLIGHT ATTENDANT CAN NOT REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH FEDERALLY MANDATED DRUG TESTING.
“I read in Article 8.2.B that I can’t be originally scheduled on duty for more than 10:30 hours. Doesn’t that make this day illegal?”
The maximum scheduled duty day is 11:00 hours into a RON (check-in/report to end of debrief) or 10:30 hours into domicile (check-in/report to end of debrief). Because this is day two of a 3-day pairing and going into an overnight, a scheduled duty day of 10:35 hours is legal for Crew Planning to place in our bid packets.
DID YOU KNOW?
Our pairings are constructed by a computer program called DPOS (Duty Period Operating System). This program takes all of the flights and builds pairings following all contractual and FAR guidelines.
“I’m on Reserve and Crew Scheduling just gave me an assignment with a check-in of 0600 CT. I get to my overnight at 1800 CT (end of debrief), which makes my duty day a scheduled 12:00 hours. This is longer than the 11:00 hours maximum scheduled duty day into a RON outlined in Article 8.2.B. Is this a legal assignment?”
Yes. A max scheduled duty day for a Reserve Flight Attendant (and a rescheduled Lineholder) is 12:30 hours (check-in/report to end of debrief) into domicile or 13:00 hours (check-in/report to end of debrief) into an overnight.
Keep in mind that the scheduled duty day is calculated when the assignment is given by Crew Scheduling. If the pairing ends up being delayed, that does not affect the max duty day calculation.
“I checked in for APSB at 0500 CT. After 2:20 hours, Crew Scheduling called and assigned me a trip scheduled to get into my overnight at 1600 CT (end of debrief). Does the max scheduled duty day apply to this situation?”
Your scheduled duty day is calculated from check-in of your APSB shift (0500 CT) through end of debrief into the overnight (1744 CT), or 10:30 hours. The max scheduled duty day of 13:00 hours into an overnight would be applicable and calculated the same way.
“I was delayed, and my duty day ended up being 12:44 hours (check-in at 0500 CT through end of debrief at 1744 CT). Will I receive the 2x premium for an extended duty day?”
Yes. Any flights flown once the duty day has exceeded 12:00 hours will pay 2x. This means the BOS to DEN leg will pay the premium. When on Reserve, this premium is paid above your monthly/block Reserve guarantee. You will find the straight-time pay applied to your guarantee and the premium paid separately. On your Payroll Report, the 6.10 TFP associated with this leg will be found in the “DBL TIME” or “A DBL TIME” bucket.
“I wanted to get as many TFP as I could this month, so I am working 6 days in a row. We are significantly delayed today (which is day 3 of my first trip) and my duty day is 14:38. Can I get additional rest because of my illegal duty day?”
YES! When we experience a duty day that exceeds 12:30 hours (check-in/report to end of debrief) into domicile or 13:00 hours (check-in/report to end of debrief) into a RON, we are entitled to double the time spent on duty off once we return to domicile. Because your duty day exceeded 12:30 hours (back into domicile), you are entitled to double the time off that you spent on duty. So, with a duty day of 14:38, you could opt to take 29:19 hours off after your first trip. Because you have a trip following, you can choose to be pulled from enough flights needed to give you adequate rest (with pay) -OR- be paid 1.5x for all trips flown until necessary rest is received. If you wish to have the time off, you MUST notify Scheduling within 60 minutes from release of the first pairing. (Art.8.2.C.2)
This FA had a LONG 14:38 hour duty day on day 3! Remember our duty day is calculated from report (0545 CT) to end of debrief (2023 CT). Because they’re going back to domicile, the duty day must exceed 12:30 hours for double the time off.
If this FA wanted to receive double the time off spent on duty (14:38 hours x 2 = 29:19 hours), they would need to notify Crew Scheduling no later than 2123 CT.
“I’m EXHAUSTED after these LONG duty days. Isn’t there an easier way to calculate my duty day?”
There is! Download the FREE TWU 556 app for iPhone, iPad and Android. It has an EASY-to-use duty day calculator! Other great features include a searchable Contract, quick access to Local 556 news and Union Office hours and contact information.
NOTE: The newly updated duty day calculator has a friend! The Extended Ground Time Pay Calculator! Our Tech Services committee has introduced a second useful calculator to our available tools. Make sure that your app is updated to the most recent version.