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Frequently Asked Questions
Holiday Season Reminders
As we close out each year, it’s important to remember some of the benefits associated with the last quarter of the calendar year, even more specifically, the months of November and December. These two months are directly benefited by language located in Article 21.21 (Compensation – Holiday Pay), Article 16.1 (Sick Leave), and Article 32.7 (Attendance Policy – Record Improvement). We also have language in Article 14.3 (Vacation – Floating Vacation) and Article 32.5 (Record Improvement – Personal Illness Note) that impacts the last paycheck of the year and the holidays encompassed in November and December. Let’s take a moment and review important sections of our Contract that directly affect us during the last part of the year.
Holiday Pay: Additional 1x Pay
Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day (December 25th), and New Year’s Eve (December 31st) are all Holiday Pay days. All flying on those holidays will be paid an additional 1x pay! Holiday Pay is unique in that it includes all applicable RIGs. It’s also important to note that Holiday Pay is paid above your Reserve guarantee and on top of any applicable premiums. (Article 21.21)
Q1: “I sat Reserve on Christmas Day but didn’t get used. Do I receive Holiday Pay?”
You do! When you sit Reserve but are not used on one of the designated paid holidays, you are compensated 6.5 TFP for your Holiday Pay. This additional pay goes in its own “bucket” on your Payroll Report and is paid above your monthly Reserve guarantee.
Q2: “On Reserve if I don’t get used, I get an additional 6.5 TFP for Holiday Pay. But what happens if I get an assignment that pays less than 6.5 TFP?”
As a Reserve Flight Attendant, you will be paid the 6.5 TFP of additional Holiday Pay – or – what you work on the holiday, whichever is greater.
Q3: “If I pick up a trip for VJA that includes flying on Thanksgiving, how will I be paid for that day?”
Holiday Pay is paid on top of applicable premium pay. That means if you are flying a VJA (1.5x) trip, you will receive the 1.5x on days that are not the designated holiday and an additional 1x for flying (including RIGs) on the paid holiday itself.
Keep in Mind: When you are calculating your compensation for a VJA pairing, remember that you will be paid 1.5x on leg credits – OR – RIGs, whichever is greater.
For Example: Using the trip posted below, you can see that Independence Day (July 4th) has our Duty Period Minimum (DPM) RIG applied (indicated by the “M” after the day’s credit). So, if that trip was picked up for VJA, the breakdown for that day’s pay would be:
Q4: “Will I receive Holiday Pay if I am pulled due to FAR illegalities? What about if I am pulled for contractual legalities?”
For FAR adjustments, you will be paid the additional 1x Holiday Pay for the “portion of the pairing/pairing pulled.” If you are pulled due to contractual illegality, you will not receive Holiday Pay for the portion of the pairing/pairing pulled. (Contract Q&A 21.21)
Important Note: Contract Q&As and Letters of Agreement (LOAs) are agreed upon clarification of our Contract and have the same enforcement as Contract language. Please familiarize yourself with this very important supplemental document.
December: Perfect Attendance and Additional Sick Bank Accrual
During the month of December, if we have perfect attendance, we can accrue sick leave at 1.5x the normal rate. It’s like VJA but for sick bank accrual!
“A Flight Attendant with perfect attendance during the month of December will accrue sick leave at 1.5 times the normal rate for that month.
(e.g., If a Flight Attendant flies 100 trips during December (they) will be credited with 15 trips.)”
(Article 16.1.B)
You can find your sick bank accrual on the bottom of your Payroll Report in CWA.
Another important part of our Contract which pertains specifically to the month of December, is the December Record Improvement Bonus! Did you know that if you have perfect attendance for the month of December, your point total will be reduced (or points bank increased) by 1 point?! This Bonus is another way to reduce your point total (or build your points bank) in a short timeframe.
“Attendance Points Bank: The maximum points that a Flight Attendant may “bank” is six (6.0) points. Exception: The maximum will be seven (7.0) points to include the December Bonus Point, if applicable.” (Article 32.7.B)
Important Note: The December Record Improvement Bonus is the only way to go from -6 to -7 in your attendance points bank.
Personal Illness Note (PIN) Black Out Dates (Article 32.5)
Our Contract allows us to submit a quarterly PIN (or a quarterly Doctor’s note) to excuse an absence of up to seven (7) consecutive days. It’s important to remember that if a pairing or Reserve block falls on or overlaps a PIN Black Out Date, it will not be accepted. The last two (2) months of the year have five (5) PIN Black Out Dates.
Thanksgiving
The Friday after Thanksgiving
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day
Reminder: PIN Black Out Dates do not affect the use of a quarterly Doctor’s statement, leaves of absence (including FMLA), and applicable State Leaves.
4th Quarter Record Improvement Bonus (Article 32.7.A.3)
The months of October, November, and December, otherwise known as the Fourth Quarter, have an additional record improvement option. If you meet the requirements, it is a very quick way to reduce your point total to zero (0) and have a “fresh start.”
“Fourth Quarter Record Improvement Bonus (only available in the Fourth Quarter): A Flight Attendant who has four (4) or fewer points at the end of the Fourth Quarter and who did not accumulate more than one (1) point since October 1st will have her/his record reduced to zero (0) points. An MBL for which no points are charged will not count against the Fourth Quarter Record Improvement Bonus.
NOTE: At the end of the Fourth Quarter, a Flight Attendant’s record will be reviewed and if the Fourth Quarter Record Improvement Bonus applies, the Flight Attendant will be accorded the greater points benefit from among the alternative methods of record improvement for which the Flight Attendant qualifies for that Quarter.” (Article 32.7.A.3)
REMEMBER: You can find out your attendance points total by either speaking to any Inflight Supervisor -or- contacting Inflight Attendance and Leave.
December Record Improvement Bonus (Article 32.7.B)
When a Flight Attendant is active the entire month and has perfect attendance in December, an additional 1 point will be deducted from their attendance points bank. This additional December bonus is applied on top of any other record improvement for the quarter and can be banked up to the maximum of -7.
“December Record Improvement Bonus: A Flight Attendant’s point accumulation will be reduced by one (1.0) point (or the Flight Attendant’s Attendance Points Bank increased by one (1.0) point, whichever is applicable) if the Flight Attendant has perfect attendance in the month of December. Time on leave of absence other than bereavement leave or jury duty will not permit the Flight Attendant to receive the December Record Improvement Bonus. An M.B.L. for which no points are charged will not count against the December Record Improvement Bonus. The December Record Improvement Bonus will be in addition to any Record Improvement earned under Sections A. 1-3.”
Floating Vacation (Article 14.3)
If you had a Floating Vacation that did not result in an awarded slot, you will be paid for those unused Floating Vacation days on your December 20th paycheck in the amount of 3.75 TFP per day, or 26.25 TFP for a 7-day slot.
Q1: “I have one 7-day Floating Vacation slot that I didn’t use this year! Do I need to do something to ensure that it will be paid out on the last paycheck of the year?”
No. The pay out for unused Floating Vacation days will happen automatically. You will see compensation equal to 3.75 TFP per day (26.25 TFP for a 7-day slot) on your December 20th paycheck.
Holiday Accessories
As Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants, we are allowed to be fun and unique… within parameters. One of the ways we can showcase our festive-selves is by accessorizing our uniforms during the holidays. But when can we start wearing our holiday accessories?
Please reference the Southwest Airlines Uniform Appearance Standards for additional information.
IMPORTANT NOTE: TWU Local 556 does not dictate our uniform appearance standards. However, if you have been spoken to by a Supervisor about a potential uniform infraction, please contact the Union Office for assistance.