AFA E-Lines: Nov 08, 2022

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AFA Debrief – November 8, 2022

•        Second Round Vacation Bid Period Now Open
•       No Bid Versus an Insufficient Vacation Bid Award
•       Honoring our Veterans - November 11 
•       AFA Welcomes Class 2236!

Second Round Vacation Bid Period Now Open

The Second Round Vacation bidding period for 2023 is now open.   Bidding for the Second Round will close on November 16, 2022, 0800 Home Domicile Time (HDT).  Awards will be posted no later than November 20, 2022.

For additional information on the rules when bidding for vacation, please refer to the 2023 Vacation guide on our website at www.unitedafa.org. 


No Bid Versus an Insufficient Vacation Bid Award

Now that First Round 2023 vacation awards are available, one of the most common questions asked is about the difference between a no bid and an insufficient bid. 

A no bid is exactly that.  When no bid is submitted to the system the resulting award will reflect that no vacation has been awarded or assigned during the first round of vacation bidding.  All vacation must be bid during the second round of vacation bidding.

On the other hand, an insufficient bid results when a bid has been submitted and the Flight Attendant is unable to hold any of the vacation periods for which she/he has bid. In this instance, vacation is assigned in seniority order from December backward through January after that round of vacation has been awarded to all bidders. The assignment shall be based on the number of days in your bid with the largest block of days assigned first.

In the event a Flight Attendant does not submit a vacation bid in the second round of bidding, they will automatically be assigned a vacation after the second-round vacation awards have been completed for all Flight Attendants who did submit a bid. Vacation will be assigned in seniority order from December backward through January, with the largest block of days being assigned first.

One of the most common bidding errors is not recognizing the end of a schedule month which ultimately results in not having the proper number of days in each of the schedule months when bidding overlapping vacations.

When bidding for round two, we strongly urge you to bid to cover yourself to ensure you are awarded a vacation based on your seniority and preferences as opposed to being assigned after all vacations have been awarded.

More detailed information on bidding and assignment is available from the Vacation Microsite on unitedafa.org.

If you have questions on your Vacation award, please contact the Vacation Team by e-mail to FAVacationTeam@united.com.


Honoring our Veterans - November 11 

Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

On this day, we honor and celebrate America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

This holiday started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country's service and was originally called Armistice Day.  It falls on November 11, because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to "Veterans Day" in order to account for all veterans in all wars.  

Let us never forget our veterans, and the more than 1 million active union members, who have protected and served our country. Our Union, part of the larger labor movement, honors all those who wore the uniform of the United States, and we thank you for your service.


AFA Welcomes Class 2236!

We are excited to welcome our newest flying partners from class 2236 as part of our Flight Attendant community. Our newest flying partners will begin their careers at bases in BOS, CLE, IAD, and ORD.

We encourage you to welcome each of them amiably, help them learn from your experience, and get them started on a path to success and adventure in their new career.

Please remember that our newest Members are on probation. To ensure that they receive the most accurate information to support them, direct them to their Local Council for assistance on Contractual issues.

And if you would like to become an AFA Buddy, reach out to your Local Council to learn how you can become part of this vital link to their success.

Reminders:

NOV 08 – Midterm Elections
NOV 14 – December 2022 Special COLA Requests Due at 0800 CT
NOV 11 – Veterans Day
NOV 16 – Second Round Vacation Bids Close
NOV 18 – Annual Benefits Open Enrollment Closes
NOV 24 – U.S. Holiday – Thanksgiving
NOV 25 – Native American Heritage Day

<<READ THE FULL DEBRIEF>>

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