Dear AFA Recording: Feb 06, 2015

Return to Archives

  • Payroll Consolidation Project
  • Profit Sharing Payments for International Domiciled Flight Attendants
  • Seattle Crew Lounge
  • 30-Day ANP Available for March
  • Clarification to KCM Program
  • Don’t Forget to Verify and Update Your E-Lines Email Address

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to Dear AFA. We are a democratic, Member driven Union of Flight Attendants for Flight Attendants. Today is Friday, February 6, 2015.

Payroll Consolidation Project
Starting this month, pre-merger United Flight Attendants will begin to receive a single mid-month payroll check.  What does this mean for you?  Instead of receiving separate paychecks for your Duty Free, Per Diem, and compensation, United will issue only one paycheck.  Please ensure your Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments are updated and are designated to the correct accounts.  Allow 10 days for the ACH changes to take effect.

For more information contact your financial institution or review the My Info section of United’s Flying Together website.

Profit Sharing Payments for International Domiciled Flight Attendants
Internationally domiciled Fight Attendants in FRA, HKG, LHR or NRT who do not have company contributions in the U.S. Flight Attendant 401(k) plan will have their Profit Sharing payment through the normal payroll process, subject to taxation. 

LHR based Flight Attendants participating in the U.K. Group Stakeholder Plan, which has features very similar to the U.S. 401(k) plan, will have their profit sharing directed into this account only if they elected to do so. 

Members outside the U.S. who are enrolled in the floor rate program receive appropriate floor exchange rates when Profit Sharing payments are received through the normal payroll process.

For more information please contact your Local Council office.

Seattle Crew Lounge
Effective January 30, 2015, in conjunction with the Seattle Domicile closure United has also closed the Crew Lounge located in SEA.  Because of this decision we would like to remind everyone of section 4.D.2. of our Contract takes effect.  Our Contract states “If there is no adequate flight crew lounge at layover stations or locations where Flight Attendants are based the company shall furnish comfortable, clean and quiet rooms in a suitable location where Flight Attendants are scheduled at such stations in excess of three hours (3:00).  There will be no more than two (2) Flight Attendants assigned to a room.  The company shall include the names and phone number of the hotel in the key pages.”

If you have any questions please contact your Local Council office.

30-Day ANP Available for March
The company has announced they will be offering 30-Day ANP for the scheduled bid month of March 2015 (3/2/15 – 3/31/15).  The amount and locations have not yet been determined.  If you are interested in 30-day ANP for the March schedule month, you must have your request on file through Unimatic by 0800 Central Time (CT) on February 13, 2015. March 30-day ANP awards will be posted by 1730 CT the same day.

Keep in mind, if you are awarded 30-day ANP directly touching (immediately adjoining) another period of 30-day ANP or single day of ANP without at least one day off in between the periods of ANP your benefits may be affected.   We encourage you to review and remove any requests for which you no long have an interest.  Following the initial award the company reviews manpower requirements and may award additional 30-day ANP before the start of the schedule month.

When requesting any time off, we encourage you to fully review all available information and ask questions about anything that is unclear.  Should you have additional questions, please contact your Local Council office.

Clarifications to KCM Program
In January, Flight Attendants began to have the option to transit through the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Known Crew Member (KCM) checkpoint not in uniform. Since this policy enhancement went into effect we have had a few questions about this enhancement. Below are a couple of reminders and clarifications we thought you should know.

  1. If you are selected for random secondary screening and are directed to go to a passenger screening checkpoint you must go directly to the screening point.

    However, it is acceptable for a crewmember entering the KCM checkpoint out of uniform to check their luggage before reporting to the passenger screening checkpoint for screening.  Before checking their luggage the crewmember should advise the TSA officer of their intention.  Doing so ensures there is no misunderstanding
     
  2. It is not acceptable for any crewmember that is selected for random secondary screening and directed to a passenger screening checkpoint to change into their uniform, wait and try again with a different screener, or anything other than compliance with the TSA instructions. 

    Not complying with TSA instructions will be deemed circumventing the system in violation of Federal Regulations and may result in action against the crewmember.
  3. Pet and pet carriers must be screened through the passenger screening checkpoint. Crewmembers with pets will be directed to a passenger screening checkpoint and screened in accordance with TSA screening procedures.
  4. You may not bring personal items belonging to another person through the KCM access point.

Please remember that the KCM program was not designed to give Flight Attendants Liquid, Gel and Aerosol (LAG) exemptions.  It was established to expedite crewmembers through airport security.  Let’s not forget KCM expedited screening is an earned privilege - not a right.  Any breaches of the KCM requirements could jeopardize our standing in the program and the ability to expand it.

If you have any questions about the KCM program please contact your Local Council Safety, Health and Security Committee. 

Don’t Forget to Verify and Update Your E-Lines Email Address
Don’t forget all current subscribers to the United AFA E-Lines need to verify and update their information before we relocate our newsletter system. The relocation is scheduled to take place March 3, 2015 where we will debut our newly enhanced AFA E-Lines newsletter. If you have not verified your information by the March 3, 2015 deadline you will no longer receive the E-lines newsletter.

Verifying your information is quick and simple. Please visit our website for instructions. Once you have provided the information you will be all set for the transition.

That’s all for tonight and thank you for calling.

top of page