1. May I avoid involuntary furlough by bidding for the voluntary furlough?

No, a Flight Attendant will not be able to avoid involuntary furlough by bidding for voluntary furlough. A Flight Attendant who wants to work should not bid for the voluntary furlough.

Once the voluntary furlough award is complete, the company may offer cost neutral in the aggregate Partnership Flying in those domiciles with a surplus. All options will be exhausted before an involuntary furlough is imposed.

2. Will there definitely be 1,550 Flight Attendants placed on furlough status starting October 31, 2008?

The 1,550 number is the highest amount that could be placed on furlough status. AFA will work with the company to consider the needs of the operation and potentially decrease the total number.

3. If I am a voluntary furloughed Flight Attendant, will I be able to return prior to the expiration of the furlough period?

A voluntary furloughed Flight Attendant will only be allowed to return prior to the expiration of the furlough period for personal reasons due to hardship, with the approval of the Company.

4. In what order would a furlough recall be conducted?

A recall from furlough would first be offered to those involuntarily furloughed in seniority order, followed by voluntarily furloughed Flight Attendants in inverse order of seniority.

5. If I am voluntarily furloughed, am I subjecting myself to surplus to a domicile other than the one from which I accepted the voluntary furlough?

Section 21.A.3.e. of the AFA Agreement provides you with the contractual right to be returned to the domicile from which you were voluntarily furloughed. The only exceptions to this preferential right would be if the domicile was closed or if a surplus has been declared in the domicile and your seniority status is affected by the surplus action.

6. Will United contest unemployment for voluntary furloughs?

No. Check with your local unemployment office for your specific unemployment benefits. http://www.doleta.gov

7. Do I lose all rights to return to United if I am involuntarily furloughed?

No. Flight Attendants remain on the recall list for six years. The following benefits are available to involuntary furloughed Flight Attendants as listed in Section 21.G. of our Contract (page 156):

A Flight Attendant furloughed due to reduction in force, on return to duty, shall be allowed, for seniority purposes, all time accrued prior to such furlough but shall not continue to accrue seniority during the period of furlough. Coverage under the Company's Accident, Sickness and Dental Program shall be continued on the same basis as an active Flight Attendant for the first ninety (90) days of a furlough. All such furloughs shall expire at the end of six (6) years from the effective date of furlough and the Flight Attendant shall cease to have preference for re-employment.

8. May I bid for the voluntary furlough if I am on maternity leave?

This answer depends upon your maternity status:

• Any Flight Attendant within the 1st and 31st week of being pregnant on the September 22nd Voluntary Furlough bidding close date, and on an S-3 status (intermittent maternity leave), is eligible to bid for voluntary furlough.
• Any Flight Attendant within the 1st and 31st week of being pregnant on the September 22nd Voluntary Furlough bidding close date, and on an L-3 status (maternity leave), must have written clearance to fly from her doctor by September 22, 2008 to be eligible to bid for Voluntary Furlough. This clearance must also be received and approved by Company Medical by September 22, 2008 at 0800 Central Time. The clearance does not mean that the Flight Attendant must fly -- it only means that the Flight Attendant can fly.
• A Flight Attendant who has had her baby prior to September 22, 2008, is eligible to bid for the Voluntary Furlough if documentation is received and approved by United Medical prior to 0800 Central Time on September 22 indicating she has clearance to fly prior to October 31, 2008, the effective date of the voluntary furlough.

9. May I bid for the Voluntary Furlough if I am on Occupational leave?

Your doctor must provide written documentation that must be received and approved by Company Medical no later than 0800 Central Time on September 22, 2008. The documentation must state that you will be cleared to fly before October 31, 2008 in order to be eligible to bid the Voluntary Furlough.

10. May I bid for the Voluntary Furlough if I am on FMLA?

If you have an intermittent Family Medical Leave status, you are eligible to bid for the Voluntary Furlough. You must come off sick leave (OFSL) before October 31, 2008 in order to be placed on voluntary furlough status.

If you are on continuous Family Medical Leave you are eligible to bid and will be awarded the voluntary furlough provided medical clearance with a return to work date prior to October 31, 2008 is received and approved by United Medical by 0800 Central Time on September 22, 2008.

11. What happens if I am on medical or sick leave during the furlough process?

If you are on any type of medical leave or ONSL status on the date bids close for Voluntary Furlough, you are eligible to bid and will be awarded the voluntary furlough provided you come off sick leave (OFSL) prior to the effective date of the furlough, October 31, 2008.

12. Do I have to take action to deactivate my ALE Visa?

No, the Company will be responsible for that process.

13. May I retire from voluntary furlough?

Yes. You may retire from voluntary furlough. If you are age 55 with 10 years of service you are eligible to retire.

If you retire, you are then eligible for retiree medical benefits and retiree travel benefits.

14. If I am normal retirement age (65) may I collect my pension benefit from the PBGC and remain on Voluntary Furlough?

If you are of Normal Retirement age (age 65 or older) you may remain on voluntary furlough and collect your PBGC benefit. Contact the PBGC to initiate these benefits.

15. Does a Special Leave of Absence affect my seniority?

It may, any combination of Special Leaves in excess of 180 days in a 12 month period shall accrue seniority for a maximum of 180 days and thereafter retain only.

16. Is there a seniority adjustment associated with a combination of a Special Leave of Absence and Voluntary Furlough?

No. There is no seniority adjustment associated with a Voluntary Furlough.

17. I have taken the Special Leave of Absence for September and October and am considering a Voluntary Furlough. Is there an impact on my seniority?

No. There is no impact on your seniority when on a Voluntary Furlough.

18. Do I pay Union dues while on voluntary furlough?

The AFA Constitution and Bylaws requires that all Flight Attendants pay dues for the first 3 months of any leave status, including voluntary furlough. Flight Attendants should contact the Local AFA Council with any questions about payment methods. If you would like to pay your dues beyond the required first three months to remain an active Member to vote, please contact the AFA International Office Membership Department at 1-800-424-2401, ext. 744 to receive the form for monthly deductions taken out of your checking account. You will also need to ask the Membership Department where you should fax or send a written and signed statement saying that you would like to "leave and remain active."