MEC Reserve Committee

We have recently received questions regarding pre-boarding assignments from Standby, and how they relate to pairing assignments from Standby. In fact, they are treated in the same manner for assignment purposes. 

When a Standby is assigned to a pre-board, the expectation should always be that the Flight Attendant will be taking the flight, regardless of any verbal expectation that may have been set by the scheduler. Therefore, for both a pre-board and a pairing assignment from Standby:

• The Flight Attendant must be legal to work the assigned flight and any like return (considering maximum duty limitations, 1-in-7, 35-in-7, monthly maximums, etc.).
• The assignment must be made by the end of the 4th hour of Standby, and the assigned flight must be scheduled to depart before the end of the 5th hour from Standby check-in, except when the company is in a drafting situation. 

NOTE: If initially assigned to pre-board by the end of the 4th hour of Standby, but the determination the Flight Attendant will need to take the flight is made after the end of the 4th hour, it is treated as if the Flight Attendant was assigned to the pairing when assigned to the pre-board.

Additional Pre-Boarding Considerations

• Standbys are limited to four (4) pre-boarding assignments per Standby period.
• If the pre-boarding assignment extends beyond the 4-hour Standby period, the Flight Attendant will be paid and credited with one hour (1:00) toward her/his line value in addition to the minimum five-hour (5:00) Standby pay and credit.
• A Reserve who is given a pre-boarding assignment which extends after the end of the Standby period will be released at the end of the assignment, and in no event will be required to stay beyond one (1) hour after the conclusion of the Standby period.

If you have additional questions, please contact your Local Council.