8.02.02 – (LAA) – STL Scheduling Issues, APFA Enters into Agreement with MBNA to Offer APFA Affinity Visa Card, Self-Defense Classes, International Proffers

Hello. Today is Friday, August 02, 2002. This is George Price, APFA National Communications Coordinator, with the APFA HotLine.

From the Scheduling Desk comes this information for our St Louis Flight Attendants. The APFA is aware reassignments and rescheduling occurred during the month of July and causing many of you to be over projected. If your monthly maximum has been violated by a reschedule and/or reassignment, please call the Scheduling Coordinator at Headquarters, extension 8261 or e-mail the information to [email protected] for investigation.

The rumor mill continues to churn. The APFA would like to again urge members not to participate in speculation and the passing along of unfounded rumors. As we have reported, the APFA has not been given any specific information about management’s long-term plans to return American to profitability. When we know anything definitive, we will update the hotlines and the web site. Until it is reported by the APFA or the Company, it is considered speculation or rumor.

APFA has entered into an agreement with MBNA America to offer the APFA Affinity Visa Card. Cardholders will generate income for the APFA at no additional cost to them. That is because MBNA America, the card’s issuing bank, provides funds to the APFA for each new account that is opened. Every time the card is used to make a purchase, MBNA contributes additional funds to the union. Applications were sent to all APFA members this week. Please watch for yours in the mail. This is not just another credit card solicitation. It is a new service offered by the APFA and MBNA that will ultimately provide additional funds to support future contract negotiations. At no time was MBNA ever provided with APFA member’s addresses. MBNA sent the applications to the APFA mailing service in Dallas where they were addressed and mailed at MBNA’s expense.

The APFA Safety Department would like to encourage all Flight Attendants to sign up for one of the voluntary self-defense classes being offered by the company at each base. Members of the Safety Department have attended the classes and highly recommend them. Self-defense training for D.C. and New York has been rescheduled. We encourage Flight Attendants who have already enrolled for the month of August to call the training support desk for confirmation of classes. You can check dates, times, and enroll through the AA Flight Service Web site. Once you have attended, please let us know what you thought by completing the Self-Defense Survey on the APFA Web site under “Safety First.”

APFA Safety Representatives, AA Flight Service, and AA Safety have worked together to provide Flight Attendants a way of obtaining Sensitive Security Information (SSI). Flight Attendants may now access this information through the AA Flight Service Web site at www.aafltsvc.com. The APFA Safety Department would like to stress the importance of pulling up the latest security information. The most current circular is dated July 22, 2002.

A reminder from the Contract Department-All international proffer and base preferences were purged from the -3*- Displays on 08/01/02. Any Flight Attendant desiring to proffer to an international base will need to re-enter their international preferences into their -3*- display. Also from the Contract Department, the extreme weather coat liner, will be offered free of charge until October 31, 2002. After November 1, you will be charged three points or $29.64 plus tax and freight. To order your liner free of charge, call VF Solutions at 1-800-565-6242. You will need to give your coat size and lot number. The lot numbers are 72540 for females and 72550 for males.

Last week, the APFA sent out a mass e-mail to members to remind them to complete the CISM Survey in the June Skyword. Due to a glitch in the system, a few bounced messages were inadvertently sent to each person who received the original mass e-mail. The problem was identified and corrected. At no time was the integrity of the APFA Membership Files or the privacy of our members compromised. The APFA plans to expand the use of mass e-mails in the future. In order for this to be an effective communication tool, we need to have all members register their e-mail addresses with the APFA Membership Department. Members can complete a Change of Address Card found in Skyword, call Membership at 800-395-2732, extension 8153, or e-mail Membership at [email protected].

The Hotel Department wants to remind all members that a complete list of our layover hotels and their contact information can be found on the Hotel Page of the APFA Web site. Watch for some unique enhancements to this page in the weeks to come!

As we get closer to the one-year anniversary of September 11, 2001, many organizations, municipalities, and airlines will begin planning events to commemorate the day. If you know of a planned event and would like to have it publicized, please e-mail the information to [email protected]. We have set up a special web page on the APFA Web site to make the information available to APFA members.

The APFA would like to remind everyone that the APFA staff are not Flight Attendants. They are not trained to assist our members with contract, scheduling, or health questions. In addition, they are not in a position to explain policy or comment on issues affecting the APFA. The staff is more than happy to assist members with situations that deal with their specific departments and direct members to the appropriate department or representative when they can’t be of assistance. Please keep this in mind when calling APFA Headquarters.

In industry news, APA and American began mediated contract talks in the DFW area this week. Talks between APA and the Company have been ongoing for over a year now with little progress.

Vanguard Airlines was denied federal loan guarantees for a second time this week resulting in the airline filing bankruptcy and grounding all 14 of its planes. Vanguard has also let go of all but 80 of its 1,000 employees. Officials of the company are not optimistic about the company’s future.

The National Mediation Board released Midwest Express Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants from mediation on July 30th. Under the Railway Labor Act, a 30-day cooling off period began on that day and will end at midnight Thursday, August 29th.

Until next week, remain vigilant and remember there are 1,566 Flight Attendants who remain on furlough.