12.17.22 – February 2023 Monthly Vacation Buyback

Saturday, December 17, 2022

February 2023 Monthly Vacation Buyback

The Company has decided to offer vacation buyback for the February 2023 contractual month, in accordance with JCBA Section 8.F.2. Flight Attendants with blocks of vacation days originating January 31st through March 1st, 2023 will be eligible to participate in the buyback. You may only buyback full blocks of vacation days.

The bidding window for the February 2023 monthly vacation buyback opened yesterday, December 16, 2022 at 1200 (CT) and will close December 27, 2022 at 1200 (CT). Awards will be posted by 1200 (CT) on December 28, 2022.

APFA was notified of the plan to offer February vacation buyback only a few minutes before yesterday’s CCI message was sent to Flight Attendants. Management has maintained that staffing is sufficient to cover the current flight schedule. While we do not have details on the schedule or block hours for February, when the Company offers vacation buyback, it indicates there may be some concern for staffing.

The Company has indicated they plan to grant all eligible buyback requests. Your vacation days will be paid out at 4.0 hours per day for blocks of seven (7) or more consecutive days, while blocks of six (6) or fewer consecutive days will be paid at 3.5 hours per day, excluding premiums.

February vacation buyback hours will be paid out in your March mid-month paycheck. If you are awarded vacation buyback for a block of days that carries over from February into March, the vacation hours from March will be paid out in your April mid-month paycheck. This will not be visible on your HI1 since it is a requested vacation payout.

Please note: Any Vacation Extension (VEX) Days attached to vacation days you are giving up through the buyback will also be removed from your schedule.

To submit your vacation buyback request, click on the Vacation Tab in Crew Portal. Select Monthly Bidding, then click on Vacation Actions. A pencil will appear under the Monthly Buyback column for any eligible block(s) of vacation.

Information on Monthly Vacation Buyback is located in the VMS Guide on Crew Change. If you have further questions regarding your vacation or the monthly buyback, email [email protected] or by opening a ticket on the Support Tab on Crew Portal.

APFA Contract & Scheduling Desk

Call or text 817-540-0108
Monday – Friday, 0700 – 1900 (CT)

APFA Live Messaging
Monday – Friday: 1500 – 2300 (CT)
Weekends and Holidays: 0900 – 1700 (CT)
(Link may be found on homepage of APFA.org)

In Solidarity,

Jeff Petersen
APFA National Contract Chair

Marti McMillan
APFA National Scheduling Chair

[email protected]