Commuter Program
Section 28 of the JCBA explained
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The Commuter program, sometimes referred to as OOPS clause, is contractual (not policy) and covers Flight Attendants who commute to their base by automobile, ground transportation, and United/United Express flights. When unforeseen circumstances occur, such as weather conditions/natural disasters, hazardous/impassable roads, mechanical failures, or unexpected airport disruption/closure, the Commuter Program sets the protocol and procedure for actions to be taken by the Flight Attendant, Crew Scheduling and the Flight Attendantβs Base. There are important differences between commuting by a United flight (CJA & non-rev as well as revenue travel), and ground transportation that will be highlighted below.
Β βοΈ Commuting by Air (Non-rev/CJA)
Β βοΈ Commuting by Air (Non-rev/CJA)
If commuting by a United or United Express flight according to Section 28 of the JCBA:
Regardless of when you listed for your commuter flights, the 2 flights to qualify must have positive seats at 24 hours prior to their scheduled departure in the companyβs reservation system, while taking into account other non-revenue space available travelers (who were listed at 24 hours) with higher boarding priority and/or greater seniority. This means that at 24 hours before your 2 flights are to depart, they must have open seats to award you based on seniority, even if you have not yet listed.Β
You are NOT required to be listed 24 hours in advance on these flights. (It is good practice to screenshot and keep a record at exactly 24 hours prior to these flights' departures to show that your flight qualifies.)
You must "exercise good judgment and exert every reasonable effort to report for work.β
You must βhave the legitimate, reasonable potential to commute on either of at least two (2) flights listed through the Companyβs employee reservations systems.β This means you must list for 2 flights fully through the employeeRes system. As a reminder, you should only check in for one flight at a time per company pass travel policy.
Both commuter flights must be scheduled to arrive at your Domicile or the point of your duty assignment at least one hour (1:00) prior to report time.Β IMPORTANT: Reserve days on call ("ready" RSV days) have an assignment of 00:00 to report. You must arrive in base 1 hour prior to the start of your ready reserve day to qualify.Β
For CJA: Upon actual assignment, a jumpseat (Mainline and United Express) is considered an available seat for commuting purposes
Other Carriers: This clause does NOT apply to other airline standby travel.Β Β
βοΈ π« Commuter Flight Disruption - Immediate Actions
βοΈ π« Commuter Flight Disruption - Immediate Actions
These actions must be followed exactly in order to qualify for the commuter program
Primary flight fails: When an unforeseen event takes place (ie. no available seat, weight restriction, delay or cancellation due to unforeseen significant weather at the intended airport of departure or arrival, ATC or aircraft maintenance), affecting your first commuting flight, you must immediately contact Crew SchedulingΒ that you will be utilizing the back-up flight. (Always get the name of who you talk to!)
Back-up flight fails: If the back-up flight is disrupted, you must re-contact Crew Scheduling immediately upon discovering that you will be unable to commute on your back-up flight .
Diversion while onboard: If your primary/back-up commuter flight diverts while you are physically onboard, you must call Crew Scheduling as soon as you can make a phone call.
Continue to base, unless released: Upon notification to Crew Scheduling, you must continue on to your Base if possible, unless released by Crew Scheduling/ Coordination . Upon arrival at your Base, you must promptly contact Crew Scheduling/Coordination to advise them that you are there . You will be subject to assignment, as follows:
You may be directed to report to her/his original pairing or to a portion of the original pairing, joining it at a later point; or
You may be assigned a substitute pairing scheduled to fly on the same days as the original pairing; or
You may be assigned a substitute pairing which begins on any day following the start of the original pairing
(See Contract Section 28.E.3 below for more info on reassignment)
βοΈ Commuting by Air (Revenue or Pos Space)
βοΈ Commuting by Air (Revenue or Pos Space)
It is very important to understand that the Commuter Program (Section 28) was negotiated based on the concept that most Flight Attendants travel to work by air using Non-Revenue Space Available (NRSA) Pass Travel. It was under this premise that the Commuter Program was designed and negotiated.
It is also important to understand that when we purchase a revenue ticket(s) or a ticket(s) under the 20% discount program, Unitedβs Travel Policy delineates:
we may not also list for space available travel in the same market on the same dates of travel.Β
Once a myUAdiscount ticket is purchased, you may not cancel the confirmed reservation to revert back to a space-available listing on the same day, same trip.Β
It is because of these requirements that result when purchasing a ticket that these two travel options diverge. It is not that Flight Attendants who purchase tickets are not equally eligible to be considered under the Commuter Program. It is because of the rules that prevent us from listing while holding a confirmed reservation that the Commuter Program must be set aside and the action of the Flight Attendant who has purchased a ticket must be viewed and considered under a different set of circumstances.
In an instance where a Flight Attendant has purchased a revenue ticket to travel to work, it is the responsibility of the supervisor to evaluate the actions of the Flight Attendant in question and to determine if the action taken was sufficiently prudent to allow the Flight Attendant to get to work in the event of an irregularity. For example, when was the flight for which the ticket was purchased scheduled to arrive? Was the flight scheduled to arrive at the base or co-terminal where the flight assignment was scheduled to depart? Was there an alternate back-up flight on which the Flight Attendant could travel in the event of an irregularity? If all of the actions taken by the Flight Attendant can reasonably be viewed as having been βprudentβ within the context of purchasing confirmed travel, a missed trip should not be assigned and there should be no attendance points assessed for any missed flight assignment.
Β βοΈπ« Revenue/Pos Space Flight Disruption
Β βοΈπ« Revenue/Pos Space Flight Disruption
If you receive a missed trip or late report as a result of having commuted (or attempted to commute) to work on a revenue or positive space ticket, consider the above and email your supervisor (also include your local AFA council on the email) the following:
Advise that you received a missed trip or late report and provide the details surrounding the event
Advise that you purchased a revenue ticket or utilized positive space
Detail how far in advance of check-in your commuter flight was scheduled to arrive
List backup flights you were planning to take and why those failed (perhaps you were "stuck" on the delayed flight and missed backup opportunities
Cc afaden@unitedafa.org in your email so your C9 AFA reps can assist by advocating on your behalf
π Surface Transportation
π Surface Transportation
The Commuter Program also covers Flight Attendants who commute via surface (automobile, train, bus, public transportation or other). When you are unable to report for a scheduled assignment due to any of the following unforeseen circumstances, you should immediately contact the Inflight Duty Office (Concierge) at your local domicile to begin positive notification of your delay and qualification for protection under the Commuter Program. (Always get the name of who you talk to!)
"Unforeseen circumstances" include:
Un-forecast severe weather conditions or other natural disasters (i.e., blizzards, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other similar events)
Hazardous or impassable roads resulting from severe weather, accidents, or natural disasters
Mechanical problems while on the way to work
Unexpected airport disruption(s) or closures
The contractual language provided in Section 28.B.4.a. states the following: Flight Attendants who commute by automobile, bus, train, or public surface transportation will be afforded the same privileges contained in this section for unforeseen events related to severe unforecasted weather conditions or natural disasters which render roads hazardous or impassable, or enroute mechanical problems, provided that they call their Inflight Duty Office as soon as the unforeseen event becomes known and it appears she/he will not make it to the airport or at her/his Domicile in time for her/his scheduled report (e.g., road accident, mechanical breakdown, severe weather). Flight Attendants are expected to exercise prudent judgement and planning regarding checking flight availability, forecast weather, traffic reports, and otherwise generally βplanning aheadβ to avoid commuting problems.Β
ππ« Surface Commute Disruption - Steps to Follow
ππ« Surface Commute Disruption - Steps to Follow
If you are unable to make it to the airport due to severe weather, mechanical trouble or traffic accidents you should contact the DEN Concierge Supervisor desk ASAP (303) 348 3052 and give as much notice as possible that you are unable to report to your assignment. (Always get the name of who you talk to!) If possible, continue to base unless you are released from obligation by a supervisor or crew scheduler.Β
Next, you should gather evidence that will help you demonstrate to your supervisor your inability to commute in. Examples include:
Traffic reports (city/state traffic websites)
Photos/videos of impassable roads/hazardous conditions/vehicle damage
Accident report
Towing service/mechanic receipts
Send what you have to your supervisor in an email and cc afaden@unitedafa.org so that we can advocate on your behalf.
π JCBA Section 28 Commuter Program
π JCBA Section 28 Commuter Program
Keywords: Commuting by air, Non-rev, CJA (Company Jumpseat Authority), Crew scheduling, Commuter flight disruption, Revenue ticket, Positive space travel, Surface transportation commute, Unforeseen circumstances, JCBA Section 28, Missed trip procedures, United Express, Flight attendant commute, Employee Res (Reservation System), Domicile report time, Travel policy, car.
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