Holiday Absence Certificate Requirement Explained

Pursuant to section 13.C.4. of our Contract, the company may provide adequate notice to AFA that an Absence Certificate will be required for the Christmas and/or Fourth of July holiday/s, defined in our Contract as including:

• December 20th to January 4th or

• July 1st to July 7th

Flight Attendants will be required to provide an Absence Certificate for sick leave calls and paid FMLA calls originating Dec 20 - Jan 4  AND July 1 - July 7(unless the Flight Attendant has had no absences in the prior twelve (12) calendar month period).

For Sick Leave Calls

When your sick leave originates during the designated holiday period, whether paid or unpaid, Flight Attendants are required to provide an Absence Certificate. (Any paid or unpaid absence will result in the Flight Attendant being ineligible to receive the holiday bonus credit).

For Federal Family Medical Leave (FMLA) Calls

In terms of Family Medical Leave usage, the following guidelines apply:

• Flight Attendants using FMLA for their own personal medical situation who request sick pay for the absence are required to provide the Absence Certificate if the absence originates during the holiday period. 

• Flight Attendants using FMLA for their own personal medical situation who do not receive paid sick time for the absence are not required to provide the Absence Certificate if the absence originates during the holiday period.

• Flight Attendants using FMLA to care for an eligible family member (always unpaid), are not required to provide an absence certificate if the absence originates during the holiday period.

Colorado FAMLI

Flight Attendants using Colorado FAMLI are not subject to the Holiday Absence Certificate requirement.

Calling ON/OFF - Points to Remember

Calling ON Sick Leave:

• For advanced notice calls your sick leave/FML originates on the first day of work missed, regardless of when you call to place yourself on sick leave or FMLA.

• For downline calls (when you're on a trip), your sick leave/FMLA originates on the day you are removed from your pairing.

• Once placed on sick leave/FMLA, you remain on sick leave/paid FMLA until you call off (call in well).

• Unpaid sick leave/FMLA does not "roll" and requires a separate call to FAST for each LH pairing or RSV day for which you are sick/FML.

• Your sick leave/FMLA duration includes ALL calendar days starting the first day of work missed through and including the day you call off sick leave/FMLA (scheduled days off, vacation days, PTO days are included)

• Per the Contract, any sick leave duration that lasts more than 12 calendar days requires an Absence Certificate to be completed by an accredited physician and submitted to UA Medical (we suggest via HelpHub so that you have proof of submittal and can track)

Calling OFF Sick Leave:

• Your last day of sick leave/FMLA is the calendar day when you physically call FAST to call OFF (call in "well).

• The "off sick" code on your master schedule may be different than the day you actually placed the call to return to work. Your master history will show the actual date and time of your call OFF.

Return to Top