Section 12 - Vacations

12.C.2.a.

The Company shall close the election and bid periods set forth above at 0800 Home local Domicile time. The election/bid period dates and times may be changed by mutual agreement between the Company and the Union.

12.C.3. RESERVE VACATION ADJUSTMENTS 

12.C.3.a.

After a Reserve receives their her/his schedule for a bid month that includes a vacation period, the Reserve shall have a period of five (5) days to adjust their her/his vacation or schedule to eliminate any short block(s) created by the vacation days. However, short blocks abutting the last day of the bid month do not need to be adjusted. To adjust a short block situation: 

12.C.3.a.

The Reserve may drop the availability days in the short block(s) and have their her/his guarantee reduced accordingly; or

12.C.3.a.(1).

The Reserve may move availability days in the short block(s) to other blocks within the month provided the move does not violate reserve line construction rules (e.g. minimum/ maximum number of days of availability), except that days may be moved to create a short block at the end of the bid month; or 

12.C.3.a.(2).

The Reserve may move their her/his vacation up to two (2) days in either direction, provided no new legality conflicts or short blocks are created. 

12.C.3.a.(3).

If the Reserve does not adjust their her/his line to eliminate the short block(s) of availability within the adjustment time period in this Paragraph, the Company may adjust their her/his schedule as set forth in Paragraphs 12.C.3.a.(2) and 12.C.3.a.(3). above. Paragraphs b and c above. 

12.C.4.

Days off preceding and following a scheduled vacation period (sacred days) as shown in a Flight Attendant’s schedule shall be considered as part of that vacation period, if they she/he so desires. 

12.C.5.

Upon completion of a scheduled vacation, a Flight Attendant will be required to report for duty in time to cover their her/his next scheduled trip pairing or reserve assignment following the vacation. 

12.C.6.

If a Flight Attendant works into the first day of a vacation period due to a delayed flight, the vacation day will be restored on the end of the vacation period. 

12.C.7.

A Flight Attendant will bid for vacation in the domicile they are projected to be active in as of the first day of the January bid period of the upcoming vacation year. A Flight Attendant who changes Bases after the vacation awards shall retain their her/his vacation period(s). In the case of a new Base opening, the Flight Attendant(s) transferring to the base may be required to re-bid for their her/his remaining vacation days. 

12.C.8.

Vacations encompassed by a leave of absence shall be treated in the following manner: 

12.C.8.a.

Leave the vacation period intact and pay the Flight Attendant for the vacation; or 

12.C.8.b.

Permit a trade of vacations in accordance with the trading provisions of this Section, thereby removing the original vacation from the period of leave.; or 

12.C.8.c.

A Flight Attendant who is scheduled for jury duty, or on medical or occupational leave, or hospitalized due to illness or injury may, not later than one calendar day before their her/his vacation begins, defer the vacation until later in the Scheduled Vacation Year. Upon return to work, they she/he will choose from available vacation periods. If no vacation period is open and the deferred vacation was a paid vacation, the Flight Attendant will be paid for the deferred vacation at their her/his pay rate in the last month of the Scheduled Vacation Year in which the vacation would have been taken. The payment shall be made not later than the February 1 paycheck of the following year. 

12.C.8.d.

If they elect she/he elects to carry over the deferred vacation days to the following Scheduled Vacation Year, they she/he will choose from available vacation periods after vacation periods for that year have been awarded. A Flight Attendant may only utilize this provision once per Scheduled Vacation Year. 

12.D. VACATION BUY BACK

12.D.1.

Prior to the annual vacation bid, the Company shall offer a vacation “buy back” option that allows Flight Attendants to take pay in lieu of accrued vacation available for use in the next Scheduled Vacation Year. Flight Attendants will have a period of at least fifteen (15) twenty (20) days to submit a vacation buy back request. 

12.D.2.

In order to be granted a vacation buy back, the Flight Attendant must opt to “sell” at least six (6) full days of accrued vacation. 

12.D.3.

Vacation pay for the “buy back” option shall be calculated by multiplying the number of days times the applicable vacation pay credit pursuant to Section 4.X.1., Paragraph B.1. above, plus an incentive payment, which shall be determined by the Company and announced prior to the annual vacation bid. 

12.D.4.

Flight Attendants who have “sold” vacation time to the Company in accordance with this paragraph shall receive their buy back payments in the first quarter of the Scheduled Vacation Year in which the vacation was to have been taken. Vacation buy back payments will be based the Flight Attendant’s hourly rate of pay as of January 1st of the year in which the payment is being made.

12.D.5.

In addition to the above procedure, the Company may offer vacation buy back on a month-to-month or Base-by-Base basis. Such vacation buy back shall be awarded in each Base where offered in seniority order among the Flight Attendants at the Base. The Company shall determine whether to offer an incentive payment for month-to-month or Base-by-Base vacation buy backs.

12.D.6.

Flight Attendants who utilize the annual vacation buy back program may not participate in the annual Flex program in the same Scheduled Vacation Year. 

12.D.7.

Vacation buy back shall not be utilized during a Flight Attendant furlough. 

12.E. OPTIONAL FLEX VACATION PROGRAM 

Prior to the annual vacation bid, a Flight Attendant may elect to take seven (7) additional days of Flex vacation. Flight Attendants taking Flex vacation will either take the additional seven (7) days as unpaid vacation or elect to have two hours and two minutes (2:02) one hour and fifty-four minutes (1:54) pay deducted from their earnings each month to pay for the Flex vacation week. Flight Attendants will have a period of at least (15) days twenty (20) days to submit a Flex vacation request. 

12.F. ANNUAL VACATION BID PROCESS 

12.F.1.

The Company will post the number of available vacation days for each day in the Scheduled Vacation Year. The number of vacation days available shall be determined by the Company, taking into account the projected operations and Flight Attendant availability (projected headcount, attrition, and absences, etc.). 

12.F.2.

The bidding for each Scheduled Vacation Year shall be conducted in two (2) rounds. Bids shall remain open for no fewer than eight (8) days in each round. All vacations shall be awarded in Vacation Bid Seniority order within each Base. 

12.F.3.

When bidding, a Flight Attendant shall preference the start date for each vacation period. A Flight Attendant shall also preference the number of days in each vacation period and whether they are she/he is willing to accept the vacation period with fewer days specified by number. A Flight Attendant has the option to “slide” the vacation up to three (3) days in either direction of the start and/or end date to help ensure they are awarded the maximum number of days utilizing their initial bids.

12.F.4.

A Flight Attendant may elect to split their her/his vacation into periods of not less than six (6) days each. A Flight Attendant may have a maximum of five (5) vacation periods. However, a Flight Attendant who has eleven (11) or fewer days of accrued vacation shall bid their her/his entire accrual in a single block. 

12.F.5.

A partial day of vacation accrual shall be rounded up to a full day for the purpose of vacation bidding, but paid as a partial day.

12.F.6.

During the first round of bidding, a Flight Attendant may not bid more than 50% of their her/his accrued vacation days, unless they have she/he has eleven (11) or fewer days of accrued vacation, as per Paragraph F-4. above. When a Flight Attendant has accrued an odd number of vacation days, the odd day may be added to the 50% maximum for the first round. 

12.F.7.

NOTE: Memorializes vacation bidding practices  

A Flight Attendant may bid for a vacation period overlapping two (2) bid months in accordance with Company policy. The minimum bid to cross from one month to the next is fourteen (14) full days. However, a Flight Attendant may not bid for a vacation overlapping two (2) Scheduled Vacation Years. 

12.F.7.a. 

To cross months using 14, 15, or 16 days, the following must be met: 

12.F.7.a.(1). 

Must have a minimum of four (4) full days in both months. 

12.F.7.b. 

To cross months using 17 or more days, the following must be met: 

12.F.7.b.(1). 

Must have a minimum of six (6) full days in both months.

12.F.8.

When a Flight Attendant does not submit a vacation bid in the first round of bidding, they she/he shall not be assigned a vacation and shall have all their her/his accrued vacation days to bid in the second round. 

12.F.9.

If a Flight Attendant does not submit a vacation bid in the second round of bidding, they she/he shall automatically be assigned a vacation, after the second round awards, in seniority order from December backwards through January. The largest block of days shall be assigned first. 

12.F.10.

When a Flight Attendant vacation bid is insufficient, they she/he shall automatically be assigned a vacation, after that round is awarded, in seniority order from December backwards through January. The assignment shall be based on the number of days in their her/his bid, and the largest block of days shall be assigned first. 

12.G. VACATION SLIDES

12.G.1.

If the movement of a vacation is into or within a blocked period (holiday times, etc.), it will be considered and granted if staffing permits. The Company shall publish the list of blocked days prior to the opening of the annual vacation bid process. 

12.G.2. LINEHOLDERS

12.G.2.a.

When a Flight Attendant’s vacation starts or ends between a scheduled outbound and return flight, the Flight Attendant may, at their her/his option, move the vacation period either forward or backward in order to fly the scheduled pairing.

12.G.2.b.

In addition, a Lineholder shall be given the opportunity to move their her/his vacation up to two (2) days in either direction, unless extraordinary circumstances exist, except that the movement of the vacation may not cause it to cross over from one bid month to another or from one Scheduled Vacation Year to another.

12.G.3. RESERVES

12.G.3.a.

A Reserve may move their her/his vacation up to two (2) days in either direction, provided no new legality conflicts or short blocks are created. 

12.G.3.b.

In addition, a Reserve Flight Attendant who is awarded a vacation that does not include any days of availability shall be permitted to move their her/his vacation a sufficient number of days forward or backward in order to encompass the nearest two (2) available reserve days. If this creates a short block, it must be adjusted in accordance with Paragraph C-3. above.

12.H. VACATION TRADES

12.H.1.

Vacation periods may be exchanged by a Flight Attendant with another Flight Attendant within the same Base. Their request must be submitted by the 15th of the month before the earliest of the calendar months involved in the trade. Trades may be advertised on, and transactions shall be performed through the CCS system (or future equivalent). (Current process) The Company shall create an electronic board for Flight Attendants to advertise for vacation trades. 

12.H.2.

Flight Attendants also may exchange a vacation period with an open vacation period within the same Base, in accordance with the following: 

12.H.2.a.

After completion of the vacation bidding process, the Company shall publish all remaining open vacation allocations. Flight Attendants shall have no fewer than six (6) days in which to submit requests to trade for open vacation periods. The Company shall award these trades on the basis of seniority at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of the Scheduled Vacation Year. 

12.H.2.b.

After the award of these initial trades, no more than one day later, instant and ongoing trading for open vacation periods shall begin. Requests for these vacation trades must be submitted thirty (30) days before the earliest of the calendar months involved in the trade, except that January vacation days may be traded as late as December 5th December 9. The Company shall award these trades in the order in which requests are received.

12.H.3.

Any vacation days awarded in the first and second rounds of vacation bidding that are later vacated (e.g. separation, retirement, death) throughout the Scheduled Vacation Year will be made available for trading.

12.H.4.

In the event that a Flight Attendant trades down to fewer vacation days with another Flight Attendant or with an open vacation period, the Flight Attendant shall be paid the value of the unused vacation days. 

12.I. VACATION FLY THROUGH 

12.I.1.

A Flight Attendant who chooses to fly during their her/his scheduled vacation period shall be paid for all trips flown during the vacation period in addition to vacation pay. Vacation fly through hours shall be included in line projections. Pay rates for all Fly Through options shall be in accordance with Section 4.X. and 12.B.3. above.

12.I.2. 

The Company may offer an incentive for Flight Attendants to fly through their vacations.

12.I.3.

A Flight Attendant must provide notice to the Company of their her/ his intent to fly through a vacation period no later than the 5th day of the calendar month at 1000 Home Domicile local time before the month in which the vacation is scheduled. 

12.I.4. OPERATIONAL FLY THROUGH 

A Flight Attendant also may elect vacation fly through after the award of monthly schedules, but may only pick up trip pairings within the vacation period from another Flight Attendant (unless otherwise permitted by the Company) or pick up White/Purple flag pairings. No other trading restrictions apply during the month. 

12.I.4.a. 

Notwithstanding the above, a Flight Attendant who elects operational fly through may also pick up open time trips in the bid months of June through August.  

12.J. DAY AT A TIME VACATION

12.J.1. 

Each Flight Attendant may take up to ten vacation days in each Scheduled Vacation Year separate from their her/his awarded vacation period(s), but only to the extent that the days have already been accrued for the following Scheduled Vacation Year. 

12.J.2.

Day at a time vacation days used shall be deducted from the Flight Attendant’s allotment for vacation in the following Scheduled Vacation Year. 

12.J.3.

After the award of relief lines and before the beginning of the month, day at a time vacation days, when available, shall be awarded in seniority order. 

12.J.3.a.

Throughout the month, day at a time vacation days shall be available only to the extent that regular personal drops are available and day at a time vacation days have equal priority. 

12.J.4.

Day at a time vacation shall be paid at the applicable rate pursuant to Paragraph B-1. and B-3. above. 

12.J.5.

If a Flight Attendant terminates employment after using day at a time days, but before the days were earned, any days owed will be deducted from the Flight Attendant’s final paycheck. 

12.J.5.

Day at a time vacation may not be made-up. Further, a Flight Attendant awarded day at a time vacation shall have their her/his minimum monthly guarantee and/or line guarantee reduced accordingly.

12.K. VACATION CANCELATIONS

12.K.1.

Vacations may be canceled by the Company if required by the needs of the service, provided that: 

12.K.1.a.

Any affected Flight Attendant shall be given at least thirty (30) days’ advance notice, unless they she/he agrees to shorter notice. 

12.K.1.b.

The Company first solicits volunteers in the Base who are willing to fly through or defer their vacations. 

12.K.2.

If there are not enough volunteers, then vacations in the Base shall be canceled in inverse seniority order. A Flight Attendant whose vacation is canceled may elect to fly through or defer their her/his vacation. 

12.K.3.

A Flight Attendant who flies through their her/his vacation either as a volunteer or due to a cancelation will be paid an incentive amount equal to 50% of the value of the vacation, in addition to the normal value of the vacation. 

12.K.4.

A Flight Attendant who elects to defer vacation either as a volunteer or due to a cancelation may chose a vacation, in seniority order, from time available or made available in the remainder of the Scheduled Vacation Year, and shall be paid in accordance with Paragraph K.3. above. If the Flight Attendant is unable to reschedule the deferred vacation within the remainder of the Scheduled Vacation Year, they she/he shall be paid in accordance with Paragraph K.3. above. 

12.K.5.

If a Flight Attendant’s vacation has been canceled by the Company and they have she/he has incurred non-refundable expenses (i.e. deposits, etc.), the Company shall reimburse the Flight Attendant for those expenses. 

12.L. VACATION PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION

12.L.1.

Flight Attendant who leaves the Company either voluntarily or involuntarily will receive full payment for all accrued vacation credit from the previous Vacation Accrual Year. 

12.L.2.

In addition, a Flight Attendant who has a full year or more of service with the Company at the time of leaving shall receive all vacation credit accrued in the current Vacation Accrual Year (“current year accruals”), except when the Flight Attendant gives less than ten (10) calendar days’ notice of intent to resign or is dismissed by the Company, unless payment is otherwise required by law. 

12.L.3.

In the event of a Flight Attendant’s retirement, permanent disability or death, current year accruals shall be paid.

12.L.4.

When current year accruals are to be paid:

12.L.4.a.

A Flight Attendant who leaves between the 1st and 15th of the calendar month, shall be paid for all accrued vacation credit up to the end of the previous month. 

12.L.4.b.

A Flight Attendant who leaves between the 16th and the end of the calendar month, shall be paid for all accrued vacation credit up to the end of the month in which she/he leaves. 

12.L.4.a.

A Flight Attendant shall be paid for all accrued vacation credit up to the end of the month in which they leave.

12.L.4.b. 

Flight Attendants who are furloughed in a reduction in forces shall be granted vacation pay for all accrued vacation credit up to the end of the month preceding their furlough.