Originally Posted by
mersk862
but all FAs get 3-6 A Days a month, where they are essentially on call to fly. Thus, a PMDL FA might have 3 4-day lines (where they know their schedule in advance and can pick it based on seniority) and a set of 3 A Days where they have to be available to fly but they might not.
Originally Posted by
mersk862
Essentially, if DL keeps A Days (which it sounds like they will), senior PMNW FAs will have to do some time sitting reserve, which because it can often lead to less hours and/or less desirable trips (being senior and normally working long hauls, but now having to do a 3-night tour of the Midwest in a MD-88 might not be appealing to them at all) might have caused some of the no-votes as it would be an impact on their quality of life.
Actually, not correct. The number of FAs on "A" Days ("A" stands for "Availability") varies from month to month, base to base. It depends on the amount of flying for the base that month, the number of FAs on sick or vacation leave, etc. Usually, the most senior and most of the middle seniority people never get A days. Can't remember the percentages, but I am tempted to say, IIRC, only the bottom third or less of a base gets A days.
Overall, the A days system is great for the junior folks because it allows them to actually get a "line". These junior folks at PMNW or AA or UA are pretty much on reserve for the first decade of their career, whereas a first-year hire at Delta can already hold a line (and plan their lives), while their 'reserve' requirements are limited to 3-6 days a month. It also doesn't hurt the senior mamas or the middle-of-the-pack either because they will never get A days. The only ones who may view it negatively are those sitting at the border (say at the 60-80th percentile) who may not have had reserve days at PMNW, but may be given A days for some months of the year...