APA News Digest

Jan. 3, 2025

Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them.

In This Edition ...

• Scheduling Committee: 2025-2026 Vacation Bidding Now Open
• National Communications Network: Concourse Conversations at BOS and LGA
• Compass Project Committee: Join Our Retirement Preparation Seminar on Jan. 15
• Family Awareness Committee: Special Fini Flight Event on Jan. 22
• Investor Relations Committee: Estimates of Big 3’s Pre-Tax Results
• Presidential Grievance Filed Regarding Holiday Pay
• Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: How Many JRS Listings Can I Make?
• Membership Committee: Gone West
• APA Medical Minute – Dietary Supplements
• National Election
• Domicile Elections
• Domicile Events
• Are You Willing to Serve?
• Week in Review
• Professional Standards FAQ
• If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles
• Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars

2025-2026 Vacation Bidding Now Open

This is a new message from the APA Scheduling Committee.

Round 1 of 2025-2026 vacation bidding is now open. To gauge what you can hold, we recommend reviewing previous years’ vacation awards and the Vacation Award Summary on the Scheduling Committee page on AlliedPilots.org. Also, keep in mind that a week will be assigned, so be sure to bid a good number of backups to avoid an unwanted vacation week award.

Vacation accrued in 2024 will be awarded for the vacation year April 2025 through March 2026 and be based on bid status held in January 2025.

Per CBA Section 9.C.1, vacation will be offered and awarded based on a structure of 52 separate seven-day periods commencing on Monday and ending on Sunday.

As always, please reach out to the Scheduling Committee with any questions by calling 817-302-2321 or emailing vacation@alliedpilots.org.

Concourse Conversations at BOS and LGA

This is a new message from APA’s National Communications Network.

BOS Chair CA Paul McFarland (center) and BOS Vice Chair CA Gemma Meehan at a previous round of Concourse Conversations

APA’s National Communications Network will host Concourse Conversations at LGA from 0430 to 1030 on Jan. 6 and at BOS from 0400 to 1100 on Jan. 7. If you will be at either of these airports in those timeframes, please stop by to chat. These events allow union leadership to hear directly from line pilots and vice versa.

At LGA, look for us at the bottom of the escalators near the big apple. At BOS, we’ll be outside KCM and by the food court.

Join Our Retirement Preparation Seminar on Jan. 15

This is a new message from the APA Compass Project Committee.

APA, in collaboration with AA, will host a YOUnion 401 Retirement Preparation Seminar via Zoom at 1100 Central on Jan. 15. This seminar is intended to help you understand the AA and APA benefits and programs that will be available to you as a retiree. All pilots who are at least 50 years old should attend. Plan on a 90-minute session due to the amount of content to cover.

• Who: Pilots who are at least 50 years old
• What: A seminar about your benefits as a retiree
• When: 1100 Central on Jan. 15
• Where: Zoom

Click here to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the seminar.

Send your feedback to YOUnion@alliedpilots.org.

Special Fini Flight Event on Jan. 22

This is an updated message from the APA Family Awareness Committee.

CA Chris Booher was honored at DFW on Nov. 19, when FO Ryan Booher joined his dad on the flight deck.

Fini Flight is an APA program designed to honor our retiring members. If a pilot chooses to participate, we meet them at the gate after (or sometimes before) their final flight as an American Airlines pilot. We include friends and family, play some music, bring a cake, and make their last flight memorable!

You can see more photos from November celebrations on our Facebook page.

On Jan. 22, APA and the DFW Chief Pilots will host a special Fini Flight celebration for pilots who retired while on long-term disability (LTD), pilots who know they will be on LTD when they reach age 65, or pilots who retired during the pandemic. For more information, click here.

Estimates of Big 3’s Pre-Tax Results

This is a new message from the APA Investor Relations Committee.

The following estimates were supplied by Wolfe Research.

Fourth Quarter 2024

Full Year 2024

Presidential Grievance Filed Regarding Holiday Pay

APA President FO Nick Silva recently filed Presidential Grievance 21-140, which protests American’s violation of Sections 15.I.7 and 15.I.7.c.(4) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement by failing to properly compensate Instructor Pilots for Holiday Pay.

Section 15.I.7 lists several holidays that are designated as permanent premium days, and Section 15.I.7.c.(4) states that Check Pilot and Instructor Pilot duty that touches a listed holiday will be paid at the Holiday Pay rate. Management is not properly compensating Instructor Pilots at Holiday Pay rates for certain events touching a listed holiday.

The grievance seeks the following relief:

• An order directing American to immediately cease and desist violating Section 15.I.7.c.(4).
• An order directing American to immediately comply and maintain compliance with Section 15.I.7.c.(4) and all related sections and past practices.
• An order directing American to make all affected pilots whole plus interest.
• Any other appropriate relief.

The next step is to schedule the appeal hearing before the Vice President of Flight. We expect to schedule that hearing as soon as possible. 

If you are an Instructor Pilot and believe you have been affected by American’s violation of Section 15.I.7, please complete an Grievance Form to be included in this presidential grievance.

How Many JRS Listings Can I Make?

This is a repeated message from the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee.

We have received several questions about the number of allowed Jumpseat Reservation System (JRS) listings between a city pair each calendar day.

JRS Listings:

1. Each pilot may make one listing per calendar day, per city pair (including co-terminals) when they hold the #1 position on the JRS list. The JRS list is accessed by selecting “Priority List” in JetNet Travel Planner “tools” for any AA Mainline flight.
2. Each pilot who holds a #2 or lower position on the original listing between city pair (including co-terminals) may make an additional listing for a different flight.
3. The maximum number of JRS listings between a city pair (including co-terminals) on a given calendar day is two.
4. A pilot may check in for only one PNR at a time.

In short, if a pilot is listed for more than two JRS listings or more than one JRS #1 position listings between a city pair on a given calendar day, that pilot needs to choose which reservation(s) to cancel. These reservations are not monitored by AA systems, and self-policing is done by pilots. Pilots are responsible to maintain their listings, and failure to do so may harm another pilot's ability to manage their jumpseat travel.

Please fill out a Jumpseat/Deadhead/Non-Rev Debrief if you have questions about this policy or any other jumpseat, deadhead, or non-rev topics.

Gone West

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

We extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of these pilots, whose deaths we learned of in December: Larry Brunello, 81, on July 13; Ron Reinmiller, 89, on July 16; Cole Proctor, 85, on Sept. 23; Austin Jones, 72, on Oct. 22; Rod McDonald, 75, on Oct. 24; Steve Bradley, 68, on Nov. 24; Jeff Steinberg, 74, on Nov. 24; John Van Kleeff, 82, on Nov. 24; Tracy Hanson, 62, on Nov. 30; John Williams, 75, on Dec. 9; and Kurt Humm, 66, on Dec. 11.

APA Medical Minute – Dietary Supplements

In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute, APA Medical Advisor Christopher Ryan discusses the use of dietary supplements.

You can watch previous Medical Minute videos on APA’s YouTube channel.

National Election

Members in good standing will elect a President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer to serve from July 1, 2025, until June 30, 2028.

Pilots can submit themselves or others for nomination between 0001 Central on Jan. 8 and 0001 Central on Jan. 30.

For more information, see the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org.

Domicile Elections

BOS, LAX, and ORD pilots will elect a Chair and Vice Chair to represent each domicile from May 1, 2025, until April 30, 2028.

Pilots could submit themselves or others for nomination until 0001 Central on Dec. 30. Pilots whose names were submitted have until 0001 Central on Jan. 6 to complete the Willingness to Serve and Conflict of Interest Disclosure forms. The results of that process will be certified at 1000 Central on Jan. 6.

For more information, see the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org.

Domicile Events

Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for these upcoming domicile events:

• DFW: Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo on Jan. 28
• LAX: Thousand Oaks Lunch on Jan. 8; Dana Point Lunch on Jan. 9; San Diego Lunch on Jan. 14; Temecula Lunch on Jan. 15

Are You Willing to Serve?

Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies:

• Aeromedical Committee (0)
  • Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee (1)
  • Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3)
  • Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1)
  • Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2)
  • Project Wingman Subcommittee (2)
• Captain’s Authority Committee (2)
• Communications Committee (0)
  • National Communications Network (2)
• Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1)
• Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1)
• Information Technology Steering Committee (1)
• Professional Standards Committee (1)
• Retirement and Benefits Committee (1)*
• Training Committee (1)
  • Checkmate (1 on 777)

* Seeking volunteer with financial services experience and possible AIF®, CFP®, or related designations.

If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal.

Week in Review

Here are some recent messages you may have missed.

• President: Thank You for All That You Do
• Communications Committee: New Orleans Attack: All Crewmembers Safe
• Communications Committee: Our Deepest Condolences
• Contract Compliance Committee: Holiday Pay Reminder
• Government Affairs Committee: FAA Postpones Policy Change on Medical Certificates
• Government Affairs Committee: The APA Political Action Committee: An Essential Tool
• IT Steering Committee: System Maintenance on All Services
• Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: FDJ AA Not Appended to a Listing on the Priority List

Professional Standards FAQs

What records are kept for Professional Standards?
None. There are no individual case files kept, nor are there any records in an employee’s Permanent Employment History (PEH). Only non-specific, de-identified logs are kept to maintain generic trends and reliability of the program.

To read all of the FAQs, click here.

Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181

If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles

Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee.

Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars

The Future & Active Pilot Alliance’s next Pilot Job Fair and Future Pilot Seminar are scheduled for Jan. 17 at MCO followed by Feb. 21 at DFW. Click here for more information.

Industry News

For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org.