"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is GONE

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is gone

By Chris Johnson on September 20, 2011

The anti-gay law that for 18 years has prevented openly gay people from serving in the U.S. military is today finally lifted from the books and cast in the dustbin of history.

Under the law, which came to be known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” an estimated 14,346 service members were discharged from the armed forces because of their sexual orientation. The gay ban was officially removed from the books at 12:01 am.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has been lifted thanks to repeal legislation President Obama signed in December. But before repeal could take effect, the law required Obama and Pentagon leaders send certification to Congress.

On July 22, Obama, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen certified the U.S. military was ready for repeal, starting the 60-day period leading to today when the ban has finally come to an end.

The Washington Blade obtained statements that reflect on the end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” from Obama, LGBT advocates and lawmakers who were involved in the repeal process:

PRESIDENT OBAMA
“Today, the discriminatory law known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is finally and formally repealed. As of today, patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love. As of today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members. And today, as Commander in Chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know that your country deeply values your service.”

“I was proud to sign the Repeal Act into law last December because I knew that it would enhance our national security, increase our military readiness, and bring us closer to the principles of equality and fairness that define us as Americans. Today’s achievement is a tribute to all the patriots who fought and marched for change; to Members of Congress, from both parties, who voted for repeal; to our civilian and military leaders who ensured a smooth transition; and to the professionalism of our men and women in uniform who showed that they were ready to move forward together, as one team, to meet the missions we ask of them.”

“For more than two centuries, we have worked to extend America’s promise to all our citizens. Our armed forces have been both a mirror and a catalyst of that progress, and our troops, including gays and lesbians, have given their lives to defend the freedoms and liberties that we cherish as Americans. Today, every American can be proud that we have taken another great step toward keeping our military the finest in the world and toward fulfilling our nation’s founding ideals.”

LGBT ADVOCATES

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign:
“[Today] is a historic day for gay and lesbian service members and our nation as a whole. ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was a stain on our nation — not only did it damage our military readiness and national security, but it sent a message that discrimination based upon sexual orientation was acceptable. We know that not to be the case — discrimination accomplishes nothing and tears at the fabric of our country’s strength.”

“Beginning [today], gay and lesbian service members previously discharged under ['Don't Ask, Don't Tell'] will have the opportunity to re-enlist. Gay and lesbian Americans eager to serve the country but not willing to compromise who they are as individuals will, for the first time ever, be able to openly join. And brave men and women currently serving will have the freedom to come out and be honest with their comrades about who they are and who they love.”

“Despite this progress, much work remains to ensure full equality in the military. The so-called Defense of Marriage Act will prohibit gay and lesbian service members and their spouses from receiving many of the benefits their straight counterparts receive. Limiting regulations also impact areas like military family housing, access to legal services, and spousal relocation support. We also are continuing to deal with an infrastructure ill-prepared to handle incidents of discrimination and harassment against gay and lesbian service members. It is incumbent upon fair-minded legislators to continue pushing equality forward by standing up to discriminatory legislative tactics, pushing for repeal of DOMA, examining barriers to service for qualified and dedicated transgender Americans, and ensuring gay and lesbian military families get the same access to benefits as everyone else.”

“This was a hard-fought victory, and supporters of equality should feel proud. But we cannot lose sight of the challenges that remain — from passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to bar employment discrimination in every workplace, to bringing an end to DOMA through the Respect for Marriage Act, and to combatting anti-gay activities and rhetoric from political leaders and hate groups. This is indeed a historic moment, but we remain focused on the work ahead.”

Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network:
“Today marks the official end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and is an historic milestone along the journey to achieving full LGBT equality in America’s military. Thanks to you — the veterans, active duty, leaders, allies and supporters who have fought so long and hard — this is a monumental day for our service members and our nation. Indeed, we have taken a tremendous leap forward for LGBT equality in the military.

“Our work is far from done, but today we pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of our patriots as we look forward to a new era of military service — one that honors the contributions of all qualified Americans who have served and wish to serve.”

Alex Nicholson, executive director of Servicemembers United:
“On March 15, 1778 the first American servicemember was drummed out of the military for being gay. Since then, tens of thousands more have had their careers ruined and their lives turned upside down by a succession of anti-gay polices and regulations, culminating in the codification of an anti-gay statute in 1993 with the passage of the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law. In all, 14,346 men and women were discharged pursuant ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.’ But thanks to the persistent hard work of unwavering advocates, especially those who have been directly impacted by this issue, and some courageous politicians over the past six years, ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is now history. As a result, those who continue to serve can sleep easier tonight knowing that they can no longer be arbitrarily fired because of their sexual orientation. Justice has prevailed and ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is dead. God bless America.”

Robin McGehee, director of GetEQUAL, which is organizing a “Day of Discontent” of rallies pushing for further LGBT rights in more than a dozen cities on the day “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is lifted:
“It has taken 17 years of hard work to remove this discriminatory policy, and still our community faces discrimination and intolerance on a daily basis that this one important victory won’t fix. [Today's] collaborative effort by LGBT organizers across this nation will show lawmakers that we will not be content until we have full federal equality in all matters governed by civil law. We cannot and will not accept anything less — for ourselves, our families and our communities.”

Josh Seefried, an active duty Air Force officer and co-director of OutServe, an organization of actively serving LGBT military personnel (under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Seefried went by J.D. Smith to avoid being outed under the law):
“I feel privileged and honored to serve during this time in our nation’s history. This change in policy has not only made our military stronger, but America stronger. I’m proud to serve in the United States Air Force and proud of the fact gay service members can now do their job with their integrity intact.”

Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force:
“Today marks the end of an ugly era in American history. After nearly two decades, lesbian, gay and bisexual service members will finally be able to serve their country openly and honestly. Those who fight for freedom will now themselves be able to live more freely. We celebrate this historic moment, which could not come fast enough. Thousands of exemplary and courageous service members have lost their careers and livelihoods to this unjust policy, once again proving there are very personal and costly consequences of discrimination.

“While we observe this tremendous, hard-fought victory for lesbian, gay and bisexual service members, we recognize the journey is not over. Transgender service members are still being forced to serve in silence. This is unacceptable. All qualified, patriotic Americans willing to risk their lives for this country should be able to do so free from discrimination. In addition, the military still lacks explicit nondiscrimination protections, equal benefits and an inclusive equal opportunity policy for LGBT people. We will continue to work toward the day when full inclusion is a reality in the military.”

U.S. LAWMAKERS

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
“With the long-overdue end of the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, our nation will finally close the door on a fundamental unfairness for gays and lesbians, and indeed affirm equality for all Americans. When the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate took action last year to end this wrongheaded policy, we reaffirmed the core American principle that anyone who wishes to serve, secure, and defend this country must be judged by their abilities and honored for their dedication and sacrifice.”

“For those gays and lesbians discharged unfairly, including those who seek re-accession, we must correct their paperwork so that it properly reflects their service. We must continue efforts to repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, but in the meantime, I urge the Obama Administration to investigate opportunities to extend the same support and benefits to all our troops and their families. We cannot allow there to be two classes of service members in our military — those who receive benefits for their families and those who do not.

“This landmark progress comes after the President, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of Defense have all certified that repeal will not hurt military readiness or unit cohesion.”
“America is the land of the free and the home of the brave because of our men and women in uniform. And [today], we honor their service by recommitting to the values that they fight for on the battlefield.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)
“Today marks the end of a shameful and counterproductive policy that needlessly destroyed careers and harmed our military readiness. Thousands of qualified men and women who want to serve our country will now be able to do so without fearing their careers could end due to their sexual orientation. Our armed forces will be stronger because now our military commanders and our nation can be sure we will have the best and brightest service members on the job, regardless of ethnicity, creed or sexual orientation.”

Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Carl Levin (D-Mich.):
“Beginning Tuesday, thousands of brave American service members will be able to serve the country they love without concealing part of their identity. They will no longer have to lie in order to help protect us. The end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is an important victory not just for equality, but integrity. And this victory will come without harming our military’s readiness or effectiveness. I applaud the military and civilian leaders throughout the Department of Defense who have helped us to adopt this historic change.”

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), original co-sponsor of the Senate repeal legislation:
“Today represents an historic change for our military and our country. Today, for the first time in our history, we welcome the service of any qualified individual who is willing and capable of serving our country. Today, we will no longer dismiss brave, dedicated, and skilled service men and women simply because they are gay. The repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is a victory for our national security, and our values, and it strengthens the ranks of our military.”

Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.)
“Today is a great day for our national security. Repealing ['Don't Ask, Don't Tell'] will strengthen our military by allowing it to attract our nation’s best talent, regardless of whom they love. The service members who will come out today are the same soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines they were yesterday — the only thing that has changed is that they can now be honest and open about who they are.”

“Countless young men and women in uniform — gay and straight — have told me that in combat, sexual orientation, race, religion and gender simply don’t matter.  Our military leaders were given the time and flexibility to study and implement repeal — they say they’re ready, our troops are ready, and I’m incredibly proud that we’re finally closing the book on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and putting it where it belongs — the dustbin of history.”

Washington Blade

Change for Good®

Change for Good is an innovative partnership between UNICEF and the international airline industry. Established in 1987, it is one of UNICEF's best-known and longest-running partnerships. Currently nine international airlines support the Change for Good program. Thanks to the generous support of customers and participating airlines, the global Change for Good program has generated over $103 million that UNICEF has used to provide a healthier, happier future for millions of children.

In the United States, American Airlines has been the participating airline of the program since 1994. Travelers on select international American Airlines flights can donate unused U.S. and foreign currencies to flight attendants onboard the aircraft to help UNICEF in its mission to reduce the number of preventable childhood deaths from 22,000 per day to zero, or make donations in Admirals Clubs and Flagship Lounges worldwide.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED 

 

Send us your unused foreign currency today

 

If you are unable to donate your foreign currency on an American Airlines flight or at an Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge, you can still support Change for Good by sending your gift to the following address:
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
ATTN: Change for Good Program
125 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
As donations of foreign coins are processed in bulk by a third party vendor, please note that the acknowledgment you receive for your donation will not specify the amount of your gift.

Volunteer as a "Champion for Children": Special opportunity for American Airlines employees

 

American Airlines and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF are working together to save children's lives by creating an opportunity for employees of American Airlines to get involved in UNICEF's Change for Good program. "Champions for Children" is a volunteer program designed to empower flight attendants, Admirals Club staff, and other American Airlines employees to take action for children as they perform everyday work duties.

Change for Good on American Airlines is proudly supported by Airline Ambassadors International, the humanitarian organization that leads the effort to recruit the flight attendant volunteers called "Champions for Children" who encourage customers to get involved.  The program is also supported by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA). Change for Good on American Airlines could not exist without the incredible volunteer support of Champions for Children. 

Registered Champions for Children can click here to access a special website created exclusively for Champions for Children. (Please note that the Champions for Children program is only open to American Airlines employees.) To learn more or to become a Champion for Children visit "Employee Programs" on Jetnet, American Airlines' corporate intranet.

RECENT CHANGE FOR GOOD NEWS

 

Record-breaking fundraising results announced for UNICEF’s Change for Good Program on American Airlines in 2010

 

Last year, American Airlines customers and employee volunteers “Champions for Children” raised a record-breaking $1.6+ million dollars through Change for Good on American Airlines.  Pound by pound, peso by peso, these collections were raised to support UNICEF’s:  relief, rebuilding and recovery programs for children and families affected by the 2010 Haiti earthquake; programs to support children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Latin America; and general programs to support children worldwide. 
Learn more about the program’s outstanding success—read the blog post and press release. 
On behalf of all of the children who will benefit as a result of AA customers’ and Champions for Children’s outstanding support, “Thanks a million+!”

Change for Good on American Airlines "Trick-or-Treated for UNICEF" in 2010

 

American Airlines’ customers and employees made a difference in the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children this past Halloween by participating in the 60th anniversary of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.  This iconic program is the U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s longest-running volunteer movement and has engaged generations of grassroots supporters of UNICEF’s mission to reduce the number of preventable childhood deaths to zero.  Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF remains an inspiration to the young (and the young at heart) to further the cause of children everywhere.
For the second year in a row, American Airlines employees and customers had the opportunity to support Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF through Change for Good on American Airlines through a variety of ways between October 25 and October 31:

• Volunteer flight attendants known as "Champions for Children" collected donations of foreign and domestic currency from American Airlines customers on select international flights and showed a brand new Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF video on-board flights.
• American Airlines Admirals Club members participated by donating spare domestic and foreign currency in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF-themed donation collection boxes located in Admirals Clubs and Flagship Lounges nationwide.
• As part of American Airlines’ "Season of Giving" campaign, employees had the opportunity to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF through Change for Good by participating in a variety of workplace fundraising activities.

Earthquake in Haiti

 

Following the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010, Champions for Children immediately rallied and expressed their strong desire to help.  In response, all donations collected during the months of January and February of 2010 were directed to support UNICEF’s emergency long-term rebuilding programs for children in Haiti.

In March 2010, U.S. Fund for UNICEF President and CEO, Caryl Stern, traveled to Haiti where she witnessed first-hand UNICEF's response on the ground and the work UNICEF is doing to help rebuild the struggling nation.  While there, she filmed a special message to thank American Airlines and all of the Champions for Children and generous AA customers who showed their care and compassion for children in Haiti through their participation in UNICEF's Change for Good program on American Airlines.

Click here to read the one-year report prepared by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to show how January and February 2010 Change for Good on American Airlines collections and other donations are helping to ensure that all of Haiti’s children can enjoy their right to survival, health, educations and protection.

What happens when there is Civil Unrest at your layover?

When any kind of threat exists at airline locations and the possibility that this threat will interfere with the airline's ability to provide secure, on time, and comfortable transportation services it is necessary and appropriate to conduct security analysis based on the following: Obtain information on aggressive activity of extremist groups against national or US targets. Ascertain the nature of political relation between the United States and the country of concern. Verify the capability of local Law Enforcement and Airport Authorities Evaluate the capability of contract security companies, crew hotel security and local transportation security Communicate with Corporate Security Departments of other U.S. Carriers as to their knowledge or information regarding the country of concern  Keeping informed of what is happening could save you and your crew-members from a potential threat. Keep in mind, it may be a while before your airline will get a hold of you. Always be sure when signing in to your hotel, your name is clearly readable for the hotel staff in case your airline needs to contact you about security issues. (this could also help in case your outbound flight is delayed)

Travel Safety

As we come to the 10th Anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11/01, Air Travel Safety and Security are the primary concerns of the majority of air travelers. I've compiled these tips to help keep you, as well as those with you, informed of your surroundings.

Personal Safety  ·   Don't be a victim. Be alert, be confident, be prepared by knowing a route to safety.  ·   Avoid wearing conspicuous jewelry. Wear appropriate clothes to locale.  ·  Use your head. Keep to well lit areas and avoid walking near questionable characters alone.  ·  Don't be afraid to create a scene - Yell "FIRE" or "NO", then get away.  ·  Leave valuables at home or hotel safety deposit box. Keep documents safe. Don't be careless - make copies of pertinent papers; i.e., passport, visas, driver's license, company ID, credit cards.  ·  Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry. Transportation  ·   Tag all luggage. Use your name and business address, but do not use your business card.  ·   Keep your luggage locked and never leave it unattended.  ·  Drive to the nearest open business for help, or drive to a police or fire station if being followed.  ·  Avoid using public transportation, such as the subway or bus. If you must use this type of transportation, select a busy, well-lit stop. Travel with a companion, if possible.  ·  If driving, travel in well-lit streets, avoid back roads.  ·  Keep doors locked at all times.  ·  Do not park your car on the street overnight; use a parking garage or lot. Lock your car and remove the keys. Leave nothing in the car.  ·  Have your keys ready to unlock the car door and enter without delay. Hotel Safety  ·   Don't open your door to strangers. If someone claims to be an employee, call the front desk to verify their identity and their purpose for entering your room.  ·   Don't invite strangers to your room.  ·  Keep valuables in the hotel safe deposit box.  ·  Be observant and look around when entering and exiting parking lots. If you're returning to your room late in the evening, use the hotel's main entrance.  ·  Close all doors and windows securely. Use all locking devices provided. Always keep the door closed and locked when you're in the room.  ·  Keep your room keys well protected and out of sight in public areas.  ·  If you lose or misplace your key, notify the front desk immediately.  ·  Don't leave luggage or any other valuables in your vehicle. They're safer in your room.  ·  Immediately report any suspicious activity, of any kind, to the management.  ·  Locate all the fire exits, elevators and public phones.  ·  Leave the television or radio on when you leave the room.  ·  Do not place the "require maid service" sign on your door. It may signal that you are out of the room.  ·  Avoid riding alone in elevators with strangers. Ask the hotel desk for an escort or ride when there are more people on the elevator. Bike, Walk, or Jog  ·   Always bring along enough money and change for a taxi fare or telephone call.  ·   Stay alert to surroundings and be watchful of possible surveillance.  ·  Have a trusted companion join you in these activities whenever possible.  ·  Choose a route in advance that is safe and well-traveled.  ·  Continually plan and look for "safe havens" while in route.  ·  Avoid these activities at night.

We know what happens to passengers during bad weather, what about flight crews?

We all know what happens to regular passengers when bad weather happens at busy airports and flights can't come or go....they get stranded. But what about the crew members....what happens to them? Do they get paid if their trip doesn't fly as scheduled? Do they get hotel rooms?

Each airline and their respective unions have their own rules regarding what happens when a flight cancels due to bad weather such as snow cancellations, hurricanes, or severe weather. Just this past week, we had Hurricane Irene make it's way through the east coast of the United States, wreaking havoc in majority of states from North Carolina all the way to Canada.

With these severe situations, we have to think about what goes on with not only the people on the ground, but the people in the air. I often laugh at people who complain about snow delays. Mostly because I ask them how did they get to the airport, did they go fast or slow....majority of the times, they say that they left earlier than they would have and drove slow, watching people slide into the median or elsewhere, so I ask them how do they expect aviation to go faster when it's snowing...same thing applies, the airport has to clear the snow, the airlines have to de-ice the planes and because of the antiquated Air Traffic Control, planes have to be separated a bit more so they don't run on top of each other in case there is a mishap.

So what about when a Hurricane happens? This past week we had Irene come through. Sure, it's upsetting when your travel plans are disrupted due to delays and/or cancellations. You can't fly to your destination to board your cruise ship, or even get the chance to get there due to everything closing.

This year, we saw something that hasn't happened ever. New York city closed down in preparation of Hurricane Irene. Sure, we were coming up to the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, but we never saw the 'City that never Sleeps', sleep. Mayor Bloomberg chose to shut-down all ground transportation by noon on Saturday. This was the Metro Transit Authority, the PATH trains, and all air traffic into the 3 major NYC airports...LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark.

Thousands of flights were canceled and Amtrak adjusted its service to avoid the area. Airports all along the East Coast closed as the hurricane passed into each area, with thousands of national and international flights affected.

Most carriers canceled flights in advance of Irene so equipment would not be stranded, and planned post-hurricane schedules to recover as quickly as possible. Carriers like United, which uses Chicago as a hub, announced a travel waiver to let customers make changes to ticketed itineraries without incurring fees.

Airlines declined to say how many passengers were affected by the hurricane, but the numbers likely reached into the millions because so many flights, both domestic and international, make connections through major East Coast hub airports. Even passengers not flying anywhere near the East coast could be delayed for days as airlines work to get planes and crews back into position.

So what about the crew-members? As I said earlier, many have rules regarding Irregular Operations. Some crews get paid, while others do not. Some have to put themselves on a 'Make-Up' status in order to make up the lost time, while others just pay their crews even though they don't have to make-up the flying.

Here is a time-line of one Union who did an awesome job of keeping it's members informed of the path of Irene, and possible delays, cancellations, and what their members need to do in order to be paid.

Well folks, for those of us living in the NorthEast, it looks like we might have our first Hurricane since the early 1900's.
HURRICANE UPDATE

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday:

• Strength: Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of 120 mph.

• Path: Irene is moving northwest at 12 mph.

• N.J. Impact: The center of the hurricane is expected to move slightly east of New Jersey around 2 p.m. Sunday.

WX Call 1447hrs EST

***THESE PLANS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE***

This call was strictly about the operations in PHL/JFK/BDL/LGA/EWR

***NYC will be shutting down all public transportation effective 1200 ET/27AUG.***

***A mandatory evacuations has been ordered for low levels of Manhattan.***

BDL/PHL-Will have no terminating aircraft tomorrow night, no operations on Sunday, planning on resuming with arrival flights on Monday.

EWR/LGA/JFK-Will cancel all flights arriving/departing after 1200ET 27AUG, as well as all flights on Sunday, and planning to start operating with arrivals flights on Monday. JFK’s last flight will cancel after 1000ET/27AUG.

There are concerns with crews, airport employees and TSA arriving to work via public transportation as well as our commuters.

Crew schedule is monitoring this very closely.

1416hrs EST

“The city's transit system will be coming to a halt Saturday as the city prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Irene.

Governor Andrew Cuomo says the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will institute a system-wide shut down when trains and buses begin their final runs around 12 p.m. Saturday.

It includes all subway lines, buses, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and Access-A-Ride services” 

HURRICANE IRENE RECAP

WX Call 1954hrs

Information is subject to change depending on Hurricane Irene's path

LGA – last departure will be at 09:50 on the 27^th.  First departure will be at 09:50 on the 28^th

JFK – last departure will be at 09:55 on the 27^th.  First departure will be at 09:00 on the 29th.

EWR Information

Courtesy of NY & NY Port Authority Website

concessions; Termianl A Tony Roma's and Terminal B Subway Sandwiches will be open 24hrs with 3 days food supply.

NJ Transit; will suspend train at 12 noon tomorrow. Bus service will be suspended at 6 pm.

PATH; service will be suspended at 12 noon Saturday.

Amtrak; last train schedule into rail link into NY at 1822hrs.

Airtrain to Rail link will be suspended after 1900hrs. All airtrain service will be suspended at 2300hrs.

Sometimes the airlines schedulers will try to violate the contract they have in order to maintain some sort of service...or make sure they have enough flight attendants on hand.

Last 5 Days of the Month Pay Protection

It has been brought to my attention that Scheduling is calling F/A's who are in lat 5 days of the month with cxl's and telling them they must call them back. This is not true. ARTICLE 9.P is different than ARTICLE 9.P. 6 last 5 days of the month.
Article 9.p.6 states you must put yourself on the makeup list and accept any flying that is offered. DO NOT FALL INTO CREW SCHEDS TRAP. You only need to call crew sched during a missconnect, cancellation, or illegality during the first 25 days of the month.

9am SoC Operations call regarding tri-state operations

All,

Here is a recap of this mornings SOC conference call:

HURRICANE IRENE:

CLT/RDU/RIC/BWI/IAD/DCA are all open and operating arrivals and departures.      

ORF airport only has partial electricity, some minor flooding, plans are currently to operate F682 DFW-RIC.

JFK/LGA/EWR/BOS/BDL/PHL are all closed. SOC is awaiting information to see what will be decided with public ground transportation to determine when they can successfully start operations.   

PHL airport has reported good conditions.

JFK has reported no structural damage and LGA has reported just a few manageable leaks as of 0900CT. 

JFK has several long haul arrival flights that will be decided later to determine if they will operate or possibly land in Chicago.

NY Area Airports Up and Running.....limited public transportation

Irene has finally left the area, and the NYC airports have announced plans to open in the morning:  LGA at 0700, JFK and EWR at 0600.  The LGA MOD office will open at 0600.
The M60 and Q33 buses to LGA began operations late this afternoon.  While many other modes of transportation are still suspended, please allow extra time for travel to the airport.  

 So you can see that even though passengers are stranded, so are the crew-members. It takes a lot to maintain the other side of the coin as well.
 

You have regular line flight attendants, then those flight attendants on Reserve (FAs who are sitting waiting for other FAs who call in sick or irregular operations such as bad weather) There are crews who are stuck at hotels, airports, and cities they weren't scheduled to land in. 

Now that the Hurricane has passed, the airline has to make sure they get their employee's back to where they need to be, as well as get their passengers where they've been wanting to go since the disruptions.

 

Traveling as a Non-Rev (non-revenue) passenger

One of the benefits of working for an airline is you receive certain amount of travel benefits. Majority of non-airline people think airline employee's travel for free, when in fact, majority do not.

At the airline that I work for, you, as an employee, are allowed unlimited travel. However it does come with certain restrictions. There are certain criteria you have to meet, as well as departure taxes you may have to pay to the airline...depending on how long you have flown with the company.

For us, employee's who have 25 years or more of actual company seniority, will fly service charge waived in the coach cabin system-wide. If the employee has five (5) years or more, but less than 25 years of actual company seniority, they will fly service charged waived in the coach cabin on domestic flights only. Otherwise, you will pay service charges for personal trave.

Now we have several designations as an employee when travel as a non-rev. Your travel privileges vary based on the Company you work for, your current company seniority, workgroup, and your employment status. You, your spouse or Company-recognized Domestic Partner (DP), and your dependent children are eligible for unlimited D2 classification service charge passes. Additionally, you have an annual travel pass bank of 24 one-way service charge passes to be used by your parents, other family members or friends (if eligible for D3 travel) in any combination you like. (this is when you get friends you never knew you had)

Most airlines have negotiated reciprocal reduced rate agreements with Other Airlines (OAL). These agreements are intended to extend travel opportunities to parts of the world not served by your specific airline and, like travel within your company, are provided to employees and retirees as a privilege, not a right.

Generally these agreements offer flat rate service charges based on the nonstop mileage of each ticketed segment. These are referred to as Zonal Employee Discount (ZED) fares and are available for unlimited travel by the employee/retiree, spouse/Company-recognized Domestic Partner(DP), and dependent children under 23. In some cases, travel is also extended to the employee's or retiree's parents, Registered Companion(RC), but on a limited basis.

Some of Airline agreements provide Industry Discount (ID) rates, usually 75% (ID75) or 90% (ID90) off of the transporting airlines unrestricted published fares. ID90s are generally limited to an annual allotment of tickets per year for the employee, spouse, and dependent children under 21. In some cases, parents, Company-recognized DPs, and retirees may also be eligible for ID90 travel. ID75s are usually unlimited for the employee, spouse, and children. The agreement with the airline will specify exact eligibility and allotments.



Travel conditions vary from carrier to carrier and are specified in each airlines' agreements. These conditions include eligibility, dress code, flight listing, minimum service requirements, embargo periods, applicable fares, and restrictions. Employees must check the conditions for travel on the intended airline before beginning a trip. Failure to do so may lead to being denied travel by the OAL. When traveling on a reduced rate ticket, employees and their eligible travelers must adhere to the same rules of conduct and dress code as specified for travel on their particular airline, unless otherwise noted in the reduced rate agreement for that carrier.

While ID tickets (such as, ID75 and ID90) are only valid on the airline listed in the carrier code box of the ticket, ZED tickets are interchangeable on any airline that operates in the same market, provided your own airline has a ZED agreement with the carrier at the same or higher fare level. Employees must not use space available tickets if space has been booked on another airline using frequent flyer miles or any revenue ticket on the same day between the same cities.

Employees on reduced rate travel are not entitled to denied boarding compensation or any of the amenities provided to revenue paying passengers (for example, accrual of frequent flyer points, access to club lounges, pre-reserved seating, special meals). Abuse of reduced rate interline travel privileges could result in the loss of your on-line travel privileges, a financial penalty and/or possible termination of employment.

Majority of airlines have a dress code while traveling on their airline. Here is an example of a Dress Code while traveling:


You must ensure that your pass travelers adhere to the dress code. Pass travelers who are improperly dressed will not be accommodated on the flight. If a traveler is properly attired for coach but not for first or business, and only first or business is available, the traveler will not be accommodated in first or business class.

Mainline First Class attire requirements also apply to non-revenue customers who are accommodated in the First Class cabin of an Regional aircraft.
Additionally, once you or your guests have been accommodated for a flight, it is a violation of travel privileges to change into clothing that does not meet the appropriate dress code. The dress code as listed below applies to travel on a major carrier.

• Attire for all cabins must be well groomed, neat, clean, and in good taste. (If in doubt, wear something else.)
• Traditional or casual business attire is required for first or business class accommodation.
• Coats, jackets, and ties for men are not required.
• Hosiery and socks or collars are not required for men or women.
• Women's style of shoes or sandals such as open toe, sling-back, and clogs are acceptable.
• Capri pants are acceptable in all cabins.

Do not Wear
The following are examples of unacceptable attire.

Not Acceptable in Any Cabin

Shorts or T-Shirts

Sweatshirts or tank tops

Micro-mini skirts

Jogging suits, workout clothing or leggings

Bare-midriff or provocative/revealing/see-through clothing

Beach clothing or footwear, flip-flops

Clothing with offensive terminology or graphics

Clothing with holes/ragged or cutoff edges

Not Acceptable in First or Business (acceptable for coach cabin only)

Denim clothing of any kind or color

Athletic footwear/casual sandals

Split skirts above the knee

Shorts

Note: Children age six (6) and under are permitted to wear shorts in coach.
Due to the diversity and constantly changing nature of fashion, we will never be able to cover all possible types of attire. We rely on you to carefully consider the intent of the dress code for the class of service you desire when selecting clothing to wear on a trip.

When traveling as a non-rev, you should really know when it's safe for you, and your family or whomever is traveling, will be ok to travel. Otherwise, they will end up in Stand-by hell...waiting for days to get where they want to go. I end up telling my friends that it's cheaper to buy a ticket than it is to fly stand-by because often times, they get stuck and have to pay on overly priced hotel room!  Either way, you don't want to run into weather delays (which are out of your control) and get to the airport and see the lobby like the pic to the right. 

Also, when you get to the airport, be sure that you are 'listed' for the flight. What this means, the employee who you are traveling on their passes, has 'meal listed' you for the flight, indicating your need to travel. This saves the agents a LOT of time. Instead of going to an agent at the departure lounge, plan on going to a KIOSK and printing out a "Priority Verification" card which indicates you are planning on traveling today, on a certain flight when you have to go through the Security Checkpoint. 

When you do make it to the gate, don't go to the agent to ask for a seat, they already know you're on the list. They will generally process the Stand-by fliers about 10 minutes prior to departure (if there are seats available). Don't hover over them either as they don't like this. Just take a seat, or stand away from the counter and keep an eye on the 'Stand-by' screens.

If you don't get called, don't threat, you will be transferred to the next available flight, however, if you are lucky and you do get called, and the agent tells you that you must check your bag, BE SURE TO INFORM THEM of your final destination.

Follow the rules of the crew, and everything should be fine. Don't be a pest, don't demand things, and most of all, remember to be polite. Always treat someone as how you would like to be treated!!! (gifts to the cabin crew are often rewarded ;-p)

The Minnesota Great Get-Together! MN State Fair

Having grown up in Winchester, Virginia, we were approximately 2hrs away from Richmond, our State Capital. Even though I remember our county (and surrounding Counties) had their Fairs, I don't ever recall us actually making the trip to Richmond to the State Fair.

After I moved to Minnesota, all I kept hearing about in the month of August was "Are you going to the Fair?" Now, remembering back home how much of a joke our County Fairs were, I initially thought, "Of course not", but soon realized that the State Fair here in Minnesota, was not your typical Fair.

I soon realized that the Minnesota State Fair was, and still is, one of the largest Fairs across the Country. It truly is an awesome experience, I believe I was overwhelmed the first time that I went. There was so much to see and do, and even over the course of the last 14yrs, it's amazing to see how much it has changed.

I really enjoy going with my friends, but this year looks to be either just myself, or with one other friend. not the group of 4-6 of us that usually go. One of the first things we try to do when we enter the Fairgrounds is get a small bite to eat at this really awesome taco stand. From there, we just walk around and try to see as much as we can. Usually going into the Horse Barn, Sheep Barn, Cow Barn, Pig Barn, Poultry Barn to see all the different animals.

Once we're done checking them out, we try to find a place for a nice cold beverage and rest for a bit. A couple of years back, we stumbled upon this one food vendor with Pot Roast sandwiches where the meat is so tender and juicy. So, we try to make sure it's still there and get a sandwich.

One of the fun activities to do is visit the Minnesota Heritage area where you see how many of the settlers lived and survived back in the Prairie days. How they traveled, lived, cooked, and worked.

Another fun thing to try at the Fair is all the food. Many places try new things, like Fried candy-bars, or "something' on a stick. We do try to walk around the Midway where all the amusement rides are, but don't ride them.

This year there is so much road construction going on in the area, I think if we go, we'll do what we've done the past few years....ride one of the buses. For just $5, you get a round trip ride from many locations around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and surrounding suburbs to the Fair and back. It's well worth the price as you don't have to worry about finding parking and fighting the traffic.