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LAS VEGAS

*note- The AFA web site and Elines are not password protected, therefore anyone with a computer and internet access can view the web site and sign up for the Eline. In some ways that helps us, as various media and public officials are able to access both for information pertaining to our members concerns. Because the web site is "public" we refrain, for security reasons, from identifying the properties contracted to provide lodging on our RONs. The following Eline will refer to our current LAS RON hotel as the "incumbent property" or "the property"

Several weeks ago a homicide occurred at the property that houses our crews who RON in LAS. That unfortunate event was the latest in a series of problems associated with the property.

Contractual language does not give AFA the right to veto any decision made by the Company with regard to property selection. Past practice has allowed AFA and ALPA to participate in site inspections when a new city is added to our system, an incumbent property's contract expires or problems develop at an incumbent property. AFA input has always been considered by the Company, but that input has not always determined the eventual selection of a property by the Company.

Over the last several months AFA and the Company have been addressing various concerns with the area surrounding the incumbent LAS property and problems associated directly with the property. The incumbent property management, the LAS Police Department and AFA met several months ago to discuss the problems associated with the area adjacent to the LAS property. AFA also met with property management to express our concerns with the property itself. The following is a breakdown of those meetings:

• The incumbent property is in an area that has seen an influx in homeless individuals seeking refuge in the area immediately next to the property. Homeless individuals were causing noise disturbances during all hours of the day and night. As we all know, LAS RONs include a large number of Red-Eye pairings and noise during the day interferes with rest for members trying to sleep before a Red-Eye.

• Over the past several months two instances occurred where crewmembers were assaulted in the parking lot adjacent to the property and one instance of a crew member being lured into a potential assault (she screamed and ran away from someone trying to force her into a car).

• The area immediately adjacent to the incumbent will soon undergo major construction. The levy/waterway next to the property will be filled in and a street will be constructed to replace it. The new street will be added to allow access to the area directly behind the property where the current buildings will be leveled and a new hotel will be constructed.

The result of the meetings was a commitment from the incumbent and the LAS police to remove the homeless population. Furthermore, the incumbent management agreed to provide additional lighting and security in the parking lots. AFA and the Company were satisfied with those remedies and, in fact, those problems have been remedied to the extent possible.

All seemed well until the homicide occurred. In light of the past problems at the incumbent property and the anticipated construction/noise/issue, the Company informed the AFA property relocation was necessary.

The AFA has an obligation to perform the necessary due diligence to secure a property that meets the security, room product and contractual requirements our members are due. The AFA would be remiss in our duties if we did not seek an alternative property that provided an improvement to the incumbent.

The Company sent out a notice to the LAS hotel community soliciting bids for a new property. The Company's requirements included a price component that reduced the bid response to two properties. The AFA performed site inspections on the two bidders and determined that neither property the Company offered as an alternative to the incumbent property, provided a better room product, security or met contractual requirements. The price component the Company required obviously limited the number of bidders. We asked the Company to solicit additional bids, but no other properties responded with a bid that met the Company's price component.

MEC Hotel Committee Chair, Perry Lopez and I have received numerous emails and phone calls expressing either your desire to stay at the incumbent or relocate. Your LEC officers have also been contacted with the same comments. The results of those comments indicated a slight majority in favor of relocation. The relocation choices we were offered were not going to be in a safer location and neither property offered a better room product or amenities than the incumbent property.

The MEC is aware of the incumbent property's management concern for our crews and their willingness to meet our needs. The MEC also has to be cognizant of the ever changing environment both in and around a particular property and make sure that we have done all we can in the process of property selection to meet the needs of our members. Based on the choices before us the AFA has agreed to remain at the incumbent property.

Our duty is to evaluate properties selected by the Company to accommodate our members and therefore bound to offer suggestions based on the Company's property offerings. The Company does use cost as the major driver in property selection.

Vegas is Vegas and as such it can be a dangerous place. As in any big city, crime is on the rise. The incumbent property has increased security and provides van service to the strip. Please exercise caution on all overnights.

Thank you,

Mike Flores, President
The US Airways MEC
AFA-CWA

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AFA Local Numbers

Council 40 PIT 724-695-3329
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325

New Hotline Number Toll Free: 866-USA-AFA2
US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

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