In This Edition of the E-Line Revised Restructuring Agreement Q&A  Safety Hot Sheet  Registered Companion Question and Answer  Deadline for Outstanding Medical Claims  Involuntary Furlough And Displacement Q&A Settling Days Clarification

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Revised Restructuring Agreement Q&A

The MEC is in the process of writing a Q & A on the current Revised Restructuring Agreement. We hope to have this information posted by Monday.

In the interim please call your local union office with any questions.

Safety Hot Sheet

Recent FAA surveillance has revealed Flight Attendants are not consistently in compliance with seat belt procedures. A forthcoming "Safety Hot Sheet" from Inflight Policy and Procedures will highlight this topic. It is not out of the realm of possibilities that the FAA would take action against noncompliant F/As. We are currently confronted with many stressors and distractions. Please remain vigilant in safety and security procedures.

Thank You, 
Your Safety & Health Committee.

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Registered Companion Q&A

Q. Who can add a registered companion?

A. Only an active, single, full-time or part-time employee may add a registered companion. An employee who is married or has a domestic partner on his/her travel privileges is not eligible to add a registered companion.

Q. When can my registered companion begin flying on the travel privilege?

A. You can add a registered companion to your term pass travel beginning January 1, 2003. However, registered companions will not be eligible for travel until listed on the employee's travel privilege. The companion will be included in the employee travel database as soon as administratively possible upon receiving the application and proper documentation. 

Q. Can I add a registered companion if I remove my spouse from my travel privilege or if my spouse is also an employee and is currently not on my travel privilege?

A. No, you may only add a registered companion if you are an active, single employee.

Q. Will I need to pay taxes on imputed income for my registered companion?

A. Yes, you will have to pay taxes on imputed income for your registered companion. Internal Revenue Service rules and regulations require that the value of the benefit provided by the employer be considered part of the employee's taxable income. Known as "imputed income," an estimated value of the benefit is reported to the IRS and reflected in the employee's paycheck and on the employee's W-2 form. We use 10 % of the Y fare for calculation of the value of the imputed income. The employee is responsible for the applicable taxes on imputed income. 

Example of imputed income: Assumes registered companion flies one-way Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles with a connection in Pittsburgh.

DCA-PIT Y8 fare is $363.00 

10% of Y class fare = $36.00 

PIT-LAX Y8 fare is $1,264.00

10% of Y class fare = $126.00 

Total Imputed Income = $163.00 

Federal tax on imputed income
(@28% tax bracket)* = $46.00 


* Imputed income also is subject to FICA and state and local taxes where applicable.
(Note: Fares are approximate and for illustrative purposes only.) 


Q. Is there an age requirement to add a registered companion?

A. Yes, registered companions must be at least 18 years of age or older.

Q. Does my registered companion need to travel with me?

A. No, registered companions may travel by themselves. 

Q. If, during the course of the year, I go from an active status to a retired or leave status may my registered companion stay on my travel privilege?

A. No, your registered companion is no longer eligible once your status changes from active to inactive. 

Q. How do I register my companion?

A. Active, single full-time or part-time employees must complete an Application for Registered Companion (TP-38 RC). Only this form will be accepted to add a registered companion. The form may be obtained by the following methods:

You can download the form from the corporate intranet site "theHub" http://thehub.usairways.com/index.htm. Select Benefits and Other Forms. Print the form, fill it out, and mail it (along with the proper documentation) to the Employee Travel Office. (If you are unsure how to access "theHub" from home, PLEASE READ THIS http://www.afausairways.org/Hub/afa_hub.html.) 

Contact Office Administration at dialnet 412-747-3047 or by fax at 412-747-3220. Or direct a Lotus Notes message to Donna Kopp requesting the form. 

All applications must be fully completed or they will be returned to the employee. You must include a copy of some form of identification such as a birth certificate, driver's license or valid passport showing the birth date of the individual you are adding as a registered companion. 

Q. Will I be able to remove my registered companion during the year and put another or the same registered companion on my travel privilege?

A. No, once you remove a registered companion you will not be allowed to put another registered companion on your term pass travel until the following calendar year.

Q. What does my registered companion need to do in order to travel once he or she is on my travel privilege?

A. Once your registered companion is listed on your travel privilege, he/she follows the same procedures you do to list for a flight. Registered companions will call 1-800-325-9999, and press prompt 1. It is important to avoid the use of a reservation sales agent due to the high volume of calls they receive from our revenue passengers. Once registered companions are listed for the flight they must then obtain a paper document from any US Airways ticket counter in order to get through the security check point and travel. The kiosk will not be available for a registered companion to retrieve a paper document until April 2003. 

Q. Can my registered companion travel on other airlines?

A. No, registered companions are eligible for travel on US Airways and US Airways Express flights only.

Q. Does my registered companion follow all the non-revenue policies when traveling on my travel privilege?

A. Yes, it is the employee's responsibility to ensure that his/her registered companion is informed of and follows all US Airways travel guidelines and procedures. The employee is responsible for the actions of his/her registered companion while using US Airways pass privileges.

Q. Can my registered companion use this privilege for purposes other than for personal, leisure travel?

A. No, registered companion travel is space available and is to be used solely for leisure travel only. US Airways non-revenue travel privileges are not permitted to be transferred, bartered, bought or sold. Any employee or pass rider who uses non-revenue or reduced rate transportation for personal business or other purposes not specifically permitted or who engages in the transfer, barter, purchase or sale of such tickets or privileges will be subject to the suspension or termination of travel privileges. Such use or action by the employee or pass rider may also result in disciplinary action to the employee up to and including termination of employment. 

Q. Will my registered companion receive a travel card?

A. Yes, your registered companion will receive a travel card which will be mailed to the employee's home address. 

Q. Can my registered companion receive space positive travel in the case of an emergency death or critical illness of my eligible family members?

A. No, registered companion travel is for space available travel only. 

Q. Can my registered companion use the US Airways Club if he/she a US Airways Club member?

A. No, the same policy that applies to all pass-eligible family members also applies to registered companions. They may not use the US Airways Club facility when traveling as a non-revenue passenger.

Q. Can I purchase an ED 20 ticket for my registered companion?

A. Yes, employees may purchase ED 20 tickets for their registered companions.

Q. Can my registered companion purchase non-revenue first class upgrades?

A. Yes, registered companions may purchase first class upgrades in the same manner as the employee and other eligible family members. 


Information courtesy of theHub at US Airways.com. http://thehub.usairways.com/index.htm (If you are unsure how to access "theHub" from home, PLEASE READ THIS http://www.afausairways.org/Hub/afa_hub.html.) 

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Outstanding Medical Claims Should Be Filed By December 31, 2002.

Effective January 1, 2003, US Airways' employees will begin participating in the BlueCross Blue Shield national PPO BlueCard program, and US Airways will discontinue its relationships with it current medical plan vendors. We strongly urge you to file any outstanding medical claims with your current medical vendor no later than December 31, 2002.

You may have outstanding medical claims if you participated in the United HealthCare Indemnity Plan or if you participated in the United Health Care Point-of-Service Plan or the Prudent Buyer Plan and received treatment from an out-of-network provider. You also may have outstanding claims that you need to submit to Advance PCS for prescription drugs not covered by a co-payment or Magellan for behavioral health services received out of network.

Please check your medical records and submit any outstanding claims to your current medical plan by December 31, 2002.

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Involuntary Furlough And Displacement Q&A Clarification

Q: Are displaced flight attendants entitled to settling days?

A: Upon request, the Company shall provide a flight attendant with five (5) consecutive calendar days free of all duty, three (3) days of which shall be paid and credited at a rate of five (5:00) hours per day, for the purpose of relocating. The three (3) days of pay and credit in the preceding sentence is contingent on the following:

(1) A lineholder flight attendant may claim up to three (3) days of pay and credit provided the settling day(s) for which pay is claimed falls on a scheduled duty day as defined by the flight attendant’s monthly line award. 
(2) A reserve flight attendant may claim up to three (3) days of pay and credit provided a junior flight attendant is utilized on the settling day(s) for which pay is claimed. 

b. The request for settling days pursuant to this section above must be made in advance to Crew Scheduling and the Company will honor the five (5) days requested by the flight attendant, provided adequate reserve coverage is available on such days. 
c. In the event the Company is able to grant the settling days requested by the flight attendant, payment for such settling days will be in accordance with this section. 
d. In the event the Company is unable to grant the specific settling days requested by the flight attendant, alternate settling days will be provided as close to the days initially requested by the flight attendant, and settling expenses will be paid until such five (5) consecutive calendar days free from all duty are given. 
e. Settling and en-route expenses will consist of reasonable actual expenses, when substantiated by receipts for a flight attendant and his/her family members incurred for meals, lodging, and telephone calls. Extraordinary expenses will be allowed as circumstances indicate. 
f. The provisions of Paragraphs 6.a. through e. above shall not be utilized to reduce subsequent days off. 

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Revision Questions

A new input form is being used for any questions you may have on this Revision to the Restructuring Agreement. Please contact your LEC Officer with any questions you may have as well as utilizing this input form. The form is located at http://www.afausairways.org/EForms/prop_input.html.

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