MEC Crew Accommodations Committee Chair & Report

Crew Accommodations Committee Updates
(also see current E-Lines for Hotel Alerts)

Crew Accommodations Update April / May 2007

As most of you know by now many of the properties that the company contracts with domestically as well as internationally have already or are in the process of going total non-smoking within their particular brands. The Marriott Corporation was the first to announce "total non-smoking facilities" in North America late last year with their international division soon to follow. Since this trend started the company has been notified by numerous hotels system wide that some of our crewmembers have not been complying with the smoking ban that exists in the various contracted properties.

This non-compliance has strained many of our hotel relationships to the point of either the property not wanting to renew or even wanting to cancel contracts that are already in place. The process of deep cleaning the affected room is a very costly one, not to mention the loss of revenue that the hotel has to absorb because of the days that the particular room is out of service.

This problem has been so severe at our newest long PHX RON that at this point we may very well lose it if the pattern continues since the property has so indicated their desire to discontinue our relationship. If this does happen it will be most unfortunate since AFA & ALPA lobbied the company for many months to acquire the PHX property. Incidentally the entire State of Arizona will be ban smoking inside public buildings and within 15feet of their doorways effective May 1st. 

So, if you plan on smoking while staying at a non-smoking facility do so outside the building itself or within their designated areas. Also if you are a non-smoker and find that you have been given a non-smoking room that smells of smoke please inform the front desk immediately so that your room can be changed and the discrepancy can be noted. The company does contract for all non-smoking rooms with smoking rooms available upon request but those rooms are subject to the hotels availability.

The company recently contacted both AFA and ALPA indicating that various properties throughout our system have communicated to the company that crewmembers whether by accident or intentional have been leaving the hotels without paying incidental charges. If you have charged incidentals to your room please allow enough time before departing the hotel to take care of these charges. If we are unable to correct this current trend crewmembers may be required to leave a credit card imprint prior to being able to charge items to the room.     

Property Updates

PHX /L - Our largest PHX-L property is in the process of total room renovations which will begin soon in 10 room increments until complete with a timetable for total completion not known at this time. 

LAX /L - The preferred LAX-L property is under new ownership with plans underway to begin renovation of the entire facility soon.

LAX /S - The transportation that is currently provided by the LAX Airport Authority to this property is affecting all of the airlines currently utilizing one of the airport hotels. As you may know the LAX Airport Authority will not allow individual hotel vans to access the terminals to try and alleviate traffic in and around the terminals. The company is in the process of trying to arrange special transportation since the Airport Authorities transportation has caused crewmembers to have in some cases extended transportation delays. 

Site Inspections Completions / Decisions 

TPA/L - A site inspection was completed in this market with AFA and ALPA agreeing to utilize the hotel that had been previously selected by AFA and ALPA West.

TPA/S - A site inspection was completed in this market. Four properties were visited with two being recommended by AFA and ALPA. The company selected one of the AFA and ALPA recommended facilities.

DEN/L - A site inspection was completed in this market. Four properties were visited with two being recommended including the incumbent. The company selected the AFA and ALPA recommended incumbent facility.

ATL/L - A site inspection was completed in this market. Four properties were visited with two being recommended by AFA and ALPA. The company selected one of the AFA and ALPA recommended facilities.

ATL/S - A site inspection was completed in this market. Three properties were visited with two being recommended by AFA and ALPA. The company selected one of the AFA and ALPA recommended facilities. 

BRU - A site inspection was completed in this market. Six properties were visited with two being recommended by AFA. The company selected one of the AFA recommended facilities.

ATH - A site inspection was completed in this market. Five properties were visited with two being recommended by AFA and ALPA. The company selected one of the AFA and ALPA recommended facilities.

ZUR - A site inspection was completed in this market. Five properties were visited with two being recommended by AFA and ALPA. The company selected one of the AFA and ALPA recommended facilities.

MUC - A site inspection was completed in this market. Two properties were visited including the incumbent with both being recommended by AFA and ALPA. The company selected the new facility which is on the opposite side of the Marienplatz from our incumbent. Crewmembers will be housed at the new facility beginning with the June 9th arrival.

LIS - A site inspection was recently completed in this market due to the incumbent's unwillingness to complete their contract obligation to the company. Five properties were visited with three being recommended by AFA and ALPA. A decision is expected within two weeks.

CDG - A site inspection was recently completed in this market due to the incumbent's unwillingness to complete their contract obligation to the company. Four properties were visited with all four being recommended by AFA and ALPA. A decision is expected within the week with a May 1st start date.

Anticipated Site Inspections for May

ILM / S - second week of May
SLC - second week of May
MHT / L- third week of May
DTW / S - fourth week of May

The OF-310 form is available on the AFA web site or the HUB. Please take advantage of this while at work or home and please ensure that your contact information is correct so that we may reply to your concerns.

The AFA web site is not a secure site therefore the names of the properties referred to in this e-line will be posted on the AFA boards located in each domicile.

AFA Crew Accommodations Committee
Perry Lopez, Chair
PLopez@afausairways.org

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