Helping Flight Attendants Understand Pay, Interpret the Contract, and Ensure Payroll Accuracy
The Payroll Education Committee is dedicated to guiding flight attendants through the compensation provisions of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). We act as the liaison between the Crew Pay department and flight attendants, clarifying pay practices, investigating concerns, and ensuring compliance with contract language.
Committee Responsibilities
Key responsibilities of the committee include:
Educating flight attendants on the compensation section of the contract and providing guidance on pay‑related matters.
Assisting members with questions and interpretation of the CBA in collaboration with LEC and MEC guidelines.
Investigating and addressing member concerns regarding paychecks, guarantee hours, overages, and other compensation issues in coordination with management’s Crew Pay department.
Communicating unresolved pay issues or potential contract violations to the Grievance Committee when necessary.
Referring payroll issues to Local Officers for oversight and further resolution when appropriate.
How to Check Your Pay & When You’re Paid
The easiest way to review your pay is via the Crew Pay site: log into the “mypsa.aa.com” portal → Departments → Crew Pay → FA/Pilot Time Summary.
Paydays typically fall twice a month (on the 5th and 20th, or nearest business day). The 20th often includes overages and per diem for the previous month.
Prorations to your guarantee may apply for unpaid periods, leaves, or when you were unavailable.
Why This Matters
A clear understanding of the pay provisions empowers you to:
Recognize when your pay aligns with the contract.
Identify discrepancies or short‑payments early.
Engage effectively with the committee or payroll department when concerns arise.
Strengthen our collective negotiation position by being informed and proactive about compensation.
Contacting the Committee
For payroll‑related questions, concerns about paychecks, or assistance interpreting contract pay language, please reach out via your Local Executive Council (LEC) or through the Committee contact channel (email or phone, if provided).
Useful Links
Common Terms and Definitions
Here are some common terms and definitions when it comes to our pay:
Duty Time – 2.L
All time (including deadhead) that a Flight Attendant is on duty, commencing when the Flight Attendant reports for duty as directed by the Company, and ending fifteen (15) minutes (30 minutes for an international flight) after the Flight Attendant’s release from duty.
Flight/Block Time – 2.N
The time from the moment the aircraft first moves from the ramp blocks under its own power for the purpose of flight, until it comes to a full stop at either an intermediate stop or a final destination.
Junior Assignment – 2.R
As directed by the company, any flying assigned to a Flight Attendant on a day off.
Trip Add – 2.BB
A trip(s) added to a lineholder or a reserve schedule from open time.
Trip Swap – 2.CC
The swapping of trips with open time.
Trip Trade – 2.DD
The trading for other trip(s) or for days off between a lineholder or build up Flight Attendant
Monthly Guarantee – 3.C
A Flight Attendant available for flight duty for a month will be paid a guarantee of seventy-five (75) hours at the applicable rate. When a Flight Attendant is not available for flight duty for any portion of a month, the monthly guarantee will be
prorated.
Negative Trip Trades
Is when you trade below guarantee and because you were paid for guarantee, now you have to pay the company back the difference.
Value of the Day (VOD)
Is calculated by taking the monthly guarantee and dividing it by the number of awarded working days.