New Base Survivor’s Guide

An AFA CWA CP Publication

How to survive being based in LAX

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In This Guide A Message from the President

LAX Airport Map & Info p.3

AFA Base Visit p.4

LAX Overview p.5

Scheduling p.6

Crew Room p.6

Money Management p.7

Commuting p.8

Crash Pads p.9

ProStands p.9

Contact Information p.10

"In the 7 years of our existence, we have seen many

changes, such as being owned by 3 different

companies, had 5 different CEOs/COOs, 4 general

managers of Inflight, 2 base closures, and now we see a

shift of flying to the West Coast along with a new base of

operations.

Throughout these changes, the one thing that has not

changed is the dedication and professionalism of the

Compass Flight Attendants. The loyalty, contributions,

hard work and strong ethics from the Compass Flight

Attendants, is why Compass Airlines is recognized as the

top performer in our industry.

As we enter a new phase in the story of Compass Airlines,

this is an exciting time but a daunting one as well. LAX is

not inexpensive, and with no idea of the type of flying, we

have FAs blindly going into the unknowns, in continuing their strong contribution to this airline. No

matter what challenges we face, we stand together, resolute. We will adapt and through OUR

union, we will continue to be here for each other, to provide support, guidance and assistance;

and OUR resolve will remain ever constant.

To all who contributed to this survival kit, thank you and a special thank you to Tracie Williams, our

AFA EAP Committee Chair, for presenting the idea for an LAX Survival kit and spearheading this

project.

In Unity,

Catriona Bagley, Compass AFA MEC President"

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CP Departures CP Crew Room

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Did you know…?

Did you know that the best source for Compass Airlines Association of Flight

Attendants information was on the Compass AFA website?

We encourage you to visit www.afacompass.org.

Remember, your union is here to support you.

In solidarity,

Compass Airlines Association of Flight Attendants

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If you have already been to LAX, some of this information will just be an overview for you. We haven’t received much more info than was already shared previously. We will do our best to update as soon as possible.

Currently the goal for 90 FAs by the end of the year still stands. February’s goal was to have 18 flight attendants. The next new hire class has over 22 new hires and if they are successful in their training, it should prevent displacement for the time being. As the year progresses we will a clearer image of what being based in LAX will be like. In the mean time, here is what we know so far.

Shuttle flight service is expected to expand to Seattle and possibly other destinations. Currently we operate out of Terminal 5. We generally use the same gates for Delta Shuttle flights but we all know that irregular operations can change all that. The crew room

will be located in terminal 6, to the left of Rubys. From there take the elevator to the 4th floor and it’s the first door to the right. Compass Inflight personnel are expected to visit the base when it opens and will visit sporadically there afterwards. If you are laying over in SFO, Air Crew Transport will be handling the transportation to and from the airport for the Compass Airlines flight crews with layovers in SFO.

The company hotel is the LAX Sheraton Hotel is designed like many resort style hotels. The rooms are comfortable and every room below floor five has a refrigerator. Sadly, there are no microwaves available. There is a huge work out facility and outdoor pool area. The van to the airport fills up quickly and takes a while to get to terminal 5 so plan to leave early.

Crew Rates for hotels and crash Pads in LA are much more expensive than what most of us are use to paying. Most hotels charge around$70- $110 for crew rates. One hotel, the Hacienda isn’t as expensive and is close by the airport. Some Crash Pads can cost upwards of $700 a

LAX: The Ins and Outs,

The Ups and Downs

month and you may not get your own room.

As we all know, food at the airport can be quite expensive. However, the food in LAX is significantly more expensive than most other airports due to the higher cost of living. There also aren’t many food options in Terminal five. The picture seen here shows a McDonald’s next to an escalator. That escalator is the best way to get to other terminals, including the crew room, without going outside of security.

The LAX airport also has free wifi. For more information on the LAX airport and amenities, please visit

http://www.lawa.org/welcomelax.aspx !

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LAX Crew Room Scheduling Committee: Know Your Contract!

We were able to get some photos of the crew room from February 1, 2014! Seems like we could use some color on those walls. The crew room is located in Terminal 6 to the left of “Ruby’s Diner. From there, take the

elevator to the 4th floor and enter the first door on the right. The code for the crew room can be access by calling crew scheduling.

Please do not publish this code for security purposes. Next to the crew room you will find the Inflight office, quiet rooms, and a room to stow bags.

The union is working to get a message board posted with helpful

information.!

Most trips out of LAX are one days and CDOs and this is unlikely to change. If you live there or on TDY this would be great but if you are

commuting it will be imperative to plan ahead, bid smart, and to seriously

consider a crash pad.

Bidding help is available. Please refer to the online docs on the PBS home page as a

reference. Here are some quick tips:

*Bid knowing your seniority. Your bids will be different if you are top, middle, and bottom of the seniority list. Example: Reserves wouldn't bid pairings. *Take advantage of all 7 of your bidding layers. *When in doubt, ask!

When the lines are awarded make sure to

check your bid award. If there is a PBS error (not a FA bidding error) in your award you

are protected by your contract. See page 6-6 section F of your contract for more details.

Contact your scheduling committee for any

further help and last but not least, KNOW YOUR CONTRACT! !

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Managing Money in LA

Although there is a lot of lure to living in Los Angeles,

there are a few things flight attendants should consider

when making this move. California has one of the most

expensive standards of living in the country and this high

cost of living can greatly affect our flight attendant

group. On our income it would be very difficult for flight

attendants to live independently.

Internet reports show an average income of $24,000 as

the minimum cost of living for one person in California. A

new hire flight attendant at CP would make a minimum

of $15,000-$17,000 a year based on guarantee.

Although this financial gap seems large, there are ways

to manage your money to make this work.

Having a roommate would help assist in the cost of

living. If you are interested in finding a roommate,

please go to the Compass AFA website to visit the

message boards. There are many advantages to living

with co-worker. Not only will you have someone you

can trust to share your space with, you will also have

someone who clearly understands your lifestyle and

lifestyle is everything this job is about.

If you drive a car, consider taking public transportation

instead. See the transportation article of this guide for

details. Food in LA is very fresh and can be very

expensive. Eating at home as mush as possible and

cooking your own meals is not only healthier, but it will

prevent you from overspending. Investing in a lunch

bag for work would also save you money on the road.

Easing into life’s luxuries like cable and internet are ways

to save money as well. Cable bills can be quite costly.

Consider alternatives like a Netflix or Hulu account for

your leisure entertainment. For staying in shape, instead

of paying for a gym membership, engage in the many

free ways to stay fit such as running or walking along the

beach and using the fitness equipment there. If you find

yourself struggling with finances and wanting money

management assistance, you AFA EAP can provide you

will resources to get back on your feet. Contact

information can be found on the last page of tis guide.!

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venture for you, don’t be afraid. Just remember to always give yourself more time than you think you need. You can use mapping applications on your electronic device such as Google Maps

and other local apps to make travel plans. It’s best to buy

fare passes, such as 30 day monthly passes, in advance so that you always have a way to pay. Stay close to your personal belongings and remain situationally

aware. !

Commuting

LAX has 680 flights everyday. It’s one of the busiest airports in the country and it caters to one of the countries most heavily populated cities. Although commuting might seem like a breeze with so many options, there are always unexpected hurdles that may get in the way. Please be familiar with the commuter policy and plan ahead.

Your eFAM has a listing of all the carriers we jumpseat agreements with in the collection entitled “Reciprical Cabin Jumpseat Agreements”. Please note that the correct information for listing for American flights is found under “Memos Inflight. If you ever

Transportation

We’ve all heard of how terrible traffic can be in Los Angeles. It’s not often rumors are true but this one definitely holds up. Congestion can easily happen when you have so many people in one

area. One way to get around this factor would be to take public transportation. Visit www.metro.net to get all the information you need for LA public transit.

If taking public transportation is a new

have trouble listing at the gate on a DL jumpseat, please invite the DL crew members to reference page 5.7.7 of the flight attendant manual

for jumpseat agreement information. This information can also be found in the DL pilots manual under Jumpseat Agreements under General. If you are ever having trouble jumpseating, ask for a CSA “red coat” and contact your Inflight Department.

The website www.passrider.com is a great tool to use when commuting. It shows a listing of all flight information for any airport. Save this website, along with any other helpful website regarding travel, as a bookmark on the internet for your personal electronic devices. That way you can access this information

anytime.!

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A Message from the Professionals!

As you begin your new adventure in LAX, we want to help ease the transition. Change, especially a move to new bases and new homes and cultures, can cause a great deal of stress. With this potential stress in your life you may be more inclined to experience conflict with co-workers.

We want to encourage you to be a support system for each other as you are all experiencing similar difficulties. Be open to new concepts and look for ways to encourage one another. If you find yourself in a difficult situation with another co-worker, please know you have an additional support system in your Professional Standards team.

We will offer a confidential listening ear, advice, and a possible go-between. We wish you all the best of luck and look forward to seeing the LAX base evolve into a great, cohesive community.

In solidarity,

Kara Wright

Professional Standards Chair

(262) 365-3810

Crash Pads & Hotels

If you’re in the market for lodging in LAX there are an abundance of options. The hotel committee has gathered the following resources. If you’d like more information, please contact your Hotel Committee!

Crew Hotel Rates Crew rates can change varying on availability and time of year

Hilton LAX Hacienda Hotel

Best Western Courtyard by Marriott

https://www.id90.com/

Crash Pads http://crashpad411.com/search?airport=3484

https://www.facebook.com/crashpad.lax

http://www.crashpadjoe.com/openrealty/index.php?Domicile=l

ax&price-min=&price-max=&searchtext=&action=searchresults&pclass%5B%5D=

Air Safety, Health & Security Committee

Jay Krohn jkrohn@afacompass.org

Employee Assistance Program

Tracie Williams twilliams@afacompass.org

Government & Legislative Affairs

Ryan Demapan rdemapan@afacompass.org

Grievance Committee

Mary ‘Terry’ Kiernan tkiernan@afacompass.org

Hotel Committee

Tiffany Rupp trupp@afacompass.org

New Hire & Mentoring Committee

Bradley Benton bbenton@afacompass.org

Contact Information, Committee Chairs:

Professional Standards

Kara Wright kwright@afacompass.org

Scheduling Committee

Cindy Olson (Temp. Chiar) colson@afacompass.org

Communications Committee

Annika Fraser afraser@afacompass.org

Insurance Committee

Luis Malave Imalave@afacompass.org

Jumpseat Committee

Catherine Kingkeo Pulido cpulido@afacompass.org

Uniform Committee

Dottie Schwiesow dschwiesow@afacompass.org