JetBlue dangles $1,000 attendance bonuses for flight attendants forward of vacation rush

JetBlue Airways is providing its flight attendants $1,000 attendance bonuses for not calling out by early January, in accordance with an organization memo reviewed by CNBC, the newest effort by a service to keep away from staffing crunches throughout the holidays.

Airways have been gearing up for a surge in vacationers, a lot of whom skipped in-person celebrations final yr as Covid instances had been on the rise. The Transportation Safety Administration this week stated it expects to display 20 million vacationers from Friday by the top of Thanksgiving week on Nov. 28, near pre-pandemic ranges.

However some airways have been scrambling to make sure they’ve sufficient workers, rattled by disruptions. Southwest Airways and American Airways cancelled 2,000 flights apiece in lower than one-week intervals this fall.

Some analysts have stated the incentives may find yourself costing airways lower than a meltdown.

Southwest has supplied flight attendants and different operations workers 120,000 Fast Rewards factors, the service’s frequent flyer program, for assembly attendance targets. These factors are price greater than $1,400. The airline has reported a excessive charge of sick calls.

American Airways, in the meantime, says flight attendants can earn at the least 150% pay for peak vacation journeys and as much as triple pay if in addition they meet attendance targets by early subsequent yr. It additionally supplied $1,000 bonuses to different workers in addition to at its regional airline subsidiaries. The pilots union, nonetheless, rejected the service’s supply for double pay over the vacations and stated it was looking for everlasting enchancment to how the airline units its schedule.

JetBlue’s flight attendants can qualify for the $1,000 bonuses if they do not name out from work from Nov. 22 by Jan. 5 and work at the least 100 credit score hours over that interval if they’re full time.

“After a protracted interval away from household and mates, our Prospects have been telling us they’re able to journey and they’re relying on us to ship, Crewmembers and management alike,” Ed Baklor, head of buyer care and applications wrote in a observe to flight attendants this week. “To organize for the vacation hustle whereas additionally recognizing your dedication and assist to defending the operation by the vacations, we’re launching a one-time vacation rewards program to thank Crewmembers who fly their journeys and don’t call-out.”

In-flight crews may also get confirmed area on planes to commute, Baklor stated. They’re additionally inspired to name out if they’re sick however might want to present a physician’s observe for absences between Nov. 22 by Jan. 5.

JetBlue did not instantly remark.