Follow The Flag: Clarification on White and Purple Flag Trips

During periods of IRROPs, our CBA allows the company to declare specific days as “White Flag” (WF) when coverage is not optimal in order to improve Flight Attendant staffing. The company can also declare specific trips as “Purple Flag” (PF). Trips that are picked up and flown with these designations are entitled to additional pay incentives. In certain circumstances, the pay follows the flag when these pairings are traded, but in others it does not.

To clear up any confusion about when Flight Attendants will receive white flag and/or purple flag pay, the company has prepared the following scenario-based FAQs, available on Flying Together.

How much is the premium pay for White flag/Purple flag (WF/PF) pairings?	Per Section 4.B.2. and 4.B.3. of the CBA, the premium pay is 150% of the base rate for credited hours flown.
What would I be paid if I picked up a WF/PF pairing and it was later canceled, but I was reassigned to work something else?	You would receive the 150% premium pay for any credited hours for the pairing to which you are reassigned and operated.
What would I be paid if my WF/PF pairing was modified?	You would still receive the 150% premium pay for any credited hours for the pairing to which you are reassigned and operated.
What would I be paid if I picked up a WF/PF pairing which was later canceled, but I was never reassigned and ultimately released from duty?	You would be pay protected for the value of the pairing; however, you would not receive WF/PF pay, as that is only paid based on a pairing that has actually operated.
What if I picked up a WF/PF pairing and traded it away to someone else?	The premium pay would follow the pairing, so the person who ended up flying the WF/PF pairing would be paid the premium pay for credited hours flown.
What if I picked up a WF/PF pairing and traded it with another flight attendant for their non-WF/PF pairing?	The other flight attendant would receive the 150% premium pay for credited hours flown of the WF/PF pairing, and you would receive the base rate pay for the credited hours flown of the non-WF/PF pairing.
What if I picked up a WF/PF pairing and traded it with open time for a non-WF/PF pairing?	You would receive the base rate pay for the credited hours flown of the non-WF/PF pairing that you operate.
What if I picked up a WF/PF pairing and traded it with another flight attendant for their WF/PF pairing?	You would both receive the 150% premium pay for credited hours flown off the WF/PF pairing that you operate, as the premium pay follows the pairing.
What if I traded my non-WF/PF pairing for a WF/PF pairing in open time? Would I receive the premium pay?	No, because WF/PF premium pay only applies to a straight pick-up. You would receive the base rate pay for credited hours flown.
What if I pick up a WF/PF pairing on my days off, then trade it for another WF/PF pairing in open time? Would I receive the premium pay?	No, because WF/PF premium pay only applies to a straight pick-up. You would receive the base rate pay for credited hours flown.
What if I am assigned a non-WF/PF pairing, and it cancels, but I am reassigned to work a WF/PF pairing in open time? Would I receive the premium pay?	No. WF/PF premium pay only applies to a straight pick-up from open time. The premium pay will not be applied because you were reassigned to an open trip because of a loss of flight time during a scheduled pairing.
As a Reserve, can I pick up WF/PF pairings on my days off? Is there a limit to how many WF/PF pairings I can pick up in a month?	Yes, you can pick up WF/PF pairings on your days off, and there is no limit to the number of pairings as long as you abide by the terms of Section 8.L.1. of the CBA.
As a Reserve, what happens if I pick up a WF/PF pairing on my days off and trade it away?	A Reserve cannot trade a picked-up pairing for another pairing, but you may trade the WF/PF pairing to another flight attendant for their days off. In that case, the flight attendant who actually operates the WF/PF pairing will receive the premium pay.
As a Reserve, what happens if I was assigned (either through Reserve preferencing or as a Ready Reserve) to work a pairing flagged as WF/PF?	A Reserve assigned to a pairing on scheduled reserve days will not receive the WF/PF premium pay.
As a Reserve, what happens if I was assigned to a WF/PF flagged pairing and advertised the trip, and another flight attendant picked it up? Will they be paid the premium pay because the WF/PF indicator still shows on the pairing?	A flight attendant that picks up a Reserve advertised pairing will not receive the WF/PF premium pay because the Reserve was not eligible for the premium pay.