JetBlue dangles $1,000 attendance bonuses for flight attendants ahead of holiday rush

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

Airlines have been gearing up for a surge in vacationers, many of whom skipped in-person celebrations final 12 months as Covid instances have been on the rise. The Transportation Security Administration this week mentioned it expects to display 20 million vacationers from Friday by means of the top of Thanksgiving week on Nov. 28, near pre-pandemic ranges.

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

Some analysts have mentioned the incentives might find yourself costing airways lower than a meltdown.

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

American Airlines, in the meantime, says flight attendants can earn no less than 150% pay for peak holiday journeys and as much as triple pay if additionally they meet attendance targets by means of early subsequent 12 months. It additionally provided $1,000 bonuses to different workers in addition to at its regional airline subsidiaries. The pilots union, nonetheless, rejected the carrier’s offer for double pay over the vacations and mentioned it was searching 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 means of Jan. 5 and work no less than 100 credit score hours over that interval if they’re full time.

“After a long period away from family and friends, our Customers have been telling us they’re ready to travel and they are counting on us to deliver, Crewmembers and leadership alike,” Ed Baklor, head of buyer care and packages wrote in a observe to flight attendants this week. “To prepare for the holiday hustle while also recognizing your commitment and support to protecting the operation through the holidays, we’re launching a one-time holiday rewards program to thank Crewmembers who fly their trips and do not call-out.”

In-flight crews can even get confirmed house on planes to commute, Baklor mentioned. They are additionally inspired to name out if they’re sick however might want to present a health care provider’s observe for absences between Nov. 22 by means of Jan. 5.

JetBlue did not instantly remark.