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Fellow pilots,
Communication from the Company regarding the final retention bonus payout for each pilot for the months of May 2023 through June 2026, in accordance with Section 5.b.iii of The Interim Agreement – Retention Bonus MOU (Revised), is coming shortly. The Company will pay the retention bonus ahead of the required schedule, on 08/28/2026. The average payout amount is $190,000.
Following the July communication to pilots with estimated amounts through March 2026, inquiries from members to the Union identified a concerning pattern related to the methodology used to calculate each pilot’s pay rate in effect for a given month. It was determined that the Company incorrectly used the first pay stub of each month’s pay rate. The proper method is to use the second pay stub’s highest pay rate, which captures any upgrade or longevity increases that occur mid-month. This ensures the higher pay rate is used as the basis for that month’s calculation. The Company and Union worked together to update the methodology. The total value of the correction amounted to approximately $406,000. The RB amounts calculated under the updated pay rate methodology will be used in the final communicated amounts. This should greatly reduce the number of disputes and allow any filed disputes to be handled more promptly.
Calculator and Dispute Process
The Union has developed a calculator that allows pilots to confirm their RB amount using four inputs from each Tableau report, the retention bonus dollar amount for each month from the Company’s PDF summary, and their DOH and Captain upgrade date. The result of the calculator will look like this example.
Please note: completing this calculator and emailing RetentionBonus@apa2118.org the calculator result will be required for all disputes. The calculator’s result contains the “sufficient detail to allow the Company [and Union] to fully investigate the claim,” as required by Section 7.a/b of The Interim Agreement – Retention Bonus MOU (Revised). The standardized format, verified methodology, and consistent data sources will minimize delays and pinpoint the source of any errors. In plain terms: no “back-of-the-napkin” math. Any filed disputes will not delay the payout of the Company-calculated amount. See below for more information about disputes.
Instructions for the Calculator
The calculator is an Excel based tool. Completing the calculator will require careful data entry due to the duration of the retention bonus period. If possible, use a computer and not a mobile device.
The calculator file may be accessed here. The calculator has 3 Sheets – The first is instructions. The second is a Dashboard where the data entry and result is shown. The third is the back-end methodology.
After reviewing the instructions, the pilot will move to the Dashboard sheet, complete the pilot profile, and then proceed to the data entry, which will be sourced from Tableau as well as the Company’s calculated monthly retention bonus amount.
The Company will be including detailed instructions on how to obtain your Tableau pay reports in its communication. These instructions vary depending on whether you are retrieving reports from 2023/2024 or 2025/2026. The eligible fields and appropriate dates for each month of 2025/2026, when using the custom fields, are shown below. Please be extremely careful with January, February, and March, as they do not align with the calendar. Do not use any other fields within the Tableau pay report besides these. If using instructor pay sheets from January 2024 or earlier, use the corresponding fields from those pay sheets.
| 2025 Bid Months |
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2026 Bid Months |
| 01/01–01/30 |
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01/01–01/30 |
| 01/31–03/01 |
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01/31–03/01 |
| 03/02–03/31 |
|
03/02–03/31 |
| 04/01–04/30 |
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04/01–04/30 |
| 05/01–05/31 |
|
05/01–05/31 |
| 06/01–06/30 |
|
06/01–06/30 |
| 07/01–07/31 |
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07/01–07/31 |
| 08/01–08/31 |
|
08/01–08/31 |
| 09/01–09/30 |
|
09/01–09/30 |
| 10/01–10/31 |
|
10/01–10/31 |
| 11/01–11/30 |
|
11/01–11/30 |
| 12/01–12/31 |
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12/01–12/31 |
You may use your Allegiant email credentials to access Excel online for free at https://excel.cloud.microsoft. If, upon completing the calculator, you wish to dispute your amount, please save the file to your computer with “LastName.Employee ID” as the file name, as an xlsx file. Example: Pilot.12345.xlsx. If you require any technical assistance with accessing the Calculator or saving the file, please reach out to RetentionBonus@apa2118.org.
Dispute Process
Although completing the calculator will take time, the benefit is that, upon emailing a copy of it to RetentionBonus@apa2118.org and requesting a dispute, the Union will have the information needed to dispute your Retention Bonus with the Company on your behalf and proceed to arbitration, if necessary, in accordance with The Interim Agreement – Retention Bonus MOU (Revised). If you have any relevant comments, details, or evidence beyond what was entered into the calculator, please include that information in your dispute email. No JIRAs or grievances are necessary. Email the address above well within the 30-day time limit from when the Company provides your final amount and ensure you receive a “Receipt of Retention Bonus Dispute” response. If possible, please format your emails and file name as shown below:
To: RetentionBonus@APA2118.org
Subject: Dispute- 12345 Pilot, Test
Attachments: Pilot.12345.xlsx
Message: Please dispute my Retention Bonus Amount. I am short about $3000. |
| Note: There is also an “Express” option that uses the Company’s calculated PCH for each month. This option limits the calculator to cross-checking other multipliers in use, and any disputes raised through the “Express” option will be limited to non-PCH matters, such as the pay rate multiplier. This option may work if you have already verified the company’s calculated PCH for each month is accurate. |
| Please also note: the calculator does not account for Personal, Medical, or Workers’ Compensation leaves of absence longer than 90 days taken at any point during a pilot’s career at Allegiant, which may freeze a pilot’s longevity accumulation. Pilots on leave are still eligible for the retention bonus as if actively employed; however, under Section 8 of the previous CBA, their movement through the pay scale is delayed. If you had one of these three types of leave at any point during your employment, please contact RetentionBonus@apa2118.org after completing the calculator. We will apply the appropriate modifications and return a copy to you. These instructions do not apply to pilots who had Military Leaves. Under USERRA, your longevity is never frozen for these leaves. |
Prerecorded Demonstration
The Union will provide a prerecorded demonstration of the calculator soon. The demonstration will also cover how to access Tableau reports and provide an overview of the dispute process. An additional communication will be sent once the demo is posted online.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact RetentionBonus@apa2118.org.
Fraternally,
APA Teamsters Local 2118
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