This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants
Thank you to everyone who joined our first pre-merger Alaska Reserve Webinar! We created this interactive session to share practical contract tips and help you feel more confident about reserve life. You can now watch the recording on our YouTube channel using the link below. Please note that the video is unlisted, so you’ll need this direct link to view it.
Save the Date for Our Next Webinar
Be sure to save the date for our next pre-merger Alaska Reserve Webinar, titled “Is That Legal?” Plan now to join us on Wednesday, October 21, at 1 PM Pacific Time. More information about registration and how to submit questions in advance will be shared at the beginning of September.
Webinar Q&A
Updated 08/17/2026
The following Q&A section from the webinar provides a streamlined overview of the questions asked and responses from our AFA Representative panel. Please refer to the recording for the full details. If you have additional questions or need clarification on anything discussed, please don’t hesitate to contact your Local Reserve Committee.
1. Is the 118.2 TFP maximum for reserves tied to the standard award of 18 reserve days? Does picking up extra reserve days increase the limit, or does giving away days decrease it?
Answer: No. The 118.2 TFP monthly maximum is independent of the number of reserve days you are assigned; it is a limit on what you are scheduled to fly. You should track this number via the Reserve Assignment List (RAL), rather than the “bubble” display in Crew Access, which is not an accurate tracker for this specific contract limit. If you are scheduled over the 118.2 limit, you may respectfully decline the trip. If you exceed the limit, you can request that scheduling remove your subsequent reserve days; you won’t be paid for them, but you may pick up lineholder trips.
2. Can I be tagged for airport standby upon my return to domicile after working an early report transcon, even if my report time was before 4:30 AM Pacific Time?
Answer: Yes, under specific conditions. Contractually, this refers to 4:29 AM local time of the originating flight. If your flight took off after 4:29 AM local time, you can be tagged for standby upon landing. However, if you are an AM reserve landing back in domicile, scheduling must convert you to ER before assigning airport standby that would end after 12:00 PM.
3. Is there a flow chart for reserve pay, similar to the commuter policy, to help us navigate these provisions?
Answer: A single flowchart covering every scenario is unfortunately not possible due to the highly situational nature of our pay structure. However, we are currently reviewing existing tools and resources with the Communications Committee. The goal is to produce updated guides or a video walkthrough to help Flight Attendants navigate Rainmaker and accurately correlate their activity with their paychecks.
4. I am returning to reserve after a few years away and need a refresher on how things work. Where should I start?
Answer: First, review Section 11 of the contract, which contains all reserve provisions and includes changes from the current contract. For practical, day-to-day guidance, refer to the Reserve Survival Guide on the inflight website (under Admin/AFA) or your IMD. For bidding-specific questions, consult the Bidding Guide (inflight website under Scheduling > Monthly Bidding). If you still have questions, reach out directly to your Local Reserve Committee Chairperson via the Local Council menu on the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian website.
5. What are the specific rules regarding Crew Scheduling holding trips in Open Time? Can they hold trips indefinitely to meet operational needs?
Answer: No, Crew Scheduling cannot hold trips indefinitely. After the self-assignment period (10 AM–2 PM), scheduling can pull trips from Open Time to assign to reserves between 2 PM and 6 PM the day before the trip. If not assigned by 6 PM, the trip must be returned to Open Time. For new vacancies prior to 2 PM the day prior to report, the trip must be visible in Open Time for at least 15 minutes; Crew Scheduling may then withhold it for 15 minutes to determine a like sequence for reassignment or JA. If you believe a trip has been held beyond these parameters, call scheduling to request it; per contract, you may be entitled to the trip on a first-come, first-served basis plus an extra TFP if you fly it.
6. Regarding Section 11.E.1.e, scheduling often claims they can reassign to “meet the needs of the operation” without citing a specific reason. What are the only four valid reasons for reassignment prior to reporting, and can we decline non-compliant reassignments?
Answer: Section 11.E.1.e applies to trips prior to reporting. The only four valid reasons for reassignment are: (1) Cancellation, (2) Operational necessity (where no other legal reserves are available), (3) Aircraft downgrade, and (4) A lineholder calling in “well.” These reassignments must be done in inverse seniority order. Once a reserve reports for duty, they can be reassigned at any point, subject to contractual limitations.
7. If I am an AM reserve called out on a trip, can scheduling tag me for airport standby upon my return to domicile if that standby period extends into the PM hours?
Answer: AM reserves cannot be assigned airport standby ending after 12 PM. PM reserves cannot be assigned standby ending after 11:59 PM. If scheduling needs you to sit standby past these cut-offs, they must first convert you to ER. This conversion counts as one of your ER days for the month.
8. What are the current trends in contract violations regarding reserve operations, and have there been any notable improvements?
Answer:
- Trends: We are seeing issues with ISA codes preventing self-assignment (manual workaround: call scheduling; they can either remove the code or re-apply the premium); disputes over 3-hour call-out reimbursement; and a grievance filed regarding the company’s refusal to pyramid pay provisions for airport standby and over-duty pay.
- Improvements: We identified an increase in AM reserves required to sit standby past the last daily flight without being converted to ER. We secured a full audit back to the start of the contract to ensure proper pay. Scheduling is now adding annotations for these situations, and crew pay is conducting weekly audits to prevent misses.
9. I’m new to reserve and confused about using Rainmaker. How can we implement a process to help new hires know exactly when and what information needs to be entered for pay purposes?
Answer: Refer to the “Pay and Benefits” section on the inflight website. Generally, you should only submit a pay query for out-of-order assignment or being contacted outside your contactability period. All other provisions should ideally be automated in Crew Access or caught by weekly crew pay audits. The Committee is actively advocating for increased accuracy and accountability in these automated systems.
10. Can Crew Scheduling deny a request to be released from a deadhead (DHD) on the last leg of a sequence?
Answer: There is a distinction between the two contract provisions. Section 10.X.6 allows reserve Flight Attendants to deadhead home early if the duty period contains no other flying, but the Flight Attendant remains contactable and assignable during their reserve availability period (RAP) upon arrival. Section 10.X.3 allows Flight Attendants to be released from the deadhead entirely with pay, provided no other scheduling obligation exists. If you are specifically asking about being fully released as a reserve, this is a complex issue currently being reviewed by the Negotiating Committee to clarify intent.
11. What are the duty day limitations before I can refuse an assignment?
Answer: Rules differ by where you are. At a domicile/co-terminal, you cannot be required to depart on a flight scheduled to land more than 14 hours from the start of your duty period. At an outstation, you may be required to exceed 14 hours only to complete scheduled flying. If you feel you cannot safely operate, the Fatigue Risk Management Plan (FRMP)—found in Letter of Agreement #6 at the end of the contract—provides the procedure for calling out fatigue.
12. What are the best tips for bidding while on reserve?
Answer: The PBS Subcommittee has published comprehensive documentation on the Inflight website under Scheduling & Bidding > Monthly Bidding > PBS Help. For specific, individual situations (such as commuting needs), email the PBS Subcommittee directly at pbs.qa@alaskaair.com. They are highly knowledgeable and responsive to specific bidding inquiries.
13. Is it legal for AM reserves to be tagged for a redeye after already working a trip?
Answer: Yes, it can be legal, even if it is exhausting. You can be assigned a trip late in your AM reserve availability period and subsequently tagged for additional flying, such as a redeye. If you reach your limit and can no longer operate safely, you may elect to utilize the Fatigue Risk Management Plan (FRMP).
14. When am I required to be at base if I’ve been released from contactability?
Answer: If you’ve been released from contactability, you are not required to be at your base until the report time of your actual assignment. However, if you are a registered air commuter and wish to be protected under the air commuter policy, your second flight must be scheduled to land at least 30 minutes prior to your report time. Refer to Section 36 for details on commuter policies and recovery options.
15. Can I preemptively call out sick for a single reserve day during a block to attend an appointment?
Answer: Yes. You should call scheduling the day before your block starts to inform them that you will be unavailable for a specific date due to an appointment. They will adjust your schedule accordingly.
16. Am I required to answer Crew Scheduling calls while on a layover?
Answer: No. While on a layover, you are not contractually required to answer calls from Crew Scheduling. However, if you do answer, you are required to accept any reassignment they provide. You are back on duty 45 minutes prior to departure (D -45), at which point you must acknowledge and return any calls.
17. Why do some days show as “closed” in the ARC even before Open Time?
Answer: The ARC is a live document affected by many variables, including late medical leaves, resignations, terminations, or incorrect initial calculations by management. Additionally, Flight Attendant-to-Flight Attendant trading can inadvertently lower availability if the trade results in a Flight Attendant being left with only a single reserve day, which does not count toward the ARC minimums. This is an area where the Committee is pushing for more transparency and flexibility.
18. Why are “Release from Contactability” forms often not approved?
Answer: The Committee has noticed that approval rates for these requests are lower than expected. We have requested data from management to understand the rationale behind these denials. Once the data is analyzed, the Committee intends to discuss potential improvements to ensure this contractual provision is being utilized as intended.
19. How do I know if I was tagged after my debrief?
Answer: Per Section 11.D.6, reserves must make positive contact with scheduling within 15 minutes following the conclusion of the 15-minute debrief period (a total of 30 minutes after block-in). Note that Block2Block messaging alone is not considered “positive contact”—if you receive a message, you must call scheduling to confirm.
20. Do I get extra pay if I am reassigned after self-assigning a trip?
Answer: Generally, no. Being reassigned is a standard aspect of reserve life. Unless other specific provisions are triggered, standard reassignments after check-in are legal and do not automatically result in extra pay. If you believe your specific situation warrants extra pay, contact your Local Reserve Committee Chairperson for a review.
