This message is for pre-merger Seattle Based Hawaiian Flight Attendants
Addressing the New 787 Alaska Branded Service
- New Alaska 787-9 Domestic and International services are now live out of SEA
- Domestic service mirrors current Alaska 737 West Coast/Hawaii service
- International service has not been formally agreed to by AFA under Section 29.I.4.
- Some elements were introduced without full real-world operational testing
- First month of SEA/FCO flying will be treated as an evaluation period
- You are still expected to follow procedures and deliver service as written
- Consistency helps identify issues and support advocacy
- Your feedback is critical:
- Intelex → operational/service issues
- B2B Catering Reports → service/catering feedback
- AFA → 787.feedback@afahawaiian.org
- Additional survey coming soon
Aloha SEA Flight Attendants,
As we begin the services that were presented at Immersion Training, we understand that many of you are experiencing a wide range of emotions. There has been a significant amount of information coming out, and we want to take a moment to address an important topic we have been actively working on regarding the Alaska Branded 787-9 services.
Over the past six months, your AFA Inflight Service Committee has been engaged with the company in the development of both the AS 787-9 Domestic & International service. Beginning April 25th, HNL/SEA routes will transition to the AS 787-9 Domestic service and SEA/ICN routes will transition to the AS 787-9 International service. This will be followed by the AS 787-9 International service launches of SEA/FCO (April 28th) and SEA/LHR (May 21st).
AS 787-9 Domestic Service
This domestic service is a “copy and paste” of what is currently offered on the Alaska West Coast/Hawaii flights on their 737s. AFA requested a full inflight test of this service, however management was unable to accommodate due to logistics, resources, and guest expectations. We plan to closely monitor the launch of this service and will be recommending changes based on FA feedback. With the intent of maintaining clear brand identity lines, AFA advocated that the AS 787-9 Domestic service closely mirrored the brand expectations on the 737 today.
AS 787-9 International Service
It is important for you to know that the AS 787-9 International service that was introduced during Seattle Immersion Training, and ultimately rolled out, has not been formally agreed to by AFA. Under the Hawaiian Contract [Section 29.I.4.], AFA must agree to any service implemented on the 787-9.
Four (4) Alaska Branded International test flights were operated with concentrated focus on the business class cabin. We repeatedly reminded management that agreements being established in the business class cabin were contingent that no additions would be made to the already challenging main cabin service model practiced today on HA branded SEA/ICN. Following those four (4) test flights, management moved forward with new products and services that had not been tested in actual operations. This places us in a position where we now need to get an accurate assessment and get your feedback on service timing, safety considerations, flight attendant workload, and efficiencies in order to determine next steps.
Given these circumstances, we will treat the first month of SEA/FCO implementation as an evaluation period. This approach preserves our ability to formally object if necessary. During this time, we will be actively collecting your feedback and experiences and bringing that directly to the company to advocate for adjustments and improvements.
It is important to note that the operation does not stop. While the service has not been agreed to by AFA, we recognize that flying is underway. Flight Attendants are still expected to perform their duties and deliver the service as written, while we continue to advocate on your behalf.
As we move through this period, following written procedures will be important in helping us capture an accurate picture of the operation. We understand the instinct to “make things work,” but doing so can impact our ability to accurately assess the service and advocate effectively. Consistency in following the service as written ensures we are documenting the true operation and identifying where changes are needed.
Your feedback will be essential in this process. Please follow these steps to document your experiences through the proper channels:
- Intelex – for service flow challenges and operational concerns
- Catering Reports – submit through B2B. Select your corresponding flight, scroll to the bottom of the page and enter feedback through the “Catering & Service Feedback” tab. If your flight is no longer available in B2B, please submit an Intelex report
- AFA Reporting – all Intelex and B2B submissions are forwarded to your AFA Inflight Service Committee. If you would like to reach the ISC directly, please email 787.feedback@afahawaiian.org.
The Inflight Service Committee will also be providing an online survey at a later time and encourage you to participate, especially if you identify changes you would like to see.
Mahalo for your continued engagement and professionalism as we navigate this together.
In solidarity,
Council 47 Leadership and AFA Inflight Service Committee
47@afahawaiian.org
787.feedback@afahawaiian.org
