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Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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Including Worker’s Compensation, Maternity, FMLA, and Leaves of Absence
Tools & Resources

What Does This Committee Do?
The Benefits Committee works to educate and provide assistance to Flight Attendants in all matters involving benefits (including insurance, maternity, worker’s compensation, and leave of absence programs)

Download the Benefits Committee Member duties and responsibilities

Specific Duties and Responsibilities
  • Work with management to resolve any concerns involving claims submitted under benefits programs
  • Act in an advisory role to the LEC Officers on matters related to benefits, insurance, maternity, worker’s compensation, and leave of absence programs
  • Actively communicate information of interest to the Flight Attendants. Provide information to the Communications Committee for inclusion in Local Council communications.
Why Would I Contact This Committee?

The Benefits Committee is available to help you with:

  • Company provided or voluntary benefits programs
  • Medical or maternity leaves of absence
  • Family medical leave (FMLA)
  • On-the-job injuries and workers compensation procedures

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Who Do I Contact?

For assistance, contact any member of your Local Benefits Committee.  You can find a list of Committee Members on your Local Council Committees page.  For your convenience, a list of Committee Chairs and links to the Local Committee lists are below.

ANC

Debi Wallstrom
Tallee Wellman-Ullom
Maki Bogart
anc.benefits.chair@afaalaska.org

View the ANC Committee List >>

LAX

Contact LEC Officers
lax.benefits.chair@afaalaska.org

View the LAX Committee List >>

PDX

Ann LaRue
pdx.benefits.chair@afaalaska.org

View the PDX Committee List >>

SAN

Sonia Quackenbush
san.benefits.chair@afaalaska.org

View the SAN Committee List >>

SEA

Kathy O’Malley
sea.benefits.chair@afaalaska.org

View the SEA Committee List >>

SFO

Julie Pearson
sfo.benefits.chair@afaalaska.org

View the SFO Committee List >>

MEC

Terry Taylor, MEC Chairperson
benefits@afaalaska.org

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Links

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Committee News

View the Benefits Committee news archives

Health Benefits Coverage & Staffing Adjustment Leaves

Posted: November 6, 2023

Benefits Committee Our Benefits Committee has been notified that there are multiple issues with health benefits coverage for those returning from staffing adjustment leaves (SAL). If you are on a staffing adjustment leave or have recently returned from one, please be aware of the following. Re-Enrolling After A Leave While we disagree that one should […]

Benefits Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2023

Posted: October 26, 2023

Benefits Committee On Tuesday, October 24, representatives from our Local AFA Benefits Committees met to discuss their ongoing work related to Flight Attendant work-related benefits, including insurance, maternity, worker’s compensation, and leave of absence programs. Representing you at the meeting were Deb Wallstrom (ANC), Kathy O’Malley (SEA), Ann LaRue (PDX), Julie Pearson (SFO), Majo Tanco, […]

New Medical Billing Protections For You

Posted: February 9, 2022

New rules that went into place on January 1, 2022 will provide new billing protections related to some medical care expenses. The new rules provide expanded protections against the practice of “balance billing” by providers in certain instances. You can read more about these new protections at www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers. 

Management vs. State and Local Laws – Part 3

Posted: September 20, 2021

Management vs. State and Local Laws – Part 3 Master Executive Council (MEC), Grievance Committee, Benefits Committee This is the third in a series reporting on management’s opposition to various state and local laws, the latest developments to complex state law litigations related to these laws that are playing out in Washington and California, and […]

Management vs. State and Local Laws – Part 2

Posted: September 16, 2021

Management vs. State and Local Laws – Part 2 Master Executive Council (MEC), Grievance Committee, Benefits Committee This is the second in a series reporting on management’s opposition to various state and local laws, the latest developments to complex state law litigations related to these laws that are playing out in Washington and California, and […]

Mahalo From Your AFA Hawaiian Communications Committee

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants Aloha Hawaiian Flight Attendants, On behalf of your AFA Hawaiian Communications Committee, we would like to extend our heartfelt mahalo to each of you for your engagement and support throughout the years. It has been an honor to serve you and to help ensure that important communications […]

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025

On Thursday, June 12, our AFA Local Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to raise awareness and create positive change within our workplace and community. Your representatives attending the meeting included Louise Borras (pmAS LAX), Aaron Miller (PDX), Erika Daniel (SAN), and Freddy Vega (SEA). MEC Human Rights Committee […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – June 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Updated 06/13/2025 17:56 PT to remove a reference that indicated that there were no PVR layovers in July. There are in fact scheduled PVR layovers; these crews will be relocated to the crew hotel’s sister property. On Monday, June 9, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met […]

Celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month

June 1 marks the beginning of LGBTQ Pride Month in the United States. This celebration originated to honor the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan in 1969, a significant milestone in the LGBTQ civil rights movement. On June 28, 1970, the first Pride March was held in New York City to commemorate the first anniversary of the […]

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, May 15, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Naomi Parcell (ANC), Ross DeJong (SEA), Todd Horn (PDX), Raymond Ramirez (SFO), and […]

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