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Building Resilience: A New Year’s Guide for Flight Attendants

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

As a Flight Attendant, resilience is one of your greatest tools. The nature of the profession —long hours, irregular schedules, and dealing with diverse passenger needs—can be taxing. Building resilience ensures you can handle challenges effectively while maintaining your well-being. In addition to prioritizing your physical health, below are some often overlooked strategies to strengthen your resilience as we roll into the new year.

1. Cultivate a Positive Mindset

  • Focus on Growth: View challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. This shift in perspective can make difficulties feel more manageable.
  • Practice Gratitude: Reflect daily on things you’re thankful for. This simple habit can improve your outlook and emotional well-being.

2. Develop Healthy Coping Mechanisms

  • Embrace Mindfulness: Engage in practices like meditation or deep breathing to stay present and reduce stress.
  • Channel Stress Productively: Turn to hobbies or physical activities that help you unwind and recharge.

3. Strengthen Support Networks

  • Lean on Colleagues: Share your experiences and seek advice from fellow Flight Attendants who understand the unique challenges of the role.
  • Nurture Relationships: Make time for loved ones and build a network of support you can rely on during tough times.

4. Learn from Setbacks

  • Reflect and Adjust: Treat setbacks as learning experiences. Reflect on what went wrong and how you can approach similar situations differently in the future.
  • Stay Persistent: Resilience isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about bouncing back stronger each time.

Final Thoughts

Resilience is a skill that can be cultivated over time through intentional actions and habits. By focusing on your mindset, building strong support systems, and maintaining your physical and emotional health, you can navigate the demands of your job with greater confidence and ease. As you step into the new year, commit to these strategies and watch your resilience grow, empowering you to thrive both on and off the job.

AFA EAP is Here for You

AFA EAP is a support service provided by Flight Attendants for Flight Attendants, their families, and partners.  Our EAP peer representatives are trained to offer three distinct yet interconnected services: assessment, support, and referral services; professional standards; and critical incident response. You can reach out to us at any time for confidential support by calling (949) 470-0493 or visiting afaalaska.org/eap for more ways to connect.

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2025

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)

  • On January 8, our AFA Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work representing Flight Attendants’ interests in safety, health, and security.
  • The committee met with management to receive updates and discuss issues faced by Flight Attendants onboard the aircraft.
  • Reporting safety concerns is crucial in these challenging times. Use ReportIt! to file FAIR, ASAP, and fatigue reports. Contact your Local ASHSC if you need assistance.

On Wednesday, January 8, our AFA Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) 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 Deb Wallstrom (ANC), David Lake (SEA), Blair Kimball (PDX), Brad Young (SFO), Carin Merritt (LAX), and Eva Gatus (SAN). Also present was MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple.

The Committee met with Director of Inflight Safety & Compliance Geri Jarrett, Cabin Safety Manager Heidi Stiley, Inflight Services and Data Program Manager Jesse Sexton, Manager of Inflight Safety Programs Johanna Giese, Manager of Inflight Training Delivery Cody Kaifes, Senior Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder, and Corporate Security Compliance Ops Program Manager David Stewart. 

The next scheduled Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee meeting is Thursday, April 3, 2025.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several items when meeting with management. Some items discussed include (items which are Security Sensitive Information are not included):

  • Paper Clips. Recent events showcased that paperclips are hard to find during an emergency decompression. Action: Geri has a solution in the works to wrap up by the first quarter. Looking for a manual release tool to be placed under the jumpseat on Flight Attendant badge or both.
  • Lap Child Carry-On Bag. Discussed an exception for diaper bags for parents with lap children. The current policy is that only infants with ticketed seats have their own one-plus-one carry-on bag allotment. Action: Geri will open this up for exploration. Some carriers do not count diaper bags towards the carry-on bag limit. 
  • Opening Aircraft Doors for Ventilation. Operation is allowed, provided Flight Attendants follow the procedure in the FAM and do not open the aircraft door more than 12 inches without fall protection in place. Action: Management is open to providing additional guidance if needed. 
  • Air Quality CBT. ASHSC requests Inflight add an Air Quality CBT or RT topic on air quality events. Action: The development team is developing an Air Quality video for Flight Attendants. Whether this will become a CBT or RT topic is yet to be determined. 
  • Unsupervised Passengers Waiting on Jet Bridge for Claim-At-Gate Baggage. There is a lack of consistency with CSAs returning to the aircraft ten minutes after arrival. Passengers may not remain unattended in the jet bridge. Flight Attendants have reported having to stay at the aircraft to attend to passengers in the jet bridge beyond the debriefing period. Action: Johanna will continue to monitor Flight Attendant reports and work with AOCS to determine the problem. 
  • Internet and Voice-Over-Internet Call Usage. We have noticed an uptick in passengers attempting to make calls using voice-over-Internet while in flight. This is not allowed per company policy. Action: Matthew noted that this restriction is covered in the inflight guide/menu, which can be used to show passengers the policy. This policy is for passenger experience and comfort. In addition, the outgoing portion of these calls uses too much internet bandwidth on the aircraft. 
  • Pets in Cabin Carriers Do Not Fit in Front of Aisle Seats C and D. Pets in the cabin that do not fit under the passenger’s assigned seat are creating unnecessary boarding delays and requiring additional management by Flight Attendants. We request that passengers with pets in the cabin not be assigned these seats. Action: Matthew will approach AOCS to determine what can be done to address the issue. Changing the booking system is a more challenging ask and not an immediate solution. 
  • Inflatable Mattresses. Passengers continue to bring inflatable mattresses and other items not allowed by the company onboard. We want to ensure the reservations and the Alaska website give passengers the correct guidance. Action: Matthew will take the request back to the web team to see if they can add information about these items to the passenger-facing website and make sure Reservations has updated information on these policies. 
  • Flight Closed and Fully Boarded. During active boarding, agents close the flight while passengers are still lined up in the jetway and incorrectly state that the flight is “fully boarded.” We believe all passengers should be onboard (and seated) before closing the flight. Action: Jesse will take this back to AOCS and continue to monitor the situation. CSA guidance says to close flight when boarding is “complete,” there needs to be direct guidance on what “complete” means. 
  • Passenger Seating Position for Taxi, Takeoff, and Landing. ASHSC is seeking clarification in the FAM about the definition of “seated” for passengers. We want the FAM to clearly state that passengers must be seated upright with their seatbelts low and tight for taxi, takeoff, and landing. Action: Jesse will benchmark other carriers to ensure we have the highest safety standards for our passengers and appropriate guidance for Flight Attendants. 
  • Window Shade Closure by Fleet Service. Fleet Service personnel have recently been closing window shades to signal that they have cleaned the row. We do close the shades when needed to keep the cabin cool. However, we do not support closing them as a general practice as it reduces safety by making it more difficult for passengers and crew to see if there is a danger outside of the aircraft. Action: Jesse will take the concern back to the stakeholders for discussion. Marketing is looking to align window shade procedures year-round.

What the Committee is Working On

  1. Decompression. We are looking at ways to improve our decompression procedures and systems. We would like to see automated PA added before the cabin altitude reaches 14,000 feet so that we can prepare for a possible decompression. By the time the masks drop at 14,000 feet, we are already experiencing symptoms of hypoxia, which degrades our ability to respond to the emergency. We also want to emphasize being and staying seated during decompression events as long as there is communication with the pilots and the aircraft is descending so we are not put at unnecessary risk and can perform emergency duties once at a safe altitude or on the ground.
  2. Turbulence. We are seeing an increase in turbulence-related injuries. We would like to see changes made to improve communication between pilots and Flight Attendant crew about turbulence and to clarify how we need to respond to different turbulence-related communication. We would also like to find ways to improve cabin management and the use of the fasten-seatbelt sign.
  3. Working to change or mitigate the impact of several recent policy changes:
    1. Single door catering
    1. Switching to ground service power with passengers onboard
    1. CSAs leaving the deplaning door after arrival

We Want to Hear From You!

If you’ve encountered any safety-related issues at work, you can help the Committee advocate for improvement and change by submitting a report. You can use ReportIt! to submit Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) reports, and fatigue reports. If you need clarification or assistance on what type of report to file, please get in touch with a member of your Local ASHSC.

Your Local ASHSC is always ready to represent your voice to management. Please don’t hesitate to let us know about any issues or concerns you want us to bring forward. We would also love to hear any other feedback you may have for the Committee. You can find our contact information on the ASHSC page of the AFA Alaska website.

Southern California Wildfires

Master Executive Council (MEC)

The wildfires in the Los Angeles area are devastating, and the situation is rapidly evolving, including the spread of the fires and connectivity outages. If you are in the area, please stay safe and evacuate if authorities advise you to do so. For live updates, click here.

AFA EAP is on alert and available at 1-800-424-2406. To locate shelters near you, text “SHELTER” & your zip code to 43362.

If you have been affected by the fires or are helping family members evacuate, please contact Crew Scheduling if you need assistance with your schedule. Your AFA Local Councils are available to help if you encounter any difficulties.

Resources to protect you and your family before, during, and after a wildfire can be found at ready.gov/wildfires. 

Flight Attendants Outside of Los Angeles – Our AFA Siblings Need Our Help

One action you can take immediately to help is to donate to the AFA Disaster Relief Fund and share the donation link with family and friends. Together, we can help take care of our LAX Flight Attendant family.

Los Angeles Flight Attendants

If you have been evacuated and need a place to stay, LA 211 has partnered with Airbnb. Anyone evacuated due to the fires can stay in an Airbnb for one week at no charge. Just dial 2-1-1 or visit Airbnb.org for more information.

AFA Disaster Relief Fund

The AFA Disaster Relief Fund is actively monitoring messages for applications. Any AFA member and RAFA member in good standing who is involuntarily displaced from their primary residence for seven or more days because of a natural disaster is eligible for a one-time per calendar year gift of $500. If a member would like to apply for AFA Disaster Relief Funds, they can go to www.afacwa.org/drf and download the Disaster Relief Fund Application. Submission instructions are included on the site.

Additionally, members can apply for FEMA financial relief at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or 800-621-3362.  

FEMA disaster assistance may help with a range of needs including:  

  • Serious Needs Assistance. Money to help one pay for essential items such as food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies.
  • Displacement Assistance. Money to help with housing needs. If one cannot return to their home because of the disaster, this money can be used to stay in a hotel, with family and friends, or other options while one looks for a rental unit.
  • Other eligible expenses. This includes expenses from things like rental assistance, basic home repairs and property losses.

If you have any questions, please contact Linda Foster (lfoster@afacwa.org) with the AFA EAP Department.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – December 2024

Scheduling Committee

  • On December 17, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work representing Flight Attendants’ interests in lineholder scheduling.
  • The Committee met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems Flight Attendants face with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.
  • Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to assist with any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help!

On Tuesday, December 17, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons/Representatives met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Kanako Yamado (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, and MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz. 

The committee met with Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Manager of Crew Planning Jeffery Hunt, Manager of Product Management Lilah Behrend, Inflight Crew Scheduling Supervisor Matthew Trujillo, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several topics during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

Scheduling Committee Concerns

  • Crew Scheduling Hold Times. Discussion focused on updating and providing communication protocols to Flight Attendants when experiencing extended hold periods over the phone. The agreement is to maintain normal contact unless a different approach is agreed upon.
  • COVID Protections. It’s confirmed that COVID protections remain in effect for offline commuting. Review the LOAs still in effect.
  • End-of-Year AFA Alaska Support Center Tickets. To ensure all open issues are settled, an emphasis was placed on the urgency of resolving and closing out end-of-year ticketing issues.
  • Ground Staff Widebody Aircraft Training Concerns. Significant concerns exist regarding the upcoming introduction of a widebody Hawaiian Airlines aircraft to ANC operations. Staff are currently untrained on this aircraft type, raising questions about operational logistics and potential reductions in Hawaii flying. More information on this situation is critical as spring approaches.
  • Daylight Savings Review. There was a discussion about the confusion surrounding crew reporting times during the daylight savings transition. A recent social media post indicates a need for clarity in communication.
  • Charter Issues. The denial of base turns for charters was raised, alongside a commitment from scheduling to provide necessary training. Concerns were also expressed regarding the limitation of one charter bid per day, with options to add a charter as a base turn if flying is non-charter.
  • Transportation Delays. Significant issues with crew transportation in LIR were highlighted, including long wait times for transport to hotels. This has led to discussions about changing hotel arrangements to improve the situation.
  • Crew Access. A need for improved notification systems for out-of-base trips was voiced; there is a current bug that sometimes doesn’t prompt the Flight Attendant when picking up a trip out of their home domicile.
  • Redeye Flight Loss. Crew members expressed frustration over losing redeye flights to the East Coast, noting management’s lack of timely communication regarding schedule changes. They are only learning about changes through bid packets, which is not ideal.
  • Van Delays. There were reports of delays in getting crews to hotels after flights, with a suggestion that communication could have been faster. Crews found themselves waiting at the airport instead of being transported to their accommodations. Reminder to file feedback reports with API for all hotel and transportation issues. This falls under the scope of the Hotel Committee, and they need more visibility into these concerns. 
  • Uber Coordination. Issues with Uber transportation at JFK were discussed, highlighting the inconvenience of being assigned to distant pick-up zones without prior notice. This created long walks for crew members and significant wait times.
  • Personal Drops. A grievance regarding personal drop policies will be filed soon, with expectations that the resolution process could take several months.

PBS

  • Bidding & Awards. January’s bidding process was described as busy yet inconsistent, with high coverage levels leading to challenges in securing legal runs while also managing reserves. 
  • Upcoming Meetings. Several meetings are scheduled, including a discussion with NAVBLUE and a meeting planned to address the separation of pilots and Flight Attendants on NAVBLUE systems in 2025.
  • Future Releases. No further updates have been provided beyond the 25.1 release, indicating a stable but unchanging landscape for now.

Pairing Construction

  • February Planning. As the group prepares for pairing construction for February, they are seeking more information on flight schedules, particularly with the hope of reviewing outbound and inbound flights for better operational awareness.

Crew Planning

  • Transportation Adjustments. Flight timing for LIR to LAX has been adjusted due to past cancellations tied to customs timing. The new location for crews is being considered to avoid long transport times.
  • Staffing Updates. The committee reviewed the status of staffing leaves (approximately 380), projecting crew awards and establishing a plan to open bids shortly, along with ensuring base numbers of availability are communicated clearly.

Crew Scheduling

  • Absence Rates. An upward trend in absence rates was noted, with sick leave calls increasing. The committee is monitoring these trends closely as they could affect overall operations and flexibility.
  • Premium Pay. There was a review of premium pay structures for December, which have been implemented to assist with operational needs, especially during high absence periods on the weekend.

Flight Attendant Crew Pay

  • Flight Attendant Crew Pay Inquiries. A high volume of resolved queries regarding Flight Attendants’ pay was reported, with a focus on enhancing the clarity of the claims process and ensuring Flight Attendants have access to necessary information for filing claims.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. NAVBLUE. The PBS Subcommittee is seeking feedback on how they can improve their assistance to flight crews regarding bid awards and understanding results. They provided both in-person and virtual meetings for this purpose. The PBS Subcommittee is working with management on PBS base sit budgets.  Management has the committee keep track of how money is being spent to assist flight crews with their bidding. We appreciate your participation in virtual and in person base sits. 
  2. Pairings Survey. There is a discussion of reviewing bidding data from NAVBLUE to see what kind of pairings Flight Attendants are interested in flying instead of sending out a survey. We will continue to review options. 
  3. Chime Communications. To reduce phone call volumes, Flight Attendants may soon be able to chat with Crew Scheduling via app/Microsoft Teams. The chat will be for Flight Attendant-initiated contact only. The function is currently in the early stages of development and still needs to be discussed with Labor Relations management and our MEC. Testing and implementation are continuing over the next few weeks. We are working on a letter of agreement for implementation, which is still pending review. 
  4. Crew Scheduling. A monthly review of PowerPoint presentations covered various aspects such as reserve utilization, detailed breakdowns, sick leave (week by week and year over year), premium, personal drops, and other relevant agenda items.
  5. Crew Planning. Like Crew Scheduling, there was a monthly review of PowerPoint presentations that covered subsequent month staffing, trip length distribution, Flight Attendant block hours, special initiatives (e.g., IROPs), commutability, and other relevant agenda items. Statistics around teaming continue to be reviewed. Crew Planning continues to maximize pairing construction and optimizing teaming strategies to minimize costs and ensure that crews (Flight Attendants) can stay together for multiple segments.
  6. ITS. Representatives from ITS joined the scheduling meeting to provide updates on NAVBLUE, Crew Access, internal systems, and Block2Block. These updates include performance reviews, data analysis, and information about future releases. 

We Want to Hear From You!

Whether you have feedback for the Committee, concerns to share, or items you’d like brought up with management – don’t hesitate to let us know. Your Local Scheduling Committee is here to be your voice to management. You can easily open a support ticket on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or directly contact us using the information provided on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

AFA Alaska Statement On Recent Severe Turbulence Incidents

Master Executive Council (MEC)

AFA Representatives have been informed that several flights experienced severe turbulence yesterday, resulting in injuries to some Flight Attendants. Since then, various AFA officers and committee members have been actively working with inflight management to ensure that all affected Flight Attendants receive the necessary care and that all contractual provisions are upheld.

We want to recognize the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by our outstanding crews in handling these challenging situations. These events highlight the role of Flight Attendants as safety professionals and first responders onboard the aircraft. AFA Representatives are providing support to all Flight Attendants affected by these incidents.

As a reminder, detailed information about turbulence and procedures for responding to different levels of turbulence can be found in Section 2.400 of the Flight Attendant Manual. Regularly reviewing this information is beneficial for ensuring your safety and that of your fellow crew members and passengers.

Additionally, our AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee is available to provide support whenever needed. Please feel free to reach out at (949) 470-0493 or find contact information at afaalaska.org/eap.

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few months and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that […]

Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives

We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on November 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged committees of both airlines. They’ll work closely with the Local Committee Chairpersons from all […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

On Monday, October 13, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected: MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee […]

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