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Don’t Underestimate the Effects of Alcohol

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

  • Many people enjoying celebrating during the holidays, which often includes having alcoholic beverages.
  • Alcohol can affect decision making abilities and reaction times long before other outward signs of intoxication become evident. Overconsuming alcohol can lead to reckless decisions, blackouts, and dangerous consequences.
  • If your holiday plans involve consuming alcohol, remember to drink responsibly. Have a designated sober driver or order a taxi or ride share.

Alcohol’s Effects Begin Quickly and Last Longer Than Most Believe!

Many of us look forward to celebrations during the holidays, yet it is also a time when some people are more likely to drink beyond their limits than at other times of the year. Some people will experience adverse consequences that range from fights to falls to traffic accidents. Unfortunately, myths about drinking persist, including how quickly alcohol affects the body and how long the effects of drinking last. 

People may not recognize that critical decision-making abilities and driving-related skills are already diminished long before they show overt signs of intoxication. Initially, alcohol may appear to act as a stimulant, making you feel upbeat and excited. But don’t be fooled. Alcohol decreases inhibitions and judgment which can lead to reckless decisions. Reaction times get longer and behavior becomes poorly controlled and sometimes even aggressive. Continued drinking causes the slurred speech and loss of balance that is typically associated with being drunk. Alcohol can also cause blackouts—which are gaps in a person’s memory while they were intoxicated. These gaps happen when alcohol temporarily blocks the transfer of memories from short-term to long-term storage—known as memory consolidation. At higher blood alcohol concentration levels, alcohol acts as a clear depressant, which can cause people to pass out. At even higher levels, people who drink face the danger of life-threatening alcohol overdose due to the suppression of vital life functions. 

Even when drinking stops, alcohol’s effects do not stop.  It’s easy to misjudge how long alcohol’s effects last. For example, many people believe that they will begin to sober up—and be able to drive safely—once they stop drinking and have a cup of coffee. The truth is that alcohol continues to affect the brain and body long after the last drink has been finished. Even after drinking stops, alcohol in the stomach and intestine continues to enter the bloodstream, resulting in impaired judgment and coordination for hours. 

So, this holiday season, don’t underestimate the effects of alcohol. Think before you drink. Use a designated sober driver if you know you will be ingesting any alcohol.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2022

Hotel Committee

  • Our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, December 8 to discuss their ongoing program of work to protect and improve the quality of Flight Attendant hotel accommodations and ground transportation providers.
  • The Committee met with representatives from management and the Company’s crew accommodations vendor to review current trends and concerns related to layover hotels and transportation.
  • You can help the Committee by reporting hotel and transportation feedback (both positive and negative) through CrewCare. Feedback that is reported through CrewCare provides the Committee with important data to support keeping hotels that are Flight Attendant favorites or drive change when conditions are unacceptable.

On Thursday, December 8, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met 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), Cassie Dole (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Selwyn Morales (SAN).  Also present were MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson Laura Hinojosa, MEC Hotel Committee Vice Chairperson Jodi Snow, MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson-elect James Bozanich, and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee met with Crew Hotels & Administration Manager Nichole Turner, Director of Crew Planning Mike Ostler, and Managing Director of Operations Staffing & Resource Management Brittany Audette from management.  Representatives from the Company’s crew accommodations vendor Accommodations Plus International (API) and ALPA participated in the meeting as well.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items during the meeting with management and API.  Some items discussed include:

  • Overview of new technology developed by API that will allow management to forecast the number of hotel rooms that may be needed for unscheduled layovers and secure those rooms in advance.  This technology has been implemented and will hopefully keep crewmembers on unscheduled layovers at regular contracted crew hotels more frequently.
  • Review of technology that API has available to provide additional hotel information, communication, and functionality to crew members.  Management is working with IT to determine how the features can possibly be integrated into Alaska systems.
  • Review of working relationship between API and Crew Scheduling, including how things are handled when crewmembers call in with a problem that needs immediate resolution.
  • Statistics about API’s performance in handling unscheduled layover reservation requests.
  • Ongoing issues with lack of room availability when crewmembers arrive at the hotel.  Management and API are working to take action to prevent these situations from happening by taking action with problem hotels.  If crewmembers have to wait for a hotel room upon arrival, it is essential to call Crew Scheduling to report the issue and follow up with a documented report using the feedback function in MyCrewCare.
  • Review of hotel utilization statistics: top cities for hotel usage and spending, makeup of contracted hotels by brand, utilization over expected (relocations, unscheduled layovers, etc.)
  • Issues with ground transportation provider challenges.  The problem is industry-wide and is affecting all airlines.  There is a shortage of drivers and vehicles which is compounding the problem.  Management and API are working to build vendor contracts that focus on improving performance and delivering results.
  • Review of CrewCare reports filed (both complaints and compliments).  Top complaints by crewmembers are: noisy hotel, room assignment issue, no rooms available upon arrival, unclean room, and housekeeping disruption.
  • Review of hotel van times, early/late arrivals to the airport and gate, and KCM-related issues that are causing crewmember delays in arriving to the gate on time.
  • Review of the overall condition of the hotel industry and how the industry is recovering from the pandemic.  The hotel industry continues to show strong performance when compared to where it was pre-pandemic and average rates and occupancy percentages have increased almost everywhere.  The conditions make it challenging to find hotels that are interested in contracted crew business.  Some cities have been and/or will be particularly challenging to find desirable hotels.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Conducting hotel site visits.  Visiting hotels under consideration by management and advocating for management to select the hotel that will provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants.  Our Hotel Committee has conducted site visits in over 25 cities in 2022 and more are anticipated in 2023.
  2. Investigating CrewCare reports.  Reviewing CrewCare reports and working to hold hotel and transportation providers accountable through management and API.
  3. Advocating for an established process for bed bug exposure incidents.  Together with the AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC), working to address management’s lack of a published process for handling confirmed instances of bed bug exposure.  The Committees are in the process of formulating an initial proposal to present to management.

We Want to Hear From You!

If you’ve had an unacceptable or substandard experience with a layover hotel or ground transportation provider, please report the issue!  Our AFA Hotel Committee receives a copy of every CrewCare report filed and each one is read and reviewed.  You can file a CrewCare report using the web app on your IMD home screen or by clicking here. 

Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Hotel Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Hotel Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

MEC Committee Position Election Results

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Last week, the MEC held a Special MEC Meeting for the purpose of interviewing candidates and conducting elections for MEC Committee positions.  We would like to thank everyone who expressed interest in the positions and a willingness to serve.  After careful consideration and much deliberation, the six directly elected Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents have elected the following Flight Attendants to MEC Committee positions:

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee

ChairpersonSeth Heiple
Vice ChairpersonBrad Young
Air Quality RepresentativeYvette Satterlee
LOSA RepresentativeDavid Lake
ASAP Primary RepresentativeBrad Young
ASAP Alternate RepresentativeRonda Ruderman
FRB Primary RepresentativeBrad Young

Benefits Committee

ChairpersonTerry Taylor

Communications Committee

ContributorJustin Wetherell

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

ChairpersonElizabeth Dillon
Vice ChairpersonLisa Haugen

Grievance Committee

ChairpersonStephanie Adams
AssistantBianca Dew
Payroll RepresentativeKiara O’Bryant

Government Affairs Committee

ChairpersonMartin Monteblanco

Hotel Committee

ChairpersonJames Bozanich

Human Rights Committee

ChairpersonChip Hestle

Inflight Service Committee

ChairpersonStephanie Garnett

Inflight Training Committee

ChairpersonMegan Brown
Committee MemberJustin Wetherell
Committee MemberJames Bozanich
Committee MemberLyn Montague
Committee MemberTaylor Opitz

Reserve Committee

ChairpersonJulie Thornton
Vice Chairperson—New Hire & ProbationJarod McNeill

Retirement Committee

ChairpersonTerry Taylor

Scheduling Committee

ChairpersonJake Jones
Vice Chairperson—Pairing ConstructionKaren Ferrell
Vice Chairperson—Preferential Bidding System (PBS)Virginia Fritz
PBS Subcommittee MemberAdam Clarey
PBS Subcommittee MemberMelodie Anderes
PBS Subcommittee MemberKrystal Kehrli
FRB Primary RepresentativeBianca Dew
FRB Alternate RepresentativeKiara O’Bryant

Uniform Committee

ChairpersonKiara O’Bryant

All appointments are effective January 1, 2023.  Terms of appointment coincide with those of the MEC Officers, concluding on December 31, 2025.

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2022

Reserve Committee

  • Our AFA Reserve Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, December 1 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent and advocate for our Reserve Flight Attendants.
  • The Committee also met with management to review a number of specific concerns that were brought forward by Flight Attendants.
  • Your Local Reserve Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any reserve related issues.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

On Thursday, December 1, representatives from our AFA Local Reserve Committees met to discuss their ongoing work to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants.  Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), Conner Gallagher (SEA), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Meghan Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Rebecca Garcia (SAN).  Also present were MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton and MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Jarod McNeill.  The committee also met with Inflight Crew Scheduling Duty Manager Sara Cook from management.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Plans for Initial Training classes for next year.  Management has indicated intent to hire more Flight Attendants. Number of classes and specific numbers of students in each class will be dependent on delivery of new aircraft.
  • Service flights and service training will continue in Initial Training for next year.
  • Top cause of occurrences for probationary Flight Attendants is forgetting to check in for trips and APSB on Block2Block.
  • Increase in requests for assistance with PBS and bidding from new hires.  
  • Reminder to new hire Flight Attendants about the AFA Alaska Online Support Center to report issues, raise concerns, or ask questions.
  • Management staffing within Crew Scheduling.  Four new Crew Scheduling Supervisors started this fall and they are in the process of interviewing for a Director of Crew Scheduling and one additional manager to help support operations. 
  • Review of reserve utilization statistics in all bases.
  • Status of management’s new upgraded telephone system in Crew Scheduling. Management provided statics on call volumes, wait times, and call duration times.
  • Issues and glitches with Crew Access that are affecting Reserve Flight Attendants.  Review of where known issues are documented and newly added issues. 
  • Update on topics of interest that were reviewed at the monthly Scheduling Committee meeting.

The committee is next scheduled to meet on Thursday, March 9.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Assisting Probationary Flight Attendants Through the Reserve Buddy Program.   Answering questions from and providing support to probationary Flight Attendants through an expanded AFA Reserve Buddy program.
  2. Addressing Reserve Contractual Concerns.  Researching and investigating reports from Reserve Flight Attendants and actively ensuring that management is compliant with our contract. 
  3. Developing Additional Tools & Resources for New Flight Attendants.  Working to create a plan to provide more user friendly, easy-to-access resources about the CBA and other job-related information for new Flight Attendants.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Reserve Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Reserve Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2022

Inflight Service Committee

  • Our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met on Wednesday, November 30 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to catering and onboard service/sales.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are facing onboard the aircraft.
  • The Inflight Service Committee continues to work with management to continuously improve onboard catering and engage in discussions leading to future improved processes. Please continue to report catering issues through Block2Block and safety-related issues through ReportIt!

On Wednesday, November 30, our AFA Local 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), Johanna Thomas (LAX), and Chase Vandergrift (SAN). Also present was MEC Inflight Committee Chairperson Stephanie Garnett. The committee met with Senior Vice President of Marketing and Guest Experience Sangita Woerner, Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder, Managing Director of Guest Products Todd Traynor-Corey, Inflight Product and Experience Director David Scotland, and other management representatives from the food & beverage and catering operations. 

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Elite comping program changes.  Flight attendants have asked for a change to the Elite Comping Program and a small modification is coming soon.
  • Marketing focus on California.  Marketing has shared a renewed focus on California.  Efforts will target the Bay Area first and will then shift to Southern California.  Marketing is building brand awareness with new initiatives. 
  • Onboard entertainment. The new holiday music is being loaded in the next few days.  Streaming entertainment will have movies from Paramount and Universal and the movies will be available a little bit longer on our flights.  There will be increased entertainment from HBO and other TV shows.  Many improvements to the fleet Wi-Fi are taking place which will lead to better performance of our systems.  The IT team is attempt to be more proactive at notifying passengers when there may be a possible interruption in the Wi-Fi service.  Flight Attendants are also being notified in advance of issues with the system.  The Committee is appreciative that we are all receiving advanced notice as to further be able to assist passengers.
  • Coffee. The Committee is hopeful that aft galley coffee showers will be a thing of the past.  A new brew basket has been designed and the first aircraft install is early this week.  New coffee carafes that will keep coffee at the correct serving temperature are also being reviewed.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Addressing ice issues.  The Committee has been invited by management to participate in a workshop to explore solutions for ice issues.  All opportunities for improvement will be examined.  Flight Attendant reporting has been instrumental in pinpointing the issues with both dry ice and wet ice .  The Committee is pleased that work is starting on this project early in 2023.  The goal is that ice problems be resolved prior to summer. 
  2. Providing input on tools. The Committee is working with management to review new tools and equipment.  The new slotted trays for the Premium Class and water service should be available soon on aircraft serving premium long haul routes. We will continue to advocate for tools that allow us to provide excellent service in a safe manner.
  3. Advocating for realistic service levels.  The Committee continues to advocate for testing proposed service level changes prior to their inception to ensure the changes meet passenger needs and safe service standards.  Committee Members will be testing the tray/water service with the new slotted trays as soon as practical.

We Want to Hear from You!

Please continue to report any catering issues or problems with onboard service using the catering feedback function in Block2Block.  If you’ve experienced a safety-related issue, please submit a report through ReportIt!  Your reports provide the Committee with the data needed to continue pushing management for meaningful improvements in our workplace.

Do you have other feedback for the Committee or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Inflight Service Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Inflight Service Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

November 1 marks the beginning of Native American Heritage Month in the United States. Also known as National Native American Heritage Month, this celebration originated from efforts to recognize an American Indian Day in the early 20th century. In 1916, New York became the first state to officially proclaim American Indian Day following a declaration […]

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, October 28, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met in person at Alaska Airlines Corporate Headquarters 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), […]

Sick Leave Survey Now Open

Your Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) prioritizes your health and well-being and seeks to understand which aspects of our paid sick leave policy matter most to you. We encourage you to participate in the survey, which is open until Tuesday, November 11 at Noon PT, to ensure your voice is heard in shaping our support for your healthcare needs.

SEA Domicile Negotiations – October 2025 Update #2

This session was marked by the Negotiating Committee’s strong advocacy for protections and enhancements that would support the Seattle base as a viable option for transferring Flight Attendants. With insights from Ryan St. John, the Vice President of Finance, Planning, and Investor Relations for Alaska Airlines, the Negotiating Committee highlighted the necessity of combining data-driven strategies with hands-on experience and sufficient resources for long-term success.

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 8 – October 2025

During our recent negotiations, the Joint Negotiation Committee focused on key sections, particularly reaching a Tentative Agreement on Lodging and Transportation, which improves food availability and transportation safety. We also engaged with Council 19 to clarify negotiation processes and differences between contracts. Stay tuned for our upcoming session with management from November 18 to 20.

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