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Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – November 2025

On Monday, November 10, 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 (SAN), with MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich facilitating the meeting.

The Committee met with Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Manager of Crew Hotels and Administration Diane Szubert, Senior Crew Hotels Support Specialist Nichole Turner and Crew Hotels Support Specialist LaFay Williams. 

Our next meeting with management is scheduled for Monday, December 1.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several items during the meeting with management, most of which focused on hotel decisions and challenges in our layover markets. Some items discussed include:

  • Ground Transportation Issues and CBA Provisions (pmAS): We continue to see a number of MyCrewCare write-ups regarding ground transportation. We greatly appreciate you informing the Committee of your concerns. At no time should Flight Attendants enter a vehicle that cannot safely accommodate all crewmembers and their luggage. Luggage should never be required to be held on your lap or in your foot space. We would like to reiterate the options available to you, as well as the provisions to utilize in the CBA.   
    • Call Crew Scheduling – If you have any concerns with the transportation provided, whether it is late or inadequate, this should be your first step. Not only does this start the clock for transportation wait times, but it also allows for alternative arrangements to be made to get you to your layover or the airport safely.  
    • Late Transportation – CBA section 34.B.7 allows you to arrange and submit for reimbursement the actual cost of alternative transportation to/from the airport when it is not provided within thirty-five minutes (:35) of block-in or within ten minutes (:10) of the scheduled departure time from the hotel.  Alternatively, if you do not want to send for reimbursement, you can ask that Crew Scheduling arrange this on your behalf at the thirty-five-minute (:35) mark.   
    • Transportation Wait Times – Informing Crew Scheduling will also document and start the clock on your transportation wait time. If transportation or alternate transportation has not arrived within sixty minutes (:60) of block-in, Flight Attendants may request compensation for their wait time. Please review the process outlined in section 34.D.1 of the CBA.
  • Housekeeping Items: Much of our meeting focused on internal processes to improve workflow, planning, and communication between our Committee, management, and API.  
    • 2026 Hotel Site Visit Schedule – Management has sent the hotel contract expiration list for 2026 to the Committee. Decisions on this list dictate whether a hotel site visit will be performed in that market or not. Typical discussion topics include renewing the hotel’s contract, exploring the market for alternative hotel options (typically due to crew member complaints), or identifying opportunities for company cost savings. Your positive feedback also helps us advocate for maintaining a property in our portfolio, so please continue to send in your compliments!  
    • Hotel Site Visit Planning – the Committee received last-minute notice of needed site visits in December. We requested to be informed when these discussions first begin so we can plan accordingly. We also discussed the general site visit itinerary and format, focusing on areas that can be improved upon.  
    • FIFA World Cup – The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 across three North American countries. Many host cities are served by Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines. Because this is a major event, Crew Hotels is taking steps to protect our crew accommodations. We hope to keep layovers at our usual hotels, but some relocations may be needed. For more details, please visit this link.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Conducting Hotel Site Visits: The Hotel Committee conducts site visits to hotels under consideration by management to ensure that the selected options provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. 
    1. Pre-Merger Alaska: Crew Hotels has added some last-minute site visits to close out 2025. The remaining site visits are: SFO (November), MCO – Long Stay (November), ORD – Short Stay (December), PDX – Short Stay (December), SJO – Long and Short Stay (December), and IAD – Long Stay (December). Additionally, we have been given the date for KEF (February 2026), which will be operated on Alaska metal.  
    1. Pre-Merger Hawaiian: Site visits have been completed in PDX, SFO, and LAS, with no future dates announced so far. 
  2. Alaska + Hawaiian Hotel Committee Integration: On October 1, 2025, the pre-merger Hawaiian and Alaska Hotel Committees officially merged. Matt Mitchell, who previously served as the Hawaiian MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson, is now the Council 43 (HNL) Local Hotel Committee Chairperson. The Committee has learned a great deal from him and is excited to continue working together as we improve the Hotel Committee to better support all Flight Attendants. Currently, we are focusing on aligning our backend processes. Since we have a diverse network, different CBAs, and are adding API to the Hawaiian operation, full alignment will happen in phases. We will keep everyone updated as things progress, and we look forward to more chances to connect with Members.

We Want to Hear From You!

Our Hotel Committee relies on your feedback, whether positive or negative. Please report via CrewCare (pmAS) or the FA Crew Accommodations Feedback form (pmHA), which ensures your experience with a layover hotel or ground transportation is addressed. These are the only official way to report issues, as the Committee does not monitor social media channels.

Each CrewCare and feedback form submission is forwarded to our AFA Hotel Committee, Crew Hotels (Alaska/Hawaiian management), API, and the hotel or ground transportation provider. This ensures quick action can be taken to correct or fix the issue for the next crew member. It also allows us to monitor hotel and transportation trends. Pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants can quickly file a CrewCare report using the web app on your IMD home screen or by clicking here.

Do you have any other feedback you would like to share with the Committee or any specific items you want us to bring up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Hotel Committee is here to represent you and ensure management hears your voice. You can find our contact information on the Hotel Committee page of the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian website.

Apps To Help You Save Money On Food

Our AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee recognizes that Flight Attendants may be facing increasing challenges when it comes to accessing affordable food, whether on the road or at home. We want you to know that you are not alone. In response to these difficulties, we have compiled a list of apps to help you save money on food and find practical solutions during these uncertain times. Your well-being matters to us, and we are here to help.

Note: Find these apps using the search function on your device’s app store. Not all apps are available on all devices or operating systems.

Flashfood helps users save up to 50% on supermarket staples, including milk, bread, butter, eggs, and more. The app features items marked down because they are nearing their “use by” date. Instead of sending food to a landfill, Flashfood partners with grocery stores across North America to sell these items at a deep discount. All items are still fresh and safe to eat. Users can browse deals from local chains, including Stop & Shop, Giant Eagle, Meijer, and Tops.

Too Good To Go partners with local grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries, and cafés to offer special “surprise bags” filled with unsold food at a significant discount. Instead of discarding unsold items, businesses make them available through the app. Users can browse deals, reserve a bag, pay through the app, and pick up their order during a designated time frame.

Basket is a crowdsourced grocery shopping app designed to help users compare prices at stores within a 5-mile radius. After creating a shopping list, the app compares prices across stores and provides real-time pricing updates, including available coupons and discounts. Users report saving both time and up to $100 a month using Basket.

Food On the Table helps users create personalized shopping lists and offers recipe suggestions. The app identifies required ingredients and locates the most affordable sources nearby. Users can add their own recipes, and the app identifies the most affordable stores for those ingredients. Additional features include recipe emailing and organized shopping categories, helping users save both money and time.

Ibotta enables users to earn cash by adding offers, shopping, and uploading a photo of their receipt. By linking a store loyalty card, users can skip uploading photos. The app supports a variety of retailers. Users can withdraw cash from their Ibotta account once they reach $20, with three withdrawal options: bank transfer, PayPal, or digital gift cards (with a minimum of $25 for gift cards).

What You Need To Know About The FAA Capacity Cuts

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans for a 10% reduction in flight capacity across 40 markets, starting this Friday. According to news reports, these schedule reductions will begin on Friday and will gradually increase throughout the weekend until they reach the full 10% by the following week. Reports also suggest that all Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendant bases are likely to be included in the markets affected by these capacity cuts. AFA International President Sara Nelson issued a statement regarding these reductions yesterday.

Management is aware of this announcement and is currently awaiting finalized guidance from the FAA to make necessary adjustments to operations. Our Master Executive Council (MEC) and Scheduling Committee are in contact with Inflight and Crew Scheduling management and are waiting for further information regarding their plans once they receive additional details from the FAA. In addition, AFA International has proactively reached out to management to push for the implementation of protections and mitigations for Flight Attendants attempting to commute to work in light of potential delays and cancellations.

Review Your Contract Now In Case Your Flying Is Affected

As these capacity reductions take effect, you may experience cancellations or changes to your flying schedule. In anticipation of this, our Scheduling Committee recommends that you familiarize yourself with your contractual rights and understand the options available to you if you are impacted.

Pre-Merger Alaska Flight Attendants: Review sections 10.R (Same-Day Scheduling Changes and Reassignments) and 10.S (Pre-Cancellations), as well as the Reassignment Flowchart and Pre-Cancellation Flowchart.

Pre-Merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants: Review section 7.J (Reassigning of Flight Attendants).

Questions?

If you have any questions that remain unanswered after reviewing the contract, please reach out to your Local Scheduling Committee (pmAS) or your LEC Officers (pmHA) for further assistance. 

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—December 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

In accordance with Article VI.C of the AFA Alaska MEC Policy and Procedure Manual, the terms of office for the MEC Committee Chairpersons and other MEC-level positions align with those of the MEC Officers. Since the current term for the MEC Officers will conclude on December 31, 2025, the MEC will soon review all pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and other MEC-level positions.

Committees that have already merged or will merge before the beginning of next year go through a separate process for interviews and elections and will not be included in this review. Information about interviews for these positions will be communicated separately.

This review will take place over several months to allow extra transition time for committees that may benefit from it. This approach differs from previous election cycles, where all interviews were conducted simultaneously near the end of the term. Although the interviews will occur well before the current MEC term concludes, those elected to these positions will not assume their roles until January 1, 2026.

The final committees to undergo the review process will be the Benefits, Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards, and Retirement Committees. During the upcoming December Regular MEC Meeting, interviews will be conducted for the following positions:

General Qualifications

Qualifications for all MEC-level Chairperson positions include: 

  • Current Alaska Airlines AFA Member in good standing.
  • Currently qualified Flight Attendant or, if on an approved leave of absence, last qualification must have been within 36 months prior to start of term.
  • Previous experience as a Committee Member or Chairperson is preferred.
  • Previous committee-specific training preferred.
  • Strong ability to lead and coordinate a diverse team in a collaborative environment.
  • Ability to attend meetings as required, both via videoconference and in person.
  • Strong computer skills, including a good working knowledge of Google Workspace (email, calendar, Drive, and other applications) and Microsoft 365.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write membership communications, respond professionally to internal and external emails, prepare reports, plan meetings (including scheduling, logistics, and agenda preparation), and take minutes.
  • Ability to meet deadlines, delegate responsibilities, and follow up on assigned tasks.

Qualifications for Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee positions include:

  • Current Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee Member or Chairperson.

Duties and Responsibilities

Details about each committee’s duties and responsibilities are available on the respective committee pages of afaalaska.org. Additional information regarding MEC Committee Chairperson duties and responsibilities is available in this document.

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

The time commitment for each position varies and may change based on current workload levels. Specific information about time commitment expectations and Flight Pay Loss for each position will be provided during the interviews. All positions operate in line with AFA’s spirit of volunteerism.

Term of Service

Candidates who are successfully elected will serve for the upcoming MEC Officer election cycle which begins on January 1, 2026, and concludes on December 31, 2028.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

The MEC will interview eligible candidates during the December Regular MEC Meeting Monday, December 1, and Tuesday, December 2. If you are interested in interviewing, please plan to bid around these dates or adjust your schedule accordingly.

Eligible candidates can choose to interview in person in SeaTac, WA, or virtually via Google Meet videoconferencing. 

To express your interest, please submit an expression of interest and your resume using the online form (link below). The submission deadline is 5 PM Pacific Time on Monday, November 24, 2025. After the submission deadline, an MEC representative will contact eligible candidates to arrange specific interview times.

Click here to submit an expression of interest form >

Please note that a Google account is required to submit the expression of interest form. If you don’t have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.

Questions?

Any questions about MEC Committee Chairperson position duties and responsibilities can be directed to MEC Vice President Brice McGee at mecvp@afaalaska.org.

Merged MEC Committee Interviews—December 2025

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

The integration of our Master Executive Councils (MECs) is progressing steadily. Several committees have successfully merged over the past few months, and we are now planning for another committee to merge on January 1.

As part of the committee merger process, our MEC will elect a Chairperson and Committee Members for each newly merged committee from the combined groups of Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants. The newly elected Chairperson will coordinate activities across both airlines, and they, along with the Committee Members, will support all eight Local Councils—both pre-merger Alaska and pre-merger Hawaiian. The MEC will conduct interviews during the December MEC Meeting for the following roles:

Other committees will merge later in the process. As we approach those dates, we’ll keep you informed about the integration timeline for each committee, including interview schedules.

General Qualifications

Qualifications for all MEC-level Chairperson positions include: 

  • Current Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines AFA Member in good standing.
  • Currently qualified Flight Attendant or, if on an approved leave of absence, last qualification must have been within 36 months prior to start of term.
  • Previous experience as a Committee Member or Chairperson is preferred.
  • Previous committee-specific training preferred.
  • Strong ability to lead and coordinate a diverse team in a collaborative environment.
  • Ability to attend meetings as required, both via videoconference and in person.
  • Strong computer skills, including a good working knowledge of Google Workspace (email, calendar, Drive, and other applications) and Microsoft 365.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write membership communications, respond professionally to internal and external emails, prepare reports, plan meetings (including scheduling, logistics, and agenda preparation), and take minutes.
  • Ability to meet deadlines, delegate responsibilities, and follow up on assigned tasks.

Qualifications for Inflight Training Committee positions include:

  • Current Flight Attendant Initial and/or Recurrent Training Instructor.

Duties and Responsibilities

Details about each committee’s duties and responsibilities are available on the respective committee pages of afaalaska.org. Additional information regarding MEC Committee Chairperson duties and responsibilities is available in this document.

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

The time commitment for each position varies and may change based on current workload levels. Specific information about time commitment expectations and Flight Pay Loss for each position will be provided during the interviews. All positions operate in line with AFA’s spirit of volunteerism.

Term of Service

Candidates who are successfully elected will serve for the upcoming MEC Officer election cycle. Their official term will begin on January 1, 2026, and conclude on December 31, 2028.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

The MEC will interview eligible candidates during the December Regular MEC Meeting on Monday, December 1, and Tuesday, December 2. If you are interested in interviewing, please plan to bid around these dates or adjust your schedule accordingly.

Eligible candidates can choose to interview in person in SeaTac, WA, or virtually via Google Meet videoconferencing. 

To express your interest, please submit an expression of interest and your resume using the online form (link below). The submission deadline is 5 PM Pacific Time on Monday, November 24, 2025. After the submission deadline, an MEC representative will contact eligible candidates to arrange specific interview times.

Click here to submit an expression of interest form >

Please note that a Google account is required to submit the expression of interest form. If you don’t have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.

Questions?

Any questions about MEC Committee position duties and responsibilities can be directed to MEC Vice President Brice McGee at mecvp@afaalaska.org.

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the position of MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidate has […]

SEA Domicile Negotiations Update – January 2026

The Hawaiian Seattle Domicile Negotiating Committee has reached an agreement with management, confirming the “Rescinding the Award” provision and extending the bid timeline by one week to Monday, January 19 at 2359 HT. As of January 7, a total of 189 Hawaiian Flight Attendants have submitted bids for the new SEA Domicile, primarily from HNL and LAX. Discussions about the moving day process are ongoing, with further updates expected before the revised bid deadline.

Using Apps to Support New Year Wellness Goals

The start of a new year often brings renewed goals around improved physical and mental well-being. Many people use apps to help with these goals. Here are some popular free wellness apps to try this year that can support your health, sleep, and daily routines. Most have strong free features, and some offer additional options […]

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