AFA Alaska + Hawaiian

Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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Struggling With A Coworker? Consider AFA Professional Standards.

We all know flying can be demanding—long days, irregular hours, and fatigue are part of the job. It’s natural for tensions to rise. Before you head to management or vent on social media, consider Professional Standards.

In this video, Ava McWilliams-Ellington, pre-merger Alaska LAX EAP/Professional Standards Committee Chairperson, shares how Professional Standards provides a confidential, peer-driven solution when conflicts arise with another Flight Attendant or a pilot.

Click here to watch on YouTube ➔

Why Choose Professional Standards?

  • Conflict Resolution: Provides a path forward for resolving disputes through communication, understanding, and resolution.
  • Peer-Driven Support: It’s a resource where Flight Attendants help fellow Flight Attendants.
  • Non-Disciplinary: This informal process keeps management out of the conversation and focuses solely on finding solutions—not assigning blame or discipline.
  • Relationship Preservation: The primary goal is to protect professional relationships and preserve dignity.

When to Reach Out:

  • Interpersonal conflicts or communication breakdowns.
  • Workplace behavior concerns.
  • Misunderstandings during trips.
  • Situations where peer-to-peer coaching is more effective than escalation.

Note: Situations involving safety, harassment, discrimination, contract enforcement, or disciplinary investigations should be directed to other appropriate resources.

Protect your professional relationships by reaching out early. Every Local Council has a dedicated EAP/Professional Standards Committee Chairperson and Committee Members ready to help. Watch the video to learn more. Find contact information for your Local EAP/Professional Standards Committee on http://afaalaska.org/eap or call us 24/7 at (949) 470-0493 or (800) 424-2406.

When the Unexpected Happens in the Skies: How the Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP) Supports You

Navigating the challenges of our profession means looking out for one another, especially when things get tough. That’s where the Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP) steps in to ensure you never have to face a difficult day alone.

Click here to watch on YouTube ➔

What is CIRP, and How Does It Support You?

CIRP through AFA EAP is designed specifically for our Flight Attendants and offers support after traumatic events on an aircraft or during a layover. This includes incidents such as:

  • Medical emergencies involving CPR or oxygen use.
  • Traumatic experiences like disruptive passengers or a death on board.
  • Injuries from aircraft equipment, such as burns from coffee makers or hot water.

The Process: Someone From AFA EAP Reaches Out

When a critical incident is reported, AFA EAP initiates a supportive outreach process to check on your well-being:

  • First Touchpoint: You’ll receive an email in your company email account acknowledging the incident and outlining your support options.
  • Second Touchpoint: An AFA EAP Representative—always a fellow Flight Attendant—will reach out via text or phone to ensure you feel heard, supported, and cared for.
  • Professional Debriefings: For severe traumas, CIRP can arrange for professional mental health debriefings.

Supporting Every Flight Attendant

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, the reporting chain can break. To make sure you and your crew get the support you need, follow these steps:

  1. Coordinate Onboard: The “A” or First Flight Attendant should connect with the Pilot in Command (PIC) and ask them to report the event to the Network Operations Center (NOC).
  2. Report to the Ground: The PIC reports the incident to the NOC, which then initiates notification to inflight management and designated AFA Representatives at the Master Executive Council (MEC) and local levels.
  3. Speak Up: If you don’t hear from anyone after a traumatic event, please reach out directly to AFA EAP. This helps ensure the incident is tracked and that Inflight management is aware that the crew needs support.

A Safe, Confidential Space

Your privacy is a top priority. EAP operates under strict confidentiality for all matters, including CIRP, professional standards, and personal issues such as substance use.

  • Peer-to-Peer Support: We are Flight Attendants, not management. We receive specialized training to help walk you through difficult situations with empathy and understanding.
  • Limited Company Feedback: The only information shared with management is whether you attended a debriefing or if there was a specific failure with aircraft equipment that needs attention.

Whenever you need a compassionate listener, referrals to helpful resources, or guidance after a difficult day, your AFA EAP Representatives are available 24/7. Reach out at (949) 470-0493 or (800) 424-2406—we are always here for you.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – May 2026

On Monday, May 11, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met virtually 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), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), 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 Hotel and Administration Diane Szubert, Senior Crew Hotels Support Specialist Nichole Turner, and Crew Hotels Support Specialist LaFay Williams.

Our next monthly meeting with management is scheduled for Monday, June 8.

Topics of Discussion

  • Market Sourcing: Market sourcing continues to present challenges, and we’re proactively working with Crew Hotels and API to address our needs. Both the AFA and ALPA Hotel Committees are actively monitoring this process, understanding that the options presented for site visits directly influence where our crews will ultimately be placed. We are committed to advocating for the best possible accommodations for Flight Attendants.
  • Missing Hotel Hotlines (pmAS): Occasionally, Hotel Hotlines have been missing from the inflight website—most often at month’s end, when the current hotel expires and the next month’s hotline has not yet been uploaded. To address this, we’ve requested that the expiration date for the previous month’s hotline be extended to the 7th, ensuring continuity of information during the transition. Crew Hotels has indicated that updating the Hotel Hotline is an overly burdensome process and is considering eliminating it entirely. While MyTravel was introduced as a replacement, it remains a generic platform rather than being customized for each air carrier. Crew Hotels also lacks admin rights, so updates require API involvement. We’re working to make this platform more useful for Flight Attendants and have asked management to advocate for direct access for Crew Hotels. Your feedback on this process is always welcome.
  • Bid Packet TBDs (pmAS): To increase transparency in layover bidding, we asked Crew Planning last year to include a “TBD” in the bid packet whenever a hotel has not yet been confirmed for the bid month. API typically has three days to assign all our crew hotels after receiving the flight schedule from Crew Planning. Because flight schedules fluctuate each month, there are times when we find ourselves in an overcapped market, where the number of rooms needed exceeds the number the hotel is required to provide under their contract. While our crew hotels can usually accommodate the extra rooms, it’s not always certain before assignments are finalized and imported into NAVBLUE. This is the primary reason you may see a TBD. We’ve also requested that Crew Hotels provide explanations for each month’s TBDs, so we can answer your questions with clarity and confidence.

Hot Topics

  • FAI (pmAS): We recognize that our Fairbanks hotel has received numerous complaints this year. In response, we expedited our site visit from July to March to quickly evaluate alternative options. As many of you know, contractually compliant hotels in Fairbanks are extremely limited, and crew rooms often compete with peak tourist demand—cruise passengers in the summer and northern lights tours in the winter—making it challenging for hotels to prioritize crew business. Given these constraints, we have, for now, remained at the current crew hotel. The hotel is undergoing a rebrand and a $30 million renovation over the next four years, with work progressing during the off-season. We’re hopeful that the new brand standards will drive meaningful improvements in service, attention to detail, and infrastructure. In the meantime, we’ve asked Crew Hotels to address the most frequent concern—housekeeping. We appreciate everyone who has submitted CareCare feedback, and want you to know that the Hotel Committee reviews your experiences closely and advocates on your behalf. Thank you for your candor and engagement.
  • Hotel Points: We know hotel points are important to many of you, and we’re often asked why crew rooms typically don’t earn them. Loyalty programs operated by major hotel chains—including Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt—explicitly exclude airline crew rates from earning points for room bookings, as outlined in their loyalty program terms. Crew rates are heavily discounted, directly billed, and the cost of awarding points is significant for the property. Occasionally, some hotels may allow incidental points on personal expenses, even when the room rate is not eligible. The Hotel Committee requests hotel points for Flight Attendants as a benefit at every site visit, although properties are not required to provide them. We always advocate for your interests and will continue to pursue this wherever possible.

What The Committee Is Working On

1. Conducting Hotel Site Visits: The Hotel Committee conducts site visits on hotels under consideration by management to ensure that the selected options provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. Market reviews are triggered by factors such as contract expirations, crew complaints, and cost-saving opportunities.  

Pre-Merger Alaska: The scheduled site visits through July 2026 are:

  • May: SIT, PHX, ATL
  • June: OGG, RNO
  • July: BZE, BWI

Pre-Merger Hawaiian: The scheduled site visits through June 2026 are:

  • June: JFK

2. Hotel Gainshare Update (pmAS): There have not been any new developments in the Hotel Gainshare program since our last update.The Gainshare program negotiations are currently stalled because management is concerned about the federal tax implications. AFA International was consulted and provided a legal counterargument. We’re waiting for AFA International to coordinate with Alaska Airlines Labor Relations management on this. Our goal is to reach a consensus and finalize the program’s negotiations. We recognize that many of our Members are interested in this program, and we’re doing everything we can to make it a reality.  

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.

Boeing 787 Seattle International Service Observation Period Update – May 2026

05/16/2026: This post has been corrected to reflect the correct crew-to-load of 85% that was negotiated with the opening of the SEA base. The previous version incorrectly listed it at 80%. The service comparison document linked below has also been updated to reflect the correct number.

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Over the past few weeks, Alaska-branded 787 International Service launched with flights on April 25 (SEA-ICN), April 28 (SEA-FCO), and, coming soon, May 21 (SEA-LHR). As many of you know, the Seattle international service has not yet been formally agreed upon. Per the Hawaiian Contract [Section 29.I.4.], AFA agreement is required for any service implemented on the 787-9. AFA negotiated a 30-day observation period, using SEA-FCO as the basis. At the end of this period, we expect to present a final proposal for the Seattle international service. Our next steps will depend on management’s willingness to collaborate.

Service Feedback

Our Inflight Service Committee is continually monitoring your feedback. Thank you to everyone who has submitted input through Block2Block (B2B), filed Intelex reports, or emailed us directly. The insights you share are invaluable and play a key role in our conversations with management.

Use B2B to document catering and service feedback using the Catering & Service Feedback Tab under your respective flight in B2B.

Please note: this feature is only available for 24 hours after your flight concludes. We are actively working with management to extend this window. While the submission text box has a character limit, you can submit multiple reports for the same flight if needed. Simply split your feedback across several entries.

Service Communications

Because this is an evolving service, management is regularly updating available resources.

The latest update, effective May 13, can be found in the Content App: All Files > In-Flight > 5. Onboard Service > 0. Latest Updates > 26-045 787 Alaska-Branded Service Updates #2.

Train Service vs Zone Service

Why are we doing a train service in the main cabin for 787 Seattle international?

There really is no short answer to this question. In September of 2025, when SEA-ICN first launched on the 787 with the Hawaiian Brand, the train service was introduced. Numerous test flights were operated by the Hawaiian Service Team and Inflight Service Committee. As the service flow began to develop, staffing proved to be the biggest challenge. With the Business Class cabin suites now requiring four Flight Attendants, the main cabin was left with five to six Flight Attendants, depending on crew-to-load at 90% (with the opening of the SEA base, AFA negotiated this crew-to-load to 85%). Variable staffing in the main cabin led to many catering and loading complexities, an uneven workload, and inconsistent flow with zone service. Moving to the train service helped alleviate concerns about streamlining service flow, evenly distributing the Flight Attendant workload, and simplifying catering. 

Development of the Alaska-branded 787 International Service was based on the Hawaiian-branded 787 SEA-ICN model. The Hawaiian Service Team and Inflight Service Committee conducted Business Class-focused test flights, with the understanding that no additional elements would be added to the Main Cabin. However, after the test period, management introduced several new products and services in the Main Cabin—such as premium-class offerings, status recognition, expanded beverage options, alcohol for purchase, and both ice cream and warm cookies—without the opportunity for further testing. These last-minute additions reinforced AFA’s decision not to endorse the Alaska-branded Seattle international service at this time, resulting in the current 30-day observation period.

Our Inflight Service Committee remains committed to advocating for a service model that matches current staffing levels. Discussions about increasing 787 staffing prior to the JCBA have reached an impasse. Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) fully understands the challenges associated with our current staffing and will continue to address these concerns with management during negotiations. Meanwhile, the Committee will maintain its focus on ensuring a fair and workable service for everyone.

787 International Main Cabin Service Survey

We’d like to gather your preferences on Main Cabin service delivery. Information will be used to guide the Committee to best advocate for our Flight Attendants. 

To help provide additional context, we’ve created an example comparing train and zone service scenarios. This is not an official service proposal or service resource. This example is intended to provide you with the potential pros and cons of each delivery style.

Click here to see the AFA service comparison ➔

Click here to take the survey ➔

The survey will be available until Thursday, May 28, at 8 PM PT.

Government Affairs Committee Update – 2nd Quarter 2026

Voting

Primaries/ Important Dates

AlaskaPrimary: July 19
Registration Deadline: Aug 18
CaliforniaPrimary: June 2
Registration Deadline:  May 18
FloridaPrimary: August 18
Registration Deadline: July 20 
HawaiiPrimary: August 8
Registration Deadline: July 29
Deadline to request absentee ballot: August 1
OregonPrimary: May 19
Registration Deadline: PASSED
Ballots began being mailed to registered voters on April 29, check your mailboxes!
WashingtonPrimary: August 4
Online and mail registration Deadline: July 27 
In-person only voter registration or updates: August 4 

General Election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026

What’s on the ballot? 

  • All 435 districts in the U.S. House of Representatives 
  • 35 seats in the U.S. Senate 
  • Five of the House’s six non-voting members 
  • Gubernatorial seats
  • Lieutenant Gubernatorial seats
  • Attorney General seats
  • Secretary of State seats 
  • Local ballot measures 

AFA Votes website: AFA has launched a website covering your voting needs this midterm election season, as well as pertinent information on all that is at stake for our workgroup this election cycle. It is crucial that you check your voter registration for the primaries (dates vary by state) and the general election in November, and that you know your polling location and plan ahead to cast your ballot. 

Visit AFA Votes ➔

Legislation

Political Endorsements

Phone Banking Opportunities

Our Alaska + Hawaiian Government Affairs Committee Activities (Q1 2026 to current)

  • SAVE Act Rally in Anchorage
  • Facilitated a one-day training in Honolulu:  “Reversing Runaway Inequality” where participants learned about the growing gap between CEO wages and ordinary workers and how we can organize to reverse this inequality.
  • Attended training focused on organizing internally and externally, Labor Notes – Washington Labor Education and Research Center.
  • Attended training sessions with MLK Labor and Washington State Labor Council in anticipation of potential ICE activity in Seattle and Washington State, about allowable actions, reactions, communications, and activity planning.
  • Partnering with MLK Labor on First Amendment rights and worker organizing at the Port of Seattle.
  • Attended the California Labor Fed Pre-Primary Convention and Legislative Conference and participated in voting for June Primary Endorsements for statewide candidates in California.
  • Participated in a lobby day at the California State Capitol alongside the AFL-CIO and CWA. Our discussions focused on establishing essential guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. The goal of this legislation is to ensure that AI does not replace jobs or critical HR activities where human judgment and rationalization are necessary to maintain fairness. 
  • Ongoing monthly meetings with the Pierce County Labor Council, MLK Labor, and Broward County AFL-CIO to stay informed on local labor issues.
  • Looking for volunteer activities to get involved in with our Committee, or the labor movement in general? See the calendar ➔

Reserve Survey Now Open

Our JNC encourages all members to participate in the Reserve survey, regardless of your current Reserve status. Whether you are on Reserve now, pick up Reserve days occasionally, or have not been on Reserve recently, your input is valuable. The survey will be open until Tuesday, October 20 at Noon PT.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, September 29, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met virtually to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Rebekah Olds (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

That’s a Wrap on Government Affairs Focus Month!

As Government Affairs Committee Focus Month comes to a close, we want to sincerely thank everyone who tuned in, asked insightful questions, and shared resources throughout September. Whether you watched a quick video on the van or started a conversation about voting in the crew lounge, your engagement made a difference. We started this month […]

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, our AFA Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons met for their regular quarterly meeting to advance ongoing activism, promote workplace equity, and champion meaningful policy improvements across our workplace. Your representatives attending the meeting were Nyachan Chuar (ANC), Soon Kim (HNL), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (pmHA LAX/SEA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Erika Daniel […]

MEC Town Hall Video and Q&A Recap – September 23, 2026

Whether you joined us live or are ready to watch on your own schedule, the full recording of our September 23 MEC Town Hall is now available! Catch up on the discussions and hear directly from our MEC Officers and AFA panelists. Watch the video anytime on our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian YouTube channel using the link below. (Note: […]

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