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Introducing the AFA Pairing Analyst

At a meeting held last week, your Master Executive Council (MEC) interviewed candidates for the position of MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson for Pairing Construction, commonly referred to as the AFA Pairing Analyst.  In total, nine candidates interviewed for the position (three Seattle-based Flight Attendants, three Portland-based Flight attendants, two Anchorage-based Flight Attendants, and one Los Angeles-based Flight Attendant).  The MEC would like to thank those candidates for stepping forward in the spirit of Union service.  After much discussion, the MEC has appointed Sherrijon Gaspard to the position.

About Sherrijon

A passion for helping people has been a driving force in Sherrijon’s life for as long as she can remember.  This dedication to service has been apparent at Alaska Airlines, where she has been a Flight Attendant since 1998.  Her commitment to helping people does not stop when the plane hits the ground and the cabin door opens.  She has been creative and resourceful in generating new ideas and solutions applicable to both the inflight department as well as the Union serving on various committees (Reserve Committee, PBS Committee, Inflight Service Committee, Hiring & Recruitment).

As part of her dedication to improvement, in 2006, Sherrijon decided to pursue an MBA at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business Management.  At Pepperdine, she honed her innate ability for hospitality, team building and enhancing the customer experience and added developing and implementing integrated marketing and client satisfaction programs to her skill set. After earning her MBA in 2009, she founded Eos Ventures, a small business consulting firm and launched Vina Sympatica™ Sparkling Wines.

Now in her new position as Pairing Analyst, Sherrijon is ready to once again dedicate time to AFA and use her keen eye for detail and strong organizational skills to help ensure fair yet equal pairings and improved Flight Attendant quality of life while also paying close attention to management’s cost concerns and contractual obligations.

Thank You To Jeff Stein

The MEC would like to thank outgoing Pairing Analyst and Portland-based Flight Attendant Jeff Stein for his service to our Flight Attendants.  For years, Jeff worked hard to improve Flight Attendant quality of life by advocating for better pairings and more efficient flying.  Please join us in wishing Jeff well in his future pursuits.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones

MEC 5B Logo

AFA Alaska MEC Pairing Analyst Interviews

After ten years of service in his position, Portland-based flight attendant Jeff Stein is retiring from his position as AFA Pairing Analyst. Consequently the Master Executive Council (MEC) is in search of qualified individuals interested in becoming the new AFA Pairing Analyst. This is in addition to the Scheduling Chairperson position previously announced several weeks ago (that is now closed and interviews scheduled for next week).

Background

  • The official title in the AFA Alaska MEC Policy Manual for the AFA Pairing Analyst is MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction. The Pairing Analyst is chairperson of the Pairing Construction Subcommittee. See below for additional information.
  • The pairings in our bid packets are “optimized” (usually for least cost) and built using a computer program designed by Jeppessen.
  • Currently our pairing building vendor Jeppessen produces pairings remotely in Montreal with input from Alaska Airlines and AFA. Efforts are currently underway to migrate pairing production “in house.”

Additional Background from the AFA Alaska MEC Policy Manual

4. PAIRING CONSTRUCTION SUBCOMMITTEE

a.Scope

(i)        The Pairing Construction Subcommittee will work with the company and the Inflight Crew Planning Department to build Flight Attendant pairings

b. Policy/Responsibilities

(i)        The Pairing Construction Subcommittee shall consist of the MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction.

(ii)       The Subcommittee shall:

(A)       Regularly communicate with and provide updates to the MEC Scheduling Chairperson on the activities of the subcommittee

(B)       Meet on a monthly basis with the Company and the Inflight Crew Planning Department to review problems and suggested resolutions regarding construction of Flight Attendant pairings and monthly lines of flying.

(C)       Maintain a permanent file for all local schedules for the use of the MEC Scheduling Committee.

(D)       Keep the MEC informed on all activities relating to the pairing construction process.  When meetings or communications are due to unusual scheduling activities, a written report will be made.

(E)       Keep the membership informed of the results of the pairing construction process on a monthly basis throught the MEC Communications Committee Chairperson.

(F)       Solicit feedback from the membership regarding desired pairings, trip lengths, and types of flying through Local Scheduling Committees and advocate for such during the pairing construction process.

(G)       Discuss any problems occurring within the pairing construction process with the Local Scheduling Committee Chairpersons on a monthly basis and will provide any suggestions for remedy of problems to the MEC.

Skillset/Requirements

  • Strong computer skills are a must.
  • Ability to independently meet several deadlines throughout the month.
  • Potentially frequent travel to Seattle for training and meetings. However, duties may generally be fulfilled remotely.

Duties

  • Review, validate and comment on the monthly pairing solutions.
  • Write a monthly pairings report.
  • Correspond with flight attendants regarding pairing solutions and related concerns.
  • Advocate for flight attendants in the pairing building process.

Time Commitment

  • Estimated 20-30 hours per month, most of which may be accomplished remotely.
  • The time commitment for the position has varied between 10-21 hours/month in the past 6 months, with an average of approximately 16 hours/month. This is likely to increase for the near future.

Compensation

  • This is a paid position compensated by the Company under 27.P Company Business (CB) Flight Pay Loss with a 5% override and “A” pay. CB is compensated at 0.75 TFP per hour of work.
  • Flight Pay Loss for this position has averaged 12 TFP per bid month over the past six months. However, once pairing building is brought back in house, the process is likely to become more complicated and therefore time consuming for at least a period of time.

Reporting Structure

  • Directly reports to the Scheduling Committee Chairperson, who in turn reports to the MEC.

Interested?

  • The MEC will hold Interviews on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. Bid around the interview date or arrange to adjust your schedule accordingly to accommodate.
  • Interviews will be at the AFA Alaska MEC office in Seattle. Our office is located in the Alaska Airlines Flight Operations and Training Center, Suite 280 at 2651 S 192nd St, Seattle, WA 98188.
  • Submit a declaration of interest and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Gesch at yvette.gesch@afaalaska.org no later than February 20, 2015. Yvette will be able to provide additional information regarding transportation and booking of flights if necessary.

 

* * *

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

MEC 5B Logo

April 2014 Pairings Report and Statistics

Crew Planner John Bumanglag’s  D position pairings and the AFA 3 position pairings were selected for April.

There is a schedule change on April 6th and also Mexico Daylight Saving Time starts on that day.  You may note minor flight time changes on this date.  Another Schedule change happens April 27th.  Some seasonal warm destination flights end for the season on these dates. More detail below.

Here are comments specific to each base.

SEA–   High time turns continue to MSP/MCI/TUS/ and DFW.  Also STL goes back to a turn starting April 6th.  Popular two day trips to PHL/FLL/EWR/BOS and DCA continue daily.  SJD and PVR nonstops run through April 26 before ending for the season.  Long MCO layovers are frequent.  Long KOA layovers 3 days/week as well.

PDX–   Two day trips to BOS and DCA operate daily.  AM LAS turn, mid AM PHX and DFW turn run daily as well.  PDX loses KOA and LIH nonstops April 27th until next November. OGG all nighter goes from daily to 3 days/week April 27th.

ANC–  HNL and ORD nonstops continue daily.  Overall TFP looks good. ANC loses OGG and KOA nonstops April 5th for the season.

LAX–  BUR has a nice variety of trip lengths and Hawaii layovers are frequent.  LAX-YVR turn 703/702 is back daily!  DCA two day and high time Mexico turns continue. SNA turns continue as well.

SAN–  BOS two days run daily.  OGG will really be a two day starting April 6th.  HNL continues to release after midnight so is one day longer than it appears.

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.  Please see attached April pairing stats.

Your Crew Planning Team,

Jeff Stein
AFA Pairing Analyst

Kelly Yeager
Crew Planner

John Bumanglag
Crew Planner

 

April Pairing Statistics

Apr 2014 Pairing Stats

March 2014 Pairings Report and Statistics

Crew Planner John Bumanglag’s  D position pairings and the AFA 3 position pairings were selected for March.

  • The bid month begins March 2nd
  • Daylight savings time begins March 9th.  This coincides with a large schedule change where you will see many minor flight time changes as well as some flight number changes.
  • Some flights that have seen reductions for the winter months will resume or return to daily as of March 9th.  These include ANC-ORD and BOS-SEA and PDX and SEA-EWR market.  Also the 3rd ONT-SEA flight will come back which brings back the morning pairing out of ONT.
  • Horizon begins operating in Alaska March 3rd.  They primarily will fly ANC-FAI with one daily flight ANC-ADQ.  We have some D position pairings with deadhead on Horizon for March.

Here are comments specific to each base.

SEA-  Two day pairings continue daily to DCA(2x)/PHL/PVR and SJD nonstop and FLL.  High time turns continue daily to MCI/TUS/DFW and MSP(2x).

PDX-  Two day pairings continue daily to KOA and DCA.  They resume daily to BOS March 9th.  AM LAS turns, mid AM PHX and DFW turns run daily as well.

ANC-  ANC-ORD resumes daily March 9th.  ANC-HNL nonstop continues daily.

LAX-  DCA two day and high value Mexico turns continue daily.  TFP overall looks better than previous months.  ONT RON flight resumes March 9th so trips out of there should be more normal.  SNA has frequent turns per FA feedback.

SAN-  BOS two day operates daily.  As a reminder OGG and HNL-SAN both currently duty off after midnight so the trip is actually one day longer.  So though it may look like a two or three day…it’s really a three or four day for bidding purposes.

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.  Please see attached March pairing stats.

Your Crew Planning Team

Jeff Stein
AFA Pairing Analyst

Kelly Yeager
Crew Planner

John Bumanglag
Crew Planner

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