This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Tuesday, December 16, 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 Heather Reier (ANC), Melinda Jorge (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Kanako Yamado (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz, and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones were also present.

The Committee met with Managing Director Inflight Performance & Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Crew Scheduling Supervisor Matthew Trujillo, Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Manager of Flight Crew System Support Sue Rawlings, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, and other management representatives from Crew Planning, Crew Scheduling, information technology (ITS), payroll, and inflight performance.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on January 27, 2026.

Topics of Discussion

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

Local Committee Chairperson Reports

PDX:

• Deadhead Seating Issues: Flight Attendants are bringing forward concerns regarding seat assignments, involuntary and voluntary jumpseat assignments, and would like clarification. The Committee is working on programming and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alaska management. 
• Crew Pay Resources: Crew pay charts are accessible online for submitting queries, which were also shared during base sit meetings. This aims to streamline the process for Flight Attendants when addressing pay issues.

SAN:

• Flight Cancellations and Pay Concerns: A Flight Attendant’s first leg from SAN to ORD was canceled before 8 PM. Despite following guidelines, they faced issues with Crew Scheduling, who suggested a callback for pay discussions. The Committee is investigating the calls and working with management to resolve any potential violations. 

ANC:

• Year-End Scheduling Queries: Year-end questions about the 480 TFP and PPP were raised.
• Two Flight Attendants schedules were not uploaded into Crew Access, leading to concerns about data accuracy and reporting. Discussions were initiated to improve the upload process and prevent future errors.
• Increased TSA and agricultural scrutiny at KOA was reported, affecting operations.
• There were questions regarding which base would operate flights to Iceland, with reminders about the first three months of the schedule being locked in. The Committee inquired with management about the construction of future trips. 

LAX:

• Reassignment Pay Issues: Concerns were raised about pairings and the lack of reassignment pay when showing the same city pairings with different times. This resulted in a call to clarify how Flight Duty Time (FDTY) is recorded. The Committee is working with payroll on a dispute regarding reassignment pay. If you believe you are due reassignment compensation and were denied or didn’t receive the pay, then please file a ticket through the AFA Online Support Center. 
• Flight Attendants reported that Customer Service Agents were incorrectly citing late arrival to the gate under the 5-minute-early push program, creating further confusion.

SFO:

• Questions arose regarding pay for deadhead releases, particularly in relation to delays, sit times, and how the trip appears at the time of release. 

SEA:

• Pay Queries and Education Needs: A significant volume of tickets relating to pay questions was noted. Flight Attendants are asking about what they should be paid, and should review the contract prior to contacting the Committee for assistance. 

PBS Update

• Bidding and Awards: The January bidding process was reported to be smooth, with a lot of education regarding coverage requirements and legalities that are unique to January Bidding
• Protests: We had valid protests related to 11.B.3.c violations. A fix for this is in the newest accepted release for NAVBLUE.
• Meetings: Many extra meetings with management were conducted to prepare for the newest NAVBLUE Release
• Releases:
  • Release 25.5.574 will go live for Flight Attendants on 12/17, including updates on password and offline mode changes. 
  • Release 25.7 is expected to enter testing soon with final TA2 updates.
  • Company Plans to move NAVBLUE access to AAG SSO in March

ITS Update

• NAVBLUE testing has completed pre-production evaluations, achieving approximately 94% automation for IOS and web applications. 
• A bulletin will be issued to instruct Flight Attendants on necessary password resets and cache clearing, ensuring a smoother user experience with our new update.
• We are awaiting statistics for Flight Attendant to Flight Attendant trading and Open Time for December, but we were unable to discuss them during the meeting. 

Payroll Update

• In November, 2731 queries were logged, with 1778 categorized as manageable. Ongoing discussions highlighted the need to address irregular operations from October, comparing historical data to current trends.
• Adjustments in holiday pay protocols were discussed, particularly concerning early arrivals and their implications for compensation. 
• Security testing for TFP calculators remains pending, with an update expected in 2026.
• The Committee is reviewing the payroll checklist for reports and queries. Please note that each pay analyst pulls weekly reports and has the flexibility to do them in the order they choose. 

Crew Planning Update

• The introduction of a Pairing Analytics Dashboard aims to enhance data visualization for both the Committee and management. This tool breaks down pairings by month, year, and base, offering detailed insights into trip details, commutable trips, and deadhead statistics.
• The need for AFA access to these analytics was emphasized for better transparency and collaboration. Management agrees that AFA should have access to review the data. 
• Pairing selection is scheduled for Friday, December 19, 2025, for the February bid month. There was no PowerPoint presentation from Crew Planning due to the timing of  the monthly meeting and pairing selection. 

Crew Scheduling Update

• Sick Leave Trends: Year-over-year data shows lineholder and reserve sick leave at 10.7%, with a slight increase in attendance noted. An uptick in sick calls was observed during the year-end period, particularly among Flight Attendants attempting to complete their trips.
• Monitoring Resources: Concerns about the clarity of state sick leave versus CBA sick leave were discussed extensively, with requests for more precise resources to aid Flight Attendants in understanding their options and bank balances in Rainmaker.
• December Operations: Reserve utilization is projected at 89.7% for December, with an expected increase in block hours and schedules due to holiday travel. A significant spike in charter flights for upcoming bowl games was anticipated, necessitating careful management of resources and staffing.

Key Takeaways

• Urgent Need for Clarity: Addressing pay discrepancies and scheduling errors is crucial for maintaining accurate compensation and operational efficiency.
• System Improvements: Ongoing technological enhancements are vital to streamline processes and improve communication channels. The Committee and management continually review technology and automated practices to enhance efficiency and improve user experiences.
• Education and Resources: There is a pressing need for Flight Attendants to become more familiar with their contracts and available resources to mitigate confusion and empower self-advocacy.

What The Committee Is Working On

1. Crew Access Issues: Addressing challenges affecting operations and Flight Attendant satisfaction. Meetings with Jeppesen management and internal/external debriefs regarding a recent outage are scheduled. A recent update to Crew Access was installed on December 8, 2025. We are asking crew members to familiarize themselves with the changes. Our next installation is scheduled for February 2026. 
2. Resolving Pyramiding Pay Disputes: Discussions are ongoing through the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process to clarify payment rules for over-duty pay and day-off violations. Our Grievance Committee is filing grievances regarding several concerns with pyramid pay. 
3. Vacation Bidding: Representatives from the Committee met with management to discuss the new vendor, AI Crew Solutions. It was determined that when a Flight Attendant either doesn’t hold a bid or forgets to bid, they will be allowed to bid in the 2nd round of vacation. The current process assigns slot 1 and slot 2.  We will provide educational material and information when bidding begins next year on the new platforms. 
4. Ground Commuting: The Committee wants to remind Flight Attendants that contractual provisions are available for review under Section 37.B.  
5. Flow Charts: The Committee is internally reviewing flow charts with management and will update once the parties agree. Stay tuned for an update soon. 

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.