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Join The Picket Line: Support Horizon Flight Attendants this Wednesday, October 14

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This Wednesday, October 14, Horizon Air Flight Attendants will take to the picket line to demand the fair contract they rightfully deserve.

During our own contract fight, Horizon Flight Attendants never hesitated. They showed up for us on our picket lines, stood shoulder to shoulder with us at every rally, and proved what true solidarity looks like across Alaska Air Group. Now, it’s our turn to show up for them. Their fight is our fight.

Together, we can send an unmistakable message to Horizon Air, Alaska Air Group, and the entire airline industry: Flight Attendants demand—and deserve—our fair share. Our unwavering determination has already shown management that we are not to be underestimated, and we will not let our flying partners settle for anything less than a contract that truly reflects their value.

Now is the time for bold, collective action. If you’re available, plan to show up on the picket line to demonstrate your support and solidarity!

Horizon Day of Action Picketing Events – Wednesday, October 14

  • Paine Field (PAE): 8:30 AM PT
  • Portland (PDX): 8:30 AM PT
  • Anchorage (ANC): 9 AM AKT
  • Seattle (SEA): 9 AM PT
  • Boise (BOI): 1 PM MT
  • Las Vegas (LAS): 2 PM PT

RSVP today to join the picket line and make our collective voices impossible to ignore!

Click here for event details and to RSVP ➔

Reserve Survey Now Open

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

  • Reserve Survey now open, survey will close on Tuesday, October 20 at Noon PT

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is asking for your input as we get ready to draft a proposal for the Reserve Section of the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA). We have worked with our MEC Reserve Chairpersons to put together a survey and helpful resources for you.

The Reserve sections in our two contracts are similar in some ways, but there are also key differences, including the terms we use. To help explain these differences, we have a 10-minute video, a Reserve Quick Reference Guide, and a Reserve Full Reference Guide. Please check out the links below before you take the survey.

We hope everyone will take part, even if you are not currently on Reserve, only pick up Reserve days occasionally, or have not been on Reserve in a while. When you fill out the survey, please answer as if you are a full-time Reserve line holder unless the question says something different.

To Access the Survey

  • For pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants, enter your PeopleSoft Number with 3-leading zeros, as an example 0001234567
  • For pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants, enter your Employee Number (without leading zeros)

Some important notes:

  • Once the survey is submitted, your responses cannot be edited. Please ensure your selections are final before hitting ‘Submit’.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey, staying involved in negotiations, and making sure your voice is heard. The survey will stay open until Noon PT on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. If you have any questions about the survey, please reach out to the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org.

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), 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, MEC Grievance Committee Payroll Representative Julie Thornton, and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones were also present.

The Committee met with Managing Director of Inflight Performance & Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling Terrance Chariandy, Manager of Inflight Crew Scheduling Goose Hlaingmyint, Managing Director of Operations Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette, Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Manager of Crew Planning Colin Beard, ITS Technical Product Owner Nathan McFerren, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke and other management representatives from Crew Planning, Crew Scheduling, information technology (ITS), and payroll.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, October 27.

General Overview

  • System Pressure: Systemwide absences reached a two-year high in August, up 20% year-over-year.
  • Reserve Exhaustion: Reserve utilization remained above 93% for the third consecutive month, while SEA operates in a state of near-total reserve saturation (97.7%).
  • Cascading Impact: Extremely tight reserve coverage is directly causing higher Open Time, reassignment spikes, deadhead conversions, and elevated premium pay reliance.
  • Committee Action: Our Scheduling Committee is actively pushing management for increased reserve buffers, faster pay and fatigue audit processing, and strict contractual adherence heading into the fourth quarter.

Crew Scheduling & Operational Health (August 2026 Data)

  • Systemwide Reserve Utilization: Averaged 94.5% in August, marking the fifth consecutive month in the mid-90% range (94.7% in June, 93.8% in July).
    • SEA: Reached 97.7%. SEA has remained above 97.5% since June, leaving no reserve buffer and converting unexpected absences directly into Open Time, reassignments, and premium pay
    • ANC: 93.8%
    • SFO: 90.1
    • SAN: 89.0%
  • Systemwide Sick Leave: Overall rate was 13.7%. Lineholders averaged ~14.0% and Reserves averaged ~13.2%. Sick-on-line calls caused 14 flight cancellations during the month.
  • Absence Volume: Total absences reached 76,000 year-to-date through August (a 20% increase from ~63,400 during the same period last year).
    • Reserve absences jumped 39% (from 12,600 to 17,500).
    • Lineholder absences increased 15% (from 50,800 to 58,500).
    • August was the highest single month recorded, with 11,832 total absences (including 9,045 lineholder absences).
  • Sick-on-Line Trends (Jan–Sep): 890 total calls (~100 per month), peaking at 119 in June and dropping to 89 in February.
    • Lineholders accounted for 60% of calls; Reserves accounted for 40% (meaning reserves become sick away from base at a disproportionately high rate).
    • 517 calls occurred away from domicile during an overnight; 371 calls occurred at domicile.
  • Premium Pay Usage: Reached 87.1% in August (up from 84.2% in July and 77.9% in June), heavily driven by thunderstorms and constrained reserve levels.
  • Reassignments & Conversions: Recorded 1203 total reassignments and 538 deadhead-to-working conversions.
  • Fatigue Calls: 49 fatigue reports were submitted in August, reflecting ongoing concern regarding workload and schedule sustainability.
  • Scheduling Staffing: New schedulers are transitioning to the floor, targeting a total complement of 47 schedulers by the end of 2026.

Crew Planning Parameters (November 2026 Projections)

  • Block Hours: Projected at approximately 313,749 TFP, slightly lower than recent monthly totals.
  • Line Value & Reserve Allocation: Systemwide average line value is targeted at ~80 TFP, with reserve levels set near 22%.
  • LBO / SAL: No Low-Bid Option (LBO) or Staffing Adjustment Leaves (SAL) are offered.
  • Holiday Schedule A: Begins November 20, introducing greater pairing variety but reducing schedule pattern consistency.
  • Commuter Challenges: November 2026 vs. November 2025 trip distribution reviews show PDX and SFO remain the most challenging bases for commuting.
  • Base Red-Eye Flying:
    • SAN: 26%
    • SEA: 24%
    • ANC: 21%
    • SFO: 15%
    • PDX: 13%
    • LAX: 11%

Technology, Systems & Automation Update

  • AICS Crew Bid System Launch: Scheduled to launch during the fourth quarter. AICS is set to replace current legacy processes for vacancy bids, transfer bids, and temporary base trades. A system demonstration is currently underway, and a formal implementation timeline and communication plan will be provided.
  • Open-Time Trading Performance: Processed 89,618 legal and illegal trades. Approximately 98.3% completed in under 1 second, showing strong processing speed.
  • Open-Time Monitoring: No active issues identified during September monitoring. System memory improvements have been made, with further updates coming in November.
  • JCTE & Crew Access Upgrades: JCTE release 10.2 MR25 is anticipated in late October, with Crew Access testing targeted for implementation on October 21.
  • PBS & NAVBLUE System Performance:
    • October bid awards experienced long run times and high system workload. A ticket was opened with NAVBLUE, and recommendations are being reviewed with Crew Planning.
    • NAVBLUE Release 26.3.1043 testing is complete; release 26.3 is undergoing user-acceptance testing. Upgrades will be avoided during holiday bid periods unless strictly necessary.
    • Crew Planning added new support staff experienced with NAVBLUE and contract rules.
  • AI Pairing Tool Development: Crew Planning is evaluating an early-stage AI tool to test pairing options. Planners are also evaluating hard-locking 4k pairings prior to launch, subject to further testing.

Local Committee Chairperson Reports

Seattle (SEA)

  • Pay & PPP Questions: High call volume regarding Standard of Pay and PPP calculations when trips are reassigned, removed, or altered.
  • Fatigue Processing Delays: Fatigue Review Board processing takes several weeks up to a month to evaluate reports, determine pay, and issue responses.
  • Contractual Clarifications: Seeking clear definitions for 8.S turns vs. 10.R reassignments and compensation. Additional inquiries remain open regarding Neighbor Island TFP, vacation rules, ISA provisions, commuter recovery, open-time drops, B2B refresh bugs, and California state-law notifications for base swaps.

Portland (PDX)

  • Charter Flying Issue: Unresolved issues remain regarding double-out rest and denial scenarios.
  • Deadhead Automation Bugs: Deadhead seating continues to be impacted by system automation; specific examples were submitted for investigation.

San Diego (SAN)

  • California Timekeeping: Requesting operational details regarding timekeeping procedures effective October 1, 2026.
  • 8.S Pairings: Seeking clarification on deadhead assignments on 8.S pairings regarding seating, duty limits, and pay.

Anchorage (ANC)

  • Schedule Options: Flight Attendants report a shortage of morning Seattle turns.
  • Pay Inquiry Delays: Pay audit responses are frequently delayed, with tracking notes entered but formal responses arriving after pay period closure.
  • Hotel Concerns: Following up on hotel wait times, ticket compensation, and delay procedures prior to transport/hotel assignment.

Los Angeles (LAX)

  • Month-End Trades: Out-of-domicile trades overlapping the 17th processing deadline required manual post-deadline handling.
  • Passport Processing Policy: A Flight Attendant with a full passport book was classified as Flight-Illegal (FIL) while awaiting new pages; the Committee requested clarification on protocols for passport processing delays.

San Francisco (SFO)

  • Hotel Transportation Procedures: Clarifying expectations and reporting requirements when Flight Attendants do not utilize company-provided hotel transport.

Pay Audits & Irregular Operations Mitigations

  • Flight Attendant Crew Pay Audit Results: 2,058 inquiries were resolved in August. Approximately 753 inquiries were filed earlier than required and would have been captured in standard audits. AFA and management are working to clarify filing timelines.
  • Summer IROP Mitigations: Management detailed operational fixes used during summer disruptions:
    • Adjusted start-of-duty times in SAN for transcontinental flights due to airport construction.
    • Increased EWR layovers to 12:00 for air traffic control delays, with adjusted morning departure duty times to PDX/SEA.
    • Extended crew-connect times in ANC, PDX, SEA, and SFO.
    • Increased PHX and LAS layovers to 11:00 (and early PHX rest to 11:30) for rest protection.
    • Adjusted duty times for LAS–ANC, SFO–JFK, and ANC arrivals from DLG/AKN.
    • Flight Attendant and Pilot teaming will continue through February 2027 to improve operational alignment.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. 2027 Meeting Scheduling: Scheduling 2027 dates on the calendar for next year’s committee meetings and activities.
  2. Vacation Bidding & Awarding: Assisting Flight Attendants with questions and concerns regarding accruals, bidding, and trading for 2027. Vacation trading for 2027 officially begins on October 28. If you feel there was an error in your accrual or award, please contact FA.crewpay@alaskaair.com for assistance.
  3. Crew Access Update: Anticipating and actively testing the JCTE update for implementation scheduled for October 21. The committee will provide full updates on system changes once testing is completed.

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 + Hawaiian website.

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 with a simple goal: to show how what happens in Washington, D.C., directly impacts our everyday work on the aircraft.

4 Key Takeaways From September

If you didn’t get a chance to catch every video this month, here’s a quick recap of what we covered:

  1. Federal Laws Create Our Baseline: When safety and rest rules are written into federal law, we can focus on contractual gains rather than having to protect those basics during negotiations.
  2. Voting Protects Our Work Environment: The lawmakers we elect make key decisions on aviation oversight, cabin safety standards, and labor rights.
  3. FlightPAC Gives Us a Seat at the Table: Funded strictly by voluntary Member donations—not union dues—FlightPAC helps us build non-partisan relationships with lawmakers who support Flight Attendant issues.
  4. We’re Stronger Together: The coming together of Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants gives us a louder, more effective voice when standing up for our profession.

Watch: Government Affairs Focus Month Wrap-Up

Don’t miss the final video in our Focus Month series! MEC Government Affairs Committee Chairperson Bruni Agosto-Pinal wraps up the month, thanks everyone for their participation, and shares a look at what’s ahead.

Click here to watch on YouTube ➔

Game Plan for Election Day

With elections just around the corner, now is the perfect time to put what we covered into action. Here are four simple steps to make sure your voice is heard:

  1. Verify Your Registration: State rules and deadlines change often. Double-check that your address and registration details are up to date today. Check out vote411.org/afacwa for easy-to-use resources.
  2. Plan Around Your Schedule: Layovers, delays, and last-minute reroutes happen. If there’s any chance you’ll be on a trip on Election Day, request a mail-in or absentee ballot right away.
  3. Check Candidate Labor Records: Take a quick look at where candidates stand on key issues like aviation safety, worker protections, and union rights before filling out your ballot.
  4. Get Involved: Want to contribute? Consider signing up to contribute to FlightPAC or joining your Local Government Affairs Committee. Get started by reading more at afaalaska.org/governmentaffairs.

By staying informed and voting, we protect our jobs, our contract, and our shared future. Thank you for all that you do!

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 (SAN), Andrew Stinson (pmAS SEA), Trista Vanta (SFO), and MEC Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle II. 

Our Committee met directly with management representatives from inflight operations and corporate security, including Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Seattle Director of Inflight Base Operations Jenny Bookert, California Director of Inflight Base Operations Benito Pasia-Garcia, Director of Culture & Belonging Steve Nelson, Manager of Security Operations David Stewart, and Director of Security Fermin Navarrette.

The Committee’s next meeting with management is scheduled for Wednesday, December 9.

Topics of Discussion

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

  • Upcoming Management Bulletin on ICE Interactions: At the direct recommendation of our Human Rights & Equity Committee, inflight management will issue an official must read bulletin providing operational guidance and defining procedures for interactions between Flight Attendants and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
  • ICE Incident Reporting Form: To track law enforcement interactions and protect Flight Attendant safety and rights on duty, please report any ICE-related incidents or concerns using our confidential AFA ICE Incident/Concern Reporting Form.
  • Enhanced Employee Recognition & Heritage Celebrations: Management’s Culture & Belonging Department is updating its employee recognition program while continuing to recognize and celebrate heritage months through Team AAG. The Committee is advocating to ensure these recognition efforts broadly reflect and celebrate the diverse backgrounds of our workgroup.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Optional Pronouns on Uniform Wings: The Committee is tracking efforts to allow Flight Attendants to choose to display their personal pronouns (such as she/her, he/him, or they/them) on their uniform wings. Progress is being tracked alongside ongoing merger integration, as final rollout may align with a new standardized wing design across both airlines.
  2. Land Acknowledgment Signage in Workplace Locations: To acknowledge and honor the Indigenous communities on whose traditional territories we live and work, our Committee is working to establish permanent land acknowledgment signage in Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines workplace locations. Land acknowledgments formally recognize the enduring relationship between Indigenous peoples and their traditional territories.
  3. Uniform Policy Allowance for Traditional Batok Tattoos: The Committee is tracking a proposal that would permit Flight Attendants to display visible traditional Batok tattoos while in uniform. Batok is an ancient form of tattooing practiced by Indigenous communities in the Philippines and holds deep cultural significance. Management has not made a final decision on the policy, and our Committee continues to advocate for approval.
  4. Transition to Joint Drug & Alcohol Support BRG/ERG: The Alaska Airlines Drug and Alcohol Infinity Group is transitioning into a combined Business Resource Group (BRG) and Employee Resource Group (ERG). The group offers resources, peer support, and educational programs for Flight Attendants and fellow employees navigating substance use issues, focusing on prevention, recovery, and reducing workplace stigma surrounding addiction.

We Want to Hear From You!

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

Join The Picket Line: Support Horizon Flight Attendants this Wednesday, October 14

This Wednesday, October 14, Horizon Air Flight Attendants will take to the picket line to demand the fair contract they rightfully deserve. During our own contract fight, Horizon Flight Attendants never hesitated. They showed up for us on our picket lines, stood shoulder to shoulder with us at every rally, and proved what true solidarity […]

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 […]

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