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Contactability Flow Charts

Scheduling Committee

Our Scheduling Committee has created some new tools to help you better understand contractual language. These tools consist of two flowcharts that illustrate when you are required to be reachable by Crew Scheduling. One flowchart addresses situations when you are on duty, while the other covers times when you are on a RON/layover, on call as a Reserve, or off duty. Both flowcharts are available on the Scheduling Committee page of afaalaska.org for reference as needed.

Click here to view the on duty contactability flow chart >

Click here to view the Reserve, RON, and off duty contactability flow chart >

The development of these flowcharts was a collaborative effort between the Scheduling, Reserve, and Grievance Committees. To produce the flowcharts, the Committees enlisted the assistance of MEC Negotiations Strategic Communications Representative Justin Wetherell. We want to thank Justin for their time and dedication to this project.

Questions or Feedback?

We’d like to hear from you if you have any feedback on the flowcharts or suggestions for other helpful documents. For any questions about the flowcharts or contactability in general, please get in touch with your Local Scheduling Committee.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – October 2023

Scheduling Committee

  • Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, October 24 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.
  • Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

On Tuesday, October 24, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met 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), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Natalie Codd (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz.

The committee met with Managing Director Ops Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette, Manager Inflight Crew Scheduling Goose Hlaingmyint, Director of Crew Planning Mike Ostler, Manager of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, and other management representatives from Crew Planning.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet in person on November 28, 2023.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

  • Single Duty Pairings with three (3) legs are not desirable for some flight attendants. We are looking to see if there is a way to utilize the optimizer to reduce these types of sequences. 
  • Night rule flying discussions surrounding compensation. There are three (3) items that must occur which include: duty on 4:29 am local time, flying on duty past 8:30 am local time, and duty over 10:30. There is a special exception with 4k flying that includes a 4K nighter carve out. Compensation is not applicable until 12.5 hours because of the waiver.
  • Crew Access bubble(s) that display report and debrief will be removed in a November 2023 release.
  • Second Round of vacation bidding is complete. Awards are published this week. If you are assigned vacation it will be in reverse calendar year order. Vacation Opentime will commence on October 27, 2023. 
  • Staffing adjustment leaves will be offered in January, between 400-500 volunteers based on current block hours. 
  • Management has formed a new Hotel IROP Committee and Process team to assist during Irregular Operations. There are several processes outlined up to seven (7) days prior to an event, and event level determination with focus cities.  
  • Crew Planning continues to review commutability of departures and arrivals, and commute efficiency. SEA and LAX tend to have the best commutability, while SAN and PDX are the most challenging. This is based on departures between noon and 1800 and arrivals between 0600 and 1800. 
  • Increase in redeye flights is concerning. AFA has asked both Crew Planning/Crew Scheduling to monitor the trips as they relate to sick leave, reserve utilization, fatigue, and other mitigating factors.  
  • Pre-cancellations and Reassignments are still happening frequently – please refer to the flow charts as additional contractual resources.  
  • Pay related questions should be directed to payroll representatives, not crew schedulers.  If you experience an error or have a potential grievance please contact your Local Scheduling Chairperson for resolution. 
  • Contactability with a no show or other points from Crew Scheduling is being investigated by the Performance Engagement Team. If you believe you received points incorrectly please file a ticket with AFA for research.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. NavBlue. The PBS Committee spent time on base sits with Flight Attendants. In person and virtual meetings were available. We would like to hear your feedback on how the committee could better assist you with bid awards and understanding results. 
  2. Pairings Survey. It’s been a few years since we submitted a survey on pairing construction. We are discussing survey questions and the possibility of a virtual session or town hall. Meeting with management was set for June 5, 2023 and a follow up meeting needs to be scheduled. There is no update or ETA.
  3. Teaming. Crew Planning is reviewing pairing construction and the optimization of teaming. Teaming attempts to keep costs low and crew together (pilots/Flight Attendants) for multiple segments within a sequence. The system currently teams around 10-15%. The new enhancements would increase this in the range of 20-35% for the winter operations. You will see this in December pairings. We’ve asked management to send out a communication about teaming. For December 2023 flying approximately 23% of sequences will be teamed together while 52% of duty periods are teamed. 
  4. In and Backs. These are flights that follow the crew and aircraft. Network/Crew planning is reviewing initiatives that would help us restart the operation when crews are stranded and flights are canceled. Alaska management will start reviewing the 2023/2024 IROPs plan in September/October. This creates opportunities to clear the flight schedules on day of operations. 
  5. Chime Communications. Flight Attendants could chat with crew scheduling via app/Microsoft teams to alleviate phone calls. This would be Flight Attendant initiated contact. This is in the early stages of development and needs to be discussed with AS Labor Relations and AFA. The parties are still working on testing and implementation in the next few weeks. 
  6. Crew Scheduling. Each month the committee reviews PowerPoint presentations related to reserve utilization for system/bases, detailed reserve breakdowns, sick leave week by week and year over year (YoY), premium, personal drops, and any other relevant agenda items.
  7. Crew Planning. Each month the committee reviews PowerPoint presentations related to the subsequent month staffing, trip length distribution, FA block hours, special initiatives such as IROPs, commutability, and any other relevant agenda items. 
  8. ITS. A representative from ITS joins us at each scheduling meeting to review updates related to NavBlue, Crew Access, Internal systems and Block 2 Block. These include performance updates and data review as well as future release information.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Scheduling Committee is your voice to management. You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Join The Picket Line: Support United Flight Attendants on Thursday, October 26

Master Executive Council (MEC)

United Airlines management continues investing in new planes, new gates, new service, and new lounges—but not a new contract for United Flight Attendants. Time is up for United management to make good on their corporate slogan, “Good Leads the Way,” with the contract improvements United Flight Attendants have earned. They are ready to stand strong together to let the company know their dissatisfaction and the expectation that management needs to work with the Union to address their concerns constructively.

Let’s show our solidarity and join United Flight Attendants on the picket lines during their upcoming Day of Action on Thursday, October 26. Together, we can send a powerful message to United Airlines management and the entire airline industry that Flight Attendants deserve nothing less than the best. It’s time to take action and demand the respect and recognition we all deserve. Plan to participate and show your unwavering support!

United AFA Day Of Action Picketing Event Information

Date: Thursday, October 26

Locations: AUS, BOS, CLE, DEN, EWR, FLL, GUM, HNL, IAD, IAH, LAS, LAX, LGA, LHR, MCO, ORD, PHX, SAN, SFO, TPA

Click here for event details and to RSVP >

Dues & Voting—What You Need To Know To Make Sure You Can Vote

Membership Committee

  • Voting is an essential part of our Union’s democratic process.
  • Only active Members in good standing who are current on their dues are eligible to vote on any AFA ballot.
  • Contact AFA International Membership Services if you have questions about your membership or dues account status.

As we continue with our contract negotiations, it will be time for us to vote at some point. Voting is a powerful tool that lets your voice be heard. It’s a vital aspect of democracy in our Union. To be eligible to vote under the AFA Constitution, it’s necessary to be an active Member in good standing.

What Is An Active Member in Good Standing?

An active Member in good standing is a Flight Attendant who has completed an AFA Membership application, has completed their four-month AFA Apprentice Membership, and is referred to as a “Member.” This Member is flying and has a financial obligation for dues to AFA. A Flight Attendant on paid leave (coordinating sick and/or vacation time) is active and eligible to vote as long as their dues account is current.

Most Flight Attendants fill out and submit an AFA membership application during initial training. A Flight Attendant who hasn’t submitted one is not a Member and is not eligible to vote, even though they must pay a fee equivalent to the dues amount each month for representation. Local Membership Committees will be reaching out to anyone who doesn’t have an AFA membership application on file to offer the opportunity to submit one and become a Member.

Members On An Unpaid Leave of Absence

Flight Attendants on an unpaid leave of absence continue to owe dues for the first 90 days; this includes voluntary furloughs and company-offered staffing adjustment leaves. After completing the 90-day leave commencing period in which dues are owed, they’re considered by AFA to be on leave, having no further financial obligation to AFA-CWA until they return to the line. They are NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE unless they have chosen to “Leave and Remain Active.”

The AFA Constitution allows for a Member on an unpaid leave of absence from their airline to remain active with AFA by notifying AFA of their desire to stay active and continue to pay their dues each month. These Members are eligible to vote if their dues accounts are current.

If You Receive A Statement From AFA International

A statement from AFA International indicates that a dues payment you owe has not been received. If you receive an invoice for dues from AFA International, it’s essential to take action as soon as possible to ensure you remain in good standing as a Member.

Dues are owed each month you are active or the first three months of an unpaid leave of absence. You’ll be invoiced if your dues are unable to be fully deducted each month. The deductions that occur from the 20th of the month paycheck each month apply to that month. For example, if you receive an invoice for unpaid dues from May, your dues were not deducted from your May 20 paycheck.  

The payroll department cannot deduct past-due balances and they must be paid directly to AFA. Payments can be made online through the AFA dues payment site. AFA Membership Services offers Flight Attendants with past-due accounts the ability to set up a payment plan to keep you in good standing while making payments. Please get in touch with the AFA Membership Services Department to set up a promissory agreement.

Questions?

If you have any questions about your membership or dues account status, contact AFA International Membership Services using this link. You can also reach out to your Local Membership Committee for assistance.

Sign Up For Text Message Updates From AFA Alaska

Communications Committee

We’re excited to announce a new way for Alaska Flight Attendants to receive important news and updates. Starting today, you can sign up for text message updates from AFA Alaska. The process is quick and easy – just visit the sign-up page and provide your name, mobile number, and a few other details. Once you’re enrolled, you’ll receive an email confirmation to let you know that your sign-up was successful.

Click here to sign up for AFA Alaska text message updates

Don’t worry, we won’t flood your phones with messages. AFA Alaska text messages will only be sent for significant events and time-sensitive alerts. For other news and information, you can continue to find updates on our websites, social media accounts, and email newsletters.

Text message updates from AFA Alaska will be sent to your phone from 49484. Please note that these messages are one-way only, so if you have any questions or need more information, please don’t reply to the message. Instead, feel free to contact your Local Council directly for assistance.

If you transfer to a different base, please submit a new sign-up form with your new base to update your record. At the moment, it’s only possible to subscribe to text message updates from one base at a time. We’re looking into ways to allow multiple base subscriptions in the future.

We’re excited to keep you informed about the latest happenings in a way that’s quick and convenient. Sign up now to stay connected and never miss an important update again!

Staying Balanced During The Holidays

Let joy, not pressure, lead the way. The holiday season is a special time for joy, connection, and celebration. But let’s be honest—it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming, even for the most grounded among us. With family gatherings, work commitments, and financial worries, finding balance isn’t always easy. Here are some practical tips to […]

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairpersons

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few weeks and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that highlight their […]

Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives

We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives, who will begin their roles on January 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged Inflight Training Committee for both airlines. They’ll ensure that the voices of […]

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