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Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

On Monday, October 13, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle 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), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), 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 Hotels and Administration Diane Szubert, Senior Crew Hotels Support Specialist Nichole Turner and Crew Hotels Support Specialist LaFay Williams. Managing Director of Operational Staffing and Resource management Brittany Audette also joined for a portion of the meeting.    

Our next meeting with management is scheduled for Monday, November 10.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several items during the meeting with management, most of which focused on hotel decisions and challenges in our layover markets. Some items discussed include:

  • Relationship Management: Although API is our hotel vendor, Crew Hotels is working on increasing direct communication with our contracted properties. This will help build relationships, especially with our newer properties. Crew Hotels will begin communicating with our new properties within six months of usage and perform yearly check-ins at all properties.   
  • Use of Ride Share Transportation:  Due to the changing nature of the ground transportation environment, the use of ride share vehicles is becoming more common. The Committee is aware of this and has been having ongoing discussions around minimum standards. Transportation should always be ordered that can accommodate all crewmembers and their luggage safely and comfortably. If there is ever a concern with the transportation provided, do not get into the vehicle and contact Crew Scheduling immediately to resolve the issue.    
  • TBDs in Bid Packet (pmAS):  There was a high number of TBDs in the bid packet for November. This is due to the process the Hotel Committee requested, which is to place a TBD placeholder in the pairing when the layover hotel is not known before uploading into NAVBLUE. This new process makes these layovers stand out more, but adds greater transparency to the bid. The November TBDs are all due to our rooms being over-capped (that is, the requested rooms are above the contracted usage at our crew hotel in that market) in that particular market. Our hotel usage fluctuates as our network is adjusted. 
  • Recurrent Training Hotel Support (pmAS): Earlier this month, a glitch in the reservation system at one of our training hotels resulted in lost reservations. As this happened over a weekend, it was unclear which Inflight department was responsible for offering support and correcting the issue. In debriefing the event, additional guidance will be added to the Recurrent Training SharePoint site to address who to contact with hotel issues outside regular business hours.  

Hot Topics

  • Hotel Etiquette: We greatly value the positive relationships we’ve established with our contracted properties as part of our hotel program. During layovers, please remember that you represent the company while staying in a company-provided hotel room. We kindly ask all Flight Attendants to keep this in mind and ensure that any personal charges are settled before checkout. Enjoying hotel amenities responsibly also goes a long way in helping us maintain these important relationships. The Committee works hard to select quality hotels that provide added perks, such as complimentary breakfast, to enhance your comfort and convenience. If you encounter any issues during your stay, we encourage you to approach hotel staff with courtesy and respect. Should you need any further assistance or be unable to resolve a concern, please feel free to reach out to your Local Hotel Committee for additional support. We’re here to help make your layover experience a positive one!

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Conducting Hotel Site Visits: The Hotel Committee conducts visits to hotels that are under consideration by management to ensure that the selected options provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. Crew Hotels has provided the Committee with the remaining cities that will be visited in 2025: SAN (Oct), CUN (Oct), BNA (Nov), SFO (Nov), MCO – Long Stay (Nov), ORD – Short Stay (Dec), and SJO (Dec). We are also looking at options in SIT and plan to have a site visit there before the end of the year. Market reviews are triggered by factors such as contract expirations, crew complaints, and opportunities for cost savings. Depending on the outcome of these reviews, additional site visits may be arranged in those cities.
  2. Hotel Gainshare Program: The parties met on September 26 to continue discussing this program. The items needing more time to research center around scheduling issues and processes. We are getting closer to seeing a program come to life. The next meeting is scheduled for October 24. 

We Want to Hear From You!

Our Hotel Committee relies on your feedback, whether positive or negative. Please report via CrewCare (pmAS) or the hotel and transportation feedback reporting 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 website.

AFA News in Review – October 17, 2025

In This Edition

  • Hawaiian Brand Inflight Service Committee Update – 3rd Quarter 2025
  • U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement
  • Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results
  • Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results
  • ICYMI: Stand Up for Our Rights October 18
  • Next Week’s Events

Hawaiian Brand Inflight Service Committee Update – 3rd Quarter 2025

Originally posted October 15, 2025

Stay informed with the latest Hawaiian Brand Inflight Service Committee updates, including changes to the Boeing 787-9 SEA-ICN and SEA-NRT service and the transition of Extra Comfort to “Premium Class.” Read on for details about catering, pre-recorded announcements, and important safety reminders as we head into the winter season.

Read More >

U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement

Originally posted October 15, 2025

Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced changes to the rules surrounding how airlines report information about passengers and crew before flights using a system called Advance Passenger Information System (APIS). Going forward, APIS will only accept “M” for male or “F” for female in the gender field, and airlines will need to choose one of these options even if a traveler’s document shows a different gender indicator or none at all.

Read More >

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

Originally posted October 17, 2025

This week, our MEC announced the newly elected MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives who will lead the way for our next group of merged MEC committees. Learn about the Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons and Representatives who are set to begin their roles on November 1.

Read More >

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

Originally posted October 17, 2025 | Pre-Merger Alaska

We’re excited to announce the results of the elections for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions for the upcoming MEC Officer term. Congratulations to the newly elected Flight Attendants who will serve as part our Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC), Reserve Committee, and Scheduling Committee starting January 1, 2026.

Read More >

ICYMI: Stand Up for Our Rights October 18

When our rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!

In our workplaces, across the country, and around the world, our rights are under attack. Due process is being denied. Freedom of expression is under attack. And Flight Attendants at non-union carriers are being fired for protected speech expressed in off hours and outside connection to the workplace.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, October 21 – Thursday, October 23Joint Contract Negotiations
Wednesday, October 22Monthly Communications Committee Meeting
Thursday, October 23SAN Base Safety Meeting

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected:

MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) LOSA Representative: David Lake
MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) ASAP Primary Representative: Brad Young
MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) ASAP Alternate Representative: Ronda Ruderman
MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) FRB Primary Representative: Brad Young
MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson: Julie Thornton
MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson: Jake Jones
MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson – Pairing Construction: Karen Ferrell
MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson – PBS: Virginia Fritz
MEC Scheduling Committee PBS Subcommittee Members: Adam Clarey, Melodie Anderes, and Krystal Kehrli
MEC Scheduling Committee FRB Primary Representative: Bianca Dew
MEC Scheduling Committee FRB Alternate Representative: Russel Rivinius

These newly elected MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives will carry out their respective roles specific to our six pre-merger Alaska Local Councils as we continue to navigate the merger process. They’ll begin the transition into their roles over the next few months, with their official term beginning on January 1, 2026. They will serve for the upcoming MEC Officer election cycle from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028.

If you have any questions about the pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee elections, please reach out to your LEC President.

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected:

MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairperson: Seth Heiple
MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Vice Chairpersons: Brad Young and Kerri Ruiz
MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Air Quality Representative: Deb Wallstrom

These newly elected MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives will coordinate the activities of their respective merged committees across both airlines. They’ll support the Local Committee Chairpersons from all eight Local Councils—both pre-merger Alaska and pre-merger Hawaiian. Their official term will begin on November 1, 2025. They’ll serve for the remainder of the current MEC Officer election cycle (January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025), as well as for the upcoming cycle (January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028).

If you have any questions about the MEC Committee Chairperson elections, please reach out to your LEC President.

U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement

Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced changes to the rules surrounding how airlines report information about passengers and crew before flights. This system is called the Advance Passenger Information System, or APIS. These changes are in response to a Presidential Executive Order.

What is APIS?

APIS is a system that airlines are legally required to use to send information about passengers and crew members to CBP before an international flight departs. This includes details like a person’s name, date of birth, gender, nationality, and passport number. The information is cross-referenced against law enforcement databases for potential risks or problems before travelers arrive in the United States. The goal is to enhance national security by identifying inadmissible individuals before they arrive in the United States, while also speeding up the process for legitimate travelers.

It’s important to note that Flight Attendants do not handle APIS information directly. Instead, Customer Service Agents (CSAs) are responsible for entering the required data into the Passenger Service System, which transmits to APIS.

What Has Changed?

Currently, APIS allows entries of “M” for male and “F” for female to indicate gender. Previously, it also accepted other letters without causing issues. Starting October 13, 2025, the system will only accept “M” or “F” in the gender field. If an airline tries to submit anything else, APIS will return an error, meaning they will have to fix the entry. If a traveler’s document shows a different gender indicator or none at all, the airline or the traveler will need to choose either “M” or “F.”

How Will This Work At Alaska and Hawaiian?

This change will affect Flight Attendants who are operating, deadheading, and traveling for pleasure on international flights to or from the United States. We have reached out to management to find out how they plan to address situations where a passenger’s documents don’t match the new requirements. We are still waiting for their response.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – June 2026

On Monday, June 8, our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in-person 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), Jarod McNeill (SEA pmAS), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Le’a Tupola (LAX/SEA pmHA), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), and […]

MEC Town Hall Video and Q&A Recap – June 8, 2026

Whether you joined us live or are looking to watch on your own schedule, we’re excited to share the full recording of our June 8 MEC Town Hall! Catch up on the discussions and hear directly from our MEC Officers and AFA panelists—now available to you anytime on the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian YouTube channel […]

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, June 4, representatives from our pre-merger Alaska AFA Reserve Committee met to discuss ongoing work advocating for Reserve Flight Attendants. Representing you at the meeting were Conner Gallager (SEA), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Kanako Yamada (LAX), Adrian Alcantara (SAN), and MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 15 – June 2026

The JNC has been actively negotiating key sections of the contract, focusing on vacation, sick leave, and temporary duty assignments. A tentative agreement was reached on Section 37 (Temporary Duty Assignments), ensuring financial protections and fair treatment for Flight Attendants during temporary assignments. These ongoing discussions demonstrate a commitment to integrating the best benefits from both Alaska and Hawaiian CBAs for all members.

Celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month

Every June, we come together to honor LGBTQ Pride Month in the United States—a time to celebrate the remarkable resilience, diversity, and achievements of the LGBTQ community. Pride Month began as a tribute to the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan in 1969, a pivotal moment that ignited the modern LGBTQ rights movement. The inaugural Pride March, […]

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