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 Kanani Vallot (SAN), and Matt Mitchell (HNL), with MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich facilitating the meeting.

The Committee met with Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Manager of Crew Hotel and Administration Diane Szubert, Senior Crew Hotels Support Specialist Nichole Turner, and Crew Hotel Support Specialists Tamotsu “Tomo” Hirai and LaFay Williams.

Our next monthly meeting with management is scheduled for Monday, July 13.

Topics of Discussion

• City Specific Issues (pmAS):
  • FAI: We have requested a follow-up on contractual terms regarding acceptable room placement at our incumbent hotel, as crews continue to report ongoing issues. Room placement guarantees were a key factor in our Hotel Committee’s acceptance of the contract renewal.
  • SIT: The incumbent property has committed to installing individual HVAC units in crew rooms by fall 2026. We have requested a contractual “out” clause in the renewal to ensure we can act if this target is not met. The Committee has already approved an alternate property in SIT should this milestone not be achieved.
  • We are awaiting final hotel decisions for SJO (long), JFK (long/short), DFW (short), PHX (long/short), and ATL (long).
• Ground Transportation Challenges: Pre-merger Alaska crews are permitted to bring guests in company-provided transportation during layovers, space permitting. Recently, some providers in MSY, BOS, and JFK denied guests. Management is proactively following up with providers to reinforce our policy. In certain markets, such as PVR, guest access is restricted by vehicle size; in others, such as CHS, a surcharge applies to cover additional liability insurance. We have also requested follow-up with the ATL hotel regarding shuttle procedures for crews, and asked for the removal of shuttles with broken air conditioning in HNL. Pre-merger Hawaiian continues to address ground transportation challenges, including late transportation at the airport and hotel in FCO, and a van with a broken air conditioner in LHR during 80-degree weather.
• Outstanding Items (pmAS):
  • Ground Transportation Tracking: We are still waiting for instructions on how to access GPS data for some transportation vendors. Eventually, this information will be incorporated into a MyCrewCare function.
  • TBDs: At our May meeting, we requested an explanation for all the TBDs in the bid packet, but have not yet received any information about the high number of TBDs for July. Management will begin listing the reasons for TBD hotels in each market on the monthly hotel update.
• Best and Final Hotel Contract Negotiations: Before visiting a market, our Hotel Committee reviews hotel proposals, which commonly include F&B discounts and complimentary breakfast. These offers are carefully considered when creating our short list of hotels for site visits. We have observed that some amenities initially discussed are being negotiated away during best and final rounds with API, resulting in a lower nightly rate but reduced overall value. The Committee bases recommendations on the hotel’s complete offering, and the removal of key benefits after endorsement may impact the Committee’s preferences. Crew Hotels has now requested access to contract drafts during negotiations to ensure that all agreed-upon terms are retained through finalization. If API is unable to join a site visit, the Committee remains committed to advocating for our priorities. Additionally, Crew Hotels aims to have a signed contract in place with each hotel at least 45 days prior to its use.

What The Committee Is Working On

1. Conducting Hotel Site Visits: Our Hotel Committee conducts site visits on hotels under consideration by management to ensure that the selected options provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. Market reviews are triggered by factors such as contract expirations, crew complaints, and cost-saving opportunities.  

Pre-Merger Alaska: The Committee is evaluating the need for additional site visits in 2026 and is getting a jump-start on the plan for 2027. The scheduled site visits through September 2026 are:

• June: LIR, RNO
• July: BZE, LGB (New Layover), BWI (Short), DEN (Short)
• Aug: MCI (Short), CHS (Long)
• Sept: YYC (New Layover), YEG (New Layover)

Pre-Merger Hawaiian: The scheduled site visits through June 2026 are:

• June: JFK

2. Hotel Gainshare Update (pmAS): There have not been any new developments in the Hotel Gainshare program since our last update. Negotiations on the Gainshare program are currently stalled because management is concerned about the federal tax implications. AFA International was consulted and provided a legal counterargument. We’re waiting for AFA International to coordinate with Alaska Airlines Labor Relations management on this. Our goal is to reach a consensus and finalize the program’s negotiations. We recognize that many of our Members are interested in this program, and we’re doing everything we can to make it a reality.  

We Want to Hear From You!

Our Hotel Committee relies on your feedback, whether positive or negative. Please report via CrewCare (pmAS) or the FA Crew Accommodations Feedback 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 + Hawaiian website.