Inflight Service Committee
- Our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met on February 27 to represent Flight Attendants’ interests related to catering and onboard service/sales.
- The Committee met with management to discuss and receive updates on issues and problems faced by Flight Attendants onboard.
- The Committee continues to work with management to address catering concerns and improve processes in the future. Please report catering issues through Block2Block and safety-related issues through ReportIt!
On Tuesday, February 27, our AFA Inflight Service 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 Naomi Parcell (ANC), Ross DeJong (SEA), Todd Horn (PDX), Raymond Ramirez (SFO), Johanna Thomas (LAX), and Chase Vandergrift (SAN). MEC Inflight Committee Chairperson Stephanie Garnett was also present.
The committee met with Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder, Inflight Product and Experience Director David Scotland, Principal Cabin Product and Experience Manager Chris Dela Rosa, Manager of Food and Beverage Planning and Programs David Rodriguez, Food and Beverage Systems Manger Andrea Lockett, Principal Product Manager ITS Apps Ranjita Prasad, Director of Catering Operations Andrew Moyer, Managing Director of Guest Products Todd Traynor-Corey, Senior Product Manager of Guest Products Megan Low, F&B Planning Systems Manager Gayatri Watwe, Catering Performance Manager Ben Pritchett, IT Vendor Christopher Pettigrew, and other management representatives from the food & beverage and catering operations.
The next scheduled Inflight Service Committee meeting is Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Topics of Discussion
The committee reviewed several topics during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:
- During the Quarterly Meeting, improving the Premium Class product was discussed.
- The pre-order meal delivery service flow for Premium Class was discussed, including the importance of ensuring passengers can enjoy beverages with their meals. The Committee will continue working with management to improve the delivery process for Premium Class passengers and Flight Attendants.
- The First Class pre-ordering process is being refreshed to allow more opportunities for passengers to select a meal of their choice. Other enhancements are also being planned to improve the First Class experience.
- The refurbishment of fleet interiors continues. Included in this process are improved seats and personal electronic device usability options.
- A new menu cycle will start from March 20, 2024; menu items will feature West Coast-style food choices for passengers.
- The Committee was introduced to Chris Pettigrew, the new B2B project lead. Ranjita’s great talents have been tapped to improve the airport experience. We will miss Jita very much, but we look forward to working with Chris on B2B improvements.
What The Committee Is Working On
- Addressing overprovisioning. The Committee is working with catering to determine the overprovisioning of some items and resolving the issues created with too much of a specific product on board the aircraft.
- Reporting worn galley equipment. Catering Operations is working with the Committee to create a process for reporting “tired” galley catering equipment. The Committee also continues to advocate for safe galley equipment and safe catering processes.
- Improving the catering feedback reporting process. The Committee will work with the B2B team to streamline the B2B catering report format to improve ease of use for Flight Attendants.
We Want to Hear from You!
Please continue to report any catering issues or problems with onboard service using the catering feedback function in Block2Block. If you’ve experienced a safety-related issue, please submit a report through ReportIt! Your reports provide the Committee with the data needed to continue pushing management for meaningful improvements in our workplace.
Do you have other feedback for the Committee or items you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Inflight Service Committee is your voice to management. You can find our contact information on the Inflight Service Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.
Claudia Helmlinger says
One of the problems I have with the delivery of preordered meals and selling picnic packs at the same time is that the systems for purchase are not the same. Toggling back and forth from preorder to sales is cumbersome. This slows does delivery and creates confusion.
One solution is that the fresh food be delivered to premium guests right before the beverage cart goes out. This eliminates some of the chaos, while ensuring the premium guests will have their meals and beverages in a timely manner.
Lorri Eickert says
I don’t see that there was any discussion on our boxed water? No one likes the taste and there’s a good chance that much of it is contaminated. Mold on boxes, leaky, porous boxes, etc.
Also would love to see bottled water in first at each seat again. So often we have rushed boarding and first class pre departure drinks arn’t done. Passengers should at least have a bottled water. It’s first class for god’s sake!