Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022

Inflight Service Committee

• Our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met on Wednesday, May 25 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to catering and onboard service/sales.
• The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are facing onboard the aircraft.
• Management continues to experience challenges in many locations that are affecting the correct loading on onboard catering supplies and retail products.  Please continue to report catering issues through Block2Block and safety-related issues through ReportIt!  

On Wednesday, May 25, our AFA Local 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).  Also present were MEC Inflight Service Committee Chairperson Stephanie Garnett and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee met with Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder, Managing Director of Guest Products Todd Traynor-Corey, and other management representatives from the food & beverage, catering operations, and inflight mobile teams. 

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:

• Ongoing issues with errors in catering execution, provisioning, and loading across the entire system.  The committee believes management needs to get back to basics and significantly reduce the errors that are occurring before adding any additional products or making additional changes.
• Issues with catering of flights to/from PAE that are catered in non-hub stations.  Catering errors on this flight have been substantial and highly impactful.  Management is looking to open a catering location in PAE.  In the meantime, they are looking to modify/reduce service so that something can be offered that is actually consistent given the current circumstances.
• Concerns with lack of hands-on, practical service training during initial training.  New hire Flight Attendants continue to be placed at a disadvantage by management by not being set up for success.  The committee advocates for the reinstitution of service flights as part of initial training curriculum.
• Products that are being advertised or promoted on the menu card are running out (True Lemon/True Lime).  If a product is being actively promoted, additional stock needs to be boarded in anticipation of increased demand from passengers.
• Review of June 22^nd catering changes.  Adding cranberry juice (boarded in 1 liter cartons) and POG as well as changes in beer and first class wine products.  Additional bags of liquor minis will be added to first class beverage carts for summer flying.
• Safety concerns have been identified with coffee carafes falling off the beverage cart.  Management is looking to take action to address the concern.  There will be a new requirement that coffee carafes be placed inside a drawer on top of the cart to keep them from falling over.
• New CSA announcements are being added for departures from some stations asking passengers to stow bags on sides in overhead bins (like a book on a bookshelf) and encouraging passengers to use restrooms in the terminal before boarding.  Corresponding Flight Attendant announcements will be added about bag stowage and at D-10 indicating that lavatories are closed until after takeoff.
• MAX aircraft coffee maker brew baskets have been redesigned to better fit our coffee filter packs.  The new design has been tested by management and shows improved performance.  The redesigned brew basket should roll out across the MAX fleet across the next few weeks as the new parts are manufactured.
• Continued supply chain issues affecting management’s ability to procure and stock service items and other products.  Most recently, this has affected stir sticks and potato chips.  Management is working to procure substitute products.  A disclaimer is being added to the menu card indicating that items may not be available and/or a substitute product may be offered due to supply chain issues.
• Discussion about management’s desire to raise the main cabin pre-order meal limit.  The Committee shared concerns about the corresponding increase in trash and additional workload for Flight Attendants.
• Discussion about some catering locations not providing an empty cart for trash as required.  Some stations are leaving carts onboard from previous legs with supplies or other items in them.  Please report these issues.  Conversely, please refrain from asking catering staff to load additional supplies in empty carts intended for trash stowage.
• Concerns that the current snack basket being provided for first class passengers is lacking and not enough product is being loaded to allow all passengers much choice or selection.
• Staffing levels within catering operations and currently open positions that management is working to fill.
• Installation of Wi-Fi on newly delivered aircraft will continue to lag behind due an increase in aircraft deliveries and capacity limitations from the installation vendor.  Passengers will be notified by email and text message that their aircraft doesn’t have Wi-Fi.
• Upcoming cabin refresh on the 800 fleet.  Will include new seat covers, seat cushions, carpet, bulkhead, and cabin divider.
• Review of Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) replacement project scheduled to take place later this year.  Current devices will be replaced with the iPhone 13 (new hires are receiving the iPhone 12).  Block2Block will be updated to utilize the expanded screen space.  The new phones have the potential to use tap-to-pay functionality, which management is currently evaluating for potential use.
• Update on upcoming Block2Block software fixes and improvements.

What The Committee Is Working On

1. Addressing Catering Errors and Shortages.  Escalating catering issues reported through Block2Block and other reporting channels, voicing Flight Attendant frustration with ongoing errors in catering provisioning and loading, and working to hold management accountable to fix the problems that make our job more difficult.
2. Reviewing Block2Block (B2B) Updates. Working to provide feedback to management on changes and improvements to the B2B app, focusing on ensuring that any changes are functional and that the app remains easy for Flight Attendants to use.
3. Providing Input on New Aircraft Galley Designs.  Working to ensure that Flight Attendant needs are prioritized in the design of galleys and galley components for new aircraft that the company has on order.

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 that 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.