Welcome to Week 2 of our Inflight Service Committee Focus Month! As aviation safety professionals and first responders, our primary focus in the cabin is always the safety and well-being of our passengers. At the same time, the care and hospitality we provide on every trip represent a core part of our professional identity. To deliver that high standard of service effectively, the onboard workflows, galley layouts, and service guidelines established by management must reflect the real-world conditions we navigate on the line.
Behind every service update, revised cart layout, or new menu item, our Committee works continuously to ensure frontline experience guides management decisions. This week, we’re focusing on How We Advocate—taking a closer look at what happens during our regular committee meetings with management and how our Committee Chairpersons push for practical, Flight Attendant-centered solutions.
Transforming Frontline Observations Into Action
When management develops new onboard concepts, their primary focus often centers on commercial objectives and passenger feedback. That is why our Inflight Service Committee serves such a crucial role: we evaluate every proposal directly through the lens of working Flight Attendants.
A major agenda item in our regular meetings with management is reviewing proposed operational updates that are being finalized for introduction to the aircraft. Our Committee critically evaluates every management proposal through a practical frontline lens, focusing on key operational areas:
- New Menus, Beverage Standards and Product Launches: Assessing proposed catering cycles, service bands, and product specifications to ensure expectations match flight times and stage lengths.
- Galley Loading Diagrams and Space Real Estate: Examining cart setups, tray carrier allocations, and hardware placement to ensure items have designated, accessible locations that make sense given how we work.
- Service Timelines and Staffing Ratios: Evaluating whether proposed service flows can be executed safely and in a timely manner without compromising safety duties or leaving Flight Attendants overwhelmed.
By pushing for direct engagement during the planning process, our Union works to ensure that inflight procedures support our working conditions rather than creating unmanageable expectations on the line.
Enforcing Contractual Protections & CBA Compliance
Our meetings with management are also essential for upholding contractual compliance and protecting our negotiated rights, particularly those in the Hawaiian Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
When management attempts to alter agreed upon service procedures or push through unilateral changes without securing required mutual agreement, such as recent service disputes on the Boeing 787, our Inflight Service Committee works alongside our Grievance Committee and MEC Officers to challenge unapproved overrides. We gather operational evidence from working crews to support formal grievances, sending a clear message that management is legally obligated to respect negotiated contract language.
Dedicated Catering Reviews & Data Accountability
Beyond evaluating broad service concepts, our committee meetings devote dedicated time to analyzing catering operations, station-level provisioning accuracy, and equipment reliability.
To hold management and catering vendors accountable, our Committee relies on official data submitted directly by working Flight Attendants. The Block2Block catering feedback reports you submit on your Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) create documented, verifiable evidence. This data allows our Union to present clear operational trend reports—such as recurring vendor provisioning failures at specific stations—giving our Representatives the leverage required to demand immediate, systemic resolutions.
Watch: Advocacy & Meetings With Management
We invite you to watch our latest short video featuring Johanna Thomas, pmAS LAX Inflight Service Committee Chairperson. Johanna takes us inside the meeting room to explain how our Local Committee Chairpersons review upcoming operational updates, advocate for realistic service flows, and leverage Flight Attendant-submitted Block2Block data to protect working conditions across our combined airlines.
Supporting Our Collective Advocacy
Effective inflight service advocacy relies on the active participation of every Flight Attendant. Every report submitted from the line strengthens our Committee’s position across the table.
Here’s how you can support our collective advocacy:
- File Official Reports: Submit a Block2Block catering feedback report on your IMD whenever catering discrepancies, missing items, or broken equipment occur on your flight.
- Connect With Your Local Committee: Reach out to your Local Inflight Service Committee to discuss persistent issues or share operational feedback.
- Stay Informed: Visit afaalaska.org/inflightservice to review committee updates and resources.
Get Involved: Interested in supporting fellow Flight Attendants? Explore volunteer opportunities with our Union at afaalaska.org/volunteer
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