This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants
On Thursday, June 19, representatives from our AFA Local Reserve Committees met to discuss their ongoing work to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants. Representing you at the meeting were Brandi Urban (ANC), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Meghan Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Adrian Alcantara (SAN). Also present was MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton and MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Jarod McNeill.
The committee met with the Interim Managing Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling & Inflight Operations (South) Sara Cook and Interim Manager of Inflight Crew Scheduling Matthew Trujillo.
The committee is next scheduled to meet on Thursday, September 11.
Topics of Discussion
The committee reviewed several items during both internal AFA-only discussions and meetings with management. Some of the topics discussed include:
- Utilization of Reserves: Our Reserve Committee is requesting relief as Reserve Flight Attendants are currently being utilized at an overall rate of 94.1%. Management has increased the number of reserves in SEA for August in hopes of providing some relief.
- Crew Scheduling: Management has created a new position within her division called Inflight Duty Manager (IFDM). The IFDM will offer 24/7 support in scheduling for Flight Attendants. Management is currently in the interview process and aims to have seven IFDMs ready to begin before the end of this year.
- Increase in No-Shows and Non-Contactables: We are experiencing issues with Flight Attendants’ cell phone providers, which are preventing them from receiving incoming calls from scheduling. It is essential to ensure you have service while on call and while on APSB. The Committee is working closely with management to address these recent occurrences. If you have received points recently due to issues with your cell phone provider, please reach out to your local Reserve Committee so we can investigate on your behalf.
What The Committee Is Working On
- Developing Additional Tools & Resources for Reserve Flight Attendants. Working to update Reserve 101 & the Reserve survival guide with new CBA provisions.
- Assisting Probationary Flight Attendants Through the Reserve Buddy Program. Answering questions from and providing support to probationary Flight Attendants through an expanded AFA Reserve Buddy program. Also, developing a checklist of common topics that new hire Flight Attendants need assistance with within the first 30 days after graduation.
- Addressing Reserve Contractual Concerns. Researching and investigating reports from Reserve Flight Attendants and actively ensuring that management complies with our contract.
We Want to Hear From You!
Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Reserve Committee is your voice to management. You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Reserve Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.
DN says
Aloha! Mahalo for this reserve FA update! To whom should we email with HNL reserve concerns/suggestions? Suggestion: allow reserves, good for any amount of days, to request trips for any number of days. Right now, reserves can only request trips that are 1 day less than the number of days they are good for. For example, an FA gf6, can only request trips that are 6-5 days long. In the past, HNL reserves could reserve for trips of any number of days. By doing this, it allows reserves to customize their schedules to personal lifestyle and family needs, resulting in less stressful flying. In the past recalls were rare, and we had way more flights than we do now. Mahalo!
Brian Palmer (MEC Communications Committee Chairperson) says
Thanks for your valuable feedback! For any reserve concerns or ideas, please make sure to email your LEC Officers at hnl@afahawaiian.org. They’ll be able to address your comments and help facilitate any changes.
Kim says
With regards to the no shows, due to carrier issues. Since this is a company related job description. Maybe it would be better for the company to provide cell coverage on the company issued devices to guarantee proper cell phone coverage.