This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants
On Tuesday, January 27, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met virtually to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Kanako Yamado (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, MEC Scheduling Committee—PBS Subcommittee Member Adam Clarey, and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones were also present.
The Committee met with Managing Director Inflight Performance & Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Manager of Flight Crew System Support Sue Rawlings, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, and other management representatives from Crew Planning, Crew Scheduling, information technology (ITS), payroll, and inflight performance.
The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, February 24.
Topics of Discussion
The Committee reviewed several topics during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:
Upcoming Meetings
- Monthly MEC Scheduling Committee Meetings are planned for February 24, March 24, April 21 (in-person), and additional dates through December 2026.
- Scheduling Review Board (SRB) is scheduled through the end of 2026. These meetings are held monthly and address unresolved issues related to Crew Scheduling, Crew Planning, Crew Pay, and ITS. Issues not resolved in SRB are escalated to ADR.
- Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR): This meeting is facilitated by the Grievance Committee, with the MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson participating as a stakeholder. ADR meeting dates are scheduled throughout the end of the year and are generally held every other week.
- AI Crew Solutions: Kicked off with a meeting on November 4, 2025, focused on improving vacation awards processing and unbid slots. Implementation of the system is expected throughout 2026, with a follow-up scheduled for March 12, 2026.
MEC Committee Chairperson Report
- Crew Backlog Review: Scheduled for February 4, 2026. Discussions will center around addressing the backlog and optimizing crew utilization.
- Crew Bi-Monthly Review with ALPA: Set for March 4, 2026, to discuss known Crew Access issues and solutions.
- Rainmaker Crew Pay System: Meetings scheduled for February 18, May 20, August 19, and November 18, 2026, to focus on updates and resolve discrepancies in pay calculations.
- Fatigue Review Board (FRB): Ongoing meetings throughout 2026, with a focus on evaluating crew fatigue management and necessary policy adjustments.
- NAVBLUE Monthly Call: Regular updates to discuss system performance, with a focus on enhancing user experience and resolving technical issues.
- Pyramiding Pay Dispute: Ongoing discussions regarding compensation for over-duty situations and related contractual obligations.
Local Chairperson Reports
- ANC:
- Addressed missed audits for flying on days off and concerns about compensation for pre-board situations.
- LAX:
- Reports of inadequate hotel arrangements for crews in LIR and CUN, leading to situations where crews had to utilize contractual self-help.
- Ongoing discussions regarding compensation for wait times at hotels due to scheduling errors.
- PDX :
- Issues regarding hotel assignments during irregular operations, specifically for crews during long layovers. A follow-up discussion with Labor Relations is planned.
- SAN:
- Reports of missed updates in the Rainmaker system affecting pay calculations, leading to discrepancies in PPP blocks.
- Compensation request for a Flight Attendant who was due a jumpseat premium for December 1, 2025.
- SEA:
- Concerns about negative vacation balances and reassignments affecting pay. Requests for clearer communication regarding these issues for year-end. Please refer to the Rainmaker Pay Guide as well for additional resources.
- Discussions on fatigue calls and layover management, emphasizing the need for better protocols.
- SFO:
- Multiple pay questions and situations
- Concerns about Crew Scheduling moving crews on layovers.
Crew Systems/JCTE Update:
- NAVBLUE testing new releases, with updates to automated test cases and system enhancements expected by late February.
- Emphasis on improving TFP calculators and addressing security issues within the system.
Crew Scheduling Operational Insights:
- Acknowledgment of increased sick leave rates impacting crew availability, leading to operational challenges at the start of January.
- Discussions on the necessity of accurate hotel assignments and the implications of poor communication regarding crew accommodations.
Quality of Life Survey:
- Ongoing internal discussions regarding the potential for a Quality of Life survey to better understand and manage crew expectations and experiences.
General Discussion Points
- Multiple Pay-Related Questions:
- Significant inquiries about Rainmaker’s accuracy, with Flight Attendants expressing confusion about pay calculations and audit processes.
- Management acknowledged the need for clearer, more consistent responses to Flight Attendants’ queries.
- Hotel Arrangements:
- Persistent issues with hotel assignments and crew accommodations during layovers were extensively discussed.
- Management is committed to reviewing policies to ensure compliance with contractual obligations regarding layover accommodations.
- Compensation Issues:
- Ongoing discussions about the handling of compensation for wait times and the impact of scheduling decisions on crew wellbeing.
- Emphasis on the importance of adherence to contractual agreements regarding pay and working conditions.
What The Committee Is Working On
- Crew Access Issues: Addressing challenges affecting operations and Flight Attendant satisfaction. Meetings with Jeppesen management and internal/external debriefs regarding a recent outage are scheduled. A recent update to Crew Access was installed on December 8, 2025. We are asking crew members to familiarize themselves with the changes. Our next installation is scheduled for February 2026.
- Resolving Pyramiding Pay Disputes: Discussions are ongoing through the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process to clarify payment rules for over-duty pay and day-off violations. Our Grievance Committee is filing grievances regarding several concerns with pyramid pay.
- Vacation Bidding: Representatives from the Committee met with management to discuss the new vendor, AI Crew Solutions. It was determined that when a Flight Attendant either doesn’t hold a bid or forgets to bid, they will be allowed to bid in the 2nd round of vacation. The current process assigns slot 1 and slot 2. We will provide educational material and information when bidding begins next year on the new platforms. Our next meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2026.
- Ground Commuting: The Committee wants to remind Flight Attendants that contractual provisions are available for review under Section 37.B.
- Flow Charts: The Committee is internally reviewing flow charts with management and will update once the parties agree. Stay tuned for an update soon.
- Block2Block (B2B) Contactability – Implemented on February 1, 2026. Please familiarize yourself with the contractual language and bulletin bundle.
- Chime (Microsoft Teams) – Implemented on February 9, 2026. This will allow Flight Attendants to contact Crew Scheduling for additional resources. Please refer to the letter of agreement and bulletin bundle.
We Want to Hear From You!
Whether you have feedback for the Committee, concerns to share, or items you’d like brought up with management – don’t hesitate to let us know. Your Local Scheduling Committee is here to be your voice to management. You can easily open a support ticket on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or directly contact us using the information provided on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.
