This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants
As 2025 draws to a close, I’d like to go over a few important items that have come up since my last update.
On December 1, the SEA Negotiating Committee held its first of three virtual roadshows to answer your questions about the SEA Domicile Agreement. This is an important agreement that secures improvements for everyone, including the elimination of the 787-9 one-way staffing carve out and the lowering of the ER crew-to-load threshold to 85%. The deal secures a right to return to your domicile of origin and protects against involuntary junior-assigning to SEA for 18 months. Please see the note below about the two remaining virtual roadshows.
In late November, we held our Council 43 Committee Chairpersons’ meeting at the LEC Office at Koapaka. The meeting gave our Committee Chairs the chance to meet in person to share committee reports and discuss current and future concerns. In attendance were:
Randy Rivera – Air Safety Health & Security, Mikioi Vericella – Communications, Namahana Lota – Employee Assistance Program, Maria Kahele – Government Affairs, Matt Mitchell – Hotel & Transportation, Jeff Takamine – I Mua Ke Alo, Bianca McKee & Thalia Adachi – In-Flight Service, Rachel Fernandez – Membership & Benefits, Sasha Kahele Manners & Joni Pak – Reserve, Chasity Theno & Patrick Smith – Scheduling Clarification Requests, and Michael Cabilin – Uniforms.
Kela and I have a debt of gratitude to all of the Flight Attendant committee members who give so much of their time – time away from their families – to help us support you. These are people that you work and fly with and who somehow find the time to give back to all of us. Their efforts helped us get through a difficult year and gave us the opportunity to have the shared experience of honoring Pualani and all that she means to us.
Kela and I would also like to acknowledge Gary Ichimura and his team for doing their best to support all of you. The merger has meant a great deal of change that is affecting employees and passengers alike, but Gary and his team have somehow managed to deal with the dizzying amount of change – with fewer people – and have worked with us and to support you. Mahalo nui.
Finally, Kela and I would like to thank each of you. Thank you for your professionalism under difficult circumstances this year, for sharing your concerns with us, and for your engagement with the work that we are doing to secure our future. We are proud to be a part of the Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendant ʻohana, and honored to represent you. May your holidays be bright and merry, and bring you good health, peace, and prosperity.
In Solidarity,
Martin Gusman & Kela Chong
RHRA Retirement Deadline Reminder
The Retiree Health Reimbursement Arrangement (RHRA) is an AFA-negotiated benefit that provides between $10,000 and $30,000 to pay for medical insurance or medical expenses upon retirement (contract Section 34-22). Earlier this year the deadline to secure the RHRA benefit was extended to April 2, 2026. Please note that after January 1, 2026, we are required to give the Company 60 days’ notice to obtain the RHRA benefit. A Flight Attendant retiring on April 2, 2026 will need to notify the Company by February 1, 2026 to obtain the RHRA benefit. These are links to the company’s retirement planning checklist and the required retirement notification form, which may be also found online at HA People.
SEA Domicile Information
The SEA Negotiating Committee’s first virtual roadshow, which was held on Monday, December 1, has been posted and may be viewed here. The committee will be hosting two more virtual roadshows on Thursday, December 18, and Sunday, January 11. The vacancy bid for the SEA domicile closes on Monday, January 12, 2026. A Question & Answer page is available for more information, or you can email your questions directly to the SEA Negotiating Committee at SEA@afahawaiian.org.
SEA Negotiating Committee Virtual Roadshows
[REGISTER] Thursday, December 18, 2025 from 9 AM to 10:30 AM HST
[REGISTER] Sunday, January 11, 2026 from 2 PM to 3:30 PM HT
Questioning Assignment Legalities
We each have the right to question the legality of a Crew Scheduling assignment. Scheduling Protests – Section 11.E. – defines the process for questioning the legality of a schedule assignment and includes the filing of a Scheduling Clarification Request (SCR). Please keep in mind that if you are questioning the legality of an assignment while on duty, work-related duties such as reporting to the aircraft passenger boarding should continue while the dispute is being worked out.
LQ Service and FFA Positions
As a clarification regarding the service LQ position on flights to Asia, the service position remains a service position if it is traded or vacated after the PBS award. This is true even if the position is traded to a lead-qualified Flight Attendant. Please also keep in mind that a service-qualified Flight Attendant cannot be assigned to work in Business Class unless there are no lead-qualified Flight Attendants on the flight. Regarding the FFA position, please note that when the FFA position is awarded in PBS, if the person awarded the position gets off the trip the FFA position goes away.
787 ICN Main Cabin Meal Service
As a reminder, the meal service in the main cabin on 787 flights between SEA and ICN is a 4-cart service throughout the entire cabin. If the flight is staffed with nine Flight Attendants, FAs 3 and 4 serve meals while FAs 2 and 6 follow with beverages. If the flight is staffed with 10 Flight Attendants, FAs 4 and 5 serve meals while FAs 3, 4, 6, and 7 follow with two-person beverage carts. In January the same service procedures will apply to flights between SEA and NRT on the 787.
A321 Pairings with Repositioning Segments
Beginning on December 17, there are International A321 pairings that include both an international segment and a live, repositioning interisland segment in a single duty period. Please be advised that the maximum scheduled duty time for the A321 with a repositioning interisland segment is 12 hours, and the actual on-duty maximum is 14 hours.
Computer-Based Training Pay
A frequently asked question is “do we get paid for computer-based training?” The answer is “yes.” Section 26.C.4.c. of the contract provides that the Company may use computer-based training (CBT) that is separate from recurrent and requalification training, and that we are paid a minimum of one (1) hour at our hourly pay rate. As a reminder, we were emailed a notice to complete an Annual Compliance Training – 2025 ACT Group 1, which is due by 12/31/2025.
Council 43 Leadership Webinar
On Tuesday, December 16, the Communications Committee will host their last Webinar of the year – this time hosting your Council 43 Leadership. Council 43 President Martin Gusman and Vice President Kela Chong will give a brief update about what is happening with the Association and the Company, as well as answer your questions. The Webinar begins at 1100 HST and you may click here to register.
Save the Date: Joint Negotiating Committee Meet and Greet on January 15, 2026
Honolulu Council 43 will be hosting the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for a meet and greet on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The meeting will be held at 0900 at the 7th floor conference center of Terminal 1 at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. In addition to the JNC, members of the SEA Negotiating Committee and the Alaska + Hawaiian MEC will be in attendance and available to answer your questions. Refreshments and validated parking ($3.50) will be provided. All members in good standing are invited to attend.
December Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 1 | SEA Domicile LOA Virtual Roadshow #1 |
| December 1-2 | Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Meeting in SEA |
| December 8-11 | JCBA Negotiations in SEA |
| December 12 | LAX Joint Local Council Meeting & JCBA Meet and Greet |
| December 15 | Council 43 Leadership Webinar |
| December 18 | SEA Domicile LOA Virtual Roadshow #2 |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
January Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year’s Day |
| January 11 | SEA Domicile LOA Virtual Roadshow #3 |
| January 12 | SEA Domicile Vacancy Bid Closes |
| January 12 – 14 | Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Meeting in HNL |
| January 14 | Reserve Webinar |
| January 15 | JNC, SEA Negotiating Committee, Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Meet & Greet in HNL |
| January 27-29 | JCBA Negotiations in SEA |
