This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants
General
Q1. When will the Hawaiian SEA domicile open?
A. Management anticipates opening the SEA domicile in April 2026.
Q2. When will vacancies be posted and awarded for the SEA domicile?
A. Management anticipates the initial vacancies to be posted in mid-December 2025 and awarded on January 14, 2026.
Q3. Can current Alaska Flight Attendants bid to transfer to this new SEA domicile?
A. No, only Hawaiian Flight Attendants will operate the groupings and aircraft flown out of the new Hawaiian Flight Attendant SEA domicile. Remember, until a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) is ratified, Hawaiian and Alaska Flight Attendants remain separated and fly separately under their respective seniority lists, aircraft, work rules, and schedules.
Q4. Will current Flight Attendants be forced involuntarily to the SEA domicile?
A. AFA negotiated to suspend the vacancy and displacement procedures outlined in Section 14.D. of the Hawaiian Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the first 18 months of base operations; therefore, no Flight Attendant will be forced to the SEA domicile during that timeframe. If there are not enough bidders during this 18-month period, the company may fill the remaining vacancies by hiring directly into the new domicile.
Q5. How many Hawaiian Flight Attendants will there be at the SEA domicile?
A. Management has indicated the initial bid will be for 250 vacancies and anticipates the SEA domicile reaching up to 400 Flight Attendants by the end of 2026.
SEA Domicile Flying and Trading
Q6. What type of flying/groupings will be based out of SEA?
A. The intended markets for the Hawaiian SEA domicile will be foreign long-haul groupings, and may include charter flying. There may be limited 787-9 flights between HNL and SEA due to the 787-9 pilot base in HNL.
SEA-based Hawaiian Flight Attendants will not be scheduled on narrow-body aircraft (no A321neo or 717 aircraft). As a reminder, the Merger Transition Protocol Agreement (MTPA) restricts us from flying Alaska’s aircraft, so the 737 is not an option either. In the event of a “sick-on-line” or irregular operations, a SEA-based Flight Attendant may have to work a flight on a narrow-body Hawaiian Airlines aircraft.
Q7. What will the flying look like beyond summer of 2026?
A. LHR, ICN and NRT are slated to be year-round. FCO is a seasonal route running from April to October. Any additional markets are yet to be determined.
Q8. What aircraft will be scheduled out of SEA?
A. Only wide-body aircraft. At this time, the company plans to build SEA domicile groupings on the 787-9. The company is also establishing a 787-9 Hawaiian Airlines Pilot base in SEA.
Q9. Will continental US domestic flights be scheduled out of SEA?
A. No, with the exception of possible charter operations. During negotiations, the parties had extensive discussions concerning the type of flying scheduled out of the SEA domicile because of concern that Hawaiian Flight Attendants would be scheduled to fly Alaska’s continental US domestic flying. Management has indicated that there will be limited SEA-Hawaii flying, but the majority of flying will be to foreign destinations. AFA represents both the Hawaiian and Alaska Flight Attendants, and significant effort was made to protect each Flight Attendant group’s flying.
Q10. Is there any way the A321neo would be based in SEA?
A. Only in the unlikely event of an aircraft fleet type grounding or other significant mechanical issue with the aircraft fleet types operating out of the SEA domicile. In that situation, management would have to come to AFA to substantiate the issue, discuss the situation, and explain any plans for mitigation. AFA would not unreasonably withhold its agreement to operate other aircraft.
Pick Ups, Drops, Trades and Exchanges
Q11. What will be the trip trading rules for the Seattle domicile?
A. The Flight Attendant-to-Flight Attendant trip trading rules for the SEA domicile will be the same ones in force at the HNL domicile. In addition, all ETCH groupings will need to clear the ETCH folder for their respective domicile before being traded between domiciles.
Example: Before dropping or trading a SEA-based ETCH trip with a HNL Flight Attendant, the SEA-based ETCH trip must be posted to drop in the SEA ETCH folder before it can be traded with the HNL Flight Attendant, regardless if the HNL trip is ETCH or not.
As a reminder, the purpose of the ETCH process is to give the Flight Attendants within a domicile an opportunity to pick up an ETCH trip in seniority order before it is traded with non-ETCH trips or dropped to another Flight Attendant.
Q12. Can a HNL-based or LAX-based Flight Attendant pick up ETCH groupings (ER, Turns, Charter, and Holiday Groupings) out of the SEA domicile?
A. Once a SEA domicile ETCH grouping has cleared the ETCH folder, it may be picked up by a Flight Attendant from another domicile.
Q13. Can Seattle and Honolulu domiciled Flight Attendants trade ETCH grouping without going through the ETCH folder?
A. No, all ETCH groupings must clear the ETCH folder prior to being traded with an out of base Flight Attendant. However, two Flight Attendants in the same domicile may trade the same type of ETCH grouping (turn for a turn, ER for an ER, etc.) for another ETCH grouping.
Staffing
Q14. Will the “North American 787-9 One-Way Staffing Carve Out” which reduces staffing on the 787-9 remain in effect?
A. The North American Carve Out (Section 7.C.2.f.) has been eliminated for all flying and all domiciles. 787-9 staffing on those flights will no longer be reduced during the months of January, May, June, July, August, and December. Elimination of the North American Carve Out will begin on all flights departing on January 1, 2026 and beyond.
Q15. Were there any changes to staffing or Crew-to-Load?
A. AFA negotiated improvements to crew-to-load staffing on ER flights on all 787-9 and A330-200 aircraft for all domiciles (Section 7.C.2.b and 7.C.2.d). An additional Flight Attendant will be added to the crew whenever the revenue passenger load reaches 85% versus the current 90% threshold. This enhancement will be in effect for all flights departing on and after January 1, 2026.
Base Transfer and Moving Expenses
Q16. Will Flight Attendants who bid for and are awarded the SEA domicile receive moving expenses?
A. Yes, moving expenses will be provided. Flight Attendants may request either the Actual Expenses (Section 5.B.1) or Flat Rate (Section 5.B.2) amounts per the Hawaiian CBA.
Flight Attendants that actually move their household will qualify for:
- Actual expenses for:
- Greater of 1,500 cubic feet or 15,000 pounds (including insurance, packing/unpacking, storage of up to 30 days, etc.), and
- Up to 2 vehicles moved
- Space positive travel and allowances when moving provided to Flight Attendant and family members
- Travel and Relocation Time will be paid in accordance with Section 5.E. and Section 5.G., respectively.
- In addition to travel time associated with moving to new domicile, given 5 days paid (trips dropped) relocation period to find lodging at new domicile
- Flight Attendants driving to new domicile (LAX-SEA) allowed 1 day/375 miles for determining travel time
- Settling Expenses:
- Meals and hotel for up to 10 days at the new domicile
- Reimbursement for transportation to/from temporary lodging to airport until automobile arrives
Flight Attendants who opt for the Flat Rate amount will qualify for:
- LAX-SEA $2,500 (new per SEA LOA), or
- HNL-SEA $3,500 for transfers effective the first 120 days of the new domicile, thereafter $2,500
- Flight Attendants who opt for the Flat Rate may still ship personal effects and household goods on a space available basis on Company aircraft.
Q16. If I transfer to SEA, can I transfer back to my prior Hawaiian base?
A. The company will offer at least 300 Return Vacancies, allowing many Flight Attendants the ability to transfer back to their prior domicile. This opportunity will be limited to the first 500 Flight Attendants who voluntarily transfer to SEA. The Return Vacancies will be posted as follows:
- 30 Return Vacancies effective on the third full bid month following JCBA ratification
- 30 Return Vacancies effective in the first bid month of combined flying
- 90 additional Return Vacancies in the first 12-months of combined flying
- 150 Return vacancies in the 18-months following the 12-month period above
Q17. If a Return Vacancy is offered and I do not bid on it; may I bid on a future Return Vacancy?
A. Yes, a Flight Attendant will be allowed to bid during the next Return Vacancy opportunity, but the Flight Attendant does need the Return Vacancy priority “seniority” to be awarded a return vacancy. The Company will offer 300 Return Vacancies on or before the pre-defined intervals in Q17. After all 300 Return Vacancies have been offered, the process outlined in the SEA LOA will end, and all future vacancies will be awarded per the JCBA.
Q18. If/when I transfer back to my prior Hawaiian domicile, will my moving expenses be paid like they would today in our Contract?
A. If a Flight Attendant transfers before JCBA ratification then Section 5 of the Hawaiian CBA will apply. If a Flight Attendant transfers after JCBA ratification and actually relocates to the region of their Hawaiian domicile, then they would receive a flat rate amount of $1500 per the SEA LOA.
Q19. If I am on a Leave of Absence, can I transfer from my current base to the new Hawaiian Domicile in SEA?
A. Yes, a Flight Attendant may bid for and be awarded a vacancy in the Seattle domicile if they are on a leave of absence.
Q20. Can I base trade with another Flight Attendant pursuant to Section 14.G of the CBA with a Flight Attendant based in SEA? What would I be entitled to in that situation?
A. A Flight Attendant may base trade into the Seattle domicile per Section 14.G (Mutual Transfers) of the Hawaiian CBA. However, those Flight Attendants, per our CBA, will not be eligible for moving expenses.
Q21. Is there a minimum time commitment for a Flight Attendant transferring to SEA to remain in the domicile?
A. There is no minimum time commitment when transferring to the SEA domicile.
Miscellaneous Improvements
Q22. Will there be a Hawaiian Flight Attendant crew room?
A. There will be a Hawaiian Flight Attendant crew room in SEA that will have Flight Attendants’ mail files.
Q23. Will there be any co-terminals or alternate check-in points for the SEA domicile?
A. No, Flight Attendants will start and end their groupings at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Q24. Were there any improvements to compensation?
A. Galley pay on the 787-9 and the A330-200 aircraft for all ER flights will increase by $1 to $3.50 and $3.00 per credited hour, respectively.
Q25. Will parking be provided at the SEA airport?
A. Parking will be provided at the SEA airport at a maximum out-of-pocket cost of $5.00 per month, per Section 4.F of the Hawaiian CBA. At a Flight Attendant’s option, they may decline Company-paid parking and receive $75 each month; this is an improvement adopted from the Alaska CBA.
Q26. If I transfer to SEA, will I retain my vacation award for 2026?
A. Yes, any Flight Attendant awarded a vacancy to the SEA domicile in 2026 will keep their vacation award for 2026. This is an improvement over current Hawaiian CBA vacation slot protections for base transfers. Additional vacation slots will be created for 2026 in the SEA domicile for flexibility and trading.
Q27. If I transfer to SEA, where will I have recurrent training?
A. All recurrent and requalification training for SEA-based Hawaiian Flight Attendants will take place in HNL during 2026 and 2027.
Q28. When will the company test for Korean and Japanese Lead Language Qualifications?
A. Management is obligated to institute an ongoing language testing program no later than February 1, 2026. Interested Flight Attendants should reach out to their AFA LEC President to express interest. There is no cost to the Flight Attendant for taking the test.
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