Seattle Domicile Negotiating Committee Question and Answer (Q and A) Update – December 9, 2025

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.

** UPDATED ** Q2. When will vacancies be posted and awarded for the SEA domicile?

A. Management anticipates the initial vacancy bid to be posted on December 15, 2025 and awarded on January 14, 2026.

Q3. 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.

** UPDATED ** Q4. How many Hawaiian Flight Attendants will there be at the SEA domicile?

A. Management has indicated the initial bid will be for 250 vacancies. They anticipate at least two bid periods with current projections of the SEA domicile reaching up to 400 Flight Attendants by the end of 2026.  If more than 250 FAs submit bids for the first vacancy bid, management is not required to award more than 250 slots.

** UPDATED ** Q5. 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 implementation and final integration after 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.

*** NEW *** Q6. Will a list of Flight Attendants awarded transfers be available so we know where we stand in seniority before we transfer?

A. AFA initially considered requesting a practice award, much like we have in PBS bidding.  But the more reliable predictor of seniority at SEA would be the actual vacancy award.  FAs cannot be added to the list once the bid closes and the award is posted so you know with certainty you will be no less senior than where you fall on the award.

SEA Domicile Flying

Q7. 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.

Q8. 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.

Q9. 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.

Q10. Will continental US domestic flights be scheduled out of SEA?

A. 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. If the company intended to change the flying, they would meet with AFA to discuss the situation.

Q11. 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.

*** NEW *** Q12. How many new 787s are coming next year?

A. Management anticipates one 787-9 delivery by the end of December 2025, and another 787-9 next year, for a total of two deliveries in the next 12 months.

*** NEW *** Q13. Will there be turns out of SEA?

A. Turns are a possibility as long as contractual provisions are met regarding staffing and duty limits.

*** NEW *** Q14. How many days do they anticipate the pairings will be with the upcoming international trips out of Seattle? Is it possible to see samples of pairings for SEA domicile?

A. At this time it’s a little too early to tell what the flying will look like in SEA, but it is safe to say that they will likely be single-destination pairings that are similar to what you see in HNL with HNL-HND and HNL-ICN pairings. If you look at the current NRT and ICN pairings that operate through SEA, when you remove the HNL-SEA-HNL segments you can see the pairings would be 3 to 5 days long with approximate credits of 19:35 (NRT) and 22:05 (ICN). Please note that the domicile rest in SEA would change to 24:00 for trips like NRT-SEA (<10:00 flight time) and 36:00 for ICN-SEA (≥ 10:00 flight time). Again, it’s too early to know exactly how these pairings will be built, but the current NRT and ICN pairings can give you some idea of what they may look like.

*** NEW *** Q15. Will we be able to waive the 36 hour rest after these long ER trips?

A. No, the ER rest provisions in the CBA will be maintained.

*** NEW *** Q16. What will reserve coverage by like in SEA?

A. AFA expects Reserve coverage to mirror current reserve levels in HNL and LAX, which usually fluctuates between 20% and 30%.

*** NEW *** Q17. What will the Reserve Availability Periods (RAPs) look like?

A. RAPs are dependent on the flight schedule out of SEA, which is not yet concrete. No changes were made to the RAP rules in Section 8, so the current 0200, 0500, and 1100 RAPs will still apply in SEA.  The company may change the RAP start times but there still can be no more than three RAPs and the RAP times must be published in the bid packet.

Pick Ups, Drops, Trades and Exchanges

** UPDATED ** Q18. What will be the trip trading rules for the Seattle domicile?

A. The contractual Flight Attendant-to-Flight Attendant trip trading rules will apply for the SEA domicile (i.e. same as the HNL domicile), including the ETCH folder. 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.

Q19. 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.

Q20. 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

Q21. 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.

** UPDATED ** Q22. 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 (i.e. not including non-revs) 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

** UPDATED ** Q23. 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

** UPDATED ** Q24. 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. If there are vacancies at HNL or LAX prior to the initiation of the SEA LOA Return Vacancies, you are eligible to bid and be awarded a vacancy regardless of how long you were at SEA.  Similarly, you can apply for a Mutual Transfer (Flight Attendant to Flight Attendant) at any time.

** UPDATED ** Q25. When I bid for the Return Vacancy, does it have to be the  base from which I transferred to SEA?

A. Yes, your return vacancy would need to be at the base you transferred in from. However, you may bid for any base vacancies at any time the company offers it.

Q26. 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.

*** NEW *** Q27. The first 500 Flight Attendants will be awarded 300 vacancy slots. Does this mean that there are going to be 200 Flight Attendants that will be “displaced”?

A. AFA believes that it is possible that Flight Attendants who have transferred into the SEA domicile may want to stay permanently as Flight Attendants may enjoy the flying or find for personal reasons the base works for them. Additionally the company intends to place new hire Flight Attendants into SEA. AFA also recognizes the company’s need for permanent placement as they continue to grow out of SEA. This structure was created  to encourage Flight Attendants to transfer to SEA.

Q28. 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.

Q29. 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.

*** NEW *** Moving Expenses and Other Provisions

Please see SEA LOA Roadshow Presentation for Moving Expense Examples

Q30. 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.

*** NEW *** Q31. What if we’re moving from an international location and claiming the actual moving expenses?

A. Moving expenses are covered from your current domicile to your new domicile, or the actual cost of the move, whichever is less. If the moving cost from your international residence to SEA is more than from LAX to SEA, the company will only cover what the LAX to SEA move would be.

*** NEW *** Q32. If we take the flat rate, will HA still provide positive space for us and our families to fly up to SEA?

A. Yes, for the transferring Flight Attendant’s immediate family (for eligible dependents of the Flight Attendant who reside with the Flight Attendant.)

*** NEW *** Q33. What is the timeline for reimbursement of moving expenses (actual and flat rate)?

A. Flat Rates are normally paid expeditiously soon after the transfer. For Actual costs, the company must go through each expense to ensure that each expense meets the contractual allowance. The company may reach out to a Flight Attendant to get clarification on expenses or ask for further documentation. Because Actual costs vary, the timeline for reimbursement is uncertain. Per Section 5.B.1.d., a Flight Attendant can defer their moving expense for up to one year. This means the move must be effectuated within one year of the effective date of the transfer.  The one year deferral period may be extended beyond the year with approval of the company.  

Q34. If/when I transfer back to my prior Hawaiian domicile, am I entitled to moving expenses?

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.

*** NEW *** Q35. When am I allowed to move if awarded a SEA vacancy? Do we get time off to complete a move?

A. Flight Attendants can move at any time but must submit for reimbursement no later than a year from their vacancy award. Flight Attendants are expected to be in position for your first day of duty at the SEA domicile. A Flight Attendant will receive travel days (1 day if flying, or 1 day for every 375 miles driving between former residence and new residence). Additionally, 5-days of relocation time will be allocated. Those days must be determined by mutual agreement between the Flight Attendant and the company in accordance with Section 5.G.2.  “Mutual agreement” means the Flight Attendant and Scheduling must come to an agreement together; it does not mean Scheduling decides the days unilaterally.

Miscellaneous Improvements

*** NEW *** Q36. Will there be a Hawaiian Flight Attendant crew room in SEA?

A. The Company is securing additional real estate for a Hawaiian Flight Attendant crew room in SEA. This will allow briefings in close proximity to the departure gates.

*** NEW *** Q37. The lounge in SEA, will there be quiet rooms like HNL for FA’s to rest in?

A. Yes. The company has stated that a quiet room will be present in the SEA Hawaiian Flight Attendant Lounge. Our CBA requires a Flight Attendant lounge at each domicile. We have not heard anything about lockers or showers which are not contractually required. It’s mainly a place to check-in, report and get briefed with your crew, check your mail files, and stash your bags short-term while you go run and grab a coffee or food in the terminal.

Q38. 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.

Compensation and Expenses/Per Diem

Q39. 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.

*** NEW *** Q40. Any idea of per diem for these pairings? Will it be different from HNL to existing SEA-NRT and SEA-ICN?

A. No change to Section 4 (Expenses – Per Diem).  As a reminder, International per diem is $2.50 and applies to all flying outside of Interisland.  For layovers in foreign destinations, per diem is calculated as 70% of the applicable US State Department’s per diem rate.

** UPDATED ** Q41. Will parking be provided at the SEA airport?

A. Parking will be provided at the SEA airport at the A-1 Lot (1034 S 140th St., Burien, WA 98168) with 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. The election to waive Company-provided parking can be changed from month to month. The Hawaiian CBA allows a Flight Attendant to have company-reimbursed parking at another location not at domicile.

Q42. 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.

Q43. 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.

*** NEW *** Language Qualified Flight Attendants

Q44. 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.

*** NEW *** Q45. For the initial 250 FAs to open the SEA domicile, will there be a minimum for lead language FAs? Qualifications?

A. No, for SEA, the company has indicated it is targeting 30-40 interpreters per language (Korean, Japanese, and Italian). Regardless of language qualification, all Vacancy Awards will be in system seniority.

*** NEW *** Q46. What will happen if there aren’t enough lead language FAs that elect to move to SEA domicile?

A. If insufficient numbers of volunteers transfer to SEA, the company intends to hire new hire interpreter FAs into SEA. The company is also able to continue staffing language positions out of HNL and deadheading interpreters to SEA.

*** NEW *** Q47. Where are interpreters coming from for Rome? Will Italian interpreters be forced to bid language?

A. The company has indicated testing in-house and also hiring new interpreter Flight Attendants. In regards to bidding for language positions and being assignable to them, Section 10.M. governs (Foreign Language Flight Attendant Positions – International).

*** NEW *** HNL and LAX Domicile Questions

*** NEW *** Q48. Can you tell us what kind of pairings LAX base would be doing (3-days or 1 or 2-day turns)?

A. Flying has been dynamic in LAX, it’s hard to predict the type of flying in LAX when SEA base begins operations. Much of the LAX flying will be dependent on the staffing levels, similarly to what is occurring today. The LAX base population must be able to support the flying allocated whether it’s operated on the A330-200 or A321neo.

*** NEW *** Q49. Will we know what to expect at the LAX base before the SEA base bids close?

A. No, but the company has committed to keeping the base open. The network flying and staffing are still being determined.

*** NEW *** Q50. How will the SEA domicile affect International trips and flying to and from Hawaii and Seattle for both bases (HNL and LAX)?

A. Currently, the company has not indicated plans to pull any further specific flying out of HNL or LAX for SEA (aside from NRT and ICN which have already moved).  Flying will be dependent on how the pairings and the flying schedules are built out of each of the domiciles.  The company plans to continue some 787-9 flying between SEA and HNL because of the remaining 787-9 pilots based in HNL.

*** NEW *** Q51. When does London-Heathrow (LHR) start?

A. Year-round service between SEA and LHR will begin on May 21, 2026.

*** NEW *** Q52. What will transferring between bases look like after SEA base opens (i.e. LAX-HNL; HNL-LAX)?

A. Prior to hiring new FAs to fill any vacancies at any domicile, the company must first post those vacancies for current Flight Attendants to bid for transfer to that domicile.  It’s possible for vacancies to occur at HNL or LAX or both as the company works to optimize staffing and flying throughout the three domiciles.  Any such vacancies would be handled under the current Hawaiian contract.  Additionally, FAs can utilize a Mutual Transfer to move between bases.

*** NEW*** Commuter Policy

*** NEW *** Q53. Will the current Hawaiian Commuter Policy apply or will the Alaska Commuter Policy supersede and also apply to Hawaiian Flight Attendants?

A. The Commuter Policy at both Hawaiian and Alaska is a negotiated agreement between the company and the Association to ensure Flight Attendants are protected from discipline in the event something occurs while a Flight Attendant is in transit from the place of their residence to the domicile in which they are based. Pass Travel Benefits and boarding priorities, on the other hand, are not negotiated; they are benefits provided and determined solely by the company.

The Hawaiian Commuter Policy will still apply to the Hawaiian Flight Attendants Protections and the Alaska Commuter Policy will not apply as we operate under different agreements per the Merger Transition Protocol Agreement.

The travel benefit that Alaska Airlines offers the Alaska commuters gives them a higher priority boarding status. The company is still working through integrating the Passenger Service Systems (PSS), which is expected in April of 2026 and any changes to the pass travel benefits will be communicated through the company. AFA will always advocate for the Hawaiian Flight Attendants for fair and equal privileges so that no group is disadvantaged by the other.

*** NEW *** Health Insurance

*** NEW *** Q54. Will crew members based in SEA be changing their medical coverage?

A. It depends on your individual situation.  Questions about individual insurance coverage should be directed to the People Resource Line: PeopleResourceLine@alaskaair.com.

*** NEW *** Low Time and Reduced Time Options

*** NEW *** Q55. Will there be low time slots available? And if you currently are on low time, does it automatically transfer when you transfer?

A. According to Section 13 (Low Time and Reduced Time Options) of our Hawaiian CBA, the company must offer low time positions at each domicile, this would include the SEA domicile. The amount of low time positions is based off of 5% of the number of Flight Attendants at that domicile. Low time is offered at each domicile based on seniority at their base. The low time position award does not follow a Flight Attendant to a new domicile. The Flight Attendant would need to bid for a low time position at that domicile during the respective bidding periods.

*** NEW *** Other

** UPDATED ** Q56. Will we be using a different uniform or our current HAL uniform in SEA?

A. AFA’s Uniform Committee and the company are still in discussion regarding the uniform to be worn in SEA.  We should expect there to be some change, based on what Alaska has shown the public with the new, rebranded 787-9 Aurora aircraft livery and their desire to keep a theme moving there.  Other than that, there is not much more info on that at this point in the process.

*** NEW *** Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA)

A. JCBA negotiations are anticipated to take at least another two years before a Tentative Agreement (TA) can be presented to the Flight Attendants for a vote.  Management estimates that after a JCBA is ratified, it will take another 12 months to complete programming of the new work rules before Hawaiian and Alaska Flight Attendants see any combined flying.  Based on AFA’s experience, 18 months may be a more realistic estimate.