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A new scam where con artists try to get credit card numbers out of hotel guests is on the rise.  Always be alert on your layovers and never give your credit card number out to anyone who calls your room.  If hotel staff need to get payment information for your incidental charges, they will always ask you to come down to the front desk and will never ask for your credit card number over the phone.  Alternately, you can hang up and then call back down to the front desk so that you know exactly who you’re talking to.

A recent NBC news story provides some more background on the scam.  You can read the story here: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43662080/ns/business-consumer_news/t/summer-travel-alert-scammers-target-hotel-guests

eMaestro update tonight

 

There will be an eMaestro outage beginning at 11 pm Pacific Time tonight (Wednesday, January 27th) for a system update.  This update should bring the programmed Open Time (OT) trading rules into contractual compliance with the language in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) §12.F [Open Time Trial]. Changes to trading rules will be effective when eMaestro is brought back online.

 

Pairing codes and trading rules

 

The new OT system will include codes displayed next to the pairings.  The codes will be TO (“Trading down is Open”) / CP (“CouPon Drop”) / DD (“Direct Drop”) / TX (“Trading down is eXcluded”)—or the code may be blank.  Each pairing with the code TO, CP or DD on a particular day of departure together make up the Threshold Sequence Number (TSN), which determines if the day is “limited” (closed).  Any trip with the TO/CP/DD code may be traded up or down regardless of the number of days as long as the trip exchanged reports on the same day.

Day for day trading!

 

With this update there will be additional trading capabilities regarding day for day trading, including multiple sequence trades in Open Time! The multiple sequence trading rules are more favorable than the language currently in §12.F [Open Time Trial], which was a pleasant surprise to AFA when discovered earlier this week. Management has agreed to incorporate these multiple sequence trading rules into the OT Trial. Due to the short lead-time, the parties were unable to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to supplement the language of §12.F prior to the programming patch going live. However, we will publish that MOU as soon as possible.

Single or multiple sequence trade: TX or uncoded

 

If a pairing in Open Time is labeled TX (“Trading down is eXcluded”) or it has a blank designation, then that pairing can be traded for one or more pairings on your line as long as the trips being traded off of your line cover the same dates as the trip being picked up in OT even if there is a gap between the trips being traded off of your line. The trip(s) on your line does not necessarily have to report on the same date of report as the trip in OT as long as the trip(s) being traded off of your line covers the same dates as the trip in OT or more.

 

Example: Two turns on your line starting on the 1st and 2nd can be traded for a 2-day in OT starting on the 1st that is coded TX and the 1st is “limited” (closed).

 

Example: A turn starting on the 1st and a 2-day starting on the 3rd on your line can be traded for a 4-day in OT starting on the 1st that is coded TX and the 1st is “limited” (closed)—even though there is a gap between the trips being traded off of your line.

 

Single sequence trade: TO/CP/DD

 

No change to current trading rules.

Multiple sequence trade: TO/CP/DD

 

If a pairing in Open Time is labeled TO/CP/DD, then that pairing can be traded for one or more pairings on your line as long as the trips being traded off of your line cover the same dates as the trip being picked up in OT—even if there is a gap between the trips being traded off of your line; none of the days of departure of the trips being traded off of your line can be “limited” (closed) in OT. Again, the trip(s) on your line does not necessarily have to report on the same date of report as the trip in OT as long as the trip(s) being traded off of your line covers the same dates as the trip in OT or more.

 

Example: Two turns on your line starting on the 1st and 2nd can be traded for a 2-day in OT starting on the 1st that is coded TO/CP/DD if both the 1st and the 2nd are open.

 

Example: A turn starting on the 1st and a 2-day starting on the 3rd on your line can be traded for a 4-day in OT starting on the 1st that is coded TO/CP/DD if both the 1st and the 3rd are open—even though there is a gap between the trips being traded off of your line. In this case, it does not matter whether the 2nd and the 4th are “limited” (closed) or open.

 

* * *

 

More information can be found in §12.F [Open Time Trial]. Because so much of this is new to everybody, naturally there will be questions. Use your Local Executive Council (LEC) officers or Scheduling Committee members as resources but please be patient while everyone familiarizes themselves with the new rules. We’ll have several weeks to play with the new trading rules prior to March Open Time opening on February 17th for Seattle and February 16th for all other bases. The Open Time Trial as referenced in §12.F.10 will officially commence on those dates.

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones

AFA-Alaska-Logo-Transparent-Background

At the January meeting of the Master Executive Council (MEC) earlier this week, your MEC interviewed candidates for the position of MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson for Pairing Construction, commonly referred to as the AFA Pairing Analyst.  In total, four candidates interviewed for the position (one Anchorage-based flight attendant, two Seattle-based flight attendants and one Los Angeles-based flight attendant).  The MEC sincerely thanks the candidates for stepping forward.  After much discussion, the MEC has appointed Karen Ferrell to the position.

About Karen

Karen has worked for Alaska Airlines for over 37 years in various job capacities. Currently she is an Anchorage-based flight attendant and has been for 17 years. Karen is also the AFA Council 30 Anchorage vice president and Local Executive Council (LEC) co-chair of the Scheduling Committee.

Karen says, “I have always been interested in the scheduling aspect of our job, and before the current system sat with [Anchorage based flight attendant and former AFA line builder] Anita Davis on a few occasions to try to learn and understand what was then ‘line building.’ …Over the last several years, the quality of our pairings has continued to deteriorate. And though I understand there are many variables to consider, it is my hope that there is a solution that will satisfy the Company’s desire to save money AND create a variety of pairings that can satisfy the diverse needs of our work group.”

* * *

The MEC thanks MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones for continuing to run pairing solutions on behalf of AFA until Karen can be brought up to speed. She is scheduled to attend training at a Jeppesen training facility in Montreal in early April. Congratulations, Karen!

 

In Solidarity,

 

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones; and AFA Pairing Analyst Karen Ferrell

AFA-Alaska-Logo-Transparent-Background

PBP is 9.3% of 2015 eligible earnings

 

Congratulations for another generous Performance Based Pay (PBP) payout! The 2015 PBP for most employees—including flight attendants—is 9.3% of eligible earnings, which is the equivalent of nearly five weeks of pay. More information about PBP can be found on Alaska’s World at https://splash.alaskasworld.com/News/2016/01/21_pbp.asp (login required).

 

PBP has averaged 8.8% of eligible earnings for flight attendants

 

Flight attendants first received PBP in 2009, which was paid in early 2010 and incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement as part of the 2010 Contract Extension. Flight attendants previously participated in the Variable Pay Plan (VPP), which had a maximum payout of 7.0% of eligible earnings. PBP has averaged 8.8% of eligible earnings over the past seven years that flight attendants have been receiving PBP.

 

PBP is very competitive when compared to profit sharing plans at other carriers

 

If you have heard that profit sharing at another carrier is better than our PBP, know this: Profit sharing for line employees at most other carriers has been lucrative only in the last few years. When you consider that PBP has paid out an average of 8.8% of eligible earnings in every year we’ve been on the plan (since 2009), PBP is very competitive when compared with the best of other profit sharing plans in the industry.

 

* * *

 

Thank you for all your hard work—now let’s all pull together to achieve the maximum PBP payout in 2016!

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

AFA-Alaska-Logo-Transparent-Background

AFA and Alaska Airlines management have agreed to extend the provisions of 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] to Philadelphia (PHL) due to Winter Storm Jonas.

 

Currently covered under 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] for Winter Storm Jonas: JFK, EWR, PHL, BWI, IAD and DCA.

 

Questions? Contact your Local Executive Council officers or Scheduling Committee members.

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Scheduling Chairperson Jake Jones

AFA-Alaska-Logo-Transparent-Background

AFA and Alaska Airlines management have agreed to extend the provisions of 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] to the greater New York metro area (EWR & JFK). Crew Scheduling is arranging for all crews either currently in rest or scheduled to overnight in EWR or JFK to be turned out of Newark tonight. The provisions of 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] now include BWI, IAD, DCA, JFK and EWR.

 

If you have any questions, contact your Local Executive Council officers or Scheduling Committee members.

AFA-Alaska-Logo-Transparent-Background

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Scheduling Chairperson Jake Jones

Effective immediately, AFA and Alaska Airlines management have agreed to enact the provisions of Section 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] in order to remove crews laying over in the Washington, DC (DCA and IAD), and Baltimore, MD (BWI), areas due to Winter Storm Jonas 2016.

 

Crew Scheduling is currently working on contacting and re-routing the affected crews.

 

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact your LEC president.

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Scheduling Chairperson Jake Jones

AFA-Alaska-Logo-Transparent-Background

AFA wants to clear up any confusion regarding the open time trial. CBA §12.F.10. [Trial Period], states that, “Minimum trial period of twelve (12) months from the month of initial implementation (unless canceled earlier pursuant to F.9., above), which will be determined in the Contract Implementation Schedule. The trial period may be extended by mutual agreement.”

AFA and management agreed when all or most programming is updated the trial period will begin. AFA wants the trial period to commence when all contractual open time features are available and programmed.

The purpose of the trial is, “to create a better more equitable trading system that increases Flight Attendants’ flexibility in modifying their schedules and to improve predictability of staffing and limit the impact of sequence drops to OT on reserve coverage.” CBA §12.F.

In order to fulfill the purpose of the trial, the system must be completely programmed allowing the Flight Attendants and management to utilize it under real conditions. “If the trial creates a liability that cannot be supported, either the Association or the Company may decide to end the Open Time Trial prior to twelve months provided the parties have attempted to modify the Threshold Sequence Number pursuant to §12.F.8.” CBA §12.F.9.

During the trial period, AFA will survey Flight Attendants regarding their satisfaction with Open Time trading on a monthly basis per §12.F.8.d.5. The Master Executive Council (MEC) will continuously review all available information—including the survey—in order to determine if the Open Time trial is working for the Association. The voting members of the MEC (the LEC president of each base) will decide on behalf of the Association whether or not to end the Open Time trial pursuant to §12.F.9.

eMaestro is currently being reprogrammed with the correct contractual applications for the Open Time trial. Once the new code has been properly tested and approved, it will go live. Based on the latest estimates, we are anticipating the Open Time trial to officially begin in the next month or so.

If you have comments, concerns or suggestions please contact your LEC president.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

AFA-Alaska-Logo-Transparent-Background

AFA would like to bring to your attention management’s use of Alaska Listens passenger comments. Inflight management has deemed negative comments “red flags” and has a procedure to address them.

 

When a red flag comes to management’s attention an Inflight manager will determine its seriousness. If the red flag is deemed to be somewhat benign or general then a base supervisor will email the Flight Attendant and copy in the other base supervisors. The Flight Attendant can contact any supervisor and have the email/Alaska Listens comment read to them over the phone or read it in person. Depending on the number of red flags for the specific Flight Attendant, the supervisor will either shred the document after the conversation or let the Flight Attendant know that s/he will now have a record of discussion (ROD) in her or his file.

 

A ROD is not considered discipline, but it can lead to discipline if the Flight Attendant acquires more red flags. Management decided that if a Flight Attendant receives three benign/general comments in a six-month period then that Flight Attendant would be referred to their performance supervisor.

 

If an Alaska Listens comment is deemed serious then the Flight Attendant will likely be referred directly to her or his performance supervisor. Depending on the severity of the allegation, the Flight Attendant could be given a ROD, an oral or written warning, and in rare cases a suspension or termination.

 

If a Flight Attendant is contacted to speak with management, s/he should ask if the conversation could lead to discipline. If the answer is “yes” or “maybe” (or any other permutation of that sentiment such as “I don’t know”), s/he should request union representation. In all cases s/he should request a union representative prior to writing any statement.

 

Questions? Contact your Local Executive Council (LEC) officers [ANC 30 | SEA 19 | PDX 39 | LAX 18 | SAN 15] or grievance reps.

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Grievance Chairperson Jennifer Wise MacColl and Committee Member Stephanie Adams

AFA-Alaska-Logo-Transparent-Background

AFA News in Review – September 19, 2025

In This Edition Celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month Originally posted September 15, 2025 Join us in celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, a time dedicated to honoring the vibrant cultures and significant contributions of Hispanic-Latinx Americans. Discover the history, participate in special events, and grab your commemorative Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month AFA Pin […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the first group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have […]

Election Notice: Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Officer Elections

The term of office for our current Alaska + Hawaiian Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers will conclude on December 31, 2025. The voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) will elect new MEC Officers at the November Regular MEC meeting. This communication serves as notice of the election in accordance with the MEC Policy and Procedure Manual. […]

SEA Domicile Negotiations – September 2025 Update #2

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants Negotiations Update Our SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee met with the company on September 11 to review their response to our September 5 proposal.  We feel that it is important to acknowledge the challenges within our company as Alaska management is struggling to understand our Collective Bargaining Agreement […]

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