On Wednesday, January 28, our AFA Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Deb Wallstrom (ANC), David Lake (SEA), Kalin Lackey (PDX), Brad Young (SFO & MEC ASHSC Vice Chairperson), Kahea Alvarez (pmHA LAX), Carin Merritt (pmAS LAX), Eva Gatus (SAN), and Randy Rivera (HNL). Also present were SFO LEC President Melissa Osborne, MEC ASHSC Vice Chairperson Kerri Ruiz, and MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple.

The Committee met with the Director Inflight Safety and Compliance Geri Jarrett, Cabin Safety Manager Heidi Styley, Manager of Inflight Safety Nicky Sagum, Manager of Inflight Policy and Procedure Kaliko Howell, Manager of Inflight Safety Programs Johanna Giese, Cierra Lewis Manager of Inflight Base Operations (SFO), and Kathryn Minahan Inflight Supervisor (SFO).

Starting in 2026, the Committee will follow a new meeting schedule. Each Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendant base will host one ASHSC meeting per year, making a total of seven regular meetings. In cities where both airlines have bases, meetings will be held together. Some meetings will still be virtual to allow more AFA and management participants to join. The first meeting this year was hosted by SFO. With this change, our meeting recaps will now be titled by the month the meeting was held rather than the quarter.

The next Committee meeting will be hosted by SAN and held virtually on Thursday, March 19.

Topics of Discussion

The Committee reviewed several items when meeting with management. Some items discussed include (items which are Security Sensitive Information are not included):

• Informational vs. Required Bulletins: The Committee requested that informational bulletins affecting Crew Resource Management (CRM)—such as window shade or boarding door coordination—be reclassified as “Required.” A working group is being formed to define which communications must be mandatory to ensure all workgroups remain aligned.
• Catering the Aft Galley in Extreme Cold: Opening service doors at temperatures below 20°F can cause rapid cabin cooling. The ASHSC proposed a “safety pause” where service doors remain closed until the final rows of passengers have moved forward. Management is currently researching industry standards and performing a Safety Risk Assessment (SRA).
• B2B Connectivity: Concerns were raised regarding inconsistent Wi-Fi in certain regions affecting B2B messaging. Management anticipates that the transition to Starlink will resolve these connectivity gaps.
• B2B Contactability: The ASHSC raised concerns regarding the potential for Crew Scheduling to distract Flight Attendants with messages during safety-critical periods.
• Exit Row Language Requirements: To resolve confusion regarding the “speak English” requirement versus “understand oral instructions,” management clarified that the latter is currently intended for international flights operated by pmHA Flight Attendants with designated language speakers. The ASHSC requested that management ensure Flight Attendants and CSAs have aligned policies to prevent boarding discrepancies.
• Pilot Announcements Prior to 18,000 Feet: Early descent announcements often lead to long lavatory lines and crowded aisles just as the crew needs to perform the 18K compliance check. Management has forwarded this concern to Flight Operations to determine if these announcements can be made earlier.
• Window Shades Closed at the Gate: The company has adopted a policy requiring Fleet Service to close all shades for “first impressions.” The ASHSC maintains that, absent competing safety considerations such as the need to keep the cabin cool, shades should remain open to improve situational awareness and the ability to assess outside conditions during a potential evacuation. Management is reviewing the SRA conducted during the SOC (Single Operating Certificate) change.
• Deportee Handling Procedures: The ASHSC raised concerns regarding how these procedures were being handled. Since then, Management has issued a bulletin clarifying that we do not detain unescorted individuals upon arrival or hold their passports during the flight. These passengers are to be treated as any other passenger and will deplane normally with the rest of the cabin.
• Stowage of Large Personal Beverage Bottles: There has been an increase in large bottles not being stowed adequately for takeoff and landing. Management is looking into adding specific language to the cabin preparation announcements to ensure these items are placed in bags.
• Brake Release vs. Door Closure Times: New “block out” policies show time discrepancies between B2B and Crew Access. The ASHSC is working with Inflight to understand the source of these changes and whether they result in more of the safety demo being performed while taxiing.
• CEP (Consolidated Emergency Checklist) and Tablet Holders: The CEP currently lacks instructions for stowing seatback tablet holders. Management indicates this will be addressed when new checklists are printed to align emergency procedures during transition training.
• Fume Events: The ASHSC raised ongoing concerns regarding cabin fume events. We expressed our disappointment that the Cabin Air Review Team meetings have been discontinued. We are concerned this move signals a lack of focus on air quality and reduces transparency.
• Preflight Readiness Checkboxes: Flight Attendants are currently required to verify tasks that may not apply to their specific flight. The ASHSC believes these checkboxes are a distraction; we are advocating for them to be improved or eliminated.
• Uniform Fabric Irritation: We are investigating reports of skin irritation and rashes related to new uniform materials in a pm HA uniform piece.
• All Call and Cabin Status: We would like Inflight to provide more information about all calls and cabin status calls, and to consider having the FFA/A FA report their door status during arming and disarming cabin status calls.
• Cabin Secure Indicator: The Committee requested a formal policy establishing a clear method for the FFA/A FA to know when the cabin is secure and ready for surface movement following door closure.
• Inadvertent Flare Ignition in Rafts: Following an FAA safety alert about flares igniting in survival kits, the ASHSC has asked the company to communicate any specific signs of flare ignition to Flight Attendants and to provide a clear mitigation plan for removing these flares from our aircraft.
• POB Mask Upgrades: Following initial findings and a subsequent NTSB recommendation, the ASHSC continues to call for the company to replace “bag-style” masks on Portable Oxygen Bottles (POBs) with “cup-style” masks, which are faster to don in an emergency. This has been a long-standing request; it has been over two years since the Flight 1262 accident, and we have found that the “bag-style” masks are difficult, if not impossible, to don quickly and securely during a decompression.

Things The Committee Is Working On

1. Safety Program Integration: Developing a strategy for merging existing safety programs (ASAP, FRB, and LOSA). AFA Representatives from pmAS and pmHA have started sitting in on each other’s ASAP ERCs and FRBs.
2. New Reporting System Development: Providing input for the new reporting system intended to replace both ReportIt! and INTELEX.
3. Cabin Interior Projects: Reviewing and offering continuous feedback on various cabin interior initiatives, including 737 MAX 10 galleys, A330 refurbishment, and 787-9 & 10 interiors.
4. Safety of New Products/Services: Supporting the Inflight Service Committee as they formulate recommendations that, if adopted by the company, would ensure the safe delivery of new products and services. They are currently working on the 737 MAX 8 service to Reykjavík and updates to the 787 international service.
5. New Uniform Development: Coordinating with the AFA Uniform Committee to engage with the company’s new uniform development team. The ASHSC’s role on the project is to provide input on uniform safety issues.

We Want to Hear From You!

If you’ve encountered any safety-related issues at work, you can help the Committee advocate for improvement and change by submitting a report:

• pmHA: Use INTELEX to submit In-Flight Incident Reports (including fatigue and injury) and Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) reports.
• pmAS: Use ReportIt! to submit FAIRs (including Fatigue reports), ASAP reports, and Employee Injury Reports (EIR).

If you need clarification or assistance on what type of report to file, please get in touch with a member of your Local ASHSC.

Your Local ASHSC is always ready to represent your voice to management. Please don’t hesitate to let us know about any issues or concerns you want us to bring forward. We would also love to hear any other feedback you may have for the Committee. You can find our contact information on the ASHSC page of the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian website.