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In This Edition

  • AFA Committee Focus Month: Government Affairs
  • Honoring the 25th Anniversary of September 11: Never Forget
  • Shared on Social
  • Next Week’s Events

AFA Committee Focus Month: Government Affairs

Originally posted September 7, 2026

As we launch our Government Affairs Committee focus month, we’re highlighting the proactive advocacy work that ensures our frontline experience as Flight Attendants is championed at every level of government. Discover how the Government Affairs Committee translates our unique, firsthand perspective into legislation that protects the safety and integrity of our profession.

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Honoring the 25th Anniversary of September 11: Never Forget

Originally posted September 10, 2026

A quarter of a century has passed since September 11, 2001—a day that fundamentally transformed our world and redefined aviation safety forever. Today, as members of the Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendant family, we stand together to reflect on that pivotal morning, honor the memory of those we lost, and reaffirm our solemn promise: We Will Never Forget.

Read More

Shared on Social

Check out this week’s highlights from our social media! Click on a graphic below to view the original post on Instagram. Be sure to follow us for the latest updates and news as we share it!

Originally posted September 9, 2026

Next Week’s Events

Monday, September 14Monthly Hotel Committee Meeting
Tuesday, September 15Quarterly Reserve Committee Meeting (pmHA)
See the MEC Event Calendar

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

A Look at the October Pairings for LAX & SEA

The October Bid Packet is out, and Council 47 has reviewed the flying designated for both LAX and SEA. With several significant changes to our flying this month, we’ve put together a recap of what members can expect, along with additional information gathered during our meeting with Crew Planning.

If you have specific questions about the bid packet, please submit a PBS Inquiry Form. Any other questions or comments, please email your officers. 

In Solidarity,

Josh, Paul and Beth
Council 47 Officers
47@afahawaiian.org

SEA Pulse Form (anonymous)
LAX Pulse Form (anonymous)
Council 47 SEA Committee Contact Roster

Greg Wickstrom and Patrick Smith
PBS Committee
PBS Inquiry

👀TL;DR👀

🌴 LAX: October 26 is the only day without LAX-originating flying. OAK remains the most common layover, longer SEA layovers continue, and A330 staffing increases to 9. Some longer A321 duty days are staffed with 5 Flight Attendants, and A321 turns scheduled over 14 hours have required hard-blocked crew-rest seats.

⛰️ SEA: ICN frequency decreases but includes longer 72-hour layovers on select trips. FCO ends October 23, with two unusual final pairings operating the same SEA-FCO flight and special FFA bidding/pay procedures. HNL layover opportunities decrease later in the month as flying shifts to single-day turns. NRT transitions to the 787 and full SEA staffing, while LHR and NRT provide SEA-originating flying every day of the month.

🌴 Los Angeles 🌴

WHAT’S CHANGING IN OCTOBER?

NO FLYING ON OCTOBER 26

LAX will have flying throughout October, with October 26 being the only day without an LAX-originating pairing.

Council 47 identified this gap during our meeting with Crew Planning and asked that a pairing be added so LAX would have flying every day of the month.

Unfortunately, Crew Planning determined there was no viable flying available to build on October 26. One option considered was a LAX-HNL-LAX turn, but that construction would result in a scheduled duty period of approximately 15:53.

Crew Planning acknowledged the gap, apologized, and committed to working toward greater consistency in LAX-originating flying in future bid months.

OAK REMAINS THE PRIMARY LAX LAYOVER

OAK continues to make up the largest share of LAX flying in October.

The most common pairing is a two-day LAX-LIH-OAK / OAK-LIH-LAX trip, generally crediting approximately 22 hours.

LONG SEA LAYOVERS CONTINUE

LAX also retains a significant number of three-day A330 pairings with long SEA layovers.

These trips generally operate LAX-OGG-SEA, provide approximately a 35-hour layover in Seattle, and return SEA-OGG-LAX.

A330 STAFFING INCREASES TO 9

Members will also notice that the LAX A330 flying is staffed with 9 Flight Attendants in October.

This reflects an important contractual staffing protection for LAX. Under Section 34-15.A.4, A330-200 turns originating out of the LAX domicile are staffed with one additional Flight Attendant, increasing staffing from 8 to 9, for groupings constructed during the February, March, April, September, October and November bid months.

SFO, SMF AND SAN ADD SOME VARIETY

There are also a smaller number of pairings that provide alternatives to the more common OAK and SEA trips.

The A330 SFO pairing operates through HNL and provides approximately 31 hours in San Francisco, crediting 22:17.

The A321 SMF pairings operate through OGG and provide approximately 33 to 35 hours in Sacramento, crediting between 21:14 and 21:45.

On October 31, there is also a two-day LAX-LIH-SAN / SAN-LIH-LAX pairing providing approximately 13 hours in San Diego and crediting 23:32.

LONGER A321 DUTY DAYS RECEIVE ADDITIONAL STAFFING

Members will also notice additional staffing on some of the longer A321 duty days.

The October 31 SAN pairing is staffed with 5 Flight Attendants rather than 4. It includes scheduled duty periods of 14:15 on Day 1 and 14:49 on Day 2.

The two LAX-LIH-LAX turns at the beginning of the month are also staffed with 5 Flight Attendants, with a scheduled duty period of 15:15.

CREW REST SEATS ON A321 TURNS, OVER 14 HOURS

LAX Flight Attendants should also be aware of the crew-rest seat protection for A321 turns scheduled over 14 hours of duty.

For these flights, Row 46 AB must be hard blocked for Flight Attendant crew rest. A hard block means those seats cannot be assigned to passengers and are reserved for crew-rest breaks.

When working one of these pairings, we encourage the crew to coordinate with the boarding agents before boarding to confirm that the required crew-rest seats are properly blocked. Doing so can help avoid confusion or miscommunication at the gate and ensure the required crew-rest seats remain available for the crew.

BY THE NUMBERS

45 pairing occurrences
~980 hours of total pairing credit
~21:46 average credit per pairing

TRIP LENGTH

Of the 45 LAX pairing occurrences:

  • 2 | 1-Day Trips
  • 26 | 2-Day Trips
  • 17 | 3-Day Trips

Nearly 96% of the trips include a layover, with only two single-day turns in the October packet.

WHERE ARE WE LAYING OVER?

Of the 43 pairings with a layover:

  • 25 | OAK
  • 12 | SEA
  • 3 | SMF
  • 2 | SFO
  • ​1 | SAN

OAK represents more than half of all LAX layovers.

AIRCRAT MIX

Of the 45 pairing occurrences:

  • 31 | A321
  • 14 | A330

Approximately 69% of the LAX pairings are A321neo flying, with the remaining 31% operating on the A330.

⛰️ SEATTLE ⛰️

WHAT’S CHANGING IN OCTOBER?

ICN FREQUENCY REDUCES

ICN frequency decreases in October, and the pairing construction changes.

Most ICN flying is built as three-day pairings with approximately 24-hour layovers, while Sunday departures become five-day pairings with approximately 72-hour layovers.

The five-day pairings depart on October 4, 11, 18 and 25 and credit approximately 24:28 to 24:30.

FCO SERVICE DISCONTINUES

FCO service discontinues during October, with the final SEA-FCO departure on October 23. Two crews will operate unique repositioning pairings, both working the same SEA-FCO flight before deadheading FCO-LHR and then LHR-SEA back to domicile.

AFA identified two issues with these pairings that Crew Planning will correct:

  • Italian Language Position: The October 23 SEA-FCO flight was constructed without an Italian-language position. S3004 will be modified to include the position.
  • LHR-SEA Deadhead Checkout: Both pairings currently reflect a 15-minute checkout following the LHR-SEA deadhead. Because customs clearance is required upon arrival in SEA, this will be corrected to 30 minutes after block-in.

We also confirmed with PBS that Flight Attendants may bid FFA on either pairing. Both awarded FFAs will receive FFA pay, but because both crews work the same SEA-FCO flight, seniority at sign-in will determine which Flight Attendant performs the FFA duties onboard.

Both crews are scheduled to deadhead LHR-SEA with a 10:20 block time. Under Section 31.F.2, a Flight Attendant scheduled to deadhead for a duty period of 10 hours or more must be ticketed in Business Class or First Class. This protection applies to both pairings.

The crews have different London layovers, approximately 16:10 and 40:10, before deadheading home on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. The different constructions help accommodate the required premium-cabin seating for the LHR-SEA deadheads.

HNL LAYOVERS DECREASE

Members will also see a reduction in the frequency of HNL layovers.

The packet includes HNL layover pairings on October 1, 2, 5, 12, and 19, including three-day trips with approximately 39:47 in Honolulu. Beginning October 25, the construction shifts toward single-day SEA-HNL-SEA turns, reducing the number of HNL layover opportunities.

NRT MOVES TO THE 787 AND FULL SEA STAFFING

October marks the transition of NRT from its previous mixed-base A330 staffing arrangement to a 787 operation fully staffed from SEA.

October 2nd pairing begins the transition, operating the A330 outbound from SEA and returning on the 787 with the full nine-position crew staffed from SEA. Crews operating this pairing are expected to have both branded uniforms.

Beginning with the October 3 SEA-NRT departure, the route operates on the 787 in both directions with the entire nine-position crew staffed from SEA.

This also means that once the flight reaches 85% of its revenue count and the crew-to-load position is activated, the 10th Flight Attendant position will also be filled from SEA.

BY THE NUMBERS

118 pairing occurrences
~2,347 hours of total pairing credit
~19:54 average credit per pairing

TRIP LENGTH

Of the 118 SEA pairing occurrences:

  • 7 | 1-Day Trips
  • 2 | 2-Day Trips
  • 100 | 3-Day Trips
  • 4 | 4-Day Trips
  • 5 | 5-Day Trips

The majority of SEA flying is built as three-day pairings, representing approximately 85% of all pairings.

WHERE ARE WE FLYING?

  • 31 | LHR
  • 31 | NRT
  • 23 | ICN
  • 21 | FCO
  • 12 | HNL

HNL FLYING

There are 12 HNL pairing occurrences, consisting of:

  • 7 | 1-Day Turns
  • 2 | 2-Day Pairings
  • 3 | 3-Day Pairings

The three Monday departures on October 5, 12 and 19 provide approximately 39:47 in Honolulu.

Beginning October 25, the construction changes significantly, with SEA-HNL-SEA turns appearing daily through October 31. These trips credit 12:00 in a single day, with a scheduled duty period of 15:22 and are staffed with 10 Flight Attendants and is considered to be an Augmented Crew due to the longer duty day.

A quarter of a century has passed since September 11, 2001—a day that fundamentally transformed our world and redefined aviation safety forever. Today, as members of the Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendant family, we stand together to reflect on that pivotal morning, honor the memory of those we lost, and reaffirm our solemn promise: We Will Never Forget.

We pause to remember the heroic crew members aboard American Airlines Flights 11 and 77, and United Airlines Flights 175 and 93. As aviation’s first responders, those twenty-five Flight Attendants displayed extraordinary courage in the face of unimaginable adversity. Their decisive actions, alerting the nation and protecting lives, epitomize the highest ideals of our profession. Alongside the eight Pilots and three Customer Service Representatives we lost, we honor their sacrifice and carry their legacy with us every time we step into the cabin.

Remembering our fallen colleagues is more than an annual reflection; it is a living commitment that shapes who we are. Over the past 25 years, our collective dedication has driven significant improvements in aviation security, cabin safety, and crew welfare. As our workgroups continue to build a unified future, our solidarity stands as our greatest strength.

Watch: 25th Anniversary Remembrance Message

In honor of the lives lost and the legacy we carry forward, MEC President Tim Green has shared a personal message for our Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendant family. In this video, Tim reflects on our profession’s history, the responsibility we hold for one another, and the solidarity that keeps our skies safe. We invite you to watch and share in this moment of remembrance.

Click Here to Watch on YouTube ➔

Wear Your Remembrance Pin

To visibly demonstrate our solidarity throughout this memorial month, all Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants are invited to wear either the AFA September 11th Black Ribbon Pin or the AFA and APFA Never Forget Unity Pin. If you need a pin, please contact your LEC Officers for more information. 

Join Us in a Moment of Silence

Please join us in a moment of silence and quiet reflection on Friday, September 11, at 8:46 AM Eastern Time (5:46 AM Pacific Time / 2:46 AM Hawaii Time) to pay tribute to our fallen heroes.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to safety, professionalism, and the compassion you show to one another and to our passengers every day. Together, we are the living legacy of our heroes—ensuring their memory endures. We will Never Forget:

American Flight 11

Flight Attendant: Barbara Arestegui
Flight Attendant: Jeffrey Collman
Flight Attendant: Sara Low
Flight Attendant: Karen Martin
Flight Attendant: Kathleen Nicosia
Flight Attendant: Betty Ong
Flight Attendant: Jean Roger
Flight Attendant: Madeline Sweeney
Flight Attendant: Dianne Snyder
Customer Service Representative: Renee Newell
Captain: John Ogonowski
First Officer: Thomas McGuinness

United Flight 175

Flight Attendant: Robert J. Fangman
Flight Attendant: Amy N. Jarret
Flight Attendant: Amy R. King
Flight Attendant: Kathryn LaBorie
Flight Attendant: Alfred G. Marchand
Flight Attendant: Michael C. Tarrou
Flight Attendant: Alicia N. Titus
Captain: Victor Saracini
First Officer: Michael Horrocks
Customer Service Representative: Marianne MacFarlane
Customer Service Representative: Jesus Sanchez

American Flight 77

Flight Attendant: Michele Heidenberger
Flight Attendant: Jennifer Lewis
Flight Attendant: Kenneth Lewis
Flight Attendant: Renee May
Captain: Charles Burlingame
First Officer: David Charlebois

United Flight 93

Flight Attendant: Lorraine G. Bay
Flight Attendant: Sandra Bradshaw
Flight Attendant: Wanda A. Green
Flight Attendant: CeeCee Lyles
Flight Attendant: Deborah Welsh
Captain: Jason Dahl
First Officer: Leroy Homer

Additional Resources

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Open Enrollment for Supplemental Benefits will begin soon. National Group Protection will be in our Crew Lounge starting next week. If you would like to enroll, make changes to your existing plan, or have general questions, be on the lookout for a Benefit Counselor on the following dates:

  • Monday: 9/14
  • Tuesday: 9/15
  • Wednesday: 9/16
  • Sunday: 9/20
  • Monday: 9/21
  • Tuesday: 9/22

If you have questions but are unable to make it to the lounge in person, you can call National Group Protection for assistance at (800) 344-9016.

Save the date! Our next Council 39 Local Council Meeting will be held next month. All members of Council 39 in good standing are invited to attend in person or on Zoom. To check your standing, sign in to your account on the AFA Membership Hub.

  • October 30
  • 12 PM-2 PM Pacific
  • Concordia Room, PDX Village and on Zoom

If you would like to attend in person, remember to bid the day off. As a reminder, registered air commuters are not allowed to use commuter status (D8Y) to attend Union activities exclusively. If you have questions about commuting on or around the day of the meeting, reach out to our LEC Officers.

Advance registration is required!

For in-person attendance, click here.

For virtual attendance on Zoom, click here.

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

September 11: We Will Never Forget

This week, we pause to remember the events of September 11, 2001, and the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day.

Twenty-five years later, the impact of September 11 remains deeply felt across our country and especially within the aviation community.

For Flight Attendants, that morning holds a particularly personal significance. Thirty-three of our fellow crewmembers went to work aboard American Airlines Flights 11 and 77 and United Airlines Flights 93 and 175, never knowing how profoundly that day would change our profession, our industry, and our world.

Their courage and sacrifice are part of our history as aviation workers, and we have a responsibility to continue telling their stories.

As we mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, Council 47 invites you to watch a special video interview with Council 47 LAX-based Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendant Patika Berg, a former United Airlines Flight Attendant who shares her firsthand experience of September 11 and reflects on what that day meant for Flight Attendants and our profession.

Viewer Advisory: The video contains discussion and images from September 11 that some viewers may find difficult, triggering, or traumatic. Please consider your own well-being before watching.

We also recognize that this anniversary can bring back difficult memories and emotions. AFA EAP is available to provide confidential peer support to any Flight Attendant who may need it.

Today and everyday, we remember those who went to work and never came home, the passengers and families whose lives were forever changed, the first responders who answered the call, and especially our fellow crewmembers aboard those four flights.

Twenty-five years later, we continue to honor their lives, share their stories, and remember their sacrifice.

In Solidarity,

Josh, Paul, Beth and the Council 47 Leadership Team
47@afahawaiian.org

SEA Pulse Form (anonymous)
LAX Pulse Form (anonymous)
Council 47 SEA Committee Contact Roster

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Message from the LEC President

Aloha nui kākou,

I hope everyone is having a safe Labor Day weekend with your ‘ohana, and for those of you who are flying, wishing you and your crew safe flights throughout your workday.

For those of you from the island of Kaua‘i: We are working with the Company to monitor the effects and impacts of Hurricane Lowell to the island.

Please keep yourselves and your ‘ohana safe during this time and tune in to your Civil County Weather Alerts for more information. Should you need support, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us in the leadership as well as our AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

With the Summer Season now ended and we are getting into Fall, I wanted to provide everyone with some updates on what we have been working on since taking office back in July.

Alaska 737-800 Interisland Flying

Since the announcement by the Company of the fleet replacement for our 717s and the supplemental flying by the Alaska Crews for interisland service next month, I have been engaged in many meetings with the Company to discuss this situation on behalf of our Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants.

My message to the Company has been simple, pointed, and stern to the fact that interisland flying belongs to us at Hawaiian Airlines.

As many of you may have heard in my advocacy for our jobs at the All Employee Town Hall, my stance on this issue is not denying the facts of the situation that we are in with the aging 717 fleet, but more so on the impact to our local jobs and the bid lines for our HNL base.

In an effort to approach this issue on multiple fronts, I have decided to activate our Local Government Affairs Committee that is led by Chairperson, Wilisoni Fatafehi and supported by Maria Kahele in meeting with Hawai‘i Legislators both in the State and County levels for support and attention in holding Alaska Air Group accountable for their commitments to both the employees and to the people of Hawai‘i.

Our Secretary, Soon Kim who has just returned from Baltimore from her Advanced Leadership Training was also active during her time in Washington DC in meeting with Senator Hirono’s Staff in bringing these issues to light as well.

On that same note, I too had a meeting with Senator Brian Schatz in person in Honolulu in a collective effort to ensure that the Company remains committed to maintaining our jobs and bid lines here in Hawai‘i, and the commitments to the communities in Hawai‘i.

These of course are efforts that require more discussions and meetings as this situation develops. We will continue to assess this situation as it progresses these next few months when the Alaska crews and its 737s begin doing a limited amount of interisland flying to help supplement our overall network in the islands.

The Alaska 737s will be scheduled primarily in the midday hours operating only three (3) roundtrip flights between Kahului (OGG) as well as Honolulu (HNL). Our 717 fleet and crews will still be operating normal schedules to the other islands including to Maui around the three (3) roundtrip flights that Alaska 737s and its crews will be doing beginning next month in October.

It is important for everyone to know that the 737s will be in the Alaska livery and will not be painted in the Pualani livery until such time we have a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) and our crews have completed transitional training on the Boeing 737s.

We double checked the bid lines to ensure no loss of flying will occur in October for our HNL base and that the Alaska 737s operating the three (3) roundtrip flights are supplementing the existing flight schedule. This means, that the Company is adding more flights to the existing interisland network by utilizing the Alaska 737s to do limited flying between Kahului (OGG) as well as Honolulu (HNL). This will allow the Company to focus the 717 utilization on the other segments and increase the flight frequencies between the islands and pull back the need to utilize the A321s for interisland flying and use them for North America flights where they are meant to be.

I want to assure everyone again, that we will be monitoring this situation closely to ensure that the limited flying remains limited, with no impact or loss to our bid lines in Honolulu. Should this change for whatever reason, I will be ready to direct our Grievance Committees both at the Local and MEC level to enforce our Contract to the fullest extent and protect our bid lines.

Pay Check Auditing

Since we’ve migrated over to a new payroll system back in January, I have been working closely with the Crew Payroll team, who are all legacy HA payroll employees to provide a breakdown chart on how to read your new pay checks and balance them to your hours flown.

I am happy to report that we have made that possible thanks to the efforts and willingness of the HA Crew Payroll team in putting it together.

This Pay Guide is now available via the Inflight Sharepoint Website under the ‘Crew Scheduling, Payroll & Planning’ tab.

Please see the images boxed in ‘yellow’ to access these documents to better help you read, understand and perform a self-check/balance of what you are being paid.

For any questions or concerns, HA Crew Payroll encourages you to reach out to them.

Please contact HA Crew Payroll: HA.crewpayroll@alaskaair.com

For those of you who have reached out to payroll before via email, please double check that you are emailing the correct email address. Since the Alaska system migration, like our Company emails, the HA Crew Payroll email has migrated over to the @alaskaair.com domain.

If your previous emails still has the @hawaiianair.com domain in the address, please discontinue emailing that address and use the one mentioned above.

Social Media Investigations

As many of you have been hearing, the Company is very strict on employees posting on social media while on Company Time, on Company Property and in Company Uniform.

It is important for everyone to know that while you are on-duty your priority is to your job as a Flight Attendant. Recording videos or making content onboard flights or on Company property and time puts you at the risk of being investigated and possibly disciplined for what you are posting.

My recommendation to everyone is to please be careful and aware of what you post and the content you choose to create, especially at work, on-duty and in uniform.

To be specific, when it comes to taking selfies and pictures of yourself and the crew in a professional manner, the Company has not had issues with that. But when it comes to recording video content or reels during the flight, even on break or simply going to work, the Company may have an issue with that as you are representing the Company by being in uniform or on Company property.

Doing social media is completely fine, but when you are at work, or in uniform representing the company, please use your upmost discretion when doing so and avoid having to go through a disciplinary investigation.

HNL Base Council Meeting + Meet the AFA Joint Negotiations Committee

We are happy to announce that we will be holding a HNL Base Council Meeting with updates from the Local Leadership and Committees with time for Q&A as well as hearing from the AFA Negotiations Committee for our JCBA with time for Q&A.

This meeting will be held in Honolulu on Friday, November 6th at the Airport Conference Center located on the 7th floor of the parking structure above Terminal 1.

There will be two (2), two (2) hour meeting sessions on that day.

1st Session – 0900HST – 1100HST


0900 – 1000HST – Local Council Meeting
Updates from the Leadership & Committees as well as Q&A

1000 – 1100HST – AFA Joint Negotiations Committee  

Meet and engage with the AFA Negotiations Committee:

Tim Green – JNC Chairperson, Martin Gusman – HA JNC Member, Jeff Fuke – HA JNC Member, Virginia Fitz – AS JNC Member, Heather Reier – AS JNC Member, Paula Mastrangelo – AFA Senior Staff Negotiator, Lea Franzoi –  JNC Support Representative

Break – 1100 – 1200HST (1-Hour)

2nd Session – 1200HST – 1300HST

1200 – 1300HST – Local Council Meeting 
Updates from the Leadership & Committees as well as Q&A

1300 – 1400HST – AFA Joint Negotiations Committee  

Meet and engage with the AFA Negotiations Committee:

Tim Green – JNC Chairperson, Martin Gusman – HA JNC Member, Jeff Fuke – HA JNC Member, Virginia Fitz – AS JNC Member, Heather Reier – AS JNC Member, Paula Mastrangelo – AFA Senior Staff Negotiator, Lea Franzoi –  JNC Support Representative

For those of you who have questions and are wondering about the state of the Joint Negotiations and its progress, I encourage you to come and attend in-person. Meet and engage in dialogue to get your information and updates directly from the Negotiating Committee.

As many of you know because the Alaska Air Group Headquarters are in Seattle, the Negotiations and the Committee are always there and are rarely in Hawai‘i as a whole.

I encourage everyone once again, to come and meet the entire AFA Negotiations Committee as well as your Local Leaders and Committee Chairs and stay up to date with everything going on in our Union! Don’t leave important information about our futures to gossip and rumor. This is the best way to get your questions answered and get your information from the source!

We will be sending out communications later this week and throughout the next two months leading up to Friday, November 6th.

We will be serving HEAVY PŪPŪ as we all know food is what brings us together especially in Hawai‘i.

I want to Mahalo everyone for keeping strong throughout this year and being steadfast in maintaining who we are as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants. I know it’s been hard and enduring the struggles of navigating through the losses we are experiencing from the change of our service to our guests as well as the diverse flying that connected Hawai‘i to the world.

While things are constantly changing and may be inevitable, we will always remain who we are as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants.

I will continue to push and advocate for our rights in our contract enforcement and ensure that our identity and culture at Hawaiian Airlines remains present.

The life of Hawaiian Airlines brand does not belong to Alaska Air Group or its shareholders. It belongs to us, the people of Hawai‘i. No matter what people say, Hawaiian Airlines will always be us and we to it. You can’t have one without the other.

I am proud to be a part of this legacy and will continue to be proud – as we all are – in being Hawaiian Airlines.

Continue to stay informed, and reach out to any one of us in the leadership or on the Committees.

Fly safe, keep each other safe!

Me ka ha‘aha‘a,

Kela Chong
LEC President
hnl.lecp@afahawaiian.org
Hawaiian Airlines Local Executive Council 43 – HNL
Association of Flight Attendants – CWA, AFL-CIO

As Flight Attendants, we wear many hats, but at our core, we are aviation’s first responders. The moment we step onboard, our training takes over—not just to get passengers seated and doors closed, but to fulfill our primary role as safety professionals. We’re the ones who calmly handle onboard medical events and emergencies, manage the ever-changing environment of the cabin, and make sure every flight meets the highest standards of safety. Our expertise isn’t just a job requirement; it’s the foundation of everything we do. It demands constant vigilance and a deep understanding of the protocols that protect our crews and everyone who flies with us.

But the reality is that the environment we work in, and the rules that govern our financial stability and job security, is shaped long before we ever step onto the aircraft. The decisions made in state capitals and the halls of government in Washington, D.C., lay the groundwork for our profession, impacting everything from our financial stability to our job security.

This month, we’re turning our attention to that reality as we bring the focus to our Government Affairs Committee.

The Bridge Between the Cabin and the Capitol

If you’ve ever wondered how we protect the standards that shape our work, our Government Affairs Committee is where it all begins. Think of this Committee as our legislative advocate and our direct connection to the policymakers shaping aviation. It’s the bridge between our frontline experience as Flight Attendants and the people who write the rules that guide our industry.

When we engage in government affairs, we aren’t just keeping up with the news—we are bringing the reality of the cabin to the people who write the laws. By sharing our expertise, we make sure that legislative decisions don’t just happen to us, but rather for us, protecting our interests before policies are even finalized.

Our Roadmap for September

We’ve designed this month to give you a clear, step-by-step look at how our Committee turns ideas into real-world results. Over the next few weeks, we’ll share stories and resources that highlight how our collective advocacy protects the profession we’ve built together. Here’s what to expect each week:

  • This Week (The Foundation): Kick off the month by getting to know the faces behind our advocacy and understanding why our presence in the Capitol matters so much.
  • Week 2 (The Legislative Process): Ever wondered how a bill actually becomes law? We’ll break it down and offer practical tips for making your voice heard by your elected representatives.
  • Week 3 (Civic Engagement): Your vote is your voice. This week, we’ll walk you through the “how-to” of civic participation—from registering to vote and finding your polling place, to researching candidates who stand with us on the issues that matter most.
  • Week 4 (FlightPAC): We’ll wrap up the month by spotlighting the engine of our advocacy—FlightPAC. We’ll show you how it works and share how you can help keep our interests front and center in Washington.

Watch: Our Government Affairs Committee

In the video below, MEC Government Affairs Committee Chairperson Bruni Agosto-Pinal pulls back the curtain on the Committee’s work and shares why coming together as a unified force is the most effective way to protect our future. Bruni highlights the importance of active citizenship and the power we have when we step up as both safety professionals and legislative advocates. We encourage you to watch and learn what our Government Affairs Committee is all about!

Click here to watch on YouTube ➔

Writing Our Future

Advocacy is, at its core, an extension of the professionalism we bring to the line every day. When we connect with elected officials and share our stories, we’re not just lobbying—we’re shaping the protections that will define our careers for years to come.

If you’re ready to move from watching the legislative process to actively shaping it, now is the perfect time to get involved. Visit afaalaska.org/volunteer to see how you can lend your voice to our unified force.

Just as we’re always ready for the unexpected in the cabin, we must prepare for the legislative challenges ahead. Let’s make this September a month where we move from watching history to actively writing it.

In This Edition

  • Joint Contract Negotiations Session 18 – August 2026
  • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – August 2026
  • Next Week’s Events

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 18 – August 2026

Originally posted August 31, 2026

Last week, our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) engaged in four days of collective bargaining with management in Seattle. Despite presenting a comprehensive proposal to address Section 19 (Grievance) and Section 30 (Training), the Committee and management were unable to reach an agreement. Our JNC remains dedicated to securing the best possible outcome for our Members.

Read More

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – August 2026

Originally posted August 31, 2026

Pre-Merger Alaska

August’s pre-merger Alaska Scheduling Committee Meeting recap provides an overview of current issues impacting inflight operations and Flight Attendant schedules. Read more to find out about the Committee’s discussion on Open Time system monitoring, sit pay denials, and ongoing hotel capacity problems.

Read More

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, September 8 – Thursday, September 10Joint Contract Negotiations
See the MEC Event Calendar

This message is for pre-merger LAX and SEA based Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Delays: When Do We Drop

Flight crews dealing with lengthy delays often ask the question: “When do we drop?”

For Flight Attendants, this generally means: At what point does the delay make us contractually unable to take the flight?

Delays and irregular operations can be layered and complex, and there are many different contractual provisions that may trigger removal from a trip depending on the circumstances.

This communication is focused specifically on one scenario: you have reported for your trip, your flight is delayed, and the delay may cause you to time out.

Other circumstances may involve different contractual protections or removal provisions.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All examples in this communication use a 16:00-hour maximum duty period because all current LAX and SEA flying is staffed with standard crews [Section 7.C.2.b.].

For flights staffed with an augmented crew [Section 7.C.2.d.], the applicable maximum duty period increases. Be sure to use the maximum duty period that applies to your specific crew staffing when calculating your Drop Time.

In Solidarity,

Council 47 Grievance Committee
47.grievance@afahawaiian.org

SEA Pulse Form (anonymous)
LAX Pulse Form (anonymous)
Council 47 SEA Committee Contact Roster

Drop Time

The “Drop Time” is the time at which the crew is projected to exceed its applicable maximum duty period and will no longer be legal to take the flight (also known as timing out).

During delays and while the “Drop Time” approaches, the First Flight Attendant and Crew Scheduling should remain in constant communication to ensure everyone is aware of the timeline and proper planning can take place.

If the boarding door is closed prior to your “Drop Time”, you are legal to take the flight.

Please also remember that reaching your “Drop Time” does not mean you have reached your maximum duty hours. If you are no longer legal to take the flight, you may still remain on duty and be used for duties such as boarding until you reach your applicable maximum duty hours. You are not released from duty until Crew Scheduling has released you.

🌴Los Angeles

For LAX Flight Attendants, there are two different calculations depending on the scheduled duty period of your pairing: duty periods scheduled at 14 hours or less, and duty periods scheduled over 14 hours. [Section 7.C.2.b and LAX LOA 1]

If your scheduled duty period is 14 hours or less, the basic calculation is:

Original Report Time + Max Duty (16:00) − Checkout (:15) − Bid Packet Block Time + :01 = Drop Time

14 hours or less Example:
07:00 Report + 16:00 Maximum Duty − :15 Checkout − 5:11 Bid Packet Block Time + :01 = 17:35 Drop Time
*be sure to convert time zones as necessary*

If your scheduled duty period is over 14 hours, the LAX Domicile Side Letter applies and the calculation is different. Your maximum duty is based on the duty period published in the bid packet plus two hours.

For these pairings, there is a much simpler way to determine your Drop Time:

Take the scheduled departure time of your return flight out of Hawaii and add 2:01.

Over 14 Example:
Scheduled LIH Departure: 12:00 + 2:01 = 14:01 Drop Time
*be sure to convert time zones as necessary*

🏔️ Seattle

For SEA Flight Attendants, the calculation is the same, with one key variable: checkout time.

  • Use a :15-minute checkout if your arrival does not require the crew to clear customs.
  • Use a :30-minute checkout if your arrival requires the crew to clear customs.

For a STANDARD CREW [Section 7.C.2.b], your basic calculation is:

Original Report Time + Max Duty (16:00) − Checkout (:15 or :30) − Bid Packet Block Time + :01 = Drop Time

Without Customs Example:

For flights without customs, the applicable checkout time is 15 minutes.
15:00 Report + 16:00 Maximum Duty − Checkout (:15) − 6hr11min Bid Packet Block Time + :01 = Drop Time: 00:35 AM (next day)

With Customs Example:
For a flight requiring customs clearance, the checkout time is 30 minutes.
16:15 Report + 16:00 Maximum Duty − Checkout (:30) − 10h45m Bid Packet Block Time + :01 = Drop Time: 21:01

***An extra Flight Attendant added for crew-to-load does not make the crew augmented. The crew is still considered a Standard Crew***

Overview Reminders

When experiencing a lengthy delay, make sure you know your:

  • Original report time
  • Max Duty [Section 7.C.2. Standard Crew]
  • Originally scheduled departure time [Bid Packet]
  • Scheduled bid packet block time [Bid Packet]
  • Current rescheduled departure time

Knowing these numbers will help you understand when your crew reaches its contractual limit and answer that familiar question: “When do we drop?”

These calculations determine the point at which you would be projected to exceed your applicable maximum duty period.

If the boarding door is closed prior to your Drop Time, you are legal to take the flight.

An extra Flight Attendant added for crew-to-load does not make the crew augmented. The crew is still considered a Standard Crew

FAQ

What is the “Drop Time”?

The “Drop Time” is the time at which the crew is projected to time out and be illegal to take their scheduled flight.

Where do I find the information needed to calculate it?

Your report time, scheduled duty period, and scheduled block time can be found in the current month’s bid packet. You Max Duty time is found in Section 7.C.2. for a Standard Crew.

Is everyone’s Drop Time calculated the same way?

No. Your applicable maximum duty, check out time and calculation can vary based on your domicile, scheduled duty period, type of flying, and crew staffing. LAX also has additional provisions under the LAX Domicile Side Letter.

Should I use the estimated delayed flight time for the Drop Time?

No. The calculation uses the scheduled flight time published in the bid packet, not the current estimated or anticipated flight time.

What happens if we reach our Drop Time?

If the boarding door has not closed by the Drop Time, the crew is projected to exceed its applicable maximum duty period and is no longer legal to take the flight.

Does reaching the Drop Time mean I am off duty?

No. You may still remain on duty and be used for duties such as boarding until you reach your applicable maximum duty hours.

Who should be monitoring this?

Flight Attendants should know their applicable limitations. As the Drop time approaches, the First Flight Attendant and Crew Scheduling should remain in communication to ensure proper planning.

That’s a Wrap on Government Affairs Focus Month!

As Government Affairs Committee Focus Month comes to a close, we want to sincerely thank everyone who tuned in, asked insightful questions, and shared resources throughout September. Whether you watched a quick video on the van or started a conversation about voting in the crew lounge, your engagement made a difference. We started this month […]

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, our AFA Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons met for their regular quarterly meeting to advance ongoing activism, promote workplace equity, and champion meaningful policy improvements across our workplace. Your representatives attending the meeting were Nyachan Chuar (ANC), Soon Kim (HNL), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (pmHA LAX/SEA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Erika Daniel […]

MEC Town Hall Video and Q&A Recap – September 23, 2026

Whether you joined us live or are ready to watch on your own schedule, the full recording of our September 23 MEC Town Hall is now available! Catch up on the discussions and hear directly from our MEC Officers and AFA panelists. Watch the video anytime on our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian YouTube channel using the link below. (Note: […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – September 2026

In September, our Hotel Committee participated in two meetings: the standing monthly meeting with Crew Hotels on September 14, and a Quarterly Business Review (QBR) with the company’s hotel procurement vendor, API, on September 23 (pmAS) and September 24 (pmHA) in Seattle.  Representing you at these meetings were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA pmAS), […]

Register Now: Reserve Webinar – Wednesday, October 21

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants When Crew Scheduling calls at 3 AM with a change to the trip you self-assigned, do you know your contractual rights? Understanding what management can—and cannot—do on reserve is your strongest line of defense. Join our Reserve Committee for “Is This Legal?”, the second installment in our three-part pre-merger […]

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