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This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Layover Safety

Due to the unfortunate circumstances that’s befallen a Southwest Flight Attendant in our own backyard, we’d like to remind us all to maintain our situational awareness even when we’re on our layover.

Here’s a link from the recent AFA News in Review with some great suggestions and practices to ensure we’re all safe while
away from domicile.

Continue to watch out for each other .. and ourselves. Trust your inner voice – your intuition – and if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.

Let’s all be SAFE .. at home and on our layovers.

In Solidarity,

Baron Lee
baron.lee@afahawaiian.org
HNL Council 43 Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Chair

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Tuesday, August 25, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met virtually to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Rebekah Olds (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Kanako Yamado (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, PBS Committee member —Krystal Kehrli, MEC Grievance Committee Payroll Representative Julie Thornton, and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones were also present.

The Committee met with Managing Director of Inflight Performance & Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling Terrance Chariandy, Manager of Inflight Crew Scheduling Goose Hlaingmyint, Managing Director of Operations Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette, Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Manager of Crew Planning Colin Beard, ITS Technical Product Owner Nathan McFerren, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke and other management representatives from Crew Planning, Crew Scheduling, information technology (ITS), and payroll.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, September 29.

Topics of Discussion

The Committee reviewed several topics during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

Local Committee Chairperson Reports

SEA (Seattle)

  • System Monitoring:
    • Monitored Open Time on August 16, 2026.
    • Technical issue identified: Server 1 faced difficulties transferring operations to Server 2.
    • Upcoming discussion on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheduled for September 3, 2026.
    • Flight Attendants were encouraged to file tickets with Information Technology Services (ITS).
  • Hotel Compensation:
  • Current wait times at hotels remain an issue. Financial compensation efforts led by a designated AFA representative resulted in successful compensation in several cases.
    • Active disputes remain regarding compensation for rolling delays and situations where hotel accommodations are denied, particularly after delays of four hours or more.
  • Over Duty Pay:
    • Confusion was reported among Flight Attendants regarding expectations for overduty pay.
    • Clarification provided on waivers and premiums outlined in section 8.T.
    • The Committee’s stance is to never waive contractual rights.
  • Pay Guidelines Update:
    • Request for a comprehensive review and update of the Pay Guidelines due to outdated content.
    • Suggested communication to all Flight Attendants to ensure clarity on pay structures.
  • Transportation Review: Issues regarding transportation times to/from JFK require immediate review. An email has been sent addressing ongoing concerns.
  • Low Bid Options:
    • Bases report on high block hours without sufficient transfers back to the SEA base.
    • Preference expressed for Staffing Adjustment Leaves (SAL) among bases.

PDX (Portland)

  • Open Tickets:
    • Several tickets remain unresolved concerning discrepancies in compensation. Clarification on differences in ticket handling is being sought. Flight Attendants should use crew access as the system of record, not B2B or other public-facing applications. 
    • Trade Ticket Issue: Another ticket under review pertains to a trade and the correctness of messaging involved when Flight Attendant received an incorrect error on Crew Access. 

SAN (San Diego)

  • No significant operational or compensation issues are reported currently.

ANC (Anchorage)

  • Hotel Issues: Complaints regarding a lack of available rooms and extended wait times after redeye flights are forwarded to the hotel committee for review.

LAX (Los Angeles)

  • Day Room Request: A request made for a day room in PDX on August 7 faced timing issues. Scheduling called the hotel at 16:32, leaving only 1 hour and 56 minutes before the crew needed to report. Compensation was denied as the crew declined due to timing constraints. Since the crew declined the day room, no additional compensation was paid. 
  • Sit Pay Denials: Multiple instances have been reported in which sit pay has been denied. Notably, during maintenance delays, aircraft were towed away, affecting sit pay recognition. Specific case: Flight 1635 on August 10, where aircraft maintenance caused delays.
    • Hotel Capacity Issues: Concerns raised about hotel assignments to locations with insufficient capacity. Pilots were assigned to a hotel with only 24% occupancy, raising questions about decision-making processes regarding crew accommodations.

SFO (San Francisco)

  • Line Averages & LBO:
    • Current line averages remain steady at 80 tfp (Trip Flight Pay).
    • Ongoing discussions regarding low bids (LBO) and potential reductions in line averages to improve crew satisfaction.

PBS Subcommittee Update

  • September Bidding Month:
    • The September bidding process was active, with numerous inquiries related to low bids and changes in the bid packet.
    • Low Bids: First month processed since 2020. The process was reviewed to ensure contractual compliance watching bid windows.
    • Normal High Bid windows. Adjustments were made to accommodate reserve percentages and ensure lines were awarded within legal windows.
    • Coverage percentages have shown to be comparable across bases to past years.
  • Bid Protests: Had many valid bid protests due to late CB submissions from Special Projects that should have been on Flight Attendant lines before bids were processed
  • Monthly PBS Meetings: Monthly meeting held on August 6, discussing Skywise/NAVBLUE

Pairing Construction Update

  • October Solutions:
    • Parameters for minimum connections have been modified to enhance efficiency.
    • Collaborative efforts with crew planning are planned for the following month.

ITS Update

  • AI Crew Solutions (vendor) Initiatives for vacation bidding:
    • Discussions on implementing user interface for crew management:
    • Next meeting set for fall 2026 to discuss vacation awards and slots.
    • Ongoing testing of user acceptance testing (UAT) processes.
  • Trade Response Times:
    • System has maintained a high response rate for trades:
    • 99.17% of trades responded to in under 10 seconds.
    • A decrease in overall trade volume by 568 compared to July 2026.
  • Webnode Issues:
    • Brief issues with webnode 2 being unreachable have been resolved.
    • Ongoing memory leak issue under investigation, prioritized for resolution with Jeppesen.
  • Upcoming Releases:
    • Release version 10.0.7 scheduled for early September:
    • Focused on core fixes for advertised trip pool depopulation during high activity periods. No ETA, but high priority. 

Payroll Update

  • Query Volume:
    • Total of 3,703 queries recorded in July:
    • Many queries originated from Flight Attendants submitting questions before trip completion.
    • Discussions about enhancing the user guide to clarify views on pay buckets
  • Training Initiatives: Suggestions for creating video tutorials to help Flight Attendants understand pay structures.

Crew Planning Update

  • Block Hours Analysis:
    • Anticipated block hours for September: 310,850, with an increase to 316,804 expected in October.
    • Current reserve coverage stands at 20%, with low bids in place.
  • Commutability Review:
    • Analysis indicates SEA, PDX, and ANC are best suited for 3-day trips, while SEA, PDX, and SAN are optimal for 4-day trips.
    • LAX and SFO face the most significant scheduling challenges.
  • IRROP Mitigation for Summer
    • Various adjustments were made to start and end duty times in response to:
    • Air Traffic Control (ATC) requirements.
    • Increased layover times in specific locations to accommodate crew rest.
  • Hawaii Neighbor Island Flying
    • Management anticipates increased hotel costs and the need to review hotel accommodations.
    • Pairings appear to be multi-day trips with short rest periods in HNL during some overnights. 
    • We expect these pairings to be reviewed monthly and the operation of the pairings to change over the next several months. 
    • The Flight Attendant and pilot pairings should remain the same for October 2026 to keep the flight crews together and minimize operational disruption. 

Crew Scheduling Update

  • Sick Leave Trends:
    • Sick leave rates for July recorded at 12.2%, with August trending higher at 14.2%.
    • Reserve utilization is projected to increase from 11.7% in July to 13.6% in August.
  • Absence Volume:
    • Total absences have increased by approximately 18%:
    • A significant rise in the reserve population is driving this increase.
    • Notable peaks in absence rates were observed during June and July.
  • Premium Pay Cost Analysis:
    • July marked the highest premium spending month recorded:
    • Significant costs attributed to specific demand drivers such as special events (e.g., FIFA) and weather-related disruptions.
    • Awarded premium pay constituted over 84% of the total premium TFP.

Announcements

  • Upcoming Meetings:
    • A comprehensive schedule of meetings has been established from September 2026 through December 2027, including:
    • Regular updates and specific focus meetings on ADR and pairing selection.
  • JCTE Updates: Future updates on JCTE processes and timelines are anticipated for late Q3 2026.

MEC Committee Chairperson Report

  • Crew Backlog Review: Scheduled review of crew backlogs on August 27, 2026.
  • Crew Access Issues: Ongoing discussions regarding known crew access issues, with meetings to address these concerns pending.
  • Fatigue Review Board: Meetings planned to address fatigue concerns, scheduled for September 3, October 1, November 5, and December 3, 2026.
  • Pyramiding Pay Dispute:
    • Ongoing discussions related to overduty pay and associated compensation issues.
    • Grievances have been filed regarding specific disputes over night rule compensation and redeye flights.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Resolving Pyramiding Pay Disputes: Discussions are ongoing through the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process to clarify payment rules for over-duty pay and day-off violations. Our Grievance Committee is filing grievances regarding several concerns with pyramid pay. These discussions are still ongoing with Labor Relations management. AFA has filed several grievances and still has not received a pyramiding pay chart from payroll or labor relations and our requests go unanswered. 
  2. Vacation Bidding: Representatives from the Committee met with management to discuss the new vendor, AI Crew Solutions. It was determined that when a Flight Attendant either doesn’t hold a bid or forgets to bid, they will be allowed to bid in the 2nd round of vacation. The current process assigns slot 1 and slot 2. We will provide educational material and information when bidding begins next year on the new platforms. We have additional meetings to discuss implementation and buddy bidding. We are currently testing and reviewing the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) environment. This is scheduled for implementation in the 4th quarter of 2026. 
  3. Flow Charts: These are posted on the AFA website to help guide you through contractual understanding and irregular ops here: 2025-2028 AFA Alaska CBA Reference Documents 01.26.2026
  4. Block2Block (B2B) Contactability: Implemented on February 1, 2026. Please familiarize yourself with the contractual language and bulletin bundle. Every Flight Attendant must check B2B at the end of every duty period (not trip) and make positive contact if a message is sent prior to block-in of the last flight of the duty period per §8.Q.2.e. We are actively working with management to post an updated bulletin. 
  5. Compensation: Follow up on crew pay issues and reassignment policies. Please give Flight Attendant Crew Pay a minimum of a week to update compensation for irregular operations. 
  6. Pairings: Continue to address pairing and scheduling concerns with management.
  7. Software: Monitor upcoming software implementations and their impacts on operations. We will have another JCTE update in August 2026. 
  8. Sick Leave Tracking: Continue monitoring sick leave trends and review strategies to mitigate operational impacts. 
  9. Notifications: Addressing communication issues regarding flight changes and notifications. 
  10. AFA Alaska Online Support Center Tickets: Local AFA Representatives do not have access to your schedules, Rainmaker, or pay stubs. When filing a ticket, please screenshot as much information as possible, such as trip details, reports, and Rainmaker buckets, to assist them in their research into your concerns. 

We Want to Hear From You!

Whether you have feedback for the Committee, concerns to share, or items you’d like brought up with management – don’t hesitate to let us know. Your Local Scheduling Committee is here to be your voice to management. You can easily open a support ticket on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or directly contact us using the information provided on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian website.

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Our JNC met with management last week on August 24 to August 27 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for September 8 to September 10
  • This session focused on Section 30 (Training) and its association to Section 19 (Grievance)

Negotiations Update

Our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for four days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC met with management from August 24 to August 27 in Seattle, WA. At the negotiating table for this session were:

Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants  Representing Management
Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee ChairpersonAllen Thieman, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska
Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberRyan St. John, Vice President, Finance, Planning and Investor Relations, Alaska
Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberJoe Wonderly, Vice President, Labor Relations, Alaska
Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberCarmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska
Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberKalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian
Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff NegotiatorMike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska
 Karen Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska

Your JNC met last Saturday and Sunday to resume our comprehensive review of the Reserve sections of both contracts as we continue to prepare for upcoming discussions.

On Monday, the company responded to our last Section 30 (Training) proposal. The Negotiating Committee evaluated past proposals that had been tabled to look for ways to settle any remaining issues. Both sides agreed to package Section 30 (Training) and Section 19 (Grievance), which had previously been tabled, in an effort to move negotiations forward. The JNC worked on both sections together in an attempt to resolve these matters.

Your JNC spent a significant amount of time working through those proposals, making changes, and working toward an agreement that would address the remaining concerns. The JNC completed multiple rounds of discussions to reach an agreement. While we made progress on a number of items, we were ultimately unable to reach an agreement with the company to close out these sections. Both Section 30 (Training) and Section 19 (Grievance) are still open for discussion.

Section by Section Progress

The Alaska CBA is being used as the basis of the joint contract for language purposes. Each section and provision from both contracts will be reviewed individually to incorporate and amend the strongest elements from each agreement.

Sections discussed in this session:

  • Grievance Procedures (AS CBA Section 19 and HA CBA Section 23)
  • Training (AS CBA Section 30 and HA CBA Section 26)

Sections in ongoing discussion:

  • Vacations (AS CBA Section 14 and HA CBA Section 18)
  • Sick Leave (AS CBA Section 16 and HA CBA Section 19)
  • Leaves of Absence (AS CBA Section 15 and HA CBA Section 17)
  • Insurance Benefits (AS CBA Section 23 and HA CBA Section 32)
  • General and Miscellaneous (AS CBA Section 24 and HA CBA Section 27)
  • Domiciles (AS CBA Section 28 and HA CBA Section 5, 14, and 27)
  • Commuter Policy (AS CBA Section 36 and HA CBA Section 34-28)

Sections listed below are on hold until discussions regarding future sections, which affect specific provisions, take place.

  • Seniority (AS CBA Section 6 and HA CBA Section 9)
  • Charters (AS CBA Section 33 and HA CBA Section 12)

JCBA Negotiations

As a reminder, here’s how JCBA bargaining differs from regular negotiations:

  • Not Section 6 Negotiations: Because our contracts are not amendable, we fall outside the regular Section 6 process.
  • Creating One Contract from Two: Instead of improving a single contract, JCBA talks are about building an entirely new agreement from two existing contracts.
  • Different Survey Process: The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) will send targeted “subject matter” surveys on specific contract sections.

For more information about the process please see Understanding JCBA Negotiations

What’s Upcoming

Our next session with management is scheduled for August 24 to August 26.

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

August: Government Affairs and Human Rights Update

Government Affairs

SCOTUS Voting Rights Decision: How Does This Impact Flight Attendants?

On Aug. 24, the SCOTUS lifted a lower-court injunction on procedural/standing grounds, allowing the current administration’s restrictions on mail-in voting to move forward. However, as of Aug. 28, another federal judge has temporarily blocked the USPS rule that would allow these restrictions to move forward in implementation. The rule could make the USPS charged with determining who receives a mail ballot in November. This is federal overreach as it oversteps the states’ constitutional authority to administer their own elections.

Voting by mail is essential for Flight Attendants, as many of us are away from our voting jurisdictions and working on Election Day. It ensures that we have the opportunity to make our voices heard, regardless of where our schedules take us.

It is important to note that this situation is still very fluid, which is why making a plan to vote early is going to be crucial this election season as we cannot assume the current rules will remain the same. If you have a mail-in ballot requested or automatically being sent in your state, please do not hold on to it. Be sure to mail your ballot ASAP after completing it or drop it off at a designated location, as designated by your state and county.

Now more than ever, we must remain vigilant about voting practices, ensure that our ballot is cast and our vote is counted, because EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

Read More:

Upcoming September Primary Dates

  • Sept. 1: MA
  • Sept. 8: NH
  • Sept. 9: RI
  • Sept. 15: DE

Labor Endorsements

Midterm Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3

Please remember to make a plan to vote! Many of us have moved and/or experienced redistricting of our state maps. Your voting location and/or registration status may have changed. Check your registration status, voting location and request a mail-in ballot (if that is your preferred voting method) and return it ASAP. Do not hold on to your ballot until the last minute.

Check out AFA’s Voting Page for more information.

Training Opportunity: CWA’s Fighting Oligarchy (Virtual)

CWA Fighting Oligarchy is CWA’s new political education training focused on understanding the current political crisis working people face in 2026.

Participants in this session learn about what “Oligarchy” is and the tools the billionaire class use to consolidate their power at our expense. Training participants explore international, historical and modern U.S. case studies on how this rule of the super wealthy took root and how the power of an organized working class can win once again. Training participants are briefed on CWA’s political strategy and how to get involved to fight back for working-class power.

This training will be broken up into four 90-minute blocks over the course of September:

  • September 3: Part 1: What is Oligarchy?
  • September 10: Part 2: How Movements Can Win
  • September 17: Part 3: Case Study: The Workers of Chile Defeat Oligarchy
  • September 24: Part 4: Our Plan to Win: CWA vs. The Oligarchy

Each session will start at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT and end at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT.

Register for CWA’s Fighting Oligarchy Training

FlightPAC

FlightPAC is our way of having a voice in Washington, D.C., where lawmakers make decisions impacting our careers, our livelihood every day. It is our way to build political power for us and our careers. Consider making a contribution.

Learn More About FlightPAC

Ready to sign up? Contact Bruni.

Human Rights and Equity

Days of Observance/Holidays

United Nations Human Rights Calendar: September 2026

  • Sept. 7: Labor Day
  • Sept. 8: International Literacy Day
  • Sept. 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
  • Sept. 11: 9/11 Remembrance
  • Sept. 11–12: Rosh Hashanah
  • Sept. 15: International Day of Democracy
  • Sept. 20–21: Yom Kippur
  • Sept. 21: International Day of Peace and World Alzheimer’s Day
  • Sept. 23: Bi Visibility Day
  • Sept. 25–Oct. 2: Sukkot

Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month is Sept. 15–Oct. 15!

It is a month-long celebration of the histories, cultures and contributions of the Hispanic and Latinx communities. This is a great opportunity to take time to expand our minds (and perhaps palates!) throughout the month.

Tip: Look for cultural and educational events happening in your area. A great start could be your local library!

Wear your AFA diversity pin!

A Little Labor Day History

From Union Plus

Before workers organized and formed unions, there were no regulations surrounding employment, and employers often took advantage of this freedom. This meant that employees were very often required to work extraordinarily long hours, and with no job protection from discrimination, or even violence. Worse still, young children were often put to work in factories, mines, railroads, warehouses, and other dangerous work environments.

How It Began

Working people began organizing and bargaining collectively to advocate for better working conditions and wages and celebrated the first Labor Day in New York City on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. Following the deaths of 13 workers during the Pullman Strike in June of 1894, President Grover Cleveland made reconciliation with the labor movement a top priority of his administration, making Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894.

During the major economic depression of the early 1890s, the Pullman Palace Car Company cut wages in its factories. Discontented workers joined the American Railway Union (ARU), led by Eugene V. Debs, which supported their strike by launching a boycott of all Pullman cars on all railroads. ARU members across the nation refused to switch Pullman cars onto trains. When these switchmen were disciplined, the entire ARU struck the railroads on June 26, 1894. Within four days, 125,000 workers on twenty-nine railroads had quit work rather than handle Pullman cars.

How Unions Impact Our Lives Today

In the years since, labor unions have served as a united voice for workers of all professions by bargaining collectively with employers to advocate for better wages, working conditions and to establish parameters of work life that have become commonplace and law, such as the eight-hour workday, five-day workweek, protection for children in the workplace and the federal minimum wage.

Questions/Concerns Regarding ICE Activity at Our U.S. Airports?

Check out AFA’s Guide for Your Rights in U.S. Domestic Airports.

CWA Human Rights Conference Recap

C.47 Alexandra Roa & Bruni Agosto-Pinal and C.43 LEC Secretary Soon Kim represented AFA at the biennial CWA Human Rights Conference where they experienced days full of education, inspiration and most importantly, on the last day, activism related to a slew of topics affecting us all, from political activism, military veteran support all the way to the Delta AFA campaign!

Bruni was not only an attendee, but also a sitting member of the CWA Women’s Committee and therefore had a role in much of the behind-the-scenes work related to the conference events as hosted by the CWA Human Rights Committee. She also presented on the impact of Federal DEI rollbacks and its impact on Black women in the federal workforce on Day 1 of the conference.

CWA members from all across the nation attended, networked across sectors and honed in on core issues surrounding all of us as workers, while focusing on ways to build worker power, together.

Workshops included topics on artificial intelligence, immigration, finding balance as a worker, gender justice, and more! This was a wonderful experience for us all and we are further equipped with topics, tools and information we can bring back to our councils and flying partners to continue the great work this committee does.

Bruni Agosto Pinal (Council 47 HRE Committee Chairperson) speaking at the CWA Human Rights Conference
Bruni Agosto Pinal (Council 47 HRE Committee Chairperson) and Alexandra Roa (Council 47 HRE Committee Member)
Alexandra Roa (Council 47 HRE Committee Member) and Soon Kim (Council 43 HRE Committee Chairperson and Council 43 LEC Secretary)

Mahalo,

Bruni Agosto-Pinal
Government Affairs Chairperson
Human Rights & Equity Chairperson
Council 47 LAX/SEA
bruni.agosto-pinal@afahawaiian.org

In This Edition

  • Know Your Rights
  • Dues Rebate
  • Upcoming I-5 Closure
  • Left Behind With Open Seats
  • Save The Date: Council 39 Membership Meeting
  • Human Rights & Equity Dates of Interest

From Our Socials:

Know Your Rights

AFA International recently published a guide to knowing your rights as a working Flight Attendant in domestic airports if and when you are confronted with ICE while on duty. The guide includes guidance depending on your working status or location including what to do on the jet bridge or aircraft when working, inside an airport, etc.

Please know that this is a rapidly developing area of the law and this guide should be treated as general guidance.

Your Rights In US Domestic Airports
AFA ICE Reporting Form

Dues Rebate

Dues rebates have landed in your AFA Membership Hub account! For Flight Attendants who have taken any type of leave, it’s important to know whether you have a past-due dues balance. If you do, your rebate will first be applied to that balance before the remainder, if any, is available to you.

If you’re not sure whether you are past due, please reach out to our C39 LEC Secretary Kevin Sharp, and watch the videos below to learn about accessing your dues rebate.

Upcoming I-5 Closure

The closure of the southbound lanes of I-5 through the Rose Quarter is quickly approaching. Flight Attendants who typically commute to work using this part of I-5 are strongly encouraged to plan ahead by finding different routes, carpooling, leaving home earlier than usual or exploring alternate modes of transportation like Trimet.

For more information, click here.

Left Behind With Open Seats

Sadly, most of us have been there: you get to the gate with time to spare, you log in to Fly one last time to triple check, you see there are plenty of open seats, you find a place to wait for your name to be called. An hour later, the jet bridge door closes and you are stuck with Plan B. (Or C.)

If this situation rings a bell, our MEC Grievance Committee wants to hear from you. Click here or visit our Linktree in bio to report your case(s).

Save The Date: Council 39 Membership Meeting

Our Council 39 Bi-annual membership meeting will be held on October 30. Time and location will be announced as the date draws nearer.

“A regular meeting of the Local Council shall be called at least two (2) times per calendar year.” – Article III.D.2.a, AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws

Human Rights & Equity Dates of Interest (September 2026)

from our C39 Human Rights & Equity Chairperson Aaron Miller

September includes some important observances, and one that you can directly participate in at work! Highlights include World Suicide Prevention Day, an especially relevant subject in our industry and in these times, as suicide is on the rise. Please share the resources included if you know someone who is struggling and has or may be considering suicide. Equal Pay Day is also important as it connects with labor in closing wage gaps and paying everyone fairly for the same work.

September 15th begins the wonderful celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month! AFA provides Union pins for this month that you can wear on your uniform to honor and celebrate Hispanic Heritage. Please reach out to our Council 39 Human Rights & Equity Committee if you need a pin!

In Solidarity,

Krystle, Melodie & Kevin

In This Edition

  • Staying Safe On Layovers
  • AFA Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Town Hall: Join Us Wednesday, September 23
  • Next Week’s Events

Staying Safe On Layovers

Originally posted August 27, 2026

Each layover is a chance to rest and recharge, but your safety should always come first. Discover simple ways to protect yourself and your crew wherever your flying takes you.

Read More

AFA Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Town Hall: Join Us Wednesday, September 23

Originally posted August 27, 2026

Looking for the latest AFA updates and a direct line to our MEC Officers? Register now for our next AFA Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Town Hall on Wednesday, September 23—your opportunity to hear what’s going on, ask questions, and connect with AFA Representatives.

Read More

Next Week’s Events

Thursday, September 3Quarterly Reserve Committee Meeting (pmAS)
Thursday, September 3Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) (pmAS)
See the MEC Event Calendar

Don’t miss your chance to connect, share your thoughts, and be heard! Our upcoming AFA Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Town Hall is happening Wednesday, September 23. Stay informed with the latest AFA updates and engage directly with our MEC Officers. Bring your questions—AFA Representatives will be ready to provide answers.

The Details

What: AFA Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Town Hall
When: Wednesday, September 23 – 11 AM to 12:30 PM PT
Where: Zoom

Register Now!

The Town Hall will take place on Zoom, so you can join from home or while on a layover. Advance registration is required and ensures you get a Zoom link to join the meeting and event reminders. As with all AFA meeting and activities, the AFA mutual respect policy applies during the Town Hall.

Click here to register ➔

When you register, use your personal email address. If you use an alaskaair.com or hawaiianair.com email, your registration will be canceled. Only Members in good standing can attend, and membership status will be verified before the event. If you’re unsure about your status, you can check anytime on the AFA Membership Hub.

After you register, you’ll get a unique Zoom joining link by email. This link is just for you and will only work on a single device, so be sure to save it. Each person who wants to attend needs to register separately, since Zoom links can’t be shared.

For details on how to join a Zoom meeting or to check system requirements, please visit the Zoom support website.

Have Questions? Send Them Ahead of Time!

Share what’s on your mind! Use our online form to submit your questions before the Town Hall. This allows us to address your concerns—whether about negotiations, contract matters, or any other topics you’d like to discuss.

Click here to submit a question ➔

We look forward to seeing you at the Town Hall on September 23!

A joint message from our AFA Hotel Committee; Air Safety, Health & Security Committee (ASHSC); and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee.

Your safety matters to us—and we want you to come home from every trip safe and well. Most layovers go smoothly, and you can keep it that way by staying aware and trusting your instincts. If something feels off, step away. Your vigilance is your best protection on the road. Here are some practical reminders to help you stay safe, whether you’re overnighting in Anchorage, Honolulu, New York City, or anywhere else your flying takes you.

If a situation ever feels unsafe, whether on a layover or in transit, call local emergency services first (911 in the U.S.). Next, contact Crew Scheduling—they can connect you with an Inflight Supervisor or an AFA Representative if you need additional support.

Around The Hotel

  • Maintain a low profile. Don’t share that you’re a crewmember or which airline you work for, and never say your room number out loud—remember, you never know who may be listening.
  • Stick to well-lit, main areas and use the main entrance, especially at night. Skip back stairwells and dark corners around the property.
  • Know where the exits are.
  • If you feel like you’re being followed or watched anywhere in the hotel, head straight to the front desk and stay there until staff can assist you.
  • Don’t flash cash or jewelry, and lock valuables in the hotel safe. See something suspicious? Tell the front desk or a hotel staff member.

In Your Room

  • When you first walk in, check the closet, bathroom, and windows, and confirm every lock works, including sliding doors, windows, and any connecting-room door.
  • Keep the door locked the entire time you’re inside, and use every locking device provided.
  • When possible, perform room checks in pairs with another crew member outside the room with the door propped open while you check your room.
  • Find your nearest exit and count the doors between it and your room, noting which side of the hall it’s on. In a dark or smoke-filled hallway, that count may be how you find your way out.
  • Keep your key, ID, and other must-grab items on the nightstand so you can leave fast if you have to.
  • Don’t open your door to anyone you can’t verify. If someone says they’re hotel staff, call the front desk to confirm before letting them in. Never invite strangers into your room.
  • Keep your key on you, don’t display it in public, and tell the front desk immediately if it goes missing.

When You Head Out

  • Use the buddy system. Walk in pairs at night on nearby streets and in parking lots.
  • Going out alone? Tell a crewmember where you’re headed and when you expect to be back. If you’re not staying at the crew hotel, leave your contact info and location with someone.
  • Never assume an unfamiliar area is safe to walk or run. Wear practical shoes, skip the earbuds, and keep your head up—stay aware of your surroundings.

Getting To And From The Hotel

  • Your assigned transportation provider is listed in your trip information.
  • Buckle up if the van or shuttle has seat belts, and mind your footing when getting in and out. If you need a hand, ask a fellow crewmember.

Watch Your Drink

Drink spiking or slipping a drug into someone’s beverage or food is a real risk, and the substances used are often colorless, odorless, and tasteless. A few habits go a long way towards stopping this from happening:

  • Order directly from the bartender or server, and watch your drink being made when you can.
  • Never leave a drink or food unattended. If you walk away from it, get a fresh one.
  • Don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know well.
  • Know your limits. The more you drink, the harder it becomes to recognize if something isn’t right.
  • If it looks, smells, or tastes off, don’t finish it.
  • Stay with your crew and look out for one another.
  • For added safety, drink covers as well as GHB and Rohypnol detection test kits are available for purchase online. These products can provide an additional layer of protection when attending bars, clubs, concerts, or other social events where beverages may be left unattended.

Take it seriously if you suddenly feel far more impaired than what you drank would explain: sudden dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, extreme drowsiness, nausea, or gaps in your memory. If you think your drink was spiked, tell someone you trust right away, get to a safe place, don’t try to drive, and seek medical care quickly. Some drugs clear the body within hours. If you believe a crime occurred, report it to the local police.

If Something Happens

For any safety concern involving your hotel or crew transportation, file a report through the MyCrewCare (API) app on your IMD and complete a Safety Report. That documentation is what lets us hold hotel properties and transportation vendors accountable and push for change.

And you don’t have to carry a bad experience alone. Our AFA EAP Committee offers confidential support, resources, and referrals. You can reach the AFA EAP helpline anytime at (949) 470-0493 or (800) 424-2406.

Trust your instincts, look out for one another, and don’t hesitate to act if something doesn’t feel right. Safe travels!

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Since its inception late last year, I Mua Ke Alo has remained actively engaged in advancing and advocating for the presence of Hawaiian language and culture throughout our airline. To date, we have met with the company nearly every month this year. Most of these meetings were initiated by the company, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of Hawaiian language and culture, as well as the value of the perspective and feedback that I Mua Ke Alo brings.

Beyond these meetings, we have also met with the voting members of the entire MEC, celebrated Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month) through two days of lounge visits where we distributed AFA ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi luggage tags, and participated in Career Day events at Hawaiian language immersion and charter schools to inspire the next generation.

Many of our discussions with the company have centered on initiatives that are already underway or decisions that have already been made. As we continue to strengthen this relationship, we are working to establish a regular meeting schedule that fosters greater collaboration, provides earlier opportunities for input, and allows us to help shape initiatives during the planning stages. Our goal is to move from reacting to decisions to helping to inform before they are made.

CEO Diana Birkett Rakow and the Senior Leadership Team have agreed to meet with our I Mua Ke Alo committee next month in Honolulu. This meeting will continue our ongoing discussions in preserving our identity as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants in Hawaiʻi.

We recognize that the changes our airline has experienced over the past year have not been easy. Through it all, you have continued to represent the legacy of Hawaiian Airlines with professionalism, integrity, grace, and aloha. Mahalo for carrying our legacy forward with the same pride and excellence that has always defined our airline.

“He ʻaʻaliʻi kū makani mai au; ʻaʻohe makani nāna e kulaʻi.”
“I am an ʻaʻaliʻi that stands firm in the wind. No wind can topple me.”

Like the resilient ʻaʻaliʻi, we remain steadfast through change while staying grounded in who we are and the values we carry forward. Together, we will continue to mālama and strengthen the Hawaiian language and culture that have always been at the heart of our airline.

If you were unable to visit us during one of our lounge events to receive an ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi luggage tag, please email imuakealo@afahawaiian.org, and we will be happy to get one to you.

Me ka lōkahi,
I Mua Ke Alo
Stewards of Cultural & Language Legacy
imuakealo@afahawaiian.org

In This Edition

  • Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – August 2026
  • Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026
  • AFA Alaska + Hawaiian In The News
  • Next Week’s Events

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – August 2026

Originally posted August 19, 2026

This month, our Hotel Committee has been seeking ways to eliminate excessively long van rides in LIR despite a missed opportunity, working to ensure crews have rooms ready in BOS after redeyes, and securing a relocation away from construction noise for crews in SEA to ensure uninterrupted rest. Our meeting recap spotlights upcoming site visits and other advocacy as the Committee works to ensure every layover is safe and comfortable for all Flight Attendants.

Read More ➔

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026

Originally posted August 19, 2026

Pre-Merger Alaska

Our pre-merger Alaska Uniform Committee’s latest meeting delved into issues such as the process for shoe exemptions, inconsistent compliance checks across bases, and the challenges of maintaining a sufficient stock of shirts and pants. Read on for highlights about the new uniform on the horizon, the latest on upcoming wear testing, and more.

Read More ➔

AFA Alaska + Hawaiian In The News

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, August 25 – Thursday, August 27Joint Contract Negotiations
Tuesday, August 25Monthly Scheduling Committee Meeting (pmAS)
Wednesday, August 26Monthly Communications Committee Meeting
Thursday, August 27Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Meeting
See the MEC Event Calendar ➔

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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