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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.

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

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2026

On Monday, October 12, our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met remotely to receive an update on current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (pmAS SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Brian Sherill (pmAS LAX), Kanani Vallot (SAN), and Matt […]

Reserve Survey Closing Soon

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is working to secure the best reserve provisions for our Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA). We want to hear from you about which parts of the reserve experience matter most, so we can better meet your needs. The survey […]

Join The Picket Line: Support Horizon Flight Attendants this Wednesday, October 14

This Wednesday, October 14, Horizon Air Flight Attendants will take to the picket line to demand the fair contract they rightfully deserve. During our own contract fight, Horizon Flight Attendants never hesitated. They showed up for us on our picket lines, stood shoulder to shoulder with us at every rally, and proved what true solidarity […]

Reserve Survey Now Open

Our JNC encourages all members to participate in the Reserve survey, regardless of your current Reserve status. Whether you are on Reserve now, pick up Reserve days occasionally, or have not been on Reserve recently, your input is valuable. The survey will be open until Tuesday, October 20 at Noon PT.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, September 29, 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), […]

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