AFA Alaska + Hawaiian

Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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In this issue….

  • Inflight Service Committee Update
  • Membership Committee Update
  • Mobilization Committee Update
  • EAP Committee Update
  • Reserve Committee Update
  • Scheduling Committee Update
  • Uniform Committee Update

Inflight Service Committee

A few reminders from your ISC Committee:

  • Please remember to comp crew members dead head meals instead of swiping. To comp the meal from the pre-ordered meals list, tap on the crew member’s name and scroll to the DH Crew and tap.
  • Use B2B to report juice shortages in FC and MC. Management needs to hear from us when we need more supplies.
  • During November it is possible that you will be catered with both Starbucks and Stumptown coffee. Please use the Starbucks first.

Membership Committee

We have many Seattle Flight Attendants that are delinquent or in dues arrears. Please makesure to keep up on your union dues.  Missed dues deductions will not come out of future paychecks, payments for missed deductions must be paid directly to International Membership.

If you are an active member and do not have enough money on your 20th paycheck to auto deduct union dues, you will owe dues for that month.

When a Flight Attendant is out on leave and coordinating sick leave or vacation, they are considered active and will owe dues. Depending on what other deductions you have, coordinating minimum TFP might not be enough to cover your union dues deduction. If this is the case you will have to pay your dues directly to International Membership.

Here is a link to payment options when you miss an auto deduction https://www.afacwa.org/payment_options. Flight Attendants that are delinquent would not be eligible to vote for a TA.

We will be holding a membership meeting on December 19th around our Solidarity event. More information about this will come out shortly!

If you have questions, you can reach out to our Membership Chair and Council Secretary, Adam Clarey at adam.clarey@afaalaska.org.

Mobilization Committee

The Mobilization Committee continues to be busy supporting the Negotiating Committee by getting information out to our flight attendants and building solidarity. Save the Date for a system wide Informational picket on December 19th. There will also be a membership meeting on this same day.

 We’re always looking for more Mobilization Volunteers. If you’re interested, sign up at https://contract2022.afaalaska.org/mobilization/volunteer/signup/

Reserve Committee

Your Council 19 Reserve Committee will be conducting a joint in person base sit along with the Scheduling Committee on November 15th from 10:00AM-6:00PM in the north satellite village. Please come say hi, and meet your local Reserve and Scheduling Chairpersons and have all your Reserve and Scheduling related questions answered. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Please continue to file tickets at https://support.afaalaska.org  for contractual concerns. You can direct general inquiries to our monitored email (sea.reserve@afaalaska.org). We try to reply and provide assistance within 24 hours, but keep in mind that we all fly full schedules. 

We continue to see a lot of out of order assignments. As a reminder,  LTFA order must be followed in all cases, even for ER conversions and APSB assignments. You can only be assigned out of order relative to other FAs who are the same type of Reserve classification (AM/PM/ER) who are good for the same number of days. If you believe you were assigned out of order please file a ticket at https://support.afaalaska.org. 

Additionally, your local Reserve Committee was successful in getting a bulletin issued to Crew Schedulers clarifying the Reserve monthly maximum LOA (118.2 TFP) and so far we are seeing less issues related to FAs being illegally scheduled beyond 118.2 flown reserve TFP. 

Lastly, we are getting reports that the PPP (productivity premium program) calculator is not working properly. We have recently been informed that Crew Pay believes the issue has been resolved and is working properly at this time. If you believe your calculator is still incorrect you can email FA Crew Pay (fa.crewpay@alaskaair.com) for an accurate year to date count if you have PPP related inquiries. 

Fly safe and see you out there!

Scheduling Committee

Thank you for continuing to reach out to the Sea Scheduling Committee and submitting AFA Support tickets so we can assist you with scheduling issues as they occur. We’ve included a few important year end reminders. 

Know Before You Go:

We would like to give a few recommendations as we move into the Fall/Winter months, the holiday season, and possible weather related operational issues. We suggest that FAs review the following sections of the contract: 10.R. Reassignments, Section 10.S. Pre- Cancellation, and Ground Commuter Policy (Section 28.G.) (AFA SLOA 2020-05-20) 

The Scheduling Committee has created several Flowcharts to assist you in understanding sections of the CBA. 

They can be found in the Scheduling section on the AFA Website. 

AFA Website > Main Page > Committees > Scheduling > Tools and Resources (right hand side) 

Record Improvement – End of year 480/960 TFP totals and Point Reduction 

We traditionally tend to see sick leave drop in November and December as FAs are trying to achieve their 480/960 TFP totals and also qualify for the point reduction (record improvement) for not calling in sick in November and December.

Record Improvement – Point Reduction  – end of year Nov/Dec 4 points or less  (Section 32.G.4. 480 TFP  [§13.D.6.] [§16.L.4.] [§21.D.6.] [§23.B.1. – B.4.] [§23.C.6.b.] [§23.C.7.a.] [§32.G.4.]  960 TFP  Longevity PTO (Section 14.A.5.) 

Sit Pay Adjustment Form

We continue to get questions regarding pilot sit pay adjustments. This is currently a manual process. The requirement is for the Flight Attendant to submit the form (Sit Pay Adjustment Form) for Crew Scheduling to adjust if applicable. 

The form can be found on the FA Website: 

Administration > Pay & Benefits >Sit Pay Adjustment Form

If preferred, there is a QR code which can be found in Bulletin Bundle #2023-0067

***** Helpful hint: whenever there’s a change to your trip in Crew Access (JCTE)  you will see a shaded triangle in the top Right corner of the Trip.  You can expand that window and it will provide additional information.  Typically when there’s a pilot adjustment it will show there.  

Your Council 19 Scheduling Committee will be conducting a joint in person base sit along with the Reserve Committee on November 15th from 10:00AM-6:00PM in the north satellite village. Please come say hi, and meet your local Scheduling  and Reserve Chairpersons and have all your Scheduling and Reserve related questions answered. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Uniform Committee

  • Please remember to use your uniform Allotment ASAP. Any leftover funds will not roll over. 
  • Please continue to report any quality issues for garments to alaskaservice@unisyncgroup.com. It is helpful to include photos of defects and of the tag inside

World Kindness Day: November 13 

One constant among our workgroup is that of kindness, woven into our innate nature, continually making an appearance throughout all our days. For this, we have much to be proud of alone as an integral foundation. This kindness glows in abundance with positive light onward to every corner we touch, to every soul we meet, bestowing an impact that ripples on to all others. We simply have the best work force.

Remember to practice kindness within all social media dwellings, too. Company policy has set forth a social media policy that we all must adhere to, for review please refer to their guidelines. Kindness, so simplistic in thought, but so sincere in nature, toward all, forever lights our way…with indelible impact, highlighting once more our very nature…. 

The wisdom of kindness gleams on; for there is always a hand that needs help, a kind word that needs to be spoken, a word of wisdom that needs to be heard, a kindness to be shown…the radiance of which shines on to profound depths.

In Solidarity, 

Your Council 19 Committee Chairs and Officers

To view this communication in a PDF version with graphics, see below.

Council-19-November-Committee-FINALDownload

Benefits Committee

Our Benefits Committee has been notified that there are multiple issues with health benefits coverage for those returning from staffing adjustment leaves (SAL). If you are on a staffing adjustment leave or have recently returned from one, please be aware of the following.

Re-Enrolling After A Leave

While we disagree that one should have to re-enroll in Health Benefits when returning from Staffing Leave, we strongly suggest that you do so. Check to make sure that all your prior coverages are in place. To do so, you can call your health plan directly or visit www.MyAlaskaBenefits.com and check your coverage. We’ve also been advised that once you re-enroll, it can take several days for the coverage to update. You should also have received an email in your company Outlook email regarding health benefits when returning from SAL.

Health Benefits Deductions For September Premiums And Direct Billing

Health benefits premiums, like payroll, are deducted in the subsequent month (i.e., in October for September). When on a Staffing Leave, these deductions do not take place. Flight Attendants are advised to review their pay statement to determine whether or not deductions were taken from October 20th paychecks.

Direct Billing Notice Errors

Those on Staffing Adjustment Leave should have received a direct bill from Cobra Management Services (CMS) with instructions to self-pay the employee contribution for September Health Benefits. We are aware that some Flight Attendants DID receive this notice, and it was correct. We are also aware that many did NOT receive a direct bill and that some did receive bills for very strange amounts that do not reflect the usual employee contributions.

No Direct Bill Received

If you did not receive a direct bill, or if you did not have a correct bill or a deduction from your October 20 paycheck, please contact CMS. The balance owed must be paid to continue coverage. You can contact CMS at:

Phone: (425) 452-9889, ext. 145 or (866) 527-7580, ext. 145
Email: services@cobramanagement.com

Service Charges May Apply

Payments made by credit card or electronic funds transfer have an added service charge applied by the vendor. You might prefer to mail a check to avoid these.

Reporting Issues And Questions

If you’re having challenges with any of these issues, please email management at tiffany.perry@alaskaair.com and emmit.elliott@alaskaair.com and cc our AFA Benefits Committee at benefits@afaalaska.org. Our Benefits and Grievance Committees are continuing to work to resolve these issues.

In This Edition

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

Originally posted November 1, 2023

November 1st marks the first day of Native American Heritage Month in the United States. This tradition dates back to the early 20th century when proclamations were adopted by various organizations and state governments celebrating American Indian Day. Read more about Native American Heritage Month, learn about the accomplishments of Native Americans, and find out about events that you can take part in using the resource links below. Join the celebration by wearing a Native American Heritage Month AFA Pin during the month. If you need a pin, check with your Local Council for more information.

Read More >

Save the Date: Systemwide Informational Picketing on December 19

Originally posted November 1, 2023

Ratchet up the pressure on management this holiday season and show we stand in solidarity for the contract we deserve and have earned! Management’s first economic counter-proposal was offensive and unacceptable. Their proposals fail to reflect our value as Flight Attendants. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 19 and plan to bid the day off for informational picketing in all bases.

Read More >

Know the Facts about Microdosing Psychedelics, Including Psilocybin

Originally posted November 2, 2023

Microdosing is a practice where individuals consume very small, sub-perceptual doses of a psychoactive substance, typically a psychedelic compound like psilocybin (found in “magic mushrooms”) or LSD. These doses are much lower than what would be needed to induce a full-blown psychedelic experience. Recently, researchers, doctors and patients alike have been turning to microdosing to evaluate if this practice can have positive effects on mental health, mood and cognition struggle. However, all consumers, especially safety sensitive employees like Flight Attendants, should be aware of the below cautions and concerns.

Read More >

Shared on Social

Horror Story 2023

AFA Alaska presents ‘The Horrors of Corporate Greed’! Follow for more scary and true stories from Alaska Flight Attendants.

Watch Our Instagram Reel >

New Negotiating Committee Blog Post

A new response is now published on the Negotiating Committee Blog! Read this week’s post for information on proposed pay scales in the context of the overall economic proposal.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Thursday, November 9Council 39 (PDX) Local Council Meeting
Thursday, November 9Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts.  Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

Microdosing is a practice where individuals consume very small, sub-perceptual doses of a psychoactive substance, typically a psychedelic compound like psilocybin (found in “magic mushrooms”) or LSD. These doses are much lower than what would be needed to induce a full-blown psychedelic experience. Recently, researchers, doctors and patients alike have been turning to microdosing to evaluate if this practice can have positive effects on mental health, mood and cognition struggle. However, all consumers, especially safety sensitive employees like Flight Attendants, should be aware of the below cautions and concerns.

  1. Legal Issues: In many countries and states, psilocybin is illegal, and possessing or using it, even in small amounts, can lead to legal consequences. Even though some US states have legalized psilocybin, it is still considered a Schedule 1 substance at the federal level (just like marijuana).
  2. Lack of Standardization: Psilocybin content in magic mushrooms can vary significantly between species and even individual mushrooms. This makes it difficult to accurately control dosage, potentially leading to unintended and unpredictable effects. Obtaining a reliable source of psilocybin for microdosing can be challenging. Ensuring the quality and purity of the substance is also crucial to avoid potential contaminants or impurities.
  3. Interactions with Medications: Psilocybin may interact with certain medications, including antidepressants and antipsychotics. These interactions can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous, leading to serious health consequences. Psychological Effects: While the doses in microdosing are sub-perceptual, some individuals may still experience unwanted psychological effects such as anxiety, paranoia, or mood swings.
  4. Dependency and Tolerance: There is a potential for developing a tolerance to psilocybin with regular microdosing, meaning that over time, one might need to increase the dose to achieve the same effects.
  5. Misuse and Self-Medication: Microdosing is often promoted as a remedy for various mental health issues. Using it as a substitute for proper mental health treatment can delay or prevent individuals from seeking necessary help from qualified professionals.
  6. Undesirable Physical Effects: Even though micro-doses are sub-perceptual, there can be mild physical side effects, such as nausea, headaches, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
  7. Individual Variability: Responses to microdosing can vary greatly among individuals. What works well for one person may not have the same effects for another, and some people may experience adverse effects.

If you are struggling with a well-being issue, please reach out to your AFA EAP Committee for access to evidence-based treatments. Your Local EAP Committee can be reached using the contact information at afaalaska.org/eap or by calling (949) 470-0493. Remember, all calls are confidential.

In This Edition…

  • Election Day
  • Washington State Labor Council 
  • Why Voting Matters
  • Washington State Voters Guide

Election Day

This November 7th is Election Day. For those of you who live in, or are new to Washington, this is a vote-by-mail state. The website https://www.vote411.org/washington is a great site that provides all of your voter information including how to register to vote for new residents. This site also provides links to other states for those who live outside of Washington. 

Voting Endorsements

We all have different political beliefs, and nobody should tell someone else how to vote, but one thing stands strong…. we all want to propel our professions, and our workplace rights. Supporting candidates that support our professions, our unions, and who are “pro-labor” is essential. If you would like information on what candidates are endorsed and/or supported by the Washington State Labor Council, you can visit: https://www.wslc.org/union-members-only-election-information/

Why Voting Matters

​​At its core, voting is the cornerstone of democracy. It’s a mechanism through which we, as citizens, actively participate in the decision making process Here are some key reasons why voting matters:

  • By casting your vote, you contribute to the selection of leaders who will represent your interests and values in government. 
  • Voting allows us to hold elected officials accountable for their actions and decisions. It’s a way to voice approval or dissatisfaction with their performance.
  • Your vote directly influences the development of policies on issues that affect your daily life, from education and healthcare to the economy and environment.
  • Voting fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility, as it brings people together to collectively decide on the direction of their society.

The above was taken from www.caprw.org

Washington State Voters Guide

You may not have received your voters guide via mail, but they can all be accessed online. Select your county to view local candidates at: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/data-research/election-results-and-voters-pamphlets/2023-primary-election-voters-guide

In the end, the most important thing is that you exercise your right to vote. 

If you have any questions about the process, current events, or any of the candidates, please reach out to your Council 19 Government Affairs Chairperson, Melinda Jorge at melinda.jorge@afaalaska.org or any member of the Council 19 Government Affairs Committee.

In Solidarity, 

Your Council 19 Government Affairs Committee

See Below to view a PDF version with graphics

Government-Affairs-UpdateDownload

In This Edition

  • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – October 2023
  • Contactability Flow Charts
  • Benefits Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2023
  • Shared on Social
  • Next Week’s Events

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – October 2023

Originally posted October 25, 2023

Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, October 24 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding. Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Read More >

Contactability Flow Charts

Originally posted October 25, 2023

Our Scheduling Committee has created some new tools to help you better understand contractual language. These tools consist of two flowcharts that illustrate when you are required to be reachable by Crew Scheduling. One flowchart addresses situations when you are on duty, while the other covers times when you are on a RON/layover, on call as a Reserve, or off duty. Both flowcharts are available on the Scheduling Committee page of afaalaska.org for reference as needed.

Read More >

Benefits Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2023

Originally posted October 26, 2023

On Tuesday, October 24, the AFA Benefits Committee Chairpersons held a meeting to discuss their continued efforts in assisting Flight Attendants with work-related benefits such as insurance, maternity, worker’s compensation, and leave of absence programs. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and address concerns brought forward by Flight Attendants. If you have ideas, thoughts, or feedback for the committee, your Local Benefits Committee Chairperson would love to hear from you!

Read More >

Shared on Social

United AFA Day of Action – October 26, 2023

Yesterday, United Airlines Flight Attendants conducted a powerful Day of Action with informational picketing events systemwide. United management continues investing in new planes, gates, service, and lounges. Meanwhile, United Flight Attendants are still without a new contract recognizing the hard work and sacrifice they’ve put in to make the company successful.

It’s time for United management to recognize the value of their Flight Attendants and deliver a contract with the improvements they have earned. Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants proudly stood in solidarity with our United counterparts on the picket lines, and we will continue to stand together—their fight is our fight! Our collective voice is strong and cannot be ignored!

#AFAAlaska #ContractNow #PayUsOrChaos #SolidaritySeason #1u

Next Week’s Events

Thursday, November 2SFO Base Safety Meeting
Thursday, November 2Scheduling Review Board (SRB)

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts.  Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

Benefits Committee

  • On Tuesday, October 24, the AFA Benefits Committee Chairpersons held a meeting to discuss their continued efforts in assisting Flight Attendants with work-related benefits such as insurance, maternity, worker’s compensation, and leave of absence programs. 
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and address concerns brought forward by Flight Attendants.
  • If you have ideas, thoughts, or feedback for the committee, your Local Benefits Committee Chairperson would love to hear from you!

On Tuesday, October 24, representatives from our Local AFA Benefits Committees met to discuss their ongoing work related to Flight Attendant work-related benefits, including insurance, maternity, worker’s compensation, and leave of absence programs. Representing you at the meeting were Deb Wallstrom (ANC), Kathy O’Malley (SEA), Ann LaRue (PDX), Julie Pearson (SFO), Majo Tanco, (LAX), and Sonia Quackenbush (SAN). Also present were MEC Benefits Committee Chairperson Terry Taylor and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams.

The committee met with the following management representatives: Mike Link, Senior Labor Relations Program Manager; Josh Madsen, Director – Health and Absence Management; Tiffany Perry, Health and Welfare Program Manager; Leah Ables, Director-Payroll, Margo Fincher, Manager-Absence Management; and Tracy Middleton and Stevie Ray Brown, from the Absence Management Department.

The committee’s next meeting will be scheduled for early January.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

  • Difficulty connecting with the Inflight FA Leave Team, either via telephone, returned message, or email. Should you encounter this problem, please reach out to your Local Council Benefits Representative. 
  • Challenges with the Return to Work process. Once you are released to return to work, you must send your written release to FA.Leave@alaskaair.com, as well as to Hartford or Sedgwick.
  • Introduction and description of new AirGroup EAP provider, Lyra. This program will take the place of Active Support starting January 01, 2024. Lyra will offer 10 free counseling sessions per covered employee/family member, per situation. They will offer both in-person and telehealth sessions. Those who are currently using Active Support counselors can complete the current six offered Active Support Sessions and will still be eligible for 10 sessions with Lyra starting in January.
  • An electronic version of the Pay Preference form has been in development for some time. This will be very helpful to those employees who do not have access to a printer. It is expected to be available by the end of the year.
  • Washington Paid Family Leave will go into effect for our work group in January 2024. Premiums are partially paid by the company, and partially payroll-deducted. This plan requires online application through the State of Washington. Oregon Paid Family leave went into effect in June of this year, with premium contributions starting that month. Each state has an ‘hours worked’ minimum requirement for eligibility.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Health Benefits following Staffing Adjustment Leave (SAL). We disagree with the new process requiring re-enrollment in health benefits following SALs. We are working to resolve this issue.
  2. Implementation of Washington Paid Family Leave, Oregon Paid Family Leave, and Washington Paid Sick Leave. We have requested the company communicate their processes and intent with implementation, application, and administration of these programs.
  3. Calculator Challenges. We continue to hear from members who believe the TFP calculators are inaccurate. The recent Flight Attendant Website Alert (10/20/23) indicated the company is aware of this and is working on it. As the end of the year draws closer we need these tools repaired and accurate.

We Want to Hear From You!

If you have any feedback or concerns that you would like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Your Local Benefits Committee is here to assist and represent you to management. You can find our contact information on the Benefits Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. We are committed to helping you in any way we can!

Scheduling Committee

Our Scheduling Committee has created some new tools to help you better understand contractual language. These tools consist of two flowcharts that illustrate when you are required to be reachable by Crew Scheduling. One flowchart addresses situations when you are on duty, while the other covers times when you are on a RON/layover, on call as a Reserve, or off duty. Both flowcharts are available on the Scheduling Committee page of afaalaska.org for reference as needed.

Click here to view the on duty contactability flow chart >

Click here to view the Reserve, RON, and off duty contactability flow chart >

The development of these flowcharts was a collaborative effort between the Scheduling, Reserve, and Grievance Committees. To produce the flowcharts, the Committees enlisted the assistance of MEC Negotiations Strategic Communications Representative Justin Wetherell. We want to thank Justin for their time and dedication to this project.

Questions or Feedback?

We’d like to hear from you if you have any feedback on the flowcharts or suggestions for other helpful documents. For any questions about the flowcharts or contactability in general, please get in touch with your Local Scheduling Committee.

Scheduling Committee

  • Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, October 24 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.
  • Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

On Tuesday, October 24, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Natalie Codd (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz.

The committee met with Managing Director Ops Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette, Manager Inflight Crew Scheduling Goose Hlaingmyint, Director of Crew Planning Mike Ostler, Manager of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, and other management representatives from Crew Planning.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet in person on November 28, 2023.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

  • Single Duty Pairings with three (3) legs are not desirable for some flight attendants. We are looking to see if there is a way to utilize the optimizer to reduce these types of sequences. 
  • Night rule flying discussions surrounding compensation. There are three (3) items that must occur which include: duty on 4:29 am local time, flying on duty past 8:30 am local time, and duty over 10:30. There is a special exception with 4k flying that includes a 4K nighter carve out. Compensation is not applicable until 12.5 hours because of the waiver.
  • Crew Access bubble(s) that display report and debrief will be removed in a November 2023 release.
  • Second Round of vacation bidding is complete. Awards are published this week. If you are assigned vacation it will be in reverse calendar year order. Vacation Opentime will commence on October 27, 2023. 
  • Staffing adjustment leaves will be offered in January, between 400-500 volunteers based on current block hours. 
  • Management has formed a new Hotel IROP Committee and Process team to assist during Irregular Operations. There are several processes outlined up to seven (7) days prior to an event, and event level determination with focus cities.  
  • Crew Planning continues to review commutability of departures and arrivals, and commute efficiency. SEA and LAX tend to have the best commutability, while SAN and PDX are the most challenging. This is based on departures between noon and 1800 and arrivals between 0600 and 1800. 
  • Increase in redeye flights is concerning. AFA has asked both Crew Planning/Crew Scheduling to monitor the trips as they relate to sick leave, reserve utilization, fatigue, and other mitigating factors.  
  • Pre-cancellations and Reassignments are still happening frequently – please refer to the flow charts as additional contractual resources.  
  • Pay related questions should be directed to payroll representatives, not crew schedulers.  If you experience an error or have a potential grievance please contact your Local Scheduling Chairperson for resolution. 
  • Contactability with a no show or other points from Crew Scheduling is being investigated by the Performance Engagement Team. If you believe you received points incorrectly please file a ticket with AFA for research.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. NavBlue. The PBS Committee spent time on base sits with Flight Attendants. In person and virtual meetings were available. We would like to hear your feedback on how the committee could better assist you with bid awards and understanding results. 
  2. Pairings Survey. It’s been a few years since we submitted a survey on pairing construction. We are discussing survey questions and the possibility of a virtual session or town hall. Meeting with management was set for June 5, 2023 and a follow up meeting needs to be scheduled. There is no update or ETA.
  3. Teaming. Crew Planning is reviewing pairing construction and the optimization of teaming. Teaming attempts to keep costs low and crew together (pilots/Flight Attendants) for multiple segments within a sequence. The system currently teams around 10-15%. The new enhancements would increase this in the range of 20-35% for the winter operations. You will see this in December pairings. We’ve asked management to send out a communication about teaming. For December 2023 flying approximately 23% of sequences will be teamed together while 52% of duty periods are teamed. 
  4. In and Backs. These are flights that follow the crew and aircraft. Network/Crew planning is reviewing initiatives that would help us restart the operation when crews are stranded and flights are canceled. Alaska management will start reviewing the 2023/2024 IROPs plan in September/October. This creates opportunities to clear the flight schedules on day of operations. 
  5. Chime Communications. Flight Attendants could chat with crew scheduling via app/Microsoft teams to alleviate phone calls. This would be Flight Attendant initiated contact. This is in the early stages of development and needs to be discussed with AS Labor Relations and AFA. The parties are still working on testing and implementation in the next few weeks. 
  6. Crew Scheduling. Each month the committee reviews PowerPoint presentations related to reserve utilization for system/bases, detailed reserve breakdowns, sick leave week by week and year over year (YoY), premium, personal drops, and any other relevant agenda items.
  7. Crew Planning. Each month the committee reviews PowerPoint presentations related to the subsequent month staffing, trip length distribution, FA block hours, special initiatives such as IROPs, commutability, and any other relevant agenda items. 
  8. ITS. A representative from ITS joins us at each scheduling meeting to review updates related to NavBlue, Crew Access, Internal systems and Block 2 Block. These include performance updates and data review as well as future release information.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Scheduling Committee is your voice to management. You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

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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