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This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

Updated 06/13/2025 17:56 PT to remove a reference that indicated that there were no PVR layovers in July. There are in fact scheduled PVR layovers; these crews will be relocated to the crew hotel’s sister property.

On Monday, June 9, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Kanani Vallot (SAN), with MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich facilitating the meeting.

The Committee met with Senior Crew Hotels Support Specialist Nichole Turner, Crew Hotels Support Specialist LaFay Williams and Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett.

The next scheduled Hotel Committee meeting is Monday, July 14.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several items during the meeting with management, most of which focused on hotel decisions and challenges in our layover markets. Some items discussed include:

  • City Specific Updates:
    • PVR: Our crew hotel is closing down on June 30 for renovations. Once they shut down, crews will be relocated to their sister property until renovation work is completed in October.
    • BOS: Our former crew hotel has completed its renovations, and the crew will begin to see trips with some layovers here in July. Please refer to the Hotel Hotline for complete details on these markets.  
  • Hotel-Provided Transportation: The Hotel Committee has been made aware of a van time discrepancy at properties that provide their own transportation. The time printed on the sign-in sheet (or communicated through the MyCrewCare app) is the recommended departure time provided by API. Unfortunately, this time does not always coincide with the transportation schedule provided by the hotel. To ensure crews are not late to the gate, please take the hotel shuttle immediately prior to the recommended departure time. For example, if your recommended departure time is 09:40, and the hotel provides shuttles every 15 minutes, crews will need to take the 09:30 shuttle, not the 09:45 shuttle. API is working on a fix for this discrepancy so that the exact shuttle times are communicated.   
  • Hotel Auto-Processing:  Another issue discussed was the auto-processing of hotels anytime there is a change to a pairing. When a pairing is changed (such as a posted delay), the change causes the hotel to be removed temporarily. There are positives and negatives to this. If a layover is significantly reduced, the system will remove the long-stay property and book the short-stay property so the crew member has an appropriate hotel. However, it poses a challenge when there are minimal schedule changes and multiple hotels in a market that we use. In this case, one long layover property could be swapped for another. The Hotel Committee has asked that guardrails or buffers be implemented so that minimum schedule changes do not cause drastic hotel changes. Crew Hotels will work with Crew Scheduling to see what can be done to prevent this when it is unnecessary.  

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Conducting Hotel Site Visits: The Hotel Committee conducts visits to hotels that are considered by management to ensure that the selected options provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. Scheduled site visits include RSW (June), SEA (June), OKC (June), and FAT (July). We do not anticipate many site visits will be scheduled for the second half of 2025. Market reviews are triggered by factors such as contract expirations, crew complaints, and opportunities for cost savings. Depending on the outcome of these reviews, additional site visits may be arranged in those cities.
  2. Hotel Gainshare Program: MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich, MEC President Tim Green, and MEC Vice President Brice McGee met with Labor Relations led by Carmen William and Mike Link on June 12 for the second Hotel Gainshare investigatory meeting. Company subject matter experts (SMEs) Brittany Audette, Trisha Bennett, and Nichole Turner also attended. Topics discussed included answers to questions posed at the first meeting, updated data analysis, and back-end process challenges and requirements.  The company has been given further action items, and the group will meet again in July to discuss the program further.    

We Want to Hear From You!

Don’t let any unacceptable experience with a layover hotel or ground transportation provider go unnoticed! Please report the issue via CrewCare so that it can be addressed. CrewCare is the only official way to report issues, as the Hotel Committee does not monitor social media channels.

Each CrewCare submission is forwarded to your AFA Hotel Committee, Crew Hotels (Alaska management), API and the hotel or ground transportation provider. This ensures quick action can be taken to correct the issue or fix it for the next crewmember. It also allows us to monitor hotel and transportation trends. You can quickly file a CrewCare report using the web app on your IMD home screen or by clicking here.

Do you have any other feedback you would like to share with the committee or any specific items you want us to bring up with management? Please let us know! The Local Hotel Committee is here to represent you and ensure management hears your voice. You can find our contact information on the Hotel Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Human Rights and Equity Committee

Chairperson Aaron Miller 

Happy PRIDE from your Human Rights and Equity Committee!

June is PRIDE month! It’s a time to celebrate and reflect upon LGBTQ+ history, embrace and support who we are now, and look to the future for our continued protection and prosperity.

While PRIDE as we know it is still relatively young, LGBTQ+ people are not. Many indigenous cultures acknowledge the variety humans exist in, with some even revering and assigning sacred honor to those possessing “Two-Spirits” as some Tribes on Turtle Island refer to just one of our many variations. Even western cultures have sometimes acknowledged LGBTQ+ people as existing, though most often with aggression and a taboo perspective.

But it is in recent times that LGBTQ+ people have found our place on the global stage as a culture of our own. That is in no small part to the struggle, voice, and sacrifice of our queer elders before us.

‘The first PRIDE was a riot!’

This common phrase among our community is a reminder of the spirit in which PRIDE was born. It began with trans women such as Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson standing up for each other and their siblings against oppressive police forces seeking to harm, arrest, and punish LGBTQ+ people for being who they are. PRIDE began as a grassroots local defense movement, standing up and fighting back against a dominant culture that wished to crush LGBTQ+ people, relegate us to back alleys, and end our lives in violence.

To this day, LGBTQ+ people, especially trans people, are targeted, with rights being stripped currently, and many enduring harassment, bullying, and violence. Therefore, our voices are rising again in defense just as much as celebration. Our struggle continues to defend against a culture of hate and against violence towards us that has never been returned in kind. This speaks to the core of PRIDE that is our love, our enduring spirit, and the legitimacy of our existence and rights. LGBTQ+ people do not wish to harm, dominate, or erase anyone, but as PRIDE highlights, we wish to embrace each other with love and celebrate our diversity.

It is in this spirit that we wish all our LGBTQ+ siblings and our steadfast allies a very happy PRIDE month of June. Please continue to stand up for each other, protect each other, and live fully in who you are. You are loved, you are sacred, and you deserve to be here just as much as everyone else! HAPPY PRIDE!!

ASHSC Committee

Chairperson Kalin Lackey  

We are excited to introduce our new chairperson, Kalin Lackey! 

Kalin has been an Alaska Flight Attendant for a little over 35 years and has been based in PDX for most of that time. Over the years Kalin has served on several Union committees, including our AFA EAP, Mobilization committee, and currently our Safety (ASHSC) committee for the past four or five years.

Kalin is honored to have been appointed to the chairperson position. She is passionate about keeping our group safe and improving our work environment. In her personal time, she enjoys hiking, biking, travel, hanging out with her husband Mike, Chocolate Lab Gage, and two cats, Tucker and Daisy. She is also an avid reader and loves to bake for people, and for all the wonderful doggies in her life. She is looking forward to leading our local ASHSC committee and looks forward to meeting those of you she hasn’t met. Until then, safe travels!

Officers note: On behalf of Council 39, we thank Blair Kimball for his years of service leading our Air, Safety, Health & Security Committee. We are happy Blair will continue to serve as a committee member. 

Scheduling Committee

Chairperson Melodie Anderes  

§8.Q Contactability

If you answer a call from Crew Scheduling when you are not on duty you are obligated to accept any legal assignment. 

If you are on your way to report and answer a call from Crew Scheduling and they are adjusting your report time, you have to take the new time. 

If you miss the call (it goes to voicemail) you can return their call after reporting as scheduled keeping your scheduled report.

State Sick Leave Bank

State Sick Leave Banks have been uploaded. Take a moment and double check that the correct amount was uploaded and moved from your SickFA (CBA) to your State Sick (CBA). You can find this line in your SickFA CBA. Contractually, they should move 40.0 TFP from your Sick bank to your State Sick bank. If you did not have 40.0 TFP, then they would have moved whatever Sick Leave balance you had to your State Sick bank. 

To access your balances, go to the Inflight page > Administration > Pay & Benefits > Rainmaker Logon > Crew Pay Manager > Bank Balances 

We will be hosting a PBS Base Sit in PDX on Monday, June 9 from 0600 to 1400. We will be in the FA Crew Room for best access to computers. Bring your bidding questions. Hope to see you there! 

Local Membership Committee

LECS Bethany Badalamenti  

AFA Membership services launched the new Membership Hub in April. Emails were sent on or about April 21st to Flight Attendants signed up to receive emails from AFA. We recommend logging into your Membership Hub Account if you haven’t already done so. Please be sure you check your junk or spam folder; the email was sent from AFAPortal@cwa-union.org.

·       Flight Attendants must use their personal email address. Company email addresses cannot be used.

·       Each Flight Attendant who received the email will be able to sign in immediately. 

·       The welcome email contains the AFA Hub Help page which can also be found on each Hub page of their accounts. 

Once signed in to the Hub you can: 

·       Check your current balance

·       Make payments via credit card or ACH (check payments)

·       Review your dues history

·       Set up recurring monthly payments 

If you did not receive the email and it isn’t in your junk or spam folder, you can access your account by going to afacwa.org/hub and selecting forgot password.

With the ratification of our new CBA, there were changes to §26.F for collecting dues in arrears that began starting with the April 20th paycheck.

§26. F.2.

Separate and apart from all deductions for initiation fees and dues referenced herein, the Company will deduct an additional amount equal to one (1) month’s dues for the purpose of satisfying any current or future dues arrears obligation from the reconciliation paycheck of each month. Such arrears deduction shall continue until the entire dues arrearage is satisfied.

Please familiarize yourself with this section of the contract.

For Portland-based Flight Attendants, if you have any questions or issues with the Membership Hub, please reach out to LEC Secretary Bethany Badalamenti at bethany.badalamenti@afaalaska.org. If you are not based in Portland, please reach out to your Council’s Membership committee at https://afaalaska.org/membership.

Grievance Committee

LECP Steve Maller

Recent grievance committee activity includes disciplines issued for flight delays, CBT incomplete violations, sick leave abuse, personal conduct, and required item violations. Please ensure you have a process to remember all required items when you leave home or a layover hotel. (Pro tip: A checklist taped to your front door or always keeping items in the same place in purses or bags, etc.) If a forgotten item, such as your crew ID or IMD, results in a delay of the flight, you will almost always receive a step of progressive discipline.

Personal conduct investigations have increased across all workgroups. Please remember your conduct, whether online or at work and on layovers, can be scrutinized and investigated for potential violations of the Flight Attendant manual (FAM) or the company’s Our People Policies. Always consider how your actions may be perceived by management and remember your conduct can be scrutinized if it might reflect poorly on the brand/company. If you have any questions about your conduct, please reach out to any LEC officer or Grievance Committee member.

A word about rumors…

Officers and committee members have heard some pretty wild rumors lately about investigations. Please consider how you would feel if you were being investigated for something and rumors got back to you that were completely unfounded and false. It can be very hurtful. We know it’s human nature to speculate and gossip, but please be careful about spreading salacious or outrageous rumors. Remember…these are our coworkers, who may well be completely innocent of any rumor circulating. Let’s be better…let’s give ’em a break!

Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) Update

The Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) is hard at work combining the seniority lists for the merged Alaska-Hawaiian Flight Attendant group. 

Coming in June, seniority verification letters will be mailed to Flight Attendants at their registered mailing address to confirm pre-merger seniority bidding dates. There is a 45-day period to review the letter and respond with any challenges via U.S. mail. In AUGUST and SEPTEMBER, the SMIC will review any challenges and respond to Flight Attendants who challenge their pre-merger seniority bidding date via U.S. mail. 

For more information, please see the previously published AFA Alaska MEC Newsletter Update from May 28, 2025.

In Solidarity,

Steve, Krystle and Bethany

In This Edition

Celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month

Originally posted June 1, 2025

Join us this June as we kick off LGBTQ Pride Month, a time to honor the legacy of the Stonewall Uprising and celebrate the ongoing fight for equality. Discover exciting events and meaningful ways to get involved, and proudly wear your commemorative AFA Pride pin to show your support!

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Monday, June 9Monthly Hotel Committee Meeting (pmAS)
Thursday, June 12Quarterly Human Rights Committee Meeting

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!

June 1 marks the beginning of LGBTQ Pride Month in the United States. This celebration originated to honor the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan in 1969, a significant milestone in the LGBTQ civil rights movement. On June 28, 1970, the first Pride March was held in New York City to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. Over the years, this single-day event has expanded into an entire month filled with various events and activities.

Discover More About LGBTQ Pride Month

To explore the history of LGBTQ Pride Month and the broader LGBTQ rights movement, you can visit the following dedicated websites and resources:

Get Involved in LGBTQ Pride Month Events

Celebrate with an LGBTQ Pride Month AFA Pin

In 2018, the AFA Board of Directors took an important step by adopting a resolution to officially recognize June as LGBTQ Pride Month. As part of this celebration, a special commemorative pin was created for AFA Members to proudly wear throughout June.

If you’re interested in learning more about this pin and its significance, please reach out to your Local Human Rights Committee. Additionally, keep an eye out for communications from your Local Council or connect with your LEC Officers to find out how to obtain one of these commemorative pins!

In This Edition

Editor’s Note – A New News in Review Is Coming

Next week’s issue of the AFA Alaska News in Review will be the last one in its current format. On June 1, our MEC Communications Committees from Hawaiian and Alaska will merge, and we’ll begin streamlining our communication efforts to speak with one voice going forward. As a part of this, we’ll welcome Hawaiian Flight Attendants to the thread as we start distributing the all-new AFA News In Review: Weekly News For Alaska + Hawaiian Flight Attendants beginning on Friday, June 13.

Along with the new name, we’ll introduce a fresh design featuring graphics from our social media content, making the newsletter visually appealing and easier to navigate. You might have seen some of our social media graphics recently marked with a pre-merger AS badge in the upper right-hand corner, and some of our posts include references on the first line about the audience for specific news. From now on, you’ll see these indicators on content specific to pre-merger Alaska or Hawaiian Flight Attendants, respectively.

Additionally, we’ll be discontinuing cross-posting the link to AFA News in Review on our Facebook page. Our analysis showed that these posts received minimal engagement, so we’re shifting our focus to ensure that all essential content that’s already been delivered by social media isn’t duplicated when it’s delivered to those who prefer to receive news by email or via our website.

Thank you for your ongoing support! We’re looking forward to improving our communication with these updates. We welcome your feedback, thoughts, and ideas, so please feel free to reach out to our Communications Committee—we’d love to hear from you!

–Brian Palmer, MEC Communications Committee Chairperson

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – May 2025

Originally posted May 26, 2025

Discover the latest updates from our Hotel Committee, including upcoming changes to transportation times and upcoming “Track My Ride” functionality in the MyCrewCare app that will improve your layover experience. Also, don’t miss important information on upcoming relocations and learn how to help the Committee address issues effectively by filing the proper reports.

Read More >

System Board of Adjustment Interviews – July 2025

Originally posted May 28, 2025

Our Master Executive Council is seeking an Alaska Flight Attendant to join the System Board of Adjustment, where you’ll play a crucial role in arbitrating disputes and upholding our collective agreement. If you’re passionate about advocating for your fellow Members and possess a deep understanding of our contract, read on for details on how to express interest.

Read More >

Seniority Merger Integration Committee Update – May 2025

Originally posted May 28, 2025

The Seniority Integration (SMIC) Committee is hard at work combining the seniority lists for the merged Alaska-Hawaiian Flight Attendant group. Learn about this seniority integration process and what to expect.

Read More >

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – May 2025

Originally posted May 29, 2025

In the latest update from this week’s Scheduling Committee Meeting, read about insights into bidding trends, block hour increases, and upcoming PBS Base Sits. Don’t miss the full post for important information on contract implementation and crew pay updates that could impact your schedule and earnings!

Read More >

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025

Originally posted May 30, 2025

Our AFA Inflight Service Committee met with management earlier this month to address concerns impacting Flight Attendants, from enhancing aircraft cleanliness to resolving catering issues that affect our service delivery. Dive into the highlights of their discussions and see how we’re advocating for a better workplace for all of us!

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Thursday, June 5Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) (pmAS)

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!

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Thursday, May 15, our AFA Inflight Service 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 Naomi Parcell (ANC), Ross DeJong (SEA), Todd Horn (PDX), Raymond Ramirez (SFO), and Chase Vandergrift (SAN). MEC Inflight Service Committee Chairperson Stephanie Garnett was also present.

The committee met with Senior Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder, Principal Cabin Product and Experience Manager Chris Dela Rosa, Director of Cabin Experience David Scotland, Director of Food and Beverage Products Mita Padhi, Manager of Food and Beverage Planning and Programs David Rodriguez, Senior Food and Beverage Product Manager Jessica Johnston, Food and Beverage Planning Systems Manager Gayatri Watwe, Principal Food and Beverage Programs Gracie Truex, Director of Catering Operations Andrew Moyer, Catering Safety Compliance Manager Raena Alonzo, Regional Catering Performance Manager Jayson Yang, and Regional Catering Performance Manager Katie Thompson. We also met with Service Strategy Product Manager and Marketing/Sales Jesse Starmer, IT Contractors Chris Pettigrew and Chris Daniels, and the new Managing Director of Products & Experience Mark Krolick.

The next committee meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, September 18.

Topics of Discussion

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

Aircraft Interiors

  • New Overhead Bin Signage and Lavatory Placards: New reserved overhead bin signage and lavatory trash placards are currently being installed. The lavatory placards are intended to mitigate the misuse of the amenity cabinet, which contains toilet seat covers, as a trash compartment by passengers, especially on the 737 MAX. Please inform your Local Inflight Service Committee if these placards are effective.
  • Concerns Regarding Aircraft Cleanliness: There have been recent concerns regarding aircraft cleanliness, particularly the galley 1 trash compartment on the MAX 9. The area surrounding the trash container should be cleaned daily according to the RON cleaning schedule. Additionally, the cleanliness of the new hard plastic material used for the forward bulkheads in newer cabin interiors has been noted. These bulkheads tend to show dirt and grime, including footprints. Management acknowledged that this material is not meeting expectations, and alternatives are being evaluated. In the meantime, Fleet Service should clean and wipe down the bulkheads regularly. If you notice any cleanliness issues on the aircraft, please report them.
  • Reporting Broken Lavatory Furnishings: If you encounter broken lavatory furnishings, such as toilet paper or soap dispenser holders, please document these issues as a cabin discrepancy. It has been noted that Fleet Service has increased the frequency of deep cleanings for some aircraft and expanded the number of locations where these cleanings occur.

Catering Operations

  • Ice Quality Issues: Ice quality has been a significant issue due to a vendor change in Seattle. Management is working with LSG to switch vendors immediately, and a quality improvement is expected. Please be diligent in reporting any ice issues using catering feedback tool in Block2Block as we head into the warm summer months.
  • Old Carts on SEA-ANC Flights: Concerns were raised regarding old carts not being removed from the aircraft on SEA-ANC flights, and follow-up is requested from the SEA and ANC kitchens.
  • Missing Meals and Meal Components: Issues with missing meals or meal components, shortages of gold chocolate bars, and an influx of new catering staff have been prevalent. While these issues are frustrating, please continue to report them using the catering feedback tool in Block2Block.
  • Trash Cart Replacement Procedures: When an aircraft is re-catered, the empty trash cart in the aft galley (G4) should be replaced, not just emptied. Seattle has been experiencing ongoing issues with a shortage of carts due to handling by catering personnel. The catering operations team has assured us that new carts have been integrated into the system, and this issue should be resolved soon.
  • Use of Onboard Supplies by Fleet Service: Fleet Service Agents using onboard supplies, such as gloves and trash bags, for cabin cleaning was brought up. They should be using their station-provided supplies.
  • Procedure for Pre-Ordered Meals on Last-Minute Aircraft Swaps: The Committee expressed the need for a procedure to transfer pre-ordered meals to a new aircraft in the event of a last-minute aircraft swap. The catering operations team will work on establishing this procedure to mitigate issues during such events.

Inflight Mobile

  • Updates to Block2Block App: The inflight mobile team is rolling out an update to Block2Block, which will require Flight Attendants to certify their pre-flight readiness in three categories. Early adopters have already received this update. The Committee has noted that some certifications are pre-trip and not pre-flight, which should be removed from subsequent legs of multi-leg trips.
  • Contactability Rollout: Contactability in Block2Block will be rolled out in mid-June. This feature will allow Crew Scheduling to contact Flight Attendants in the event of a schedule change via the Block2Block team messaging function.
  • Development of Block2Block 3.0: Block2Block 3.0 is still in development, and the Committee previewed the various functions the team is working on. The update will include different views for pre-flight, boarding, and service processes. The Committee believes this enhancement will introduce valuable features to the app.

Cabin Product Team Updates

  • Sustainable Product Testing: Management is interested in testing more sustainable products, such as bamboo cutlery and fiber-based food containers. The Committee will monitor this testing to ensure these products are safe and easy for Flight Attendants to use onboard.
  • Clarification on Snack Loading: Management acknowledged the confusion caused by loading two types of snacks in the beverage cart on LH and PLH flights, especially now that only one type of snack is served on all flights. The second snack is not intended for premium class. The team will work on ensuring that only the type of snacks designated for a specific flight are loaded into the food cart.
  • Premium Class Snack Basket Update: The premium class snack basket is currently on hold but is still expected to launch in the future. The Committee will ensure that sufficient testing is conducted and that an adequate amount of product is loaded to deliver this service without disappointing passengers.
  • Blanket Availability Issues: Management noted ongoing challenges in receiving enough blankets for PLH flights due to a shortage caused by a held shipping container. Consequently, crews will continue to experience inconsistent blanket availability for the time being.
  • Potential Upcoming Service Changes In The Future: The marketing department would like to explore and possibly start preliminary testing for additional crew support for the First Class Cabin. They are very early in this exploration, but our Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons emphasized the need to evaluate the balance of duties and establish very clear procedures if this moves forward. Management is also evaluating a full bar pre-departure selection and would like to begin testing that service. The Committee expressed concerns, including wanting to make sure our Flight Attendants are set up for success. This includes providing proper tools, individual water at seats, and clear procedures and training materials.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. More Inflight Service Committee Involvement in Onboard Testing: Our MEC and management recently signed a letter of agreement (LOA) to allow Committee Members to participate in onboard product testing. For future testing, we want to use Committee Members whenever possible as part of the working crew or as a cabin observer. The Committee will continue to push for extensive onboard testing before any sweeping service changes are rolled out. 
  2. Optimize Cart and Galley Loading: We all know space is at a premium onboard. The Committee wants to look at how we can make cart setup and galley packing even easier for crews and help minimize the steps necessary to begin service. We’ll take a thoughtful approach and look at creative solutions to help make our jobs easier.
  3. Updated Reporting Tools: We want to work with management to streamline the catering feedback tool in Block2Block so that reporting is easier for Flight Attendants and requires fewer steps. The Committee would also like management to explore adding a Fleet Service reporting tool that’s as easy to use as the catering feedback tool. This new tool should facilitate the easy reporting of missing supplies, such as alcohol wipes, lavatory supplies, and issues with dirty airplanes, all of which can affect inflight service.

We Want to Hear from You!

Please continue to report any catering issues or problems with onboard service using the catering feedback function in Block2Block. If you’ve experienced a safety-related issue, please submit a report through ReportIt! Your reports provide the Committee with the data needed to continue pushing management for meaningful improvements in our workplace.

Do you have other feedback for the Committee or items you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Inflight Service Committee is your voice to management. You can find our contact information on the Inflight Service Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Tuesday, May 27, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons/Representatives 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), Kanako Yamado (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were Council 15 (SAN) Local Hotel Committee Chairperson Kanani Vallot, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz, and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones.

The committee met with Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Managing Director of Inflight Operations and Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Inflight Crew Scheduling Supervisor Matthew Trujillo, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, Crew Hotels Specialist Nichole Turner, Manager of Flight Crew Systems Support Sue Rawlings and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet in person on Tuesday, June 24.

Topics of Discussion

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

PBS June Bid Period

  • Bidding Trends: There was a noticeable repetition of “Prefer off” lines during the bidding process, where a single mention would have sufficed in most instances. Additionally, many questions were raised regarding new lineholder bidding.
  • Bid Award: The June bid awards revealed relatively high lows at the ANC, SAN, and SFO bases, ensuring sufficient reserves were available.
  • Bid Protests: Ongoing issues with incorrectly assigned reserve trip assignments have impacted bid awards. These issues were addressed and resolved during the bid protests.

PBS Base Sits

  • The Subcommittee hosted PBS Base Sits in ANC in May, which assisted many new hires.
  • Upcoming PBS Base Sits:
    • June 5-6: SEA
    • June 9: PDX
    • July 7 SAN
    • July 8: SFO
    • July 9 LAX
    • August 7-9: SEA
    • September 5 PDX
    • September 8-9: ANC
    • October 5-6: SEA
    • October 7 PDX
    • November 8-9: ANC
    • December 5: SAN
    • December 6: SFO
    • December 7: LAX

Pairing Construction

  • Training and Development: Attended an advanced Crew Optimization class in Sweden, which provided insights into effective run analysis. 
  • Attended the Crew Operations and Development Partners Forum in Sweden focused on upcoming sales and program advancements for products we can utilize or enhance.

Contract Implementation Update

  • Holiday Pay: Challenges are anticipated regarding holiday pay for July 4. Flight Attendants should monitor holiday RON (Remains Overnight) and EOR (Extended Overnight Rule) statuses, as data pulls will be necessary. However, this process is not yet automated.

Information Technology (ITS) Update

  • NAVBLUE Testing: Testing for version 25.1 is complete. Crew calendars are still under evaluation for requirements needed by the start of next year.
  • Data Processing: There has been an increase in JCTE/Open Time trade volume, with 98.6% of requests processed in under 10 seconds.
  • Release Cycle: The upcoming release cycle includes testing for reserve holiday and surface transport, with 4K and boarding pay planned for the following release. The default filter has been fixed, but the premium filter still needs adjustments.

Crew Pay Update

  • Rainmaker Inquiries: In April, 1,514 out of 2,930 inquiries submitted were resolved, indicating some stabilization in inquiry volume.
  • Categorical Adjustments: Unnecessary categories have been identified; a bulletin outlining what needs to be submitted has been issued, and plans are to streamline these categories in June.
  • Sick Leave Issues: Two discrepancies regarding state sick leave bank management were noted. Affected individuals should contact pay analysts regarding conversion accuracy. The Committee recommends checking your state bank transfer to ensure no more than 40 TFP was transferred on May 1, 2025.

Crew Planning Update

  • July Block Hours: Block hours are expected to increase by about 15,000 in July. Reserve staffing is 20.7%, with a projected adjustment of 107 leaves.
  • Pairing Breakdown: Only 10 single 1-position pairings are currently being flown solo, ensuring crews fly together more than separately. There is a significant percentage of redeye flights across bases, ranging from 12% to 30%.
  • Commutability Analysis: SEA, ANC, and SAN show favorable commutability for 3-day pairings, while SFO faces the most challenges.

Crew Scheduling Update

  • Sick Leave Usage: Overall sick leave usage for May was at 10.3%, with notable increases over weekends. SEA and SAN reported the highest usage.
  • Fatigue Management: There were 10 calls regarding fatigue issues from reserves and six from lineholders in May. The team is actively reviewing these concerns and working on mitigation strategies.
  • Operational Adjustments: In May, 571 reassignments were noted, primarily due to recrewing in EWR. Adjustments are being made to taxi times and layover durations to reduce fatigue-related delays.

Additional Notes

  • Transportation Adjustments: To align with CBA language, transit times will be adjusted based on the day of the week, varying on weekends. For more details, refer to the May 2025 Hotel Committee Meeting Recap.
  • Drug Testing Reporting: Any concerns regarding drug testing should be reported through the ReportIt! system using a FAIR, which will be forwarded to the drug abatement team for resolution.
  • JFK Operations: Adjustments to operations at JFK have been implemented. Ride shares are only allowed to pick up at Terminals 1 and 8 for after-hours drug testing, necessitating the use of the AirTrain for other terminals. Please coordinate with Crew Scheduling if you are being tested and need transportation.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. NAVBLUE. The PBS Subcommittee preparing for a new release of NAVBLUE. Once received they will test before the release is implemented. The Committee is also continuing to provide in person and virtual base sits so that all Flight Attendants may attend and get answers to all PBS bidding related questions.
  2. Crew Scheduling. A monthly review of PowerPoint presentations covered various aspects such as reserve utilization, detailed breakdowns, sick leave (week by week and year over year), premium, personal drops, and other relevant agenda items.
  3. Crew Planning. Crew Planning shared a monthly presentation about Pairing Statistics. Crew Planning is focused on anticipating increased block hours as the summer season approaches, with specific strategies to optimize trip lengths and identify commutability for flight crews. The team is also collaborating with operational analytics to develop dashboards that facilitate better decision-making and efficiency in scheduling.
  4. Crew Pay. Crew pay is working on additional communications aimed at improving clarity and addressing the high volume of queries surrounding pay discrepancies. The payroll team is committed to resolving ongoing issues quickly to ensure crew members receive their compensation accurately and on time.
  5. AFA Payroll Representative. The Committee has been advocating for a streamlined process to resolve outstanding pay issues for crew members efficiently. The focus is on ensuring timely compensation and improved communication.

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 website.

History And Importance Of AFA’s Seniority Integration Policy

The pre-merger Hawaiian and pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants cannot be combined and begin working together until FAA oversight of safety policies and procedures is completed, a joint contract is ratified, and our seniority lists are merged and accepted.

Nearly 35 years ago, the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) established a seniority integration policy designed to minimize division among Flight Attendants during a merger. Having a clear and transparent policy allows us to focus on our other priorities such as maintaining job stability, improving pay, benefits, work rules, and the quality of life at the merged airline.

Following the merger of TWA and American Airlines, where all TWA Flight Attendants were placed at the bottom of the combined seniority list, our Union pushed for a law to ensure “fair and equitable” seniority integration for airline workers affected by mergers.

To address this inequity the McCaskill-Bond Amendment was enacted in 2008, mandating fair seniority integration practices. This law ensures that AFA’s Constitution and Bylaws seniority integration policy is followed, providing a standardized approach during mergers when AFA represents Flight Attendants from both pre-merger airlines.

How Will Our Two Seniority Lists Be Integrated?

The Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) consists of representatives from each pre-merger airline: two Hawaiian Flight Attendants and two Alaska Flight Attendants, along with assistance and oversight from the AFA International Office. 

As the SMIC works to combine the seniority lists for the merged Alaska-Hawaiian Flight Attendant group, they will: 

  • Compile employment data for all Flight Attendants from their respective airlines
  • The C&B only allows changes for initial Flight Attendant training [Section X.C.3.c]
  • Send out a Seniority Verification Letter (SVL) to each Flight Attendant to confirm your current seniority date
  • A verification period will allow each Flight Attendant to review their seniority date before the list is finalized
  • Adjust seniority dates to align with the first day of Flight Attendant Training
  • Determine a consistent method for integrating initial classes with the same start date
  • Maintain everyone’s existing seniority order; no Flight Attendant may leap-frog over anyone else
  • Generate our integrated seniority list based on each Flight Attendants adjusted seniority date
  • The AFA Seniority Merger Integration Process does not permit changes to seniority dates that have been handled through a grievance
  • The SMIC cannot change previous seniority integrations

Solidarity Always

Your AFA SMIC, Joint Negotiating Committee, MEC, and International Officers are working to ensure that our rights are protected, and Flight Attendants benefit from this merger. While mergers are often stressful as employees work through integration and many things we cannot control, we must focus on those things that we can; how we react and how we treat each other. Commit to having each other’s backs and lets eradicate any “us” versus “them” thinking as we are all on this journey together.

Seniority Integration Timeline

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

Our Master Executive Council (MEC) will be conducting interviews for one (1) Member to serve on the pre-merger Alaska AFA System Board of Adjustment.

Scope

Members are to serve on the System Board of Adjustment for the purpose of arbitrating any disputes or grievances that may arise under the terms of the Agreement between Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines and its Flight Attendants.

Policy/Responsibilities

  • There will be two members selected by the MEC from active members in good standing to represent the Association. Members will be selected at-large without regard to Local Council or domicile. 
  • Until such time as a joint collective bargaining agreement is ratified, separate System Boards of Adjustment will be maintained for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants and pre-merger Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants.
  • Any person seeking a position as a System Board of Adjustment Member must submit a resume. Candidates must interview with the MEC.
  • System Board Members will be selected for a two (2) year election period in accordance with the AFA Constitution and Bylaws. At least one election will be reviewed in June of each year. Selection will be made, insofar as possible, to ensure that both members will not be new at the same time.  
  • The System Board Members will act in the best interest of the membership and the Association and will be consistent with the Agreement between the Flight Attendants and Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines.
  • The MEC President will have the ability, in the event of an emergency, to appoint a qualified member in good standing to fill an ad hoc position on the Board.
  • The MEC on an ad hoc basis, by majority vote, may appoint an expert as a substitute for one member of the System Board of Adjustment.

Qualifications

  • Current Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant
  • Willingness to attend the requisite grievance training(s)
  • In depth knowledge of the contract
  • Understanding of the principles of just cause
  • Adherence to Grievance Committee policies, procedures, and standards of ethical conduct
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive and personal information
  • Maintenance of member-in-good-standing status
  • Ability to remain in good standing with the company
  • Ability to analyze written data and information with high attention to detail
  • Strong written and communication skills
  • Strong computer skills.

Term of Office

The selected candidate will serve a term of office that begins on August 1, 2025, and concludes on June 30, 2027.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

The MEC will hold interviews of eligible candidates during the July Regular MEC Meeting on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. If you’re interested in interviewing, plan to bid around this date or adjust your schedule accordingly to accommodate. All interviews will be conducted in person in Seattle, WA or using Google Meet videoconferencing at the candidate’s discretion.

Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume using the online expression of interest form. The deadline for submissions is 5 PM Pacific time on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. After the submission deadline, an MEC representative will contact eligible candidates to arrange a specific interview time.

Please note that to submit an expression of interest, you must have a Google account.  If you do not have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.

Questions?

Any questions regarding the position or application process should be directed to pre-merger Alaska MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams at stephanie.adams@afaalaska.org.

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

Our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons held two meetings recently. The first meeting occurred on Monday, May 12, when they had their monthly video call with management. The agenda included updates on current layover hotels and transportation providers and discussions about ongoing concerns.

The second meeting occurred on Wednesday, May 21, in PDX. This meeting was the API Quarterly Business Review (QBR) and involved a broader discussion with management, representatives from the crew accommodations management vendor API, and representatives from ALPA. Dori Marron (ANC), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), Kanani Vallot (SAN), and MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich represented you at this meeting. AFA Hawaiian MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson Matt Michell was also present.

The Committee met with Senior Crew Hotels Support Specialist Nichole Turner, Crew Hotels Support Specialist LaFay Williams, Hawaiian Airlines Crew Hotel Support Specialist Tamotsu “Tomo” Hirai, Manager of Crew Hotels Diane Szubert, Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, and Managing Director of Operations Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette from management.   

The next scheduled Hotel Committee meeting is Monday, June 9.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several items during the meeting with management, most of which focused on hotel decisions and challenges in our layover markets. Some items discussed include:

  • Transportation Time Adjustments: To fully abide by the CBA requirements for ground transportation for both AFA and ALPA, Crew Hotels has compiled and reviewed data in all of our layover cities to determine where changes need to be made. They will set different ground transportation times for time of day and day of week/holidays to ensure the crews are not arriving at the airport more than 15 minutes before report time (CBA §34.B.3). Nineteen of our layover cities will have these changes made starting June 1, and Crew Hotels will continue with this cadence every month until all cities have updated ground transportation times. Crew Hotels will also closely monitor the delays to ensure they have these times set correctly.   The hotel hotline will be updated accordingly. Please ensure you are writing a CrewCare report when you have a van time discrepancy so that changes can be made if necessary.  
  • Internal Processes: Much of the meeting focused on internal processes for administering the ad hoc list, processes for pre-site visit work, process changes for site visit flow, a central hosting platform for all city-specific hotel information, and MyCrewCare updates. The Crew Hotel and API team are also growing due to the AS+HA merger. We discussed the roles and responsibilities of the new team members.  
  • MyCrewCare Enhancements: One exciting enhancement to the MyCrewCare app launching in Q3 is the “Track My Ride” link. This link connects to our ground transportation provider, DART, to give real-time GPS information regarding your van, similar to how Uber displays information about your ride. You will be able to see the van location and driver and van information. This will enhance the safety of your ride, so there is no mistaking which transportation is yours. DART provides 60% of our ground transportation needs network-wide, so this will be a significant enhancement for our crew members. API is also reaching out to Allied Transport and Desert Coach about incorporating their location services into the MyCrewCare app. Another app feature discussed was the “Are You Safe” communication tool that crews can use to let Crew Scheduling know they are safe if a safety or security event happens in a layover city. This has not yet been activated for Alaska crew.   
  • Relocations:  Relocations will be necessary in PVR (due to renovations, July through October) and LIR (due to bridge asphalt resurfacing, time frame TBD). The Hotel Committee discussed options for these relocations. Crews will also experience temporary layovers in OKC from mid-July to mid-August, and a suitable hotel was discussed for these layovers. As a reminder, we cannot disclose hotel information on a public forum. Hotel changes will be communicated through an Informational Bulletin or the Hotel Hotline.   

Important Information from the Hotel Committee

  • When Something Isn’t Right: We cannot express the importance of filing a CrewCare report and, for more significant issues, an AFA Alaska Online Support Center ticket when something is not right. With a recent relocation in MCO, crews were involuntarily moved by the hotel (“walked”) from the relocated property to a non-contractually compliant property. This is a CBA violation, and the Grievance and Scheduling Committee will need an AFA Alaska Online Support Center ticket filed to aid them in bringing this forward for resolution. Other examples are ground transportation providers using one shuttle but stopping at multiple hotels, extended hotel wait times, etc. If you are ever in doubt about your situation, please contact your Local Hotel Committee for guidance on what reporting route to take.  
  • Transportation Safety: Crews should never be required to be transported in company-provided transportation when the shuttle cannot safely accommodate all crew members and luggage. We have seen reports of Suburbans/large SUVs being sent for a complement of six crew members, which requires luggage to be stored on laps or at the feet. This is not safe. We have also seen transportation scheduled for extended surface deadheads that is inadequate for crew comfort. If there is any doubt about your ride, please contact Crew Scheduling immediately and inform them of the problem so that alternate or additional transportation can be arranged.  

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Conducting Hotel Site Visits: The Hotel Committee conducts visits to hotels that are considered by management to ensure that the selected options provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. Scheduled site visits include RSW (June), SEA (June), and FAT (July). We do not anticipate many site visits will be scheduled for the second half of 2025. Market reviews are triggered by factors such as contract expirations, crew complaints, and opportunities for cost savings. Depending on the outcome of these reviews, additional site visits may be arranged in those cities.
  2. Hotel Gainshare Program: MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich, MEC President Tim Green, and MEC Vice President Brice McGee met with Labor Relations led by Carmen William and Mike Link on May 12 for the first Hotel Gainshare investigatory meeting. Company subject matter experts (SMEs) Brittany Audette, Trisha Bennet, Diane Szubert, and Sara Cook also attended. The purpose of the meeting was to begin discussions on the program’s feasibility at Alaska. Hotel data was presented, and each side identified research items needed to further the conversation. The group will meet again on June 12 to review these items and discuss the next steps.      

We Want to Hear From You!

Don’t let any unacceptable experience with a layover hotel or ground transportation provider go unnoticed! Please report the issue via CrewCare so that it can be addressed. CrewCare is the only official way to report issues, as the Hotel Committee does not monitor social media channels.

Each CrewCare submission is forwarded to your AFA Hotel Committee, Crew Hotels (Alaska management), API and the hotel or ground transportation provider. This ensures quick action can be taken to correct the issue or fix it for the next crewmember. It also allows us to monitor hotel and transportation trends. You can quickly file a CrewCare report using the web app on your IMD home screen or by clicking here.

Do you have any other feedback you would like to share with the committee or any specific items you want us to bring up with management? Please let us know! The Local Hotel Committee is here to represent you and ensure management hears your voice. You can find our contact information on the Hotel Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Election Notice: Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Officer Elections

The term of office for our current Alaska + Hawaiian Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers will conclude on December 31, 2025. The voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) will elect new MEC Officers at the November Regular MEC meeting. This communication serves as notice of the election in accordance with the MEC Policy and Procedure Manual. […]

SEA Domicile Negotiations – September 2025 Update #2

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants Negotiations Update Our SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee met with the company on September 11 to review their response to our September 5 proposal.  We feel that it is important to acknowledge the challenges within our company as Alaska management is struggling to understand our Collective Bargaining Agreement […]

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This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, September 11, representatives from our AFA Local Reserve Committees met to discuss their ongoing work to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants. Representing you at the meeting were Conner Gallager (SEA), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Meghan Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Rebecca Garcia (SAN). Also present […]

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September 15 marks the start of Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month in the United States, a vibrant celebration dedicated to honoring the rich contributions and diverse cultures of Hispanic-Latinx Americans. Spanning a full month, this observance—also known as National Hispanic Heritage Month—has its roots in Hispanic Heritage Week, which was established by legislation signed into law by […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Monday, September 8, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Ila Christy (PDX), Hilary […]

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