Scheduling Committee
- On February 25, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work representing Flight Attendants’ interests in lineholder scheduling.
- The Committee met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems Flight Attendants face with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.
- Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to assist with any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help!
On Tuesday, February 25, 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 MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, and MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz.
The committee met with Crew Planning Analyst Lead John Bumanglag, Manager of Crew Planning Jeffery Hunt, Inflight Crew Scheduling Supervisor Matthew Trujillo, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, Crew Hotels and Admin Manager Nichole Turner, Crew Hotel Support Specialist LaFay Williams and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.
The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, March 25.
Topics of Discussion
The committee reviewed several topics during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:
- Pay Discrepancies: Scheduling Committee Chairpersons have needed to step in and advocate for pay owed when not correctly done.
- Pairing Construction: Discussion of desired pairings and impact of Network Planning.
- Bidding and Awards: Recap of ongoing base sits and upcoming changes to NAVBLUE.
- Implementation Timelines of TA2 If Ratified: Clarification on how the Committee will support and what changes will be implemented.
- Operational Challenges: Discussion of impact of PDX snowstorm and other operational factors impacted Flight Attendants in the past month.
What The Committee Is Working On
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
