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Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution

October 2, 2025 11:00 Leave a Comment

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

Management has recently informed our Master Executive Council (MEC) that they are distributing new Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) to Flight Attendants with devices nearing the end of their lifecycle. The specific schedule for this distribution will be communicated by management separately. Flight Attendants with the oldest devices will be prioritized for replacement and contacted directly by management.

Distribution of Inflight Mobile Device Replacements Letter of Agreement (LOA)

In anticipation of the rollout of updated IMDs, our MEC and management have reached a letter of agreement (LOA) that clarifies the distribution process. AFA LOA 2025-08-13 (Distribution of Inflight iPhone Mobile Device Replacements to AS Flight Attendants) offers several benefits and protections for Flight Attendants, including:

Compensation of 0.5 TFP for picking up the device and completing the required setup tasks (this will be automatically paid the following month on the 20th of the month paycheck).
Flexible pickup options if you are not scheduled to work during the designated distribution period—coordinate with your Inflight Supervisor to make arrangements for pickup.
Limitations on the tasks that Flight Attendants must perform to set up the device.

For complete details, please click here to view the full LOA. The LOA is also available on your IMD in GoodReader or Comply365 in the ASFA Supplemental > Collective Bargaining Agreement folder.

LAX Co-Terminal Pickup

Flight Attendants based at LAX who fly primarily out of co-terminals can pick up their IMD at LAX or any other domicile during the scheduled distribution period. They can also arrange with their Inflight Supervisor to receive their IMD at a mutually agreed-upon time and place. If possible and upon request, they may opt to have their IMD shipped to their chosen address at no cost. For more information, please refer to paragraph 6 of the LOA.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the IMD Replacement Distribution LOA, please reach out to your LEC Officers.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025

September 25, 2025 17:00 Leave a Comment

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Tuesday, September 23, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met in person at Alaska Airlines Corporate Headquarters 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 Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich, 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 Managing Director of Inflight Operations & Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Managing Director of Operations Staffing & Resource Management Brittany Audette, Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Director of Crew Pay Peter Silberstein, Inflight Crew Scheduling Supervisor Matthew Trujillo, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, 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, October 28.

Topics of Discussion

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

Tentative Agreement Implementation: Still underway, with newly added calculators requiring ongoing maintenance for accurate totals.
Vacation/Training Bidding Vendor: A meeting was held on July 16, 2025. A follow-up meeting is needed with the new vacation and company training bidding systems administrator to update products.

MEC Committee Chairperson Report

Crew Backlog Review: Scheduled for October 15, 2025.
Crew Bi-Monthly Review with ALPA: Held on September 9, 2025.
Crew Access Issues: Review completed on July 23, 2025.
Rainmaker Crew Pay System: Update expected on November 20, 2025.
NAVBLUE Monthly Call: Scheduled for October 2, November 6, and December 4, 2025.
Personal Drop Report Process: Updates are being implemented in the Alaska system; a new personal drop interface was introduced on September 22, 2025.
Pyramiding Pay Dispute: Ongoing discussions are happening through the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process.
4k Dispute Over Night Compensation: AFA has filed a grievance.
ISA for Reserves: Working on implementation and testing of programming changes.

Local Committee Chairperson Reports

PDX: Issues with charter release times and program efficiency.
SAN: Dispute on overfly versus reassignment in ADR.
ANC: Discussion on Crew Scheduling applications of sections 12.J, 10.W, and 10.R of the contract.
LAX: Resolutions through ADR for issues with employee parking being closed for late-night surface deadhead arrivals and hotel wait times with BUR.
SFO: Investigating crew access issues at 2 AM and hire date changes in Rainmaker.
SEA: Information needed for rescheduling after sick calls; fatigue call inquiries directed to AFA FRB Scheduling Committee Primary Representative Bianca Dew.

PBS Subcommittee Update

Bid Period: October bidding went smoothly despite needing extra runs to meet Reserve minimums. Many Bid Protests came in regarding junior lineholders’ inability to hold lines with the month’s pairing packet and legalities.
Upcoming Releases: The next release is expected to be available before the end of the year. Final TA2 bidding improvements should be available in 2026.
Base Sits: In October, the PBS Subcommittee will be in SEA and PDX to assist with bidding questions.

ITS Update

NAVBLUE Testing: Ongoing with outstanding items for release.
Crew Pay Queries: 2873 total, with 1896 resolved.
Rainmaker Issues: Addressing hire date discrepancies; integration with payroll is ongoing. This is an issue with data in Peoplesoft feeding to Rainmaker and will not affect pay increases.
B2B Integration: Troubleshooting for bugs continues.

Crew Planning Update

November Block Hours: Increased by 1000 hours month over month.
Staffing Stats: 77.5 TFP line average, 18.0% reserve.
Operational Adjustments: Addressing crew connect times and mitigation strategies for IRROP.

Crew Scheduling Update

Growth of Scheduling Team: New introductions and objectives for the Inflight Duty Manager program launch.
Sick Leave Trends: Decreasing from previous months, with a goal of 8.6% attendance.
Premium Utilization: Ongoing discussions regarding SAL leaves and scheduling efficiency.

What The Committee Is Working On

Crew Access Issues: Crew Access challenges significantly affect how well operations run, influencing how Flight Attendants feel about their work. It’s crucial to tackle these problems to create a better working environment. We are meeting with Jeppesen management in Vancouver, BC at their next conference on October 1 and 2. Both Alaska and AFA are frustrated with their systems and the programs not working effectively for our flight crews, specifically related to Open Time.
Resolving Pyramiding Pay Disputes: Finding a solution to the pay dispute related to pyramiding is vital for maintaining fairness in how Flight Attendants are compensated. Disagreements about over-duty pay and day-off violations can seriously affect crew morale and operational integrity. The committee will keep discussing the matter through the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process to clarify payment rules and ensure they are followed. They will gather information from Flight Attendants affected by these issues to guide their discussions. An update on the progress and any resolutions will be shared with Members by the end of September 2025, aiming for a settlement soon after. Management and AFA will explore other options, like mediation or arbitration, if an agreement cannot be reached.
ISA for Reserves Implementation: The ineligibility for self-assignment (ISA) for Reserve Flight Attendants is an important step toward fairer and more transparent scheduling practices. This change is crucial for boosting crew satisfaction and efficiency. The Committee will work quickly to finalize this new system by working with the IT department and other relevant management to implement the necessary changes to the scheduling system. They will also develop ways to keep Flight Attendants informed about the updates. The next Crew Access release, which will include ISA implementation allowing Reserve Flight Attendant to Reserve Flight Attendant trading, is expected to be available in early October 2025, after all testing has been completed.

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.

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

September 24, 2025 13:00

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

We’re excited to introduce the first group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few months and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that highlight their backgrounds and experiences as they prepare to support our Flight Attendant group.

Stephanie Adams, MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson

Stephanie has been a Flight Attendant for 28 years and is a licensed attorney in Washington. She graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2003. Stephanie began her career with Alaska Airlines 30 years ago, starting as a Reservation Sales Agent for one year, followed by a year as a Customer Service Agent before becoming a Flight Attendant. For the past nine years, she has served as the MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson. Stephanie became involved with the AFA to help fellow Flight Attendants and looks forward to continuing her support through the grievance process and navigating the collective bargaining agreement.

Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her two young adult children and traveling with them. She also has a golden retriever named Murphy and two cats, Milo and Teddy, who receive a lot of her attention. Last year, she ran the New York City Marathon, and New York City is her favorite layover destination.

Bianca Dew, MEC Grievance Committee Assistant

Bianca started her career in 2015 at Virgin America as an SFO-based flight attendant. She holds Associate of Arts in Behavioral Science and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from California Baptist University. After some time flying, she became an Inflight Team Lead and then an Air Transportation Supervisor, where she conducted IOEs and check rides.

Her dedication to the well-being of her peers led her to become actively involved with AFA. She served as the Legacy Virgin America Scheduling Committee Chairperson and currently as MEC Grievance Committee Assistant, where she continues to represent our Flight Attendants. Bianca has remained a steadfast advocate for the needs of Flight Attendants, leveraging her experience to help address the unique challenges of our profession.

Bianca is currently SEA-based, but when she’s not working, Bianca can be found pursuing her love for the outdoors. An avid traveler, she enjoys hiking, reading, gardening, and snowboarding.

Julie Thornton, MEC Grievance Committee Payroll Representative

Julie Thornton is a proud Seattle native, who earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication and Spanish from the University of Washington. Her college years were filled with vibrant experiences, including active involvement in Kappa Delta sorority, where she attended social gatherings and devoted time to philanthropic events—moments that helped shape her love for community and leadership. (Go Huskies!)

Julie’s professional story began on the shores of South Lake Union, where she spent just over two years at a boutique Public Relations firm. While she thrived in the fast-paced PR environment, Julie soon realized her heart was set on a career that combined her love of travel, helping others, and making a tangible difference. In 2013, Julie took a leap and joined Alaska Airlines as a Flight Attendant, initially based in Los Angeles.

Julie’s commitment to service quickly found an outlet, in 2014 she began volunteering on the Seattle Reserve Committee as a Reserve Buddy. In this mentorship role, Julie welcomed and supported new reserve Flight Attendants, sharing her insights and easing their transitions. In 2018, she was selected as the Seattle Reserve Committee Chairperson—a role in which she fostered a supportive environment for her SEA peers. Julie’s AFA journey continued to blossom in 2020, Julie was appointed to serve her first term as the MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson. Her impact grew further; in 2020 she joined the Seattle Grievance Committee as a Grievance Committee Member. In her new role as Grievance Committee Payroll Representative, she hopes to create enhanced training workshops and peer support resources, making the often-challenging pay system more accessible for all.

When Julie isn’t soaring at 35,000 feet, she’s spending time with her family and friends. She and her husband love introducing their young son, Brooks, to the wonders of the world—along with their two mischievous chocolate Labradors, Herman and Hazel. Julie’s circle of friends and family is her anchor, and she cherishes every moment spent at home or abroad.

Orna Samuelly, MEC Grievance Committee Payroll Representative

Orna Samuelly is joining the Grievance Committee as a Payroll Representative. A transplanted New Yorker, Orna now calls Seattle home. She holds a BA from Williams College and an MA from Brown University. Orna’s passion for the airline industry started years back at American Airlines and Northwest Airlines in Revenue Management. After years in consulting and financial management, she found her way back to the industry she loves.

Orna volunteered to join the Grievance Committee as a Payroll Representative to apply her analytical skills to support fellow Flight Attendants. She also volunteers as the Treasurer on the Board of Purrfect Pals, a Washington cat shelter, and at the Seattle Aquarium, where she loves teaching people about the Giant Pacific Octopus and inspiring them to protect our amazing oceans.

Orna is excited to support fellow Flight Attendants with their payroll issues, whether to right wrongs or to understand the contract clauses that have impacted their payroll. Orna has been a Flight Attendant for the last 3 years. She is having fun with it, most of the time, treating it as an adventure, both in the air and on layovers. Discovering Alaska has been a treat, from fabulous hikes in Sitka and Juneau to encountering the big brown bears of Katmai.

David Jelinek, MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson

David was born and raised on a ranch in a small town in southern Colorado. He attended the University of Northern Colorado and obtained a degree in Costume Design for Theater. He began his career as a flight attendant in 2005 with Frontier Airlines, which is based in Denver. During that time, he served on the Uniform Committee for five years. In 2007, he moved to Portland for love, which, after twenty years, is still going strong.

In 2013, he began flying for Alaska Airlines. After a bit of coaxing, he joined the Uniform Committee, and in 2017, he took over the position of the Local Uniform Committee Chairperson for Council 39 and the PDX base. David also serves on the Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee (ASHSC), where he has addressed safety concerns in our work environment and performed evacuation drills and proving flights for the FAA on the Airbus and new Boeing MAX aircraft.

When not flying, David creates gowns and costumes for stage and drag performers. Halloween is a frenzy when he enters his stress-out period to create his costume to top the year before. When not spending time in the air or his sewing room, he enjoys RV camping with his husband, projects on their house, and walks around the neighborhood with their Schnauzer, Baxter.

After 20 years of flying and five uniforms, David is excited to take on the position of MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson. He is committed to working hard to address Flight Attendant concerns and advocate for a professional, safe, and comfortable uniform for all.

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

September 24, 2025 09:00

On Thursday, September 18, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing efforts to represent our Flight Attendants and advocate for improvements in our workplace. Although our Inflight Service Committee has now merged, meetings with management continue to focus primarily on the Alaska or Hawaiian brands individually. This particular meeting was centered on the Alaska brand. We’ll update you with a recap of the latest discussions regarding Hawaiian brand service soon. As we move forward, the Committee is dedicated to providing updates on both Alaska and Hawaiian brand services in a manner that reflects the context of each meeting, whether addressing each brand individually or together.

Representing you at the meeting were Naomi Parcell (ANC), Ross DeJong (SEA), Todd Horn (PDX), Raymond Ramirez (SFO), Johanna Thomas (pmAS LAX), and Andrew Malone (SAN). MEC Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons Chase Vandergrift (Alaska Brand), and Bianca McKee (Hawaiian Brand) were also present.

The Committee met with Senior Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder, Cabin Product Director Chris Dela Rosa, Cabin Product Director Evan Nomura, Director of Cabin Experience David Scotland, Director of Food and Beverage Products Mita Padhi, Manager of Food and Beverage Planning and Programs David Rodriguez, Principal Food and Beverage Programs Gracie Truex, Senior Food and Beverage Product Manager Jessica Johnston, Food and Beverage Planning Systems Managers Gayatri Watwe and Andrea Carns, Senior Product Manager Megan Low, Director of Catering Operations Andrew Moyer, Catering Safety Compliance Manager Raena Alonzo, Regional Catering Performance Manager Jayson Yang, IT Contractors Chris Pettigrew and Chris Daniels, and Managing Director of Products & Experience Mark Krolick.

The next committee meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, December 4.

Topics of Discussion

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

Food and Beverage Product

Premium Class Snack Basket Launch: The Premium Class snack basket is scheduled to launch on December 30. The Committee raised concerns about the launch date being between Christmas and New Year’s, a busy travel period during which key management may be unavailable should issues arise. The Committee also raised concerns about the basket being offered in Premium Class but not in First Class on short-haul flights.
Product Changes/Juice Provisioning: The Committee suggested swapping the extra cranberry juice in the main cabin beverage cart for extra apple juice. This change will be implemented on November 13, along with the introduction of new First Class wine, cranberry lime seltzer water, and blood orange hoppy water. Orange juice will transition from the current blend to 100% OJ beginning in mid-October.
Specialty Cocktails: The Committee asked that any non-pre-mixed specialty cocktail or “secret menu” recommendations posted by the Company on social media include instructions for passengers to ask for the specific ingredients to avoid confusion for Flight Attendants.
New Product Launches: The base sits coordinated for the new serveware launch were very successful. These types of roadshows will hopefully be continued for future product launches, including the new Premium Class snack basket.

Catering Operations

Ice Quality in Seattle: Discussion involved the ongoing issues with ice quality and availability in Seattle, including melted ice, leaking bags, and the functionality and durability of the new ice cooler bags. While efforts have been made to improve the situation, management acknowledged that further progress is still needed.
First Class Snack Basket Loading: Concerns have been raised regarding the improper loading of first-class snack baskets, especially on downline segments where the basket is not served on the initial leg. Management will explore the option of wrapping and labeling snack baskets or loading them into the meal carts to ensure that snacks are not missed.
Single-Door Catering in Seattle: During single-door catering, only one cart should be positioned in the L1 door area. This cart should be moved to the side to allow crew access to the aircraft. Additionally, catering staff should have priority access to the row 1 area during pre-flight for positioning carts.

Cabin Product and Aircraft Interiors

737 Fleet Upgrades: Three 737-800 aircraft are currently flying with a new 161-seat configuration, featuring new exit rows, seats with tablet and cup holders, and USB-C ports. The retrofit program will continue through summer 2026. MAX 9 aircraft are being modified to add another row of Premium Class, with completion expected by Thanksgiving.
Lavatory Placards: New placards clearly depicting trash placement have been installed in 737 lavatories. The “trash below” placard should be located on the mirror, and “no trash stowage” should be above the seat cover opening in the hygiene cabinet. If you notice any incorrect placement of these placards, please notify your Local Inflight Service Committee with photos and the tail number.
Overhead Bin Placards: Row 2 overhead bin bag orientation placards are being removed from new MAX 8 deliveries and will not be installed on MAX 10 aircraft. Removal from the current fleet is backlogged due to M&E constraints.
800 Fleet Condition: Older 800s will be prioritized for cabin refurbishment, but please continue to report cabin cleanliness or carpet issues to the flight deck for maintenance so those issues can be addressed with deep cleaning programs.
Lavatory Diffusers: A stronger diffuser for Salt & Stone soap (batch 2 arriving mid-October) will help with lavatory odors. Management is also exploring the reintroduction of deodorizing pucks, which are present on Hawaiian Airlines aircraft.
Wi-Fi/Starlink Updates: Starlink will be installed across the entire Alaska and Hawaiian (excluding 717) fleets. Passengers will sign into their Atmos account for free Wi-Fi access. There will be no paid option, aiming to grow Atmos membership. Hawaiian fleet Wi-Fi will also require Atmos sign-in, with a Hawaiian-branded portal.
- Deployment Timeline: E175s will begin in fall 2025, the mainline fleet will begin in early 2026 with increasing number of Starlink equipped aircraft throughout the year. New MAX 8 deliveries will be first, followed by 700s, and then the rest of the fleet.
- Entertainment Shift: Free movies and TV shows will be phased out with free Wi-Fi, as testing showed passengers prefer using their own streaming accounts. Aircraft with existing IFE screens (A330, 787) will continue to offer stored content for longer-haul flights.
- 787 Wi-Fi: 787s currently lack Wi-Fi. Boeing is working with Qatar Airways as the launch customer for Starlink on the 787-8 and 787-9. Alaska hopes to be the third airline, with a potential introduction before European service launch in 2026, though this is contingent on Boeing’s timeline.
A330 Refresh: Ten of 24 A330 aircraft will undergo a “like-for-like refresh ” (new covers, cushions, and carpets) in 2026 to maintain freshness. A full cabin retrofit is planned for 2028, introducing new seats across business, premium economy, and economy classes. Seat selection is ongoing, with reviews in Honolulu and a decision expected next month. A330s will remain Hawaiian-branded.
787 Transition to Alaska Branding: 787s will be repainted with Alaska branding over winter 2025/spring 2026 for European service. New Alaska-branded duvets, mattress pads, slippers, amenity kits for First Class, and a small amenity kit with a rebranded pillow and blanket set for the main cabin will be introduced. Quality will be similar to current Hawaiian offerings but from Alaska-centered vendors.
737 First Class Calf Rests: Recaro has adapted a wide-body premium economy seat design for Alaska’s first-class seating, but unexpected engineering issues have led to problems with the deployment and stowage of the calf rests. A permanent solution requires a part modification and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2026. In the meantime, management will monitor the situation and decide whether the calf rests need to be locked out until the permanent fix is implemented. A card for passengers with instructions on using the calf rest will be introduced. If Flight Attendants encounter stowage issues, they should apply firm pressure near the actuating arm while pressing the button to resolve the problem.

IMD and Block2Block

iPhone 16 IMD Refresh: The refresh is underway with ANC completed and SFO, SAN, PDX, LAX, and SEA next. Devices targeted for replacement include iPhone 12s and 2000 iPhone 13s for Alaska (those held longest). Flight Attendants are encouraged to sign up for a time slot at their base if they are contacted regarding device replacement.
Block2Block 2.0 HA Integration: Due to limited screen space, significant work has been done to display the wide-body seat map (A330 and 787) on the device. The display allows you to see the rows on both sides of each aisle and toggle between the left and right aisle views, with the center seats showing in both views. Special meals on the seat map on Hawaiian flights will be indicated with an “S” icon.

What The Committee Is Working On

Reykjavik (KEF) 737 Service: Reykjavik flights will introduce a new and unique international service level in both the forward cabin and premium/main cabin. This service will be offered from the limited 737 galleys, so it needs to be thoughtfully designed. The Committee will work with management to design and test this service before its launch.
Incheon (ICN) 787 Service: The Committee will continue to monitor the 787 service flow on the Seattle-Incheon route for areas of improvement. We will also work closely with management on developing the Alaska-branded long-haul service scheduled for launch next spring to Rome and London.
Galley Drawers and Top Drawers Revamping: A project to redesign and revamp the galley and top beverage cart drawers for Alaska-branded flights has been identified as a future priority.

We Want to Hear from You!

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 + Hawaiian website.

Vacation Survey Closing Soon

September 23, 2025 13:00

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

Vacation Survey Closing on Wednesday, September 24 at Noon PT

Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is conducting a vacation survey to gather insights from Flight Attendants at Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines regarding their vacation benefits.

Our committee aims to understand the varying ways these benefits are utilized and how to enhance them especially as there are significant differences between the Alaska and Hawaiian vacation systems. The JNC committee remains committed to advocating for the quality of work life for all Flight Attendants to ensure that both Alaska and Hawaiian employees retain their long-standing benefits.

The survey will be available until Wednesday, September 24 at Noon PT. We strongly encourage you to take a moment to complete the survey. Your input will help the JNC advocate effectively for your needs.

Thank you for being an essential part of this process!

If you have any questions regarding the survey feel free to contact the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org.

Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution