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Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – December 2025

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On Monday, December 1, 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), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Brian Sherill (LAX), and Kanani Vallot (SAN), with MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich facilitating the meeting.

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

Our next monthly meeting with management is scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2026. API, the company’s hotel accommodations vendor, will also host their first quarterly business review (QBR) meeting of 2026 in January, with the pre-merger Alaska meeting on January 21 and the pre-merger Hawaiian meeting on January 22.

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:

  • New LAX (pmAS) Local Hotel Committee Chairperson: We want to welcome Brian Sherill as the new Local Hotel Committee Chairperson for Council 18 (LAX pmAS)!  We’d like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to Chris Cardenas for his incredible contributions and unwavering dedication to representing our Members. You can find more information on your AFA Hotel Committee contacts here.  
  • Hotel and Ground Transportation Issues (pmAS):
    • JFK (Long Stay): We have noticed an increase in complaints regarding our JFK property (Manhattan) with both the hotel and our ground transportation provider. Feedback has been consistent regarding room placement, cleanliness, and the readiness of rooms. Due to the consistent complaints, the Hotel Committee has requested that this market be sourced for alternative options. Ground transportation has also been inconsistent, with larger vans being dispatched for small crews while smaller vans are dispatched for larger crews, causing discomfort during transport to/from the hotel.  
    • LAS (Long Stay): There have been reports of inconsistent drop-off locations and confusion regarding the check-in location, depending on the time of arrival. We have requested that the ground transportation providers be informed of the appropriate drop-off/pick-up location, depending on the time of arrival/departure. The hotel also has not been separating the sign-in sheet for both Flight Attendants and pilots, which needs to be rectified.
    • HNL: Our new HNL property has received positive feedback so far; however, complaints have been made about room placement in terms of noise for day sleepers. We have requested that the hotel place our rooms away from the musical performances, the pool, and street noise. 
  • Hotel Contract Terms (pmAS): Section 34 [Hotels and Transportation] of our CBA defines minimum standards for crew safety and comfort. Some hotels offer additional amenities not required by the CBA standards, like premium Wi-Fi, complimentary grab-and-go items, and bike rentals. We are compiling a list of additional requests, such as these, that we would like to see negotiated directly with our hotels as complimentary crew enhancements. While these are not guaranteed, we strive to secure the best layover experience for our Flight Attendants.  

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Conducting Hotel Site Visits: The Hotel Committee conducts site visits to hotels under consideration by management to ensure that the selected options provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. 
    1. Pre-Merger Alaska: Hotel site visits are planned for ORD (Short Stay), PDX (Short Stay), SJO (both Long and Short Stay), and IAD (Long Stay) in December. In 2026, the Hotel Committee will visit LAX (Long Stay) in January, CVG (Long Stay) in February, and KEF in February, which will be operated on pre-merger Alaska aircraft. Crew Hotels is still working on the 2026 sourcing list. With several hotel contracts set to expire, we anticipate a busy year of site visits.
    1. Pre-Merger Hawaiian: Site visits are planned for 2026, but none have been scheduled yet. Crew Hotels met on December 4 to review the 2026 sourcing list.
  2. Hotel Gainshare Update: After several months of productive discussions, we’ve paused Hotel Gainshare negotiations due to recent concerns of potential tax implications recently brought forward by management. We’ve referred the matter to our AFA International legal department to assess management’s interpretation of IRS regulations to help determine our path forward. We believe a hotel gainshare program will be beneficial to both Flight Attendants and the company, and hope to resolve all of management’s concerns and reach an agreement soon. We’ll share additional details as they become available.

We Want to Hear From You!

Our Hotel Committee relies on your feedback, whether positive or negative. Please report via CrewCare (pmAS) or the FA Crew Accommodations Feedback form (pmHA), which ensures your experience with a layover hotel or ground transportation is addressed. These are the only official way to report issues, as the Committee does not monitor social media channels.

Each CrewCare and feedback form submission is forwarded to our AFA Hotel Committee, Crew Hotels (Alaska/Hawaiian management), API, and the hotel or ground transportation provider. This ensures quick action can be taken to correct or fix the issue for the next crew member. It also allows us to monitor hotel and transportation trends. Pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants 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! Your 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 + Hawaiian website.

MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Interviews – January 2026

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This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

Do you want to help new Flight Attendants as they go through initial training and probation? Our MEC is seeking a dedicated and organized Member in good standing to serve as the MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation. In this role, you’ll be the primary AFA point of contact for new hires, ensuring they receive the necessary support and resources. You’ll also monitor the company’s Initial Training program and assist in resolving any issues that arise. If you’re ready to support our newest Flight Attendants and help them with probationary challenges, this is your chance to get involved.

Qualifications

  • Strong organizational and communication skills.
  • Thorough knowledge of the current collective bargaining agreement, with in-depth understanding of sections on probation, hours of service, reserve, scheduling, attendance, and commuter policy.
  • Proficiency with Google Workspace (email, calendar, document sharing) and Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Proficiency with or willingness to learn online issue tracking software such as SupportSystem.
  • Willingness to regularly attend and actively participate in Reserve Committee meetings, whether virtually or in person, as determined by committee requirements.
  • Commitment to following committee policies, procedures, and rules while upholding high ethical standards.
  • Ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive and personal information.
  • Must be an AFA Member in good standing (dues current).
  • Must remain in good standing with the company.

Duties

  • Regularly communicate with and provide activity updates to the MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson.
  • Coordinate with the MEC Inflight Training Committee Chairperson on any matters pertaining to Initial Training.
  • Coordinate the scheduling of the AFA New Hire Presentation for each Initial Training Class and ensure Company compliance with associated contractual language.
  • Facilitate assigned modules for the AFA New Hire Presentation or arrange for an approved alternate if unable to attend.
  • Maintain and regularly update AFA New Hire Presentation materials, documents, and resources, and work with the MEC Membership Engagement Committee Chairperson on updates related to the introduction to AFA and Union membership.
  • Ensure new hire Flight Attendants complete all necessary AFA membership paperwork by reviewing required forms, assisting with questions, and confirming all information provided is accurate before submission.
  • Transmit completed AFA membership paperwork promptly to the AFA Membership Services Department and securely maintain copies for MEC records.
  • Oversee and coordinate the Reserve Buddy program. Work with the Membership Engagement and Communications Committees to develop and implement a structured schedule that includes regular check-ins, educational materials, and resource sharing for new hires during their probation period. Gather feedback to improve the program and enhance new hire engagement and learning.
  • Support probationary Flight Attendants by accompanying them to probationary meetings with management and offering guidance during the process.
  • Serve as a resource to Local Reserve Committees on matters related to new hire and probationary Flight Attendants.
  • Be trained and remain qualified to perform any Reserve Committee position duties as needed.
  • Assist the MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson as assigned, including Reserve Committee tasks beyond new hire and probation scope.

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

The time commitment for this position varies and may change based on the company’s hiring levels and current workload levels. Specific information about time commitment expectations and Flight Pay Loss for the position will be provided during the interviews. All positions operate in line with AFA’s spirit of volunteerism.

Working Relationships

With Local Reserve Committees

Frequent interaction with the Local Reserve Committee Chairpersons and Committee Members.

With The MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson

Constant interaction with the MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson.

With Other MEC Committees

Regular interaction with the MEC Inflight Training Committee Chairperson and MEC Membership Engagement Committee Chairperson; occasional interaction with other committees as needed.

With The Master Executive Council           

This position reports to the Master Executive Council through the MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson. The designated MEC Officer responsible for the committee is the MEC Vice President.

Term of Service

The elected candidate will serve for the upcoming MEC Officer election cycle, beginning immediately upon election and concluding on December 31, 2028.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

To express your interest, please submit an expression of interest and your resume using the online form (link below). The submission deadline is 5 PM Pacific Time on Monday, December 29, 2025. No submissions will be accepted after this deadline.

Click here to submit an expression of interest form >

Please note that a Google account is required to submit the expression of interest form. If you don’t have a Google account, you can create one for free. Visit https://accounts.google.com/signup to get started.

Eligible candidates will be contacted within one business day of submitting the form and invited to complete a one-way video interview. You’ll receive questions via an online platform and record your responses on video. There is no live interaction, and you may complete the interview at your convenience before the deadline.

After the deadline, the MEC will review all submissions and video interviews. Finalists will be invited to a live interview with the MEC, and an MEC representative will contact all candidates to share results and schedule interviews for finalists.

Live interviews with finalists will be held during the January Regular MEC Meeting, from Monday, January 12, to Wednesday, January 14. Please plan your schedule to ensure availability (either through proactive bidding or other scheduling adjustments) if you are selected as a finalist. Finalists may interview in person in Honolulu, HI, or virtually via Google Meet.

Timeline

DateEvent
Monday, December 5Expression of interest form becomes available
Monday, December 29 @ 5 PM PTDeadline for submitting expression of interest forms
Tuesday, December 30 @ 9 AM PTDeadline for submitting one-way video interviews
Tuesday, December 30 – Saturday, January 3MEC reviews all submitted expressions of interest and one-way video interviews
Monday, January 5Finalists notified
Monday, January 12 – Wednesday, January 14Live interviews with MEC and elections
Thursday, January 15Results announced

Questions?

If you have any questions about the position itself or its associated duties and responsibilities, please contact MEC Vice President Brice McGee at mecvp@afaalaska.org.

If you have any questions about the expression of interest form or interview process, please contact MEC Secretary-Treasurer Paul Ikioka at mecst@afaalaska.org.

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

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This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected:

MEC Benefits Committee Chairperson: Dianna Ripley
MEC Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee Chairperson: Melanie Buker
MEC Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee Vice Chairperson: Elizabeth Dillon
MEC Retirement Committee Chairperson: Deb Wallstrom

These newly elected MEC Committee Chairpersons will carry out their respective roles specific to our six pre-merger Alaska Local Councils as we continue to navigate the merger process. They’ll begin the transition into their roles over the next few weeks, with their official term beginning on January 1, 2026. They will serve for the upcoming MEC Officer election cycle from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028.

If you have any questions about the pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson elections, please reach out to your LEC President.

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

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During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for our next merged MEC Committee Chairperson and Representative positions. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected:

MEC Inflight Training Committee Chairperson: Megan Brown
MEC Inflight Training Committee Members: Andrew Lum-Nelmida, James Bozanich, Jody Sakaba, Ryoko Suzuki, Taylor Opitz

These newly elected MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives will coordinate the activities of their respective merged committee across both airlines. They’ll support both pre-merger Alaska and pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants. Their official term will begin on January 1, 2026, and they’ll serve for the upcoming MEC Officer election cycle (January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028).

If you have any questions about the MEC Committee elections, please reach out to your LEC President.

Hawaiian Flight Attendant Seattle Domicile LOA Session #1 Roadshow Reminder

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This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • The first session for the Seattle Domicile Letter of Agreement is scheduled for tomorrow, December 1, from 3 PM to 4:30 PM HT
  • All members in good standing should register for the webinar using a non-company email and review the SEA LOA Question and Answer prior to attending

The Hawaiian Seattle Domicile Negotiating Committee is hosting the first of three virtual roadshows tomorrow to share information about the Seattle Domicile Letter of Agreement (SEA LOA).

  • Session #1 – Monday, December 1, 2025 from 3 PM to 4:30 PM HT

Webinar Reminders

  • All Members in good standing are welcome to join.
  • We encourage you to log on to the webinar early to verify your credentials and to ensure a prompt start
  • To register, please use a non-company email. Registration will close at the start of the webinar.
  • You may attend multiple sessions. Just fill out a separate registration form for each session you plan to join.
  • After you register, you’ll get a confirmation email with your unique link. Please keep this link private.

SEA LOA Resources

Please look over the SEA LOA Question and Answer section before the webinar. To help everyone get the most up-to-date information, we may not answer questions that have already been answered. You may also submit your questions in advance using the registration form.

Register for Additional Sessions

  • Session #2 – Thursday, December 18, 2025 from 9 AM to 10:30 AM HT
  • Session #3 – Sunday, January 11, 2026 from 2 PM to 3:30 PM HT

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your local leadership or email the SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee at sea@afahawaiian.org.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – December 2025

On Monday, December 1, 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), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Brian Sherill (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]

MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Interviews – January 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Do you want to help new Flight Attendants as they go through initial training and probation? Our MEC is seeking a dedicated and organized Member in good standing to serve as the MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation. In this role, you’ll be the primary […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for our next merged MEC Committee Chairperson and Representative positions. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected: MEC Inflight Training Committee Chairperson: Megan BrownMEC Inflight Training […]

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