AFA Alaska + Hawaiian

Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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Pairing Construction Subcommittee

What Does This Subcommittee Do?
The Pairing Construction Subcommittee works with the company and the Inflight Crew Planning Department to build Flight Attendant pairings.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
  • Regularly communicate with and provide updates to the MEC Scheduling Chairperson on the activities of the subcommittee
  • Meet on a monthly basis with the company and the Inflight Crew Planning Department to review problems and suggested resolutions regarding construction of Flight Attendant pairings and monthly lines of flying.
  • Maintain a permanent file for all local schedules for the use of the MEC Scheduling Committee.
  • Keep the MEC informed on all activities relating to the pairing construction process. When meetings or communications are due to unusual scheduling activities, a written report will be made.
  • Keep the membership informed of the results of the pairing construction process on a monthly basis throught the MEC Communications Committee Chairperson.
  • Solicit feedback from the membership regarding desired pairings, trip lengths, and types of flying through Local Scheduling Committees and advocate for such during the pairing construction process.
  • Discuss any problems occurring within the pairing construction process with the Local Scheduling Committee Chairpersons on a monthly basis and will provide any suggestions for remedy of problems to the MEC.
Why Would I Contact This Committee?

The Pairing Construction Subcommittee is available to help you with:

  • Questions about how pairings are built
  • Feedback about specific types of pairings

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Who Do I Contact?

For assistance, contact MEC Scheduling Vice Chairperson–Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell at karen.ferrell@afaalaska.org or your Local Scheduling Committee Chairperson.

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Subcommittee News

View the Pairing Construction Subcommittee news archives

Pairing Construction 101

Posted: October 25, 2024

Scheduling Committee Introduction to the Pairing Process Pairing construction is a complex process that occurs every month to create the work schedules, or “pairings,” that Flight Attendants will operate. A team consisting of four individuals—three Company Crew Planners and one AFA Pairing Analyst—work together to build these pairings. Karen Ferrell, our AFA Pairing Analyst and […]

[L-AS] November 2018 PBS Bid Awards

Posted: October 15, 2018

This message is for Legacy Alaska Airlines (L-AS) Flight Attendants Trouble with the November 2018 PBS bid award The Master Executive Council (MEC) was informed on Friday, October 12, 2018, that the wrong one-position (“D”) pairing file was loaded into NAVBLUE PBS.  That file did not contain all the one-position flights—in excess of 1000—requiring staffing […]

Pairing Construction 101

Posted: August 26, 2016

What is involved with pairing construction? Approximately one month prior to the bid month, Network Planning provides a Standard Schedules Information Manual (SIMM), which includes all of the scheduled legs in the system on a daily basis for FA 1-Position, FA Combi and FA 3-Position. Each of the legs are formatted as a single line […]

Introducing AFA Pairing Analyst Karen Ferrell

Posted: January 27, 2016

At the January meeting of the Master Executive Council (MEC) earlier this week, your MEC interviewed candidates for the position of MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson for Pairing Construction, commonly referred to as the AFA Pairing Analyst.  In total, four candidates interviewed for the position (one Anchorage-based flight attendant, two Seattle-based flight attendants and one […]

AFA Alaska MEC Pairing Analyst Interviews

Posted: November 24, 2015

Your Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) would like to take this opportunity to thank Sherrijon Gaspard for stepping up to the plate as MEC Pairing Analyst for the last six months. Regretfully, she recently stepped down from her position due to unforeseen family circumstances. The MEC is now in search of qualified individuals interested in […]

AFA Committee Focus Month: Government Affairs

As Flight Attendants, we wear many hats, but at our core, we are aviation’s first responders. The moment we step onboard, our training takes over—not just to get passengers seated and doors closed, but to fulfill our primary role as safety professionals. We’re the ones who calmly handle onboard medical events and emergencies, manage the […]

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – August 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, August 25, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met virtually to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Rebekah Olds (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 18 – August 2026

This week, the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian JNC engaged in four days of collective bargaining with management in Seattle. Despite presenting a comprehensive proposal to address Section 19 (Grievance) and Section 30 (Training), the committee and the company were unable to reach an agreement. The JNC remains dedicated to securing the best possible outcome for our members.

AFA Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Town Hall: Join Us Wednesday, September 23

Don’t miss your chance to connect, share your thoughts, and be heard! Our upcoming AFA Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Town Hall is happening Wednesday, September 23. Stay informed with the latest AFA updates and engage directly with our MEC Officers. Bring your questions—AFA Representatives will be ready to provide answers. The Details What: AFA Alaska + […]

Staying Safe On Layovers

A joint message from our AFA Hotel Committee; Air Safety, Health & Security Committee (ASHSC); and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee. Your safety matters to us—and we want you to come home from every trip safe and well. Most layovers go smoothly, and you can keep it that way by staying aware and trusting […]

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