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Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – May 2025

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.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – May 2025

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.

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Thursday, May 8, the AFA Local Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent Flight Attendants and push for improvements in the workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Holmes (LAX), JP Perina (SAN). Horizon AFA MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Norann Mann and MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Kiara Jenkins were also present.

The committee also met with Interim Senior Product Manager Marketing Ann McCurties, Supply Chain Program Manager Lizzie Revard, PDX Inflight Base Manager Kristie Stafford, and SFO Inflight Base Manager Cierra Lewis.

The next Quarterly Uniform Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday, August 14.

Topics of Discussion 

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

  • Uniform Guidelines and Updates
    • As of May 12, management has started progressive disciplinary steps for uniform violations. 
    • If management discusses a uniform violation with you, they must inform you that it is being documented as a Record of Discussion (ROD) and follow the proper procedures. 
    • If a Flight Attendant has concerns after receiving an ROD, please contact your LEC President or Local Grievance Committee.
  • A special bulletin released on April 18 states that the combination of the quarter-zip sweater and summer shirt is not allowed. The updated uniform style chart reflects this change.
  • Current Open Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Item:
    • Issues regarding exchange settlements and reimbursement denials: Management acknowledges there is no time limit for uniform repairs. However, they claim they are not obligated to repair uniforms that were traded, swapped, or lack a Unisync order history. AFA disagrees, noting that there has been a longstanding practice of trading and swapping uniforms, and the contract does not exempt these situations.
  • Current Closed ADR Item:
    • Hairstyles based on federally protected classes: Flight attendants may submit a reasonable accommodation request for uniform guidelines. Examples of federally protected uniform violations that can be addressed through this request (though not exhaustive) include:
      • Head coverings such as hijabs, tichels, African headwraps, and kipahs;
      • Jewelry such as Indian bangles, Tibetan/Buddhist mala beads and bracelets, Catholic rosaries/Saint medals, crucifixes, crosses, Star of David necklaces/bracelets, Native American turquoise, and Māori/Meso American/East Asian/Egyptian jade;
      • Hairstyles such as Native Alaskan/American mohawks and Sikh hair; 
      • Cultural tattoos such as Ta moko, Tatau, Mandala, Sak Yant, Irezumi, African scarification/fraternal branding, Mehndi, Batok/Batek/Patik/Batik, and kākau.
    • Please remember that to make a request, you must be part of one of the following federally protected classes regarding your request: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and associated medical conditions), gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age (40 and over), disability (mental or physical), genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and ancestry.
  • Open Requests Made to Management:
    • Development of a Uniform App on IMD that allows reporting issues and accessing policies/style guides.
  • Requests Made for Merged Uniforms/Dual Branding:
    • “Off the neck” apron style.
    • Small hoop-style nose rings.
    • Year-round boot options.
    • Better-fitting pants.
    • Making hosiery optional.
    • Hooded transition jacket.
    • More breathable fabric options.
    • Making the transition jacket compliant with all uniform pieces.
    • Introducing a cape/wrap/coat to be worn during boarding or on red-eye flights for added warmth.
    • A less restrictive accessory policy regarding watch band colors, nail polish colors, designs, etc.
    • Easier access to alterations.
    • Providing photos of models alongside their sizes for each piece to assist Flight Attendants in finding the right fit.
    • Option for a wrap dress.
    • An added summer shirt option that is not tropical-themed.
    • A longer torso design for the summer shirt option (especially for the Aura cut).
    • Collared and tailored shirts that can be worn untucked.
    • A waterproof trench coat with a usable hood.
    • Expanding shoe color options for dresses and skirts, as compliant navy shoes are difficult to find.
  • For those with sensitive skin, the retractable lanyard is a uniform-compliant option, provided you wear a Oneworld pin. 
  • Lanyards have been restocked and are available at all bases. You may request a lanyard at any base, regardless of your home base location.
  • If you do not have original company-issued luggage, you may use your personal luggage; however, it must be approved by a supervisor. Please email your supervisor for approval.
  • The Aura Blazer and Aura dress will not be reordered. Once the current stock is sold out, they will no longer be available for order.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Arctic Stuff Sack: Sourcing a suitable stuff sack has proven difficult, but it remains a priority on our agenda.
  2. Updated Uniform Links: The Committee noticed several broken or inaccurate links on the Uniform subsite. All links have now been updated, including the most recent alterations guidelines.
  3. Hemlines: If you have already ordered the “tall” size and your hemline is still not compliant, please contact your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson for assistance.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please fill out the Quality Concern Form on the Uniform subsite on TeamAAG with any quality issues. Additionally, you may email your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson. Please consider opening a ticket on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center so the Uniform Committee can track these issues.

Would you like to join the wear test pool? Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know!  Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management. You can find contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – April 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Tuesday, April 22, 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 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 Operations Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette, Director Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Inflight Crew Scheduling Supervisor Matthew Trujillo, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, Crew Hotels Specialist Nichole Turner, Manager Flight Crew Systems Support Sue Rawlings and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, May 27.

Topics of Discussion

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

Local Scheduling Issues

  • Crew Access Open Time Issues: Problems regarding Open Time in Crew Access have been noted and added to ADR 018-025A for further review and resolution.
  • SAL Projections: Based on the Crew Planning pairing construction data, June projections indicate a staffing level reduction of 201.
  • Training Updates: The Training Department confirmed that Class 6 for new hires has been canceled. The last training class of the year is scheduled to start on Monday.
  • Growth Initiatives: As reported by Network Planning, SAN domicile growth is projected in Phoenix (PHX), Denver (DEN), and Chicago O’Hare (ORD), indicating expansion in operational capacity.
  • Retiming Issues: On the SAN/DCA route, some Flight Attendants were compensated 1.5x for retimed duties if they flew the affected leg. Payroll will meet on April 23, 2025, to discuss these payments and other payroll issues.
  • Disputed Pay Issues: There is an ongoing dispute regarding a Flight Attendant who worked over their duty time and is now facing issues with day-off pyramid pay (ADR agenda item 019-25A).
  • Seasonal Flying: As indicated by the Network Planning department, seasonal flying operations are set to return, which may impact scheduling and staffing needs.
  • Premium Pickup Availability: Crew Scheduling reports that premium trips are currently available for pickup, helping to address staffing shortages for month-end overlap. Anchorage is the primary concern, but other domiciles should also see a premium. Crew Scheduling is urging FAs to pick up premium shifts to mitigate shortages.
  • Operational Changes: When operations change departure times, queries have arisen regarding the record-keeping process. Crew Scheduling and Station management need to follow up to clarify the process from the CSA perspective.

PBS Update

  • Bidding Overview: Bidding has been steady in May, with a focus on all California bases maintaining consistent staffing levels.
  • Bid Awards and Protests: Quick bid awards were granted in May, with efforts to focus on only essential reserve needs rather than spreading excess reserves. A few protests were honored, including a unique case concerning Buddy Bidding where discrepancies arose between submitted screenshots and recorded submissions.
  • Meetings: A Navblue call was held on April 3, 2025, during which it was confirmed that pilots and Flight Attendants will officially split upon taking a new release. Updates related to Change Requests (CRs) concerning TA2 were requested. On April 10, 2025, a meeting addressed bugs in version 25.1, highlighting that the offline bid function was not operating as expected. The committee reiterated its previous offer to assist in testing and preventing further bugs.
  • Testing Updates: Version 25.1 is currently available for testing, with significant changes, including improvements to offline mode and password resets. A new bug related to printing has been identified, and a workaround has been suggested for iPhone users.
  • Base Sits Engagement: Base sits engagement levels in April were variable compared to previous years, prompting discussions on strategies to improve participation and communication with bases.

ITS Update

  • Testing Progress: As of April 22, 2025, the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for PBS 25.1 is ongoing, with no new test cases added.
  • TFP Calculators: The ITS team is working on TFP calculators due to new requirements in the CBA.
  • Trade Analysis: A total of 82,507 trades were analyzed in April, with 98% of trades receiving responses in less than 10 seconds, while 1.4% took longer than 10 seconds. April trade volume was higher compared to March.
  • Operational Updates: The JCTE release is being tested for version 9.1 MR21. Ground transport and limos will include one TFP and a manual process will be in place until full integration is achieved. Boarding pay testing is expected by May 5, and updates are scheduled for the next release.
  • Payroll Update
  • Monthly Comparison: A comparison of payroll queries indicates a rise from 1,052 in March to 1,437 in April. Flight Attendants are transitioning from general pay categories to other TFP categories, with 821 classified as non-applicable.
  • Drug Testing Payment: Clarifications on the payment processes for drug testing reveal that Flight Attendants must wait for their paychecks to confirm payments. If there are any discrepancies, the drug testing group needs to be contacted directly. Payments are generated from a file managed by drug abatement and accounting payroll.
  • City Pair Review: Debbie Bakke (Manager, Payroll) and Matthew Trujillo (Supervisor, Crew Scheduling) connected regarding a bulletin that requires a pay annotation from scheduling. Payroll has reviewed specific city pair issues.

Crew Planning Update

  • Block Hours: Block hours are projected to increase during the summer months of April, May, and June. June is expected to see block hours reach 337,079, although there has been a decrease in SFO.
  • Reserve Utilization: The average TFP line is projected at 77.5 in June, with 20.3% reserves. Individual bases show varying reserve percentages, with Seattle at 23% due to improved flying recovery options.
  • Staffing Adjustments Leaves: Plans are in place for 201 staffing adjustments leaves, with the potential to award more positions. The closing date for adjustments is the first of each month.
  • Irregular Operations Mitigation Efforts: Construction projects at SAN include adding 19 new gates and resurfacing tarmacs. The airport project is scheduled to continue through 2028 and will affect transcontinental departures.
  • Hotel and API Concerns: An API quarterly meeting is set to review hotel accommodations and ad hoc lists, especially in preparation for training hotels slated for 2026. During Easter week, there were concerns about hotel relocations impacting Flight Attendants, particularly in FLL and PVR. As a reminder, please continue to fill out CrewCare reports for all hotel and transportation issues. They are vital to our success in advocating for changes and accountability. 

Crew Scheduling Update

  • Sick Leave Statistics: Overall sick leave for the month is 9.5%, a decrease from 12.9% in April 2024. Increases were noted in ANC and LAX, while SFO saw a reduction.
  • Reserve Sick Leave: Reserve sick leave stands at 7.2%, down significantly from 11.4% in the previous year.
  • Absence Statistics: 4,385 absences were recorded across the system for April.
  • Premium and Personal Drops: Premium TFP postings included 9,765 in February, 9,222 in March, and 2,830 month-to-date in April. Personal drops (PDs) totaled 175 for April month-to-date, compared to 301 PDs and bulletin board drops in March.
  • Upcoming CBA Changes: Implementation timelines for various contractual changes are in progress. Key upcoming changes include state sick leave effective May 1, PPP restructuring in June, and additional vacation and uniform allotment increases in the fourth quarter of 2025.
  • Deadhead Process Improvements: Ongoing efforts with TSA are addressing challenges related to deadhead processes. Flight Attendants are experiencing difficulties with check-in procedures; compliance issues are under review, and updates will be provided later in the week.

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.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – April 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Monday, April 14, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met for 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 from management.   

The next scheduled Hotel Committee meeting is Monday, May 12. Following that, on May 21, the Committee will participate in a quarterly business review meeting facilitated by API, along with management and ALPA. If you have any topics you would like us to address, please get in touch with your Local Hotel Committee Chairperson. 

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:

  • Final Hotel Decision Updates: The Hotel Committee has submitted reports from recent site visits and is awaiting final decisions for the following locations: SAT (Long Stay), LIR (Long Stay), STL (Long Stay), MCO (Short Stay), and MKE (Long Stay). A decision has been made for AUS (Short Stay). For more details, please refer to the Hotel Hotline, as information about our crew hotels cannot be made public. LIR has presented significant challenges for long stays due to limited options and a lack of interest in accommodating crew business. Of the two hotels that submitted bids for the February site visit, one has withdrawn its bid, while the other comes with a substantial cost increase. As a result, a final decision is still pending. We recognize that travel time to our current hotel option inconveniences our Flight Attendants, but we have minimal choices in this market. The Hotel Committee continues to monitor the situation and is committed to advocating for options that better serve our Flight Attendants.
  • CrewCare Reporting: We want to highlight the crucial role that CrewCare reports play in driving improvements. Your feedback—whether positive or negative—is invaluable when it comes to evaluating hotels and ground transportation providers. Instead of sharing hotel-related issues on Facebook, which may not lead to effective resolution, we encourage you to submit a CrewCare report. Management closely monitors this official channel, and using it provides us with the necessary data to strengthen our advocacy on your behalf. We understand that you might want to inform your fellow Flight Attendants about issues in a public forum, but please know that formal reporting is far more effective at driving real change. By using the MyCrewCare app, you can easily share your experiences and help us create a better environment for everyone.
  • City-Specific Issues: The Hotel Committee discussed concerns regarding properties in SIT and FAI. Crew Hotels (management and API) has been asked to engage with the hotels and explore alternative options in the market. Our smaller cities present challenges in securing contractually compliant options and inventory. Additionally, PVR was reviewed concerning the current group booking, and discussions focused on how to mitigate discomfort when standard hotel amenities are severely limited in the future. 

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 IAD (May), FLL (May), LAS (May), RSW (June), SEA (June), and FAT (July). 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: Our first group meeting between management and AFA is tentatively scheduled for the second week of May. Management has already met internally to begin research and data collection necessary to thoroughly analyze the viability of this program. As a reminder, the recently ratified 2025-2028 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) includes a Commitment to Negotiate a Hotel Gain-Share Program Letter of Agreement (LOA). This LOA states that within four months of the CBA’s ratification, both parties will schedule and engage in negotiation sessions to discuss the Hotel Gain-Share Program. The goal is to implement the program, if feasible, within six months of the CBA ratification. The parties may mutually agree to extend these deadlines.

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.

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