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        You are here: Home / Archives for committee meeting

        Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

        July 22, 2025 17:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        On Thursday, July 17, our AFA Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Deb Wallstrom (ANC), David Lake (SEA), Kalin Lackey (PDX), Brad Young (SFO), Carin Merritt (LAX), and Eva Gatus (SAN). Also present was Alaska MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple.

        The Committee met with the Manager Inflight Compliance Justin Rossi, Cabin Safety Manager Heidi Styley, Senior Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder, and Manager of Inflight Safety Programs Johanna Giese. Vice President of Inflight Alan Thieman briefly joined the meeting to meet the ASHSC Chairpersons.

        The next scheduled Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee meeting is Thursday, October 2.

        Topics of Discussion

        The Committee reviewed several items when meeting with management. Some items discussed include (items which are Security Sensitive Information are not included):

        • Lithium-Ion Power Bank Restrictions: Many airlines have tightened rules on lithium-ion power banks due to fire concerns. Southwest Airlines now requires power banks to be visible when in use (on the tray table or in the seat pocket), not hidden in bags or overhead bins. We’ve proposed establishing “visibility rules” or entirely restricting their use in the cabin. Heidi will raise this at the next Airlines for America (A4A) meeting.
        • IMD Malfunction Concerns: There have been two recent incidents of Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) overheating or catching fire, which is a significant concern among crew members. We’ve proposed sharing information from investigations with Flight Attendants. If the investigation yields findings, Heidi will share them with the ASHSC.
        • Conflicting Service Animal Guidance: Current Flight Attendant Manual (FAM) guidance regarding service animals on laps (RC2 FAM Section 5.1 p.5) conflicts with guidance stating they must be on the floor (12.900 p.9). Johanna will inform Policies & Procedures (P&P) about the issue.
        • Wordy Announcements: Announcements have become excessively long, and the Inflight Service Committee is working with the announcement workgroup to address this. The ASHSC supports this effort. Seth, Matthew, and MEC Inflight Service Committee Chairperson—Alaska Brand Chase Vandergrift will discuss this at the next meeting to ensure marketing announcements don’t overshadow vital safety information.
        • Improper Stowage of Divider Curtains: Crews are incorrectly “cramming” divider curtains into overhead bins at row 4. Matthew will work with P&P to add an image or description of the correct way to stow the curtain to the FAM.
        • Preparing for an Emergency with a Service Animal: Our safety cards currently lack information on preparing for an emergency with a service animal. We’ve proposed adding diagrams to the safety cards as at least one other carrier has done. Justin will review this recommendation with the Brand and Experience Team in Q1 2026.
        • Pre-Departure Announcement for Tablets with Keyboards: Tablets with keyboards must be stowed like laptops, leading to passenger compliance issues. We’ve proposed adding information to pre-departure announcements to help crew members easily ensure compliance. Justin will ask P&P about adding such an announcement.
        • Child Restraint Systems (CRS) / Infants in Rows 1 & 6: Agents are still assigning car seats and lap babies in seats with air belts (Rows 1 & 6), and Reservations is providing incorrect information to passengers. We’ve proposed a reminder bulletin for both workgroups. However, a recent SABRE fix should now restrict these bookings.
        • Clarity on Prohibited Gadgets: There’s a growing concern about new inflatable items, footrests, infant toys attached to windows, and stickers being used onboard, despite FAM restrictions. We’ve proposed a reminder bulletin about prohibited items, agent awareness, and providing additional guidance on restricted items in the FAM. Matthew will discuss a notification to passengers on alaskaair.com to raise passenger awareness of these use restrictions.
        • Agent Assistance with L1 Door Opening: Flight Attendants can be injured when opening the L1 door without assistance. High agent turnover, especially at outstations, necessitates reminding or retraining agents on L1 door opening procedures. We’ve proposed this as a safety discussion topic with stations, particularly for new hires. Johanna’s team will monitor reporting after implementing the new procedure in August to identify any coordination or other issues.
        • Well-Marked Paper Clip Bag: We’ve proposed placing paper clips in a small red bag within the Flight Attendant Kit for quick location in an emergency. This item is on hold pending the possibility of obtaining an MRT (Manual Release Tool). Geri will follow up with Maintenance & Engineering (M&E).
        • PSU Tool Request: We’ve requested a specific tool to open the Passenger Service Unit (PSU) instead of using a paper clip and proposed installing MRT on the aircraft. Justin will ask Geri for an update on this.
        • Limited Wi-Fi/Data in the State of Alaska: T-Mobile service is poor at some Alaska outstations, forcing Flight Attendants to extend their arm out of the L1 door for Wi-Fi or use a CSA’s phone hotspot. Many struggle with check-in due to data issues and phones entering SOS mode. We’ve proposed new phones for all, eSim cards if effective, clear communication about hotspot use, and guidance on when extending an arm out of L1 for Wi-Fi is necessary. Matthew and Johanna will consult the Inflight Mobile team and assess if certain stations should be designated “no Wi-Fi” stations.
        • MAX 8 Headrests: The large clip on the MAX 8 headrests poses a potential injury risk to the back of passengers’ heads if exposed and at a passenger’s head height. The current announcement says the headrest must be lowered for taxi takeoff and landing. However, it was not the company’s intent to be lowered as far as they go, which is below the top of the seatback. We’ve proposed educating crew with photos about the intent of the requirement. Justin will ask P&P about updating the FAM to say, “headrest must not be above seatback.”
        • Megaphone Pre-Flight Check: Several Flight Attendants have found megaphones with dead batteries. We’ve proposed making a megaphone battery a pre-flight check. Justin will ask Geri to help drive this change.
        • Clarification for Passengers Needing Special Assistance: A passenger using an aisle chair and their own cushion repeatedly slid in their seat and required frequent assistance from a Flight Attendant, raising concerns about whether they needed an attendant and whether Flight Attendants are adequately trained for such situations. We’ve proposed clarification on determining if a passenger requires an assistant and a straightforward procedure in the FAM. Justin will ask P&P for clarity in the FAM and check with AOCS (Airport Operations & Customer Service) and Customer Advocacy for alignment.
        • Agents Closing L1 Door with L2 Open: Agents are wanting to close the L1 door while the L2 door is still open and the aircraft is being catered. We’ve proposed updating FAM guidance to more clearly prohibit this and communicate the policy to AOCS. Justin will ask P&P to add this to the FAM and check with AOCS on expectations.
        • CRS Booster vs. Medical Device Training: We’ve proposed clearer FAM guidance about Orthotic Positioning Devices (OPDs), Assistive Devices, and booster seats and will work with P&P to implement an update.
        • Seatbelt Extension in Exit Row: When a passenger requests a seatbelt extension, a procedure is needed to confirm they are not in an exit row. We’ve proposed a new manual procedure to ask for the seat number if unknown. It’s uncertain where this will be addressed in RC3, but RC3 is expected to allow seatbelt extensions. A follow-up is planned if the current restriction remains.
        • Safety Concerns at Sitka Crew Hotel: Flight Attendants have reported numerous unaddressed concerns at a hotel in Sitka, including possible carbon monoxide exposure, heating system malfunctions, noise, overuse of deodorizer spray, and unsanitary conditions. They’ve requested to move to another hotel. Seth will check with the Hotel Committee. Crew Hotel notes that Sitka has limited options but will check the status of available properties. A requirement for carbon monoxide detectors is being added.
        • “A” Flight Attendant’s Authority to Remove Intoxicated Passengers: The new policy could be clearer. The intent is for the Flight Attendant crew to still have the authority to remove a passenger without being overridden. The only time the PIC would have that final say is if there was a Flight Attendant on the crew who did not agree with the decision to remove a passenger. Jessie will discuss this with the SOC (Single Operating Certificate) group, which is working on merging policies.
        • Boarding Without Power: There are mixed messages regarding when it is safe to board. We’ve proposed updating the FAM and the CSM (Customer Service Manual) to align expectations. To board passengers, the aircraft must have full power to all cabin systems, including the PA, and should not be on “Ground Service” power. This will be clarified in RC3.
        • “Flight Closed” with Passengers in Jet Bridge: Agents are prematurely closing flights while passengers are still on the jet bridge, incorrectly stating the flight is “fully boarded,” which causes operational issues and delays. We’ve proposed reminding the AOCS workgroup not to close flights during active boarding in order to meet metrics. Flights should not be closed until the last passenger is on board. Jessie will discuss adding this to the FAM with P&P. Flight Attendants should report this via FAIR if it occurs.
        • “Listen Only” Devices (Teams, Zoom, etc.): Passengers may listen to meetings, etc., as long as they are not speaking, which would result in two-way voice communication. However, the FAM is not clear on this distinction. Jessie will contact the SOC team to ensure this is covered in RC4.

        We Want to Hear From You!

        If you’ve encountered any safety-related issues at work, you can help the Committee advocate for improvement and change by submitting a report. You can use ReportIt! to submit Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) reports, and fatigue reports. If you need clarification or assistance on what type of report to file, please get in touch with a member of your Local ASHSC.

        Your Local ASHSC is always ready to represent your voice to management. Please don’t hesitate to let us know about any issues or concerns you want us to bring forward. We would also love to hear any other feedback you may have for the Committee. You can find our contact information on the ASHSC page of the AFA Alaska website.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Tagged With: committee meeting, pmAS

        Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – July 2025

        July 17, 2025 13:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        On Monday, July 14, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met 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), Ila Christy (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, Manager of Crew Hotels and Administration Diane Szubert and Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett.   

        The next scheduled Hotel Committee meeting is Monday, August 11.

        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:

        • Hotel Provided Transportation: Crew Hotels is beginning to utilize hotel-provided transportation at more of our airport properties. Although this historically was the norm, private transportation became commonplace during the COVID pandemic. As we begin to transition back, we are starting to see an uptick in complaints with some of these shuttles. The complaints include waiting for pickups or the time in transit as the hotel shuttle circles around terminals. As a reminder, Flight Attendants are encouraged to report violations of contract section 34.B [Transportation] and utilize the provisions section 34.D [Transportation and Hotel Wait Times] when an issue qualifies.  
        • Long Stay / Short Stay Language: Securing a layover length rule for long stay/short stay properties was a significant accomplishment in our recent round of negotiations. The 15-hour cutoff works well for most of our layovers, but does pose rest challenges in a few edge cases when transportation time is factored in. This has been most noticed in ORD with our downtown property and on the cusp of long-stay layover cutoff times. The Hotel Committee will be consulting with the MEC for an exception to this layover rule when it makes sense, with the goal of creating a better quality layover experience for our Flight Attendants.
        • Transportation Time Adjustments: Crew Hotels shared the third set of transportation time adjustments (time of day, day of week, holiday, etc.) that will be implemented on August 1. As previously communicated, this effort began in June and is being done due to CBA requirements for ground transportation for both AFA and ALPA. Please expect an informational bulletin about these adjustments towards the end of the month.

        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. Recently completed Hotel Site Visits include RSW (June), SEA (June), OKC (June). FAT was supposed to be conducted in July but was cancelled due to a lack of layovers in the schedule, and a lack of hotel interest.  In its place a site visit was conducted in ANC. A number of training hotels were also recently inspected in SEA to prepare for the future move to centralized training. Upcoming site visits for the remainder of 2025 include SLC (Sept), SAN (TBD), BNA (TBD), HNL (TBD), CUN (TBD), and SJO (TBD). 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 will be meeting again with Alaska management in late July to continue discussions on a Hotel Gainshare program. We are still waiting on the company to complete their research on critical components of the program’s operation. It is our hope that after our next meeting we will have a definitive answer if we can move forward with a program for our Flight Attendants.    

        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.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Hotel Committee Tagged With: committee meeting, pmAS

        Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – June 2025

        June 26, 2025 17:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        On Tuesday, June 24, 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), Virginia Fritz (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 Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, 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, July 22.

        Topics of Discussion

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

        Local Committee Chairperson Reports

        PDX

        • Flight Attendants can pre-reserve their meals on deadhead flights, a handy option. However, it’s important to note that they only get monetary compensation when flying on flights operated by Horizon or SkyWest.
        • There was some confusion regarding reassignments. If a Flight Attendant is reassigned more than four hours after their original schedule, they should be paid at 1.5 times their rate. However, according to the MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson and Grievance Committee Payroll Representative, this doesn’t pyramid for additional 1.5x pay, which is a point of contention.
        • There’s excitement about the inaugural flights to Rome, which Hawaiian will operate.
        • PDX crews will be flying redeyes from PDX to SEA, a shift in the usual routing.

        SAN

        • We had quite a notable month in July with a record-breaking 15 redeye routes, six of which were from SEA. This is a significant change in our flight operations, reflecting how the industry is evolving.
        • The discussion also touched on pyramid pay and reassignment policies, especially under section 9.E.7, where additional flying above the scheduled time should earn that premium pay. It was emphasized that under section 15.G, no one should suffer a loss in pay; premium pay is not currently recognized under this provision. 

        ANC

        • We faced a unique situation in which a Flight Attendant was awarded a charter but ran into issues with the minimum block time between trips. This highlighted the strict adherence to the 1:30 block-to-block minimum, which is crucial for base turns.
        • We also had some positive discussions about initial contact processes, particularly with Crew Scheduling making calls, but we agreed that further discussions are needed on contact provisions.
        • There’s also an update on the stranded pay inquiry form. While it still appears in dropdown lists, the Crew Pay team is working on system updates to streamline this. There’s discussion about it being removed.

        LAX

        • A significant question arose regarding pay when a Flight Attendant goes under domicile rest. The Flight Attendants who did not waive their rest were reassigned, and it was clarified that their pay is protected based on the greater value of either the trip or the reassignment pay.
        • There was also some confusion around the charter bidding.
        • Flight Attendants expressed a desire for a reference from section 10.R to sections 9.E.6 and 9.E.7, indicating a need for clarity in these areas.

        SFO

        • Had its fair share of issues, primarily revolving around pay inquiries. Many Flight Attendants found it challenging to quote TFP and compensation accurately.
        • There was an interesting conversation about whether we’ll be hiring more pay analysts after the merger. The plan is to bring in two analysts for Flight Attendants and two for pilots, which should help alleviate some of the workload.

        SEA

        • Discussions centered around various pay questions related to reassignment, pre-cancellations, and diversions. Crew Scheduling built a 4k turn with over 80 minutes of sit time, which was paid under section 10.W.
        • Some Flight Attendants also tried to pick up PO-coded trips, which were similarly compensated under section 10.W. One key point was that charters should have their TFP values input before posting to avoid confusion later on.
        • The timing for block-ins was clarified, noting that the next day starts at 0000 hours.

        PBS Subcommittee

        • In the PBS Subcommittee update, we talked about the bidding process. For July, bidding assistance requests were steady, with a trend of multiple bid groups being used in certain instances where single bid groups would be sufficient. July bid awards resulted in high coverage and secondary line generation (SLG), much to the subcommittee’s disappointment. 
        • The subcommittee completed testing on two NAVBLUE releases; however, we encountered defects that hindered the transition to these newer releases.
        • We held several meetings with NAVBLUE to discuss updates on testing and enhancements, including plans for future releases that will introduce new features to improve the user experience.

        Pairing Construction

        • The Pairing Construction Subcommittee reported that August pairing solutions were chosen based on soft locks and distribution. To refine the process, a focus on in-person pairing building for July 2025 has been established.
        • There was a mention of looking into SAN and PDX due to the high volume of redeyes, and they sent out raw pairings for review, asking for feedback on any lingering issues.

        Hotel Committee

        • We discussed changes to hotel assignments stemming from the bidding process. Crew Planning builds the hotel list and sends it to API, who then populates it, and NAVBLUE gets involved. This means hotel assignments might not be known until after awards, which can lead to uncertainty. When a hotel assignment is not confirmed for a particular pairing, it will show as TBD during bidding.
        • We had an incident regarding the BOS hotel, where renovations were unexpectedly extended, impacting crew accommodations.

        Crew Systems/JCTE

        • The Crew Systems team is busy testing new PBS releases, specifically version 25.3. They’re addressing ad-hoc issues with the analyzer and working on updating point reduction forms and TFP calculators. The JCTE release scheduled for July 2, 2025, aims to clean up premium text messages and filters, with an emphasis on ensuring that when a 4k trip is assigned, it will automatically show up in the system.

        Flight Attendant Crew Pay

        • The Flight Attendant Crew Pay update was quite revealing. A PowerPoint presentation showed 2,662 total queries in April, with Flight Attendants accounting for 1,514 of those. Despite hopes that the published bulletin would reduce inquiries, there’s been little progress.
        • The stranded pay category is still visible in drop-down lists, and there are concerns about removing it due to the potential loss of historical data.

        Crew Planning Management

        • Crew Planning Management discussed a reduction in block hours from July, with a focus on trip mix and reducing the number of single-position pairings. Reserve staffing levels are around 20.8%, with an average line of 77 TFP.
        • They also analyzed commuting patterns, finding that SEA/ANC/LAX are best for three-day trips, while SEA/PDX/SAN work well for four-day trips.

        Crew Scheduling Management

        • Crew Scheduling Management reported a 3% increase in sick leave, currently at 12.6%, slightly better than last year’s figures. They’ve been auditing state sick leave and reviewing absence counts.
        • Premium trips in May were expensive, nearly hitting 1,600 trips, while June saw a significant decrease in trips, which raised concerns about taxi times in Seattle extending beyond the scheduled duration.

        New CBA Stats

        • New CBA statistics were shared, indicating trends in call-out rates and reassignments.
        • The audit for contactability showed a high accuracy rate at 93.8%, but it highlighted the need for more in-depth testing, particularly regarding B2B processes.

        What The Committee Is Working On

        1. NAVBLUE. The PBS Subcommittee is working with NAVBLUE to understand the new contractual waive rules adopted in the recently ratified contract. The Committee also continues 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 scheduling efficiency.
        4. Crew Pay. Crew Pay is working on additional communications to improve clarity and address 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.
        6. Open Time – ADR. We appreciate your patience regarding the crew access challenges you’ve faced. A recent system issue requiring a server restart caused delays in trip information, and some users were logged out. We are working with ITS to address and resolve the problem. Please continue to report any issues by contacting crew scheduling by phone, reaching ITS at 1-877-238-1077, or emailing its.service.desk@alaskaair.com. This issue has been added to ADR (agenda item #026-25A) for discussion.
        7. Chimes/Teams LOA Update. Management has drafted a labor and work requirements proposal regarding the Chimes/Teams LOA, with a response expected soon after review and finalization. There have been ongoing discussions about implementing this LOA, with management confirming progress with ITS and coordinating necessary details. The Committee has been actively following up on the status and emphasizing the urgency for implementation, particularly before the winter storms.
        8. JCTE/Crew Access Update. On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, we will implement a maintenance update to JCTE/Crew Access, which includes enhancements, high-priority bug fixes, and other items to support our back-office teams. This update will impact Flight Attendants with several key changes: text messages will once again be sent for subscriptions that include the premium-only button; after logging into Crew Access and navigating to the trip pool, only trips fitting the saved default filter will be displayed; boarding pay will now be included in the pay TFP value of a trip; 4K reserve assignments assigned by scheduling will automatically pay 1.5 premium; Crew Access will display 5 TFP for reserve duty without an assignment that falls on contractual holidays, though TFP will not show until the day after the holiday, with TFP for holiday RON being displayed in the next release; LIMOs will show a calculated value of 0.75 TFP per hour, with a minimum of 1 TFP; trips on your original award reporting in the current bid period but departing in the next bid period will no longer be dropped when the next period’s schedule is loaded; 00:00 will now appear on unacknowledged roster changes when a schedule change includes those start or end times; the report date of trip splits in Crew Access will consistently show the actual report date of each new trip in transaction reports, though the wrong report date may still appear when trips are created or revised by scheduling; and the footer in the historical changes report in Crew Access will no longer overlap with the change messages. We appreciate your ongoing support and collaboration as we implement these updates, and our Scheduling and Reserve Committees have been actively working with ITS to ensure these improvements are in place.

        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.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Scheduling Committee Tagged With: committee meeting, pmAS

        Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025

        June 23, 2025 17:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        On Thursday, June 19, representatives from our AFA Local Reserve Committees met to discuss their ongoing work to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants. Representing you at the meeting were Brandi Urban (ANC), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Meghan Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Adrian Alcantara (SAN). Also present was MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton and MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Jarod McNeill.

        The committee met with the Interim Managing Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling & Inflight Operations (South) Sara Cook and Interim Manager of Inflight Crew Scheduling Matthew Trujillo.

        The committee is next scheduled to meet on Thursday, September 11.

        Topics of Discussion

        The committee reviewed several items during both internal AFA-only discussions and meetings with management. Some of the topics discussed include:

        • Utilization of Reserves: Our Reserve Committee is requesting relief as Reserve Flight Attendants are currently being utilized at an overall rate of 94.1%. Management has increased the number of reserves in SEA for August in hopes of providing some relief.
        • Crew Scheduling: Management has created a new position within her division called Inflight Duty Manager (IFDM). The IFDM will offer 24/7 support in scheduling for Flight Attendants. Management is currently in the interview process and aims to have seven IFDMs ready to begin before the end of this year.
        • Increase in No-Shows and Non-Contactables: We are experiencing issues with Flight Attendants’ cell phone providers, which are preventing them from receiving incoming calls from scheduling. It is essential to ensure you have service while on call and while on APSB. The Committee is working closely with management to address these recent occurrences. If you have received points recently due to issues with your cell phone provider, please reach out to your local Reserve Committee so we can investigate on your behalf.

        What The Committee Is Working On

        1. Developing Additional Tools & Resources for Reserve Flight Attendants. Working to update Reserve 101 & the Reserve survival guide with new CBA provisions.
        2. Assisting Probationary Flight Attendants Through the Reserve Buddy Program. Answering questions from and providing support to probationary Flight Attendants through an expanded AFA Reserve Buddy program. Also, developing a checklist of common topics that new hire Flight Attendants need assistance with within the first 30 days after graduation.
        3. Addressing Reserve Contractual Concerns. Researching and investigating reports from Reserve Flight Attendants and actively ensuring that management complies with our contract.

        We Want to Hear From You!

        Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Reserve Committee is your voice to management. You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Reserve Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Reserve Committee Tagged With: committee meeting, pmAS

        Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025

        June 17, 2025 09:00

        On Thursday, June 12, our AFA Local Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to raise awareness and create positive change within our workplace and community. Your representatives attending the meeting included Louise Borras (pmAS LAX), Aaron Miller (PDX), Erika Daniel (SAN), and Freddy Vega (SEA). MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle II and MEC Vice President Brice McGee were also present.

        The committee met with several members of management including Senior Vice President of People Andy Schneider, Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Seattle Director of Inflight Base Operations Jenny Bookert, and Regional Director Inflight Base Operations LAX Benito Pasia-Garcia Jr.

        The committee’s next meeting with management is scheduled for September 16.

        Topics of Discussion

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

        • Change of DEI Department Name: The DEI department has been renamed “Culture and Belonging” in response to current regulatory requirements and government orders. As a government contractor, Alaska recognizes that compliance with regulations is essential to our business operations. Senior management stated, “We take pride in our ability to adapt while staying true to our core values. Regardless of external changes, the leadership team is committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong.” The Committee has requested that senior management be more transparent by communicating excerpts of the executive order to the Flight Attendants.
        • Company Participation in Pride Events: The Committee confirmed with management that Alaska is scheduled to participate in 11 Pride events systemwide.
        • Making Event Information More Accessible: The Committee discussed with management the need to make information about celebratory events more accessible to Flight Attendants across multiple platforms.
        • Land Acknowledgment Announcements: The Committee submitted a draft of Land Acknowledgment Announcements for all seven Flight Attendant base airports for management’s review and consideration.   

        What The Committee Is Working On

        1. Optional Pronouns on Wings. Awaiting finalization of the merger with Hawaiian Airlines, as there may be an overall new design.  
        2. Arrival “Land Acknowledgement Announcements” for our seven current domiciles airports (both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian).
        3. Batok Tattoos Visible While In Uniform. Awaiting finalization of Alaska merger with Hawaiian.
        4. Business Resource Group (BRG) Listening Sessions, co-facilitated with pre-merger Alaska Local AFA Human Rights Chairpersons for 2025. 

        We Want to Hear From You!

        Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Human Rights & Equity Committee is your voice to management. You can find our contact information on the Human Rights & Equity Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Human Rights & Equity Committee Tagged With: committee meeting

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