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Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2025

Inflight Service Committee

  • Our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met on February 20 to represent Flight Attendants’ interests related to catering and onboard service/sales.
  • The Committee met with management to discuss and receive updates on issues and problems faced by Flight Attendants onboard.
  • The Committee continues to work with management to address catering concerns and improve processes in the future. Please report catering issues through Block2Block and safety-related issues through ReportIt!

On Thursday, February 20, our AFA Inflight Service Committee 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 Naomi Parcell (ANC), Ross DeJong (SEA), Kelly Kochanek (PDX), Raymond Ramirez (SFO), and Chase Vandergrift (SAN). MEC Inflight Service Committee Chairperson Stephanie Garnett, MEC Vice President-elect Brice McGee, and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer were also in attendance.

The committee met with Senior Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder, Principal Cabin Product and Experience Manager Chris Dela Rosa, Director of Food and Beverage Products Mita Padhi, Manager of Food and Beverage Planning and Programs David Rodriguez, Senior Food and Beverage Product Manager Jessica Johnston, Food and Beverage Planning Systems Manager Gayatri Watwe, F&B Planning Systems Manager Andrea Carns, Director of Catering Operations Andrew Moyer, Service Strategy Product Manager Jesse Starmer, and Marketing/Sales, IT Contractors Chris Pettigrew and Chris Daniels, and Ann McCurties. Management guests from Hawaiian Airlines included Senior Manager of Inflight Service & Mobile Technology Wendy Kong and Food & Beverage Planning System Manager Kanoe Yama, who are both a part of the Alaska Air Group Product and Planning Team. 

The next committee meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 15.

Topics of Discussion

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

  • Redesigned Coffee Brew Baskets: Several members of the Inflight Service Committee tested the redesigned coffee brew baskets during regularly scheduled flights. There were no issues with the new brew baskets during the testing process. A Safety Risk Assessment (SRA) has been completed, and the new brew baskets will be installed on Classic and Endura coffee makers starting in late April 2025.
  • Morning Beverage Snack for First Class: Based on Flight Attendant feedback, the Committee requested that management implement a morning beverage snack for First Class passengers. Management will add a warm pastry on premium long-haul flights (including Hawaii). Passengers will receive a Biscoff cookie with their first beverage on long-haul and medium-haul flights.
  • Improvement of Galley Loading: The Committee will continue to work with management to improve galley loading opportunities. Catering has already implemented a request for a change in the loading of pre-departure beverage items, and they are receiving favorable feedback from Flight Attendants. Additionally, a design change for wine cans, featuring a different-colored can top as recommended by the Committee, will be adopted to facilitate easier loading by catering and use by Flight Attendants.
  • Introduction of Thermal Ice Bags: Thermal ice bags have been designed and manufactured to address concerns related to improving ice quality throughout the network. They have been tested and found to adequately insulate ice for return flight segments. Loading at downline stations will continue throughout the rollout of the new bags. Information regarding catering and clarification on using the bags will be communicated to all Flight Attendants. Management intends to use the new bags on all main cabin 5-cart galley configurations.
  • Increase in Pre-Departure Beverage Orange Juice: Management inquired about the use of the pre-departure beverage orange juice product. The Committee responded that supplies need to be increased for pre-departure use.
  • Service Levels Review: Management will soon conduct a comprehensive system-wide review of current service levels.
  • POG Brand Change: The POG brand is changing to Aloha Maid, which is currently served on Hawaiian Airlines.
  • Catering Operations Team Coordination: The Catering Operations Teams from Alaska and Hawaiian are coordinating to work as a unified team.
  • Catering Operations Focus Areas: Alaska Catering Operations currently has three focus areas: kitchen audits, engaging Flight Attendants through the Block2Block (B2B) Flight Attendant comment system, and implementing an ice plan for the warmer months. Kitchen audits are now underway. Catering Operations encourages Flight Attendants to use the B2B Flight Attendant comments to report issues, which will help find solutions. An ice plan is in place for almost all stations during the summer months.
  • Flight Attendant Comments Tool Upgrade: The Flight Attendant Comments reporting tool is being upgraded, and the Committee has requested to be included in the Flight Attendant-facing portion of this project.
  • Standard Process for Aircraft Swaps: The Committee is advocating for a standardized process for aircraft swaps system-wide.
  • Fleet Refresh Project: The Fleet Refresh Project is ongoing and aims to standardize the first-class cabin to 16 seats on all Boeing 737-800, -900, MAX-8, and MAX-9 aircraft. Placarding for the MAX lavatory trash bins should be installed soon.
  • MAX 10 Galley Options: New galley options may be available for the MAX 10, and work on galley planning will soon commence.
  • Tech Updates: The Committee initiated a discussion about the status of updates for B2B and resolving issues related to flight information becoming unavailable when a tech stop occurs. Management shared a prototype of the next version of B2B, which is currently in development. The Committee believes the proposed B2B updates will be intuitive. The issue of information loss during tech stops is recognized and is being addressed. A joint platform for Alaska and Hawaiian is being developed to provide easily updated service flow information, eliminating the need to rely on the onboard service handbook (OSH) for some service flow data.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Enhanced Packaging for Onboard Products: The Committee looks forward to working with management on new onboard products. It’s essential for the Committee that discussions include considerations of safety, packaging, sustainability, ease of use, and acceptance by both Flight Attendants and passengers.
  2. Improved Beverage Cart Loading: The Committee is actively seeking creative solutions for effective space utilization and will prioritize safety when recommending additional products, loading strategies, and service changes.
  3. Addressing Flight Attendant Concerns with Management: The primary goal of the Inflight Service Committee is to enhance the service tools available to all Flight Attendants.

We Want to Hear from You!

Please continue to report any catering issues or problems with onboard service using the catering feedback function in Block2Block. If you’ve experienced a safety-related issue, please submit a report through ReportIt! Your reports provide the Committee with the data needed to continue pushing management for meaningful improvements in our workplace.

Do you have other feedback for the Committee or items you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Inflight Service Committee is your voice to management. You can find our contact information on the Inflight Service Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2025

Uniform Committee

  • Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on February 13, to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms.
  • The Committee met with management to discuss uniform issues reported by Flight Attendants, including quality, wearability, and availability.
  • If you encounter issues with uniform quality or construction, please report them to Unisync as soon as possible and include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson to help track any trends.

On Thursday, February 13, 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). MEC Vice President-elect Brice McGee and MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Kiara Jenkins were also present.

The committee also met with Director of Procurement and Logistics Eric Phillipson, 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, May 8, 2025.

Topics of Discussion 

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

  • The wear test for the transition jacket began on February 14 and will run until March 14.
  • The Committee is collaborating with the Benefits Committee to find an alternative solution for non-medical grade compression nylons (previously supplied by OccuFit). Flight Attendants can continue to obtain medical-grade compression nylons through their insurance.
  • An issue regarding uniform exchanges and reimbursements for alterations has been escalated to the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process. Our MEC is strongly opposed to denials based on Flight Attendants not having an order history for a specific piece. There is no contractual language stating that Flight Attendants must only wear pieces obtained through the uniform subsite or their Unisync account. All alterations and exchanges should be approved by management, regardless of how the pieces were acquired. The Committee has suggested an update to the reimbursement form, requiring Flight Attendants to include the batch number of the piece they are altering to verify it is a uniform item. Management responded that they will continue to deny requests, stating that they believe this is not in line with the spirit of the intended language.
  • The Uniform Policy Guide will be updated to reflect additional combinations for the ¼ zip cardigan.
  • Management has released new “Uniform Care” videos to provide guidance on extending the longevity of uniform pieces.
  • Name tags are now individually wrapped in bubble wrap to prevent damage during shipping, which should reduce the incidence of wings arriving broken.
  • The results of the sweater shell and cardigan wear test did not yield sufficient feedback regarding durability to justify a change in production.
  • Management has received reports of non-compliant uniform wear from social media sites, including yoga pants and lug-style shoes. Purchasing these items is highly discouraged, as you will be out the money and may also face progressive disciplinary action during uniform checks. Management has initiated a uniform coalition, and uniform checks will be increasing across all workgroups in the near future. For the most up-to-date policies, please refer to the Uniform Policy Guide in your IMD or TeamAAG and contact your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson.
  • The tote exchange program remains effective for qualifying classes.
  • Open requests include:
    • A stuff sack for the puffer parka.
    • Photos of models and their sizes next to each clothing piece to give Flight Attendants an idea of what size would work best for their body, similar to those on the Uniqlo, Gap, and Madewell websites (e.g., Model Ailani is 5’7″, wearing size D).
    • Coordination with HR and a pantyhose company to offer items on PerkSpot (or a similar platform) so that Flight Attendants are not paying full price out of pocket.
    • Addition of a Uniform Quality Report on IMD or a related link on the Flight Attendant website.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Better Sizing Guides. Requesting pictures that illustrate sizes to help Flight Attendants order pieces more accurately.
  2. Wear Testing. Wear testing for a more versatile transition jacket will run from February 14 to March 14.
  3. Tote Exchange Program. Specific to the post-COVID classes who were not given the normal selection process for totes due to supply chain issues. Please see your supervisor if you would like to exchange your bags.

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. 

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – February 2025

Hotel Committee

  • On February 10, our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to protect and improve the quality of hotel accommodations and ground transportation providers for Flight Attendants.
  • The Committee met with management to discuss current trends and concerns regarding layover hotels and transportation.
  • If you encounter problems or have positive feedback about hotels or transportation, please report it through the feedback function in the MyCrewCare app. Your feedback is crucial as it provides the Committee with essential data to support keeping high-quality hotels and push for change when conditions are unacceptable.

On Monday, February 10, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met for our first meeting of the year 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 chairing the meeting. MEC Vice President Brian Palmer and MEC Vice President-elect Brice McGee also joined the meeting.

The committee met with Crew Hotels & Administration Manager Nichole Turner and Crew Hotels Support Specialist LaFay Williams from management.   

The next scheduled Hotel Committee meeting is Monday, March 10.

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:

  • Van Times: It’s been reported that the van times for Flight Attendants and pilots have differed (by an average of 10 minutes) in certain layover cities, even though both workgroups use the same transportation. This discrepancy has caused Flight Attendants to arrive in the lobby earlier than necessary. We believe this issue may stem from an API processing error, as Flight Attendants and pilots have different report times. The Hotel Committee has submitted a list of affected layover cities to the company for correction. The only layover cities that should have separate van times for Flight Attendants and pilots are SLC, DEN, and ATL. If you notice any incorrect van times outside of these locations, please file a CrewCare report so that it can be addressed.
  • Hotel Charges: Recently, there was an incident in LAS where a Flight Attendant accidentally spilled coffee on the bed sheets. Although this was obviously an accident, housekeeping erroneously reported it as damage, leading the hotel to charge the Flight Attendant a cleaning fee. The Hotel Committee successfully advocated for the reversal of this charge. Additionally, management has reported an increase in unpaid hotel bills for personal charges. Flight Attendants are responsible for paying any incidental charges incurred during a layover, including meals, beverages, and upgraded internet access. When personal charges are not paid to the hotel upon departure, the hotel contacts management for payment, which is then forwarded to the crew member. As a courtesy, API negotiates contracts that do not require crew members to provide a credit card for incidentals at check-in. Failing to pay your bill jeopardizes this courtesy for everyone and can impact our relationship with the hotel. This is a friendly reminder to please settle any outstanding personal charges before checking out.
  • Document Depository: Management has presented a preview of a future cloud storage site for use by Crew Hotels and the Hotel Committee containing all information related to our layover hotels, organized by city. While AFA keeps records of many documents in our own systems (such as hotel bids, destination presentations, and inspection reports), the new hosting platform will allow the Hotel Committee to access company documents relevant to our layover hotels. Additional information will include financial analyses, hotel contracts, and ALPA’s hotel reports. This enhancement will provide a more comprehensive view of our layover hotels and better insight into how final hotel decisions were made.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Conducting Hotel Site Visits: The Hotel Committee visits hotels that are being considered by management, advocating for selections that offer the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. Currently, we have site visits scheduled in the following locations for 2025: AUS (February), SAT (February), LIR (February), MCO (March), STL (March), MKE (April), IAD (May), FLL (May), RSW (June), and SEA (June). Contract expirations, crew complaints, and cost-saving opportunities are the primary factors that trigger a market review. Depending on the outcome of this review, a site visit may be scheduled in that city. LAS has also been added to the sourcing list.
  2. Ad Hoc List Review: The Committee’s review of the ad hoc list is ongoing, with a planned completion date at the end of February. Our crew hotels have been inspected, endorsed, and contracted. Occasionally, crews must be relocated for various reasons, such as known hotel blackout dates, planned property maintenance, fire alarm testing, or irregular operations. When our contracted properties are unable to accommodate crew usage, Crew Hotels and API refer to the ad hoc list for alternative accommodations. The Hotel Committee is reviewing this list to ensure that the listed properties continue to meet our standards.
  3. Investigating MyCrewCare Reports: We are reviewing crewmember feedback and working to hold hotel and transportation providers accountable through management and API. Your direct feedback helps resolve issues and provides the documentation needed to support decisions on whether to continue with current accommodations or advocate for a hotel or ground transportation change.

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.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – January 2025

Scheduling Committee

  • On January 28, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work representing Flight Attendants’ interests in lineholder scheduling.
  • The Committee met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems Flight Attendants face with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.
  • Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to assist with any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help!

On Tuesday, January 28, 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 Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, and MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz. 

The committee met with Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Manager of Crew Planning Jeffery Hunt, Senior Manager of Product Management Rick Mitchell, Managing Director Inflight Operations and Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Inflight Crew Scheduling Supervisor Matthew Trujillo, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, Crew Hotels and Admin manager Nichole Turner, Crew Hotel Support Specialist LaFay Williams and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

Topics of Discussion

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

  • Ongoing issues with sit pay discrepancies highlighted, with specific attention to individual Flight Attendants not receiving their due compensation.
  • Importance of timely updates from management regarding pay issues emphasized to ensure transparency and build trust among crew members.
  • Request for a comprehensive report detailing flight operations, including any changes in schedules and how they affect pay structures.
  • Review of pairing structures indicated frequent occurrences of low TFP options, raising concerns about the sustainability of current scheduling practices.
  • Concerns were raised about the accessibility of paychecks and the need for a troubleshooting protocol for Flight Attendants experiencing issues.
  • Highlighted the need for a more structured approach to managing Open Time trips, focusing on balancing crew preferences with operational requirements.
  • Clarification was sought on the procedures for reporting and handling known delays, with an emphasis on ensuring timely communication to all affected crew members.
  • Discussions included strategies for improving the speed and efficiency of bid processing, particularly concerning reserve coverage and historical data utilization.
  • The significance of timely communication regarding bid protests was noted, with emphasis on ensuring that all crew members understand the criteria for submitting protests.
  • Updates on recent meetings with management underscored the importance of collaboration across departments to address crew concerns and enhance operational efficiency.
  • Review of future releases and updates highlighted the importance of keeping crew members informed about upcoming changes and how they will impact day-to-day operations.
  • Engagement with the committee regarding upcoming class schedules and training opportunities was discussed, with a focus on ensuring new hires are adequately prepared.
  • A high volume of inquiries regarding activity claim forms prompted discussions on the need for better categorization and guidance for Flight Attendants filling out claims.
  • Emphasis placed on the importance of monitoring block hours and reserve staffing ratios to maintain operational efficiency and crew satisfaction.
  • Concerns about the impact of ongoing construction in SAN and operational changes on flight schedules were raised, with a call for proactive measures to mitigate disruptions.
  • Acknowledgment of the decrease in sick leave rates and ongoing efforts to manage crew wellness and fatigue through improved scheduling practices.
  • Addressed transportation issues related to Crew Access and timeliness, stressing the need for better coordination with ground services to enhance crew experience.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. NAVBLUE. The PBS Subcommittee is seeking feedback on how they can improve their assistance to flight crews regarding bid awards and understanding results. They provided both in-person and virtual meetings for this purpose. The PBS Subcommittee is working with management on PBS base sit budgets.  Management has the committee keep track of how money is being spent to assist flight crews with their bidding. We appreciate your participation in virtual and in person base sits. 
  2. Pairings Survey. There is a discussion of reviewing bidding data from NAVBLUE to see what kind of pairings Flight Attendants are interested in flying instead of sending out a survey. We will continue to review options. 
  3. Chime Communications. To reduce phone call volumes, Flight Attendants may soon be able to chat with Crew Scheduling via app/Microsoft Teams. The chat will be for Flight Attendant-initiated contact only. The function is currently in the early stages of development and still needs to be discussed with Labor Relations management and our MEC. Testing and implementation are continuing over the next few weeks. We are working on a letter of agreement for implementation, which is still pending review. 
  4. 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.
  5. Crew Planning. Like Crew Scheduling, there was a monthly review of PowerPoint presentations that covered subsequent month staffing, trip length distribution, Flight Attendant block hours, special initiatives (e.g., IROPs), commutability, and other relevant agenda items. Statistics around teaming continue to be reviewed. Crew Planning continues to maximize pairing construction and optimizing teaming strategies to minimize costs and ensure that crews (Flight Attendants) can stay together for multiple segments.
  6. ITS. Representatives from ITS joined the scheduling meeting to provide updates on NAVBLUE, Crew Access, internal systems, and Block2Block. These updates include performance reviews, data analysis, and information about future releases. 

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 – January 2025

Hotel Committee

  • On January 13, our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to protect and improve the quality of hotel accommodations and ground transportation providers for Flight Attendants.
  • The Committee met with management to discuss current trends and concerns regarding layover hotels and transportation.
  • If you encounter problems or have positive feedback about hotels or transportation, please report it through the feedback function in the MyCrewCare app. Your feedback is crucial as it provides the Committee with essential data to support keeping high-quality hotels and push for change when conditions are unacceptable.

On Monday, January 13, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met for our first meeting of the year 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), Ila Christy (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), and Kanani Vallot (SAN), with MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich also present.

The committee met with Crew Hotels & Administration Manager Nichole Turner and Crew Hotels Support Specialist LaFay Williams from management.   

The next scheduled Hotel Committee meeting is Monday, February 10.

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 Decisions: A number of site visits were conducted in the second half of 2024. We are still awaiting a final decision on HNL, SMF, TPA, and SJD. Final decisions have been made in BWI and DEN. Please check the MyCrewCare app (“City and Hotel Information” menu) or the Hotel Hotline on the Inflight Website for specific hotel details and decisions.  
  • LIR Travel Time: We know that the van time in LIR has been a significant pain point for our Flight Attendants. The Committee has been engaged with Crew Hotels to find an alternative property. We are actively searching for a property that provides the same level of quality and service, with the intent to significantly shorten the time in transit. In the meantime, the morning van departure has returned to the original, non-padded departure time due to early arrivals to the gate.    
  • Other Markets Updates: We are having a challenge in LAS when it comes to crew accommodations, a challenge shared by other carriers. As you may have seen, we have moved properties a few times due to crew member feedback. We greatly appreciate this, as your feedback drives change. We continue to monitor for any opportunities in LAS suitable for crew members. We are also looking at alternative options in FAT. 
  • Ground Transportation Issues
    • Safety Reporting: We have seen several instances where our ground transportation providers have contracted an Uber instead of their company van. This has, at times, resulted in an UberX that is not large enough to accommodate a crew of four plus luggage. At no time should a crew’s luggage be forced to be placed on laps or block egress, no matter what transportation you are in. If this happens, inform Crew Scheduling immediately and follow up with a CrewCare complaint, as this is a safety hazard. Furthermore, you may contact your Local Hotel Committee to escalate the issue.      
    • Ground Transportation Wait Times: We would like to remind Flight Attendants of a provision in our CBA that allows for self-help regarding transportation wait times. CBA section 34.B allows a Flight Attendant to submit for reimbursement for the actual expenses incurred if transportation is not provided within 35 minutes from block-in or within 10 minutes from hotel departure time. If you prefer not to pay for and expense the cost of transportation yourself, you can request that Crew Scheduling arrange alternate transportation for you.   

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Ad Hoc List Review. Our crew hotels have been inspected and endorsed and are contracted properties. Occasionally, crews need to be relocated for various reasons, such as known hotel blackout dates, planned property maintenance, fire alarm testing, irregular operations, etc. When our contracted properties cannot take the usage, Crew Hotels and API reference the ad hoc list for alternate accommodations. The Hotel Committee is reviewing this list to ensure the listed properties still meet our standards.
  2. Conducting Hotel Site Visits. The Hotel Committee visits hotels that are under consideration by management, and we advocate for management to select hotels that will provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. So far, we have site visits scheduled in AUS, SAT, MCO, and STL for the first quarter of 2025.  Contract expirations, crew complaints, and cost-saving opportunities are the primary drivers that trigger a market review. Depending on the outcome of the market review, a site visit may be scheduled in that city.
  3. Investigating MyCrewCare Reports. Reviewing crewmember feedback and working to hold hotel and transportation providers accountable through management and API. Your direct feedback fixes problems, and it’s the documentation we need to support the decisions to remain where we are or to advocate for a hotel change or ground transpiration change.

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.

We Will Never Forget – September 11, 2001

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SEA Domicile Negotiations – September 2025

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Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—October 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants In accordance with Article VI.C of the AFA Alaska MEC Policy and Procedure Manual, the terms of office for the MEC Committee Chairpersons and other MEC-level positions align with those of the MEC Officers. Since the current term for the MEC Officers will conclude on December 31, […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Interviews—October 2025

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