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Commuter Survey Closing Soon

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Commuter Survey Closing on Monday, May 5 at 12 PM PT

We understand that commuting—whether by air or ground—plays a vital role in your daily lives. As part of our commitment to supporting you, the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is focused on making sure our commuter policy provides the necessary protections for all Flight Attendants.

As we gear up for negotiations on this key aspect, your feedback is invaluable. To gather your insights, we’ve developed a Commuter Policy Survey.  In the survey, we’ve also highlighted the differences between the Hawaiian and Alaska contracts.

The survey will be available until May 5 at 12 PM PT. We strongly encourage you to take a moment to complete the survey. Your input will help the JNC advocate effectively for your needs.

Thank you for being an essential part of this process!

Click this link to access the survey >

If you have any questions regarding the survey feel free to contact the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org.

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.

Commuter Policy Survey Now Open

We recognize that commuting—by air or ground—is a significant part of your daily routine. Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is dedicated to ensuring that the commuter policy adequately protects all Flight Attendants. As we prepare to negotiate this important section, it’s essential that we gather your feedback.

To facilitate this process, we’ve created a Commuter Policy Survey that compares the provisions in the Hawaiian and Alaska contracts. Your input is crucial in helping us understand your priorities and concerns. The survey is currently open and will close on May 5 at Noon PT. We encourage you to take a moment to click the survey link and share your thoughts, so the JNC can accurately represent your interests.

Click this link to access the survey >

If you have any questions about the survey or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org. 

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 2 – April 2025

  • Our JNC met with management this week, on April 15 to April 17; the next negotiation session is scheduled for May 20 to May 22 
  • Commuter Survey to be released on Monday, April 21
  • Hawaiian Flight Attendants ratify Contract Extension

Negotiations Update

Our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC met with management on April 15 to April 17 in Seattle, WA. This marks the second joint negotiating session, with the first held in March. (see Joint Contract Negotiations Begins). At the negotiating table for this session were:

Representing Management:Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants:
Ryan St. John, Vice President, Finance, Planning and Investor Relations AlaskaTim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee Chairperson
Matt Prainito, Vice President of Inflight AlaskaMartin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee Member
Carmen William, Manager Director, Labor RelationsJeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee Member
Mike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager AlaskaVirgina Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee Member
Gloria Chow-Vanderwell, Managing Director of Inflight Services AlaskaHeather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee Member
Karen Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner AlaskaPaula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff Negotiator
Kalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations Hawaiian 
Allen Thieman, Managing Director, Crew Scheduling and Crew Pay Hawaiian 

During this negotiation process, we started by tackling simpler topics and non-money-related issues where both contracts have similar terms. Once we settle these easier points, we will move on to the more complex issues that involve significant financial considerations.

We’ve agreed to use the Alaska contract as a base while negotiating relevant provisions and terms from the Hawaiian contract.  

Section by Section Progress

Tentative Agreements (TAs) reached in this session:

  • Section 20 – Board of Adjustment (HA CBA Section 24)

Sections in ongoing discussion:

  • Section 13 – Uniforms (HA CBA Section 6)
  • Section 18 – Reduction in Force (HA CBA Section 16)
  • Section 27 – Association General (HA CBA Section 22)
  • Section 30 – Training (HA CBA Section 26)

Survey: Commuter Policy

Our JNC is reviewing the Commuter Policies (AS CBA Section 27 and HA CBA Section 34-28) and is looking for your feedback. The Committee is sending a Commuter Survey to your personal emails next week!

  • Survey opens Monday, April 21 at 9 AM PT 
  • Survey closes Monday, May 5 at 12 PM PT

Every Flight Attendant commutes to work whether by air or by ground, and we want to make sure your voice is heard. Please make sure to complete the survey before it closes!

Hawaiian Extension TA Results

Hawaiian Flight Attendants voted to ratify a Contract Extension through February 2028. This Extension includes continued pay increases, retirement improvements, better profit sharing, and a strong foundation to build upon as negotiations for a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) continue. The Contract Extension was ratified with 88% voting for the agreement. 

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.

Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives

We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on November 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged committees of both airlines. They’ll work closely with the Local Committee Chairpersons from all […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

On Monday, October 13, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

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

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected: MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee […]

U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement

Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced changes to the rules surrounding how airlines report information about passengers and crew before flights. This system is called the Advance Passenger Information System, or APIS. These changes are in response to a Presidential Executive Order. What is APIS? APIS is a system that airlines are legally […]

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