AFA files grievance over Alaska 787-9s with 266 economy seats

The Association of Flight Attendants filed a grievance arguing Alaska Airlines cannot deliver promised 787-9 economy service after a 30-day observation period ended in late May with no fix. One Mile at a Time reports the union says the economy product cannot be delivered to 266 passengers.

Alaska is flying the ex-Hawaiian 787-9s from Seattle on branded long-haul service that began in April 2026. Routes include London and Rome plus Seoul and Tokyo. The aircraft have 300 seats, 34 of them in business class, and are typically staffed with 10 flight attendants. Hawaiian attendants still work the flights because Alaska and Hawaiian crews are not yet on one contract. Economy attendants work each aisle front to back instead of assigned sections. Alaska added extra Main Cabin items after the original flow was set. The union wants more staffing or scaled-back service standards and is telling attendants to document every service problem.

Economy service may not match what Alaska is advertising while the staffing fight continues. Nothing to book or register; watch for slower or incomplete Main Cabin service on Alaska 787-9s from Seattle to London and Rome as well as Seoul and Tokyo.