Alaska Airlines Military Leave Settlement
Alaska Airlines will pay $500,000 to resolve claims that some pilots did not accrue vacation during military leaves lasting 31 to 60 days. Eligible pilots are identified from Alaska’s records and do not need to file a claim form. Payments depend on final court approval.

Benefit Summary
Eligible class members: available benefits include Pro rata cash payment.
Payments come from the $500,000 settlement fund and may change after approved deductions.
Available Awards
Pro rata cash payment
Who Is Included
Current and former Alaska pilots who took military leave lasting between 31 and 60 consecutive days from October 10, 2004, through March 31, 2026, and did not accrue vacation during those leaves, excluding people who previously settled with or obtained judgments against Alaska resolving or releasing the claims released by this settlement.
- Proof required: No loss documentation or claim form is required for payment; Alaska’s records are used to identify Class Members and calculate awards.
Claim and Payment Information
- Claim method: Automatic payment; no claim form is required
Questions & Answers
How will my payment be calculated, and do I need to submit anything?
No claim form is required. Alaska’s records determine who is included and how many qualifying monthly bid periods each person had.
Each payment is the person’s qualifying months divided by the 666 total qualifying months, multiplied by the net settlement fund. The individual estimate in a mailed notice can change after court-approved deductions.
- You do not need to file a claim form. Alaska’s records are being used to identify class members and calculate payments.
- Your payment depends on the number of monthly bid periods in which Alaska’s records show that you missed vacation accrual because of a qualifying 31- to 60-day military leave.
- The notice says the 163 class members had 666 qualifying non-accrual months in total. Each payment is the member’s qualifying months divided by 666, multiplied by the net settlement fund.
- The amount shown with an individual notice is only an estimate. The final amount will be affected by court-approved deductions from the fund.
When will payments be sent?
The notice does not give a payment date. Payments can be made only if the court approves the settlement and it becomes effective.
- The settlement is still proposed. It must receive final court approval and become effective before payments can be made.
- The notice does not provide a payment date.
What claims would I release if I remain in the settlement?
A class member who stays would release claims against Alaska concerning vacation accrual under the federal military-leave law for military leaves of up to 90 days through March 31, 2026. The release also covers claims based on the same facts as the amended complaint. The settlement agreement contains the complete legal terms.
- If you stay in the settlement, you would give up claims against Alaska concerning failure to accrue vacation under USERRA during military leaves of up to 90 days while employed by Alaska through March 31, 2026.
- The release also covers other claims arising from the same facts as those in the amended complaint.
- The notice directs readers to the Settlement Agreement for the complete release terms.
What does opting out mean, and what must I send?
Leaving the settlement means receiving no payment but keeping the right to pursue the released claims separately. A signed exclusion request must be postmarked by October 31, 2026 and include the contact and case information listed in the notice.
- To leave the settlement, send a written exclusion request to the Settlement Administrator. It must be postmarked by October 31, 2026.
- Include your name, address, email address or addresses, telephone number, the case title and number, a statement that you want to be excluded, your signature, and the date.
- If you opt out, you will not receive a settlement payment and cannot object to the settlement. You keep the right to pursue the released claims against Alaska at your own expense.
How do I object, and do I have to attend the hearing?
A class member who stays may mail a written objection by October 31, 2026. Attendance at the hearing is optional if the objection is mailed on time.
Question 14 of the notice contains an unfilled “[DATE]” placeholder. Page 1, page 6, and the official settlement website all identify October 31, 2026 as the objection deadline. Readers should check the official site for any update before mailing.
- You may object if you are a class member and disagree with any part of the settlement, the requested attorneys’ fees and expenses, or the requested service award.
- Send a written objection to the Settlement Administrator, postmarked by October 31, 2026.
- Your objection must include your contact information, the case title and number, your reasons, whether you plan to attend the hearing, information about any lawyer representing you, your signature, and the date.
- You can object without attending the hearing, as long as your written objection is mailed on time.
How could attorneys’ fees and the class representative’s award affect the fund?
The net fund will be calculated after court-approved fees, expenses, administration costs, taxes, and any service award. Class Counsel may request up to $247,500 in fees plus expenses, and the class representative may request up to $5,000 in addition to his ordinary payment. The court may approve less.
- Class Counsel plan to request up to $247,500 in attorneys’ fees, plus reimbursement of litigation expenses, from the settlement fund.
- The court may award less than requested. The fee-and-expense request will be filed with the court and posted before the objection deadline.
- The class representative would receive a payment calculated like other class members and may also receive a service award of up to $5,000 if approved by the court.
What happens at the Final Approval Hearing?
The court is scheduled to consider final approval on December 10, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. in Seattle. Class members do not have to attend. The date, place, or format may change, so check the official website for updates.
- The court is scheduled to hold the Final Approval Hearing at 11:00 a.m. on December 10, 2026, in Seattle.
- The hearing date, location, or format may change, including to a remote hearing, without another notice mailed to the class.
- You do not have to attend. The court may allow a person to speak only if that person first filed an objection.
Other Important Dates
- Exclusion deadline: 2026-10-31
- Objection deadline: 2026-10-31
- Final approval hearing: December 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
- Hearing location: Courtroom of the Honorable Robert S. Lasnik, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, 700 Stewart Street, Seattle, Washington 98101
Case Details
- Total settlement fund: $500,000
- Case name: Synoracki v. Alaska Airlines, Inc.
- Case number: 2:18-cv-01784-RSL
- Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
- Administrator: Settlement Administrator
- Official Settlement Website: https://www.alaskamilitaryleavesettlement.com/
Sources
Claim form, FAQ, deadlines, administrator information
Court-approved notice describing eligibility and benefits