$4.75M Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air pilot military leave class action settlement

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air agreed to a $4.75 million class action lawsuit settlement to resolve claims they violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act by failing to pay pilots for short-term military leave.

The Alaska Airlines pilot settlement benefits current and former Alaska or Horizon pilots who have taken short-term military leave (periods of 30 days or fewer) between Oct. 10, 2004, and May 31, 2023.

Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit accused Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air of violating USERRA by failing to pay pilots for short-term military leave. According to the pilots, the airlines paid for other types of leave, such as jury duty, sick leave and bereavement leave.

Alaska Airlines is an airline company based in Seattle, Wash. Horizon Air is a regional airline based in Seattle that operates as a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines.

The airlines haven’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to the $4.75 million settlement to resolve these allegations.

Under the terms of the Alaska Airlines military leave settlement, class members can receive a cash payment. The exact payment amount will vary depending on the amount of military leave each class member took.

Additionally, class members will receive up to four days per calendar year of paid short-term military leave going forward paid at their hourly wage.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Dec. 20, 2024.

The final approval hearing for the Alaska Airlines pilot settlement is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2025.

You do not need to submit a claim for short-term military leave you took from Alaska Airlines between Oct 10, 2004, and May 31, 2023, or from Horizon Air between Oct. 2, 2008, and May 31, 2023. Pilot who took short-term military leave at Horizon between Oct. 10, 2004, and Oct. 2, 2008, submit a claim form by Dec. 20, 2024.

Who’s Eligible

Current and former Alaska or Horizon pilots who have taken short-term military leave (periods of 30 days or fewer) from Oct. 10, 2004, through May 31, 2023.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Claim Form Deadline

12/20/2024

Case Name

Clarkson v. Alaska Airlines Inc., et al., Case No. 2:19-cv-0005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

Final Hearing

01/15/2025

Settlement Website

AlaskaMilitaryPaidLeave.com

Claims Administrator

Clarkson v. Alaska Airlines Inc.
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Ana, CA 92799
833-285-3398

Class Counsel

Joseph Barton
BARTON & DOWNES LLP

Michael Scimone
OUTTEN & GOLDEN LLP

Defense Counsel

Tristan Morales
O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP