Alaska Airlines Military Leave Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Synoracki v. Alaska Airlines, Inc., No. 2:18-cv-01784-RSL

If you’re a current or former Alaska Airlines pilot who took military leave lasting 31 to 60 consecutive days between 2004 and March 2026, you’re likely one of 163 pilots covered by this $500,000 settlement — and you don’t need to file anything. Alaska allegedly denied vacation accrual during those leaves. Your deadline to opt out or object is October 31, 2026.

Alaska Airlines Military Leave Settlement — Key Facts

Settlement Amount	$500,000 total fund
Claim Deadline	None — payments are automatic and calculated from Alaska’s own records. The only deadlines are to exclude yourself or object, both October 31, 2026
Who Qualifies	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 time during those leaves
Estimated Payout	Calculated individually: (a pilot’s number of non-accrual months ÷ 666 total non-accrual months across the class) × the net Settlement Fund, after fees, costs, and the service award are deducted. 163 Class Members have been identified so far
Proof Required (Yes/No)	No — Alaska’s own records determine eligibility and the payment amount. No claim form is required
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved August 17, 2026. Final Approval Hearing pending
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Case No. 2:18-cv-01784-RSL
Law Alleged	Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
Administrator	Simpluris
Official Claim Site	https://alaskamilitaryleavesettlement.com/
Last Updated	September 19, 2026

Who Is Alaska Airlines and Why Are They Being Sued Over Military Leave?

Alaska Airlines is one of the largest U.S. carriers, and like most airlines, it employs pilots who also serve in the military reserves or National Guard. That combination is exactly what put Alaska in this position: USERRA requires employers to treat military leave at least as well as other comparable leave types, and this case says Alaska didn’t do that for one specific category — vacation accrual during military leaves lasting 31 to 60 days.

What Did Alaska Airlines Do to Pilots Between 2004 and 2026?

The lawsuit was filed in December 2018 by Leo Synoracki, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and former Alaska pilot. He alleged Alaska let pilots keep accruing vacation time during other comparable leaves — jury duty, for instance — but not during military leave, a violation of USERRA’s equal-treatment requirement. Alaska denied the claim and fought it for more than seven years, including two rounds of summary judgment and a trip to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which sent part of the case back down in 2024. By March 2026, one claim survived: vacation accrual specifically for military leaves of 31 to 60 consecutive days.

Alaska still denies violating USERRA and says it’s settling only to avoid the cost and risk of continuing to litigate a case that’s already run more than seven years.

Two rounds of summary judgment went against parts of this case before it ever reached a settlement table — which is part of why the eventual recovery lands at $500,000 rather than something larger. A long fight doesn’t always end in a bigger number.

Are You Part of the Alaska Airlines Military Leave Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if this case includes you.

• Current or former Alaska pilots who took military leave lasting 31 to 60 consecutive days
• Pilots whose leave fell anywhere between October 10, 2004, and March 31, 2026
• Anyone who didn’t accrue vacation time specifically because of that leave, according to Alaska’s own records
• Pilots Class Counsel has already identified from Alaska’s records — all 163 of them

You don’t qualify if you already settled with or won a judgment against Alaska covering these same claims, or if your military leave fell outside the 31-to-60-day window — shorter or longer leaves aren’t part of this particular settlement.

Alaska Pilots Outside Washington State — Are You Still Covered?

Yes. This isn’t a state-law case, so where you’re based or where you fly from doesn’t matter. USERRA is federal law, and the settlement covers any qualifying Alaska pilot nationwide, as long as your military leave fits the 31-to-60-day window described above. Washington is simply where Alaska is headquartered and where the lawsuit was filed.

Not sure if you qualify for the Alaska Airlines military leave settlement? A free consultation with an employment attorney familiar with USERRA can help before the October 31, 2026 deadline.

How Much Can Alaska Airlines Military Leave Settlement Class Members Get? Payout Depends on Your Non-Accrual Months

There’s no flat dollar figure here — payment is proportional. Alaska’s records show 163 Class Members collectively missed vacation accrual across 666 total months of qualifying military leave. Your payment is calculated as your own number of non-accrual months divided by 666, multiplied by whatever’s left of the $500,000 fund after fees, costs, and the service award come out. Each Class Member’s notice includes their own specific non-accrual months and an estimated award, so you don’t have to do this math yourself.

Class Counsel isn’t asking for more than $247,500 in fees and expenses, and the Class Representative’s service award is capped at $5,000. If the court approves the maximum of both, and setting aside administration costs and taxes the notice doesn’t itemize, that puts a rough ceiling of about $371 on the per-month rate — realistically it’ll land somewhat lower once those additional costs come out. Class Counsel agreed to accept reduced fees specifically to resolve the fee question by agreement rather than fight it out separately in court.

Because USERRA lets prevailing servicemembers recover reasonable attorneys’ fees from the employer, no fees or court costs are ever charged to Class Members personally — the reduction here comes from how the settlement fund itself gets allocated, not from a bill sent to individual pilots.

With only 163 people splitting this fund based on individual months served, this isn’t a payout where filing early or late changes anything — the math is fixed once the court signs off.

What Do You Need to Do to Get an Alaska Airlines Settlement Payment?

Nothing, if you’re satisfied with the settlement terms. Here’s what actually happens:

1. If Alaska’s records show you as a Class Member, your payment amount is already calculated and included in the notice you received
2. You don’t need to submit a claim form — there isn’t one for this settlement
3. If you want to opt out and preserve your right to sue Alaska independently, send a written exclusion request by October 31, 2026
4. If you want to object but stay in the settlement, send a written objection meeting the notice’s requirements by that same date
5. You can’t do both — excluding yourself means the settlement no longer applies to you, so you can’t also object
6. Watch your mail after the December 10, 2026 Final Approval Hearing — that’s when payment becomes possible, pending any appeals

Should Alaska Airlines Class Members Opt Out or Object Before October 31, 2026?

What Opting Out of the Alaska Airlines Settlement Actually Means

Excluding yourself means no settlement payment, but you keep your right to sue Alaska on your own, at your own expense, over these same USERRA claims. You can’t object once you’ve opted out, since the settlement no longer affects you. The deadline is October 31, 2026.

How to Object to the Alaska Airlines Settlement

Objecting keeps you in the class while putting your concerns on the record — the requested $247,500 in fees is one obvious thing to weigh in on. Your objection needs specific details, including whether you plan to appear at the Final Approval Hearing, and must be postmarked to the Settlement Administrator by October 31, 2026.

Talk to an employment attorney before October 31, 2026 if you’re considering either option.

Alaska Airlines Military Leave Settlement — Key Dates, 2026

Milestone	Date
Lawsuit Filed	December 12, 2018
Class Certified (sick/vacation claims)	May 22, 2020
Ninth Circuit Vacates Summary Judgment (in part)	2024
Amended Complaint Filed	UNVERIFIED — exact date not stated in the notice; filed sometime after the 2024 Ninth Circuit ruling
Second Summary Judgment Ruling Narrows Case to One Claim	March 13, 2026
Settlement Agreement Executed	June 17, 2026
Preliminary Approval Granted	August 17, 2026
Notification Mailing	September 16, 2026
Response Deadline (Exclusion or Objection)	October 31, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	December 10, 2026, 11:00 AM PT
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — payments follow final approval and resolution of any appeals; no specific date given

Alaska Airlines Military Leave Settlement — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 2:18-cv-01784-RSL

Do I need a lawyer to get a payment from the Alaska Airlines settlement?

 No. Class Counsel — Brian J. Lawler of Pilot Law, P.C., Daniel Kalish of HKM Employment Attorneys LLP, and Gene J. Stonebarger of Stonebarger Law, APC — already represents the class, and eligible pilots are paid automatically with no claim form.

Is the Alaska Airlines military leave settlement legitimate?

 Yes. It arises from Synoracki v. Alaska Airlines, Inc., Case No. 2:18-cv-01784-RSL, pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, and is administered by Simpluris.

When will Alaska Airlines settlement payments be sent? 

Not before the Final Approval Hearing on December 10, 2026, and only after any appeals are resolved.

Do I need to file a claim form to get paid? 

No. Eligibility and payment amounts come directly from Alaska’s own leave records. If you’re identified as a Class Member, a payment is calculated for you automatically.

Will my Alaska Airlines settlement payment go on a 1099? 

UNVERIFIED — the notice doesn’t address tax reporting directly. Check with a tax professional about your specific payment.

Why does my payment depend on “non-accrual months”? 

Because the settlement compensates pilots specifically for months in which they didn’t accrue vacation due to qualifying military leave — the more months affected, the larger your share of the fund.

What if my military leave lasted longer than 60 days? 

This settlement only covers military leaves of 31 to 60 consecutive days. Longer or shorter leaves fall outside the certified class for this case.

Can I sue Alaska individually instead of accepting the settlement payment?

 Yes, but only if you exclude yourself by October 31, 2026. Staying in the settlement means giving up that right in exchange for your calculated payment.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official settlement website and FAQ, administered by Simpluris, on September 19, 2026. Last Updated: September 19, 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.

Sources Used in This Alaska Airlines Military Leave Settlement Article

• Official Settlement Website — Synoracki v. Alaska Airlines, Inc.: https://alaskamilitaryleavesettlement.com/
• Official FAQ Page (settlement terms, Class Counsel, fee request, case history): https://alaskamilitaryleavesettlement.com/faq/
• Class Notice: https://cw.simpluris.com/docs/public/downloads/ASO5/CLASS_NOTICE
• Class Settlement Agreement: https://cw.simpluris.com/docs/public/downloads/ASO5/CLASS_SETTLEMENT_AGREEMENT
• First Amended Complaint: https://cw.simpluris.com/docs/public/downloads/ASO5/FIRST_AMENDED_COMPLAINT