Alaska Airlines Settles $500,000 Lawsuit After Refusing Military Leave For Over 160 Pilots

Published Sep 20, 2026, 5:04 PM EDT Experienced ICAO English Language Proficiency Instructor for pilots and ATCOs and conference interpreter who is passionate about facilitating effective communication within aviation-related businesses. Possess a deep understanding of the aviation industry, including aviation regulations, terminology, and industry-specific communication protocols. Has been working at numerous airshows across Europe since 2014. Being an ultralight pilot in her free time, she also promotes safety and efficiency in aviation operations. Based in Italy and Malta Alaska Airlines has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle a class-action lawsuit over vacation accrual for pilots who took qualifying periods of military leave. The proposed settlement covers 163 current and former pilots who took military leave lasting between 31 and 60 consecutive days between October 10, 2004, and March 31, 2026, without accruing vacation time. The lawsuit alleged that this treatment violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Alaska denied violating federal law but agreed to settle the case to avoid the risks and costs of continued litigation. Importantly, the dispute was not about Alaska preventing pilots from taking military leave altogether. Instead, it centered on whether pilots should have continued accruing vacation during certain military leaves when employees taking comparable forms of leave, including jury duty, allegedly continued to accrue vacation. The proposed settlement has received preliminary approval, with a final approval hearing scheduled for December 10. Why 163 Alaska Airlines Pilots Are Eligible For Settlement Payments Credit: YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV | Shutterstock According to Claim Depot, the case, Synoracki v. Alaska Airlines, Inc., has been in litigation for several years. Plaintiff Leo Synoracki, a retired United States Air Force (USAF) Reserve lieutenant colonel and former Alaska pilot, filed the lawsuit in December 2018, alleging that the airline's treatment of military leave violated USERRA's requirement that qualifying military leave be treated no less favorably than comparable forms of civilian leave. In May 2020, the court certified classes involving pilots who did not accrue sick or vacation time during military leave. The litigation subsequently took several turns. A district court granted summary judgment against the plaintiff in 2022, but the Ninth Circuit vacated part of that decision in 2024 and sent the case back for further proceedings. In March, the court narrowed the remaining dispute to vacation accrual during military leaves lasting between 31 and 60 consecutive days, after which the parties entered settlement negotiations. How Vacation Accrual Became The Center Of The Dispute Credit: bombermoon | Shutterstock Under the proposed settlement, the $500,000 fund will be divided among eligible pilots after deducting approved attorneys' fees and expenses, administration costs, taxes, and any service award. Class members will receive payments based on the number of monthly bid periods in which they did not accrue vacation due to qualifying military leave. Alaska's records identified 666 total non-accrual months across the 163 class members. That means payments will not necessarily be divided equally. Instead, a pilot with more qualifying non-accrual months will receive a larger share of the net settlement fund. The settlement website states that no claim form is required because payments will be calculated automatically using Alaska's records. Class members who received notices can also contact the settlement administrator to confirm their status or obtain additional information. The proposed agreement also includes up to $247,500 in attorneys' fees and expenses and a potential service award of up to $5,000 for Synoracki. The settlement agreement provides that no portion of the fund will revert to Alaska. When Alaska Pilots Can Expect Their Settlement Payments Credit: Rawpixel.com | Shutterstock The settlement represents the latest stage in a dispute that has involved multiple court rulings and changes to the scope of the claims. Following the ruling in March, the parties agreed to resolve the remaining vacation-accrual claim instead of proceeding toward another stage of litigation and a potential trial. Alaska Airlines continues to deny wrongdoing, while the settlement allows both sides to avoid the uncertainty and expense associated with continued proceedings. For the affected pilots, the timing of payments will depend on the court's final decision. The court has scheduled its final approval hearing for December 10, 2026, and will issue payments only after final approval and resolution of any appeals. Eligible pilots who do not opt out will also release certain related claims concerning vacation accrual during military leave. The deadline to opt out of the settlement is October 31. The settlement provides a defined resolution to a long-running employment dispute involving military service, pilot leave policies, and the federal protections governing service members returning to civilian employment.