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United Airlines has reached a tentative agreement with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, marking a major step toward a new contract covering roughly 30,000 flight attendants. If approved, the deal would introduce industry-leading pay, improved scheduling, and a range of new compensation elements designed to modernize working conditions.
The proposed agreement includes immediate pay raises upon ratification with top hourly wages climbing to $100 per hour by the end of the contract period. That would position United’s flight attendants as the highest paid in the industry and reflect the airline’s broader push to compete more aggressively in the premium segment.
Beyond base pay, the agreement introduces several new forms of compensation that address long-standing concerns among flight attendants. For the first time, flight attendants would receive boarding pay (compensating them for time spent working before departure). The deal also includes additional pay for extended gaps between flights, which is a key issue for crews with irregular schedules. In addition, the agreement provides a significant signing bonus package totaling $740 million to be distributed among eligible flight attendants.
The contract also aims to improve scheduling flexibility and overall quality of life (though specific details are expected to be outlined further during the ratification process). These changes are part of a broader effort to address operational challenges and workforce satisfaction across the airline.
The tentative agreement must first be approved by the union’s Master Executive Council, which includes local leadership from across the system. If approved at that level, the deal will then be put to a vote among United’s flight attendants. If ratified, the contract would remain in place for five years before becoming amendable. The agreement follows extensive negotiations between United and the union with involvement from the National Mediation Board.
Anthony’s Take: If finalized, the deal would represent one of the most significant labor agreements in the airline industry in recent years and set a new benchmark for compensation and working conditions for flight attendants. I hope United’s flight attendants approve this one and move forward with the pay they deserve.
(Image Credits: United Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
