Phê Vé
April 4, 2026 • 3 min read
The recent agreement between United Airlines and its flight attendants has resulted in a significant pay increase for the workforce. While the union's website has provided plenty of useful information, I took the time to read through the entire 425-page contract to uncover the less highlighted detai
Introducing the New Agreement
The recent agreement between United Airlines and its flight attendants has resulted in a significant pay increase for the workforce. While the union's website has provided plenty of useful information, I took the time to read through the entire 425-page contract to uncover the less highlighted details.
Challenges in Comparing Airlines
Directly comparing contracts between airlines can be tricky, as it often fails to clearly illustrate terms that are meaningful to flight attendants in different contexts. This agreement encompasses more than just salary; it also touches on various issues such as hotel accommodations for layovers, pay calculations during boarding, and rest periods following overnight flights.
Changes in Salary
Under this agreement, the base salary for flight attendants at United will be the highest in the industry. However, not everything is better. United's profit-sharing formula will be less generous compared to Delta and American Airlines. To secure this, they have had to concede some rights, allowing United to own a regional airline without needing its own flight attendants.
Salary and Bonus Details
As part of this agreement, salaries will rise by approximately 30%. In addition, flight attendants will receive pay for boarding time, along with a signing bonus that could reach up to $740 million. Delta has been paying for boarding time since 2022, putting pressure on airlines with unionized flight attendants.
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Profit-Sharing Concerns
United's profit-sharing plan is less generous than those of Delta and American Airlines. This discrepancy could impact competition among airlines. United's profit-sharing formula will account for 10% of the previous year's profits and 20% above that, which is less favorable than Delta's offering.
No Preferential Scheduling System
This agreement does not include a Preferential Bidding System (PBS) for scheduling, despite United's public support for such a system. United pilots have utilized this system for 20 years. The PBS allows flight attendants to select their preferred working conditions, but this agreement maintains the current scheduling approach.
Concerns About Implementing PBS
Many flight attendants are not in favor of the PBS due to its potential to create complications and unreliability. They feel uneasy about a system that decides their schedules without clear options. This could lead to increased stress on the job, particularly for those with moderate seniority.
New Benefits Regarding Regional Airlines
To secure higher wages, the union has relinquished its operational scope rights. United can now own a regional airline without requiring flight attendants from its main airline. This marks a significant shift in United's organizational structure.
Conclusion
With this new agreement, while salaries are set to increase significantly, flight attendants still face numerous challenges in improving their working conditions and profit-sharing arrangements. The unresolved issues remain a significant concern for attendants moving forward.
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