United Flight Attendants Land Big Pay Raises in New Contract

After nearly six years without a raise, United Airlines’ roughly 30,000 flight attendants have voted overwhelmingly to approve a new five-year contract that delivers an average 31% boost to base pay by this August. The deal, which passed with 82% approval and near 90% voter turnout, marks the last major U.S. carrier with unionized cabin crews to finalize a post-pandemic labor agreement.

The contract includes boarding pay—compensation for the time the aircraft door is open and passengers are settling in—a long-standing demand from crews who previously only got paid once the door closed. It also provides a 7% to 8% immediate increase in total compensation, plus $741 million in back pay covering the period since their last contract expired.

Quality-of-life improvements are part of the package too: limits on red-eye flights and “sit pay” for delays longer than two and a half hours. Union president Ken Diaz said the deal will be life-changing, especially for the thousands hired since Covid.

United and the Association of Flight Attendants reached a preliminary agreement in March, after members rejected an earlier offer last year. The new contract runs through 2028.