United Airlines, Flight Attendants Reach Tentative Contract Agreement

United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA announced a tentative agreement March 26, resolving years of negotiations that had been stalled since August 2021. The proposed contract delivers industry-leading wages with top pay rates reaching $100 per hour by the agreement's end, making United the highest-paying U.S. carrier for flight attendants.

The deal includes a $740 million signing and ratification bonus pool for approximately 30,000 employees. Key quality-of-life improvements include new boarding pay effective May 31 if ratified, sit pay at 50% of hourly rate for flight gaps exceeding 2.5 hours, and restored business-class hotel standards during layovers. United Vice President Nathan Lopp called the agreement "balanced and competitive" in an internal memo.

The AFA-CWA will present terms to its Master Executive Council April 1, with member voting scheduled between April 23 and May 12. This follows rejection of an initial tentative agreement in July 2025, when members sought better quality-of-life provisions. If approved, the five-year contract would be amendable after its term expires.