United Airlines Tentative Flight Attendant Contract Includes $100 Hourly Pay

This article is based on an official press release from United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, supplemented by comprehensive industry research.

On March 26, 2026, United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) officially announced a new tentative agreement covering the carrier’s approximately 30,000 flight attendants. If ratified, the five-year contract will conclude a nearly six-year labor dispute, establishing new compensation benchmarks for the U.S. aviation sector.

According to the joint press release issued by the airline and the union, the two parties have successfully negotiated a deal designed to elevate the standard of living for cabin crew members across the network. We note that this agreement arrives after a previous tentative deal was overwhelmingly rejected by the union membership last year.

“United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA announced a new tentative agreement that if ratified will provide industry-leading…” stated the official press release.

Unpacking the Tentative Agreement

The new tentative agreement, frequently referred to as TA2 in industry research, introduces sweeping financial and scheduling improvements. Based on our review of the contract details, the deal addresses several long-standing pain points for flight attendants, particularly regarding uncompensated time on the ground.

Industry-Leading Compensation

According to industry reports, the financial cornerstone of the agreement is a historic wage increase. Upon ratification, flight attendants will receive immediate pay raises, with top hourly wage rates scaling to $100 per hour by the end of the five-year contract. This rate will make United’s cabin crew the highest-paid in the industry, regardless of seniority. Furthermore, United has established a massive $740 million pool to be distributed as a one-time ratification and signing bonus among the flight attendants.

Quality-of-Life and Scheduling Improvements

Beyond hourly wages, the agreement introduces critical quality-of-life enhancements. For the first time, United flight attendants will receive boarding pay, compensating them for their time during the passenger boarding process. Additionally, the contract introduces “sit pay” (or gap pay). If crew members are scheduled for more than 2.5 hours on the ground between flights, they will be compensated at 50% of their normal hourly rate.

Scheduling protections have also been bolstered. The agreement limits crew members to working a maximum of one flight prior to a Red-Eye flight. Furthermore, contract language regarding layover accommodations has been reverted to guarantee that flight attendants are lodged in “Business Class” hotels, a provision that had been a point of contention in previous negotiations.

The Long Road to Ratification

This agreement marks the culmination of a highly contentious negotiation process that predates the post-pandemic travel boom. Under the Railway Labor Act, the previous flight attendant contract became amendable in August 2021. After more than two years of stalled talks, the AFA-CWA requested federal mediation from the National Mediation Board in November 2023.

Tensions peaked in August 2024 when United flight attendants overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike. By May 2025, the parties reached their first tentative agreement (TA1), which offered a 26.9% average pay scale increase. However, in July 2025, the flight attendants rejected TA1. Industry data shows a 92% voter turnout, with 71% of eligible voters casting ballots against the contract, citing that it did not adequately address years of concessions.

Next Steps for the Union

While the negotiating committees have reached an agreement, the contract is not yet finalized. The tentative agreement must first be reviewed and approved by the AFA’s Master Executive Council, which includes all Local Presidents. If approved, the full details will be presented to the 30,000 flight attendants for a final ratification vote.

Broader Industry Implications

If ratified, this deal will make United Airlines the last major U.S. airline to finalize a post-pandemic labor contract with its cabin crews. Competitors have already locked in higher labor costs, and United’s agreement sets a new high-water mark for the industry.

The resolution of this labor dispute aligns with United’s broader corporate strategy. The airline is currently investing heavily in its fleet and customer experience, upgrading premium cabins, introducing new lie-flat seats, and improving onboard dining. Securing a well-compensated and satisfied cabin crew is widely considered critical to executing this premium market strategy.

AirPro News analysis

We observe that the flight attendants’ bold decision to reject the initial 2025 contract fundamentally shifted the leverage in favor of the union. By holding out and returning to federally mediated negotiations between October 2025 and March 2026, the AFA-CWA successfully secured the $100-per-hour milestone and the introduction of boarding pay, issues that have historically plagued the profession. Moving forward, investors and industry analysts will closely monitor United Airlines (NYSE: UAL) to assess how the $740 million bonus pool and elevated top wages will impact the carrier’s bottom line, capacity growth, and future earnings disclosures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the top pay rate in the new United flight attendant contract?
If ratified, the top hourly wage rate will reach $100 per hour by the end of the five-year contract.

Will United flight attendants get paid for boarding?
Yes. Under the new tentative agreement, United flight attendants will be compensated for their time during the boarding process for the first time.

How much is the signing bonus?
United has established a $740 million pool to be distributed as a one-time ratification/signing bonus among the flight attendants.

What is “sit pay”?
“Sit pay” compensates flight attendants for long periods on the ground between flights. Under the new deal, if there are more than 2.5 hours scheduled between flights, crew members will be paid at 50% of their normal hourly rate.

Sources: PRNewswire / United Airlines