United Airlines jetliner prepares to land on a runway at Denver International Airport Monday, May 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
United Airlines flight attendants have approved a new labor contract that will bring their first pay increases in six years — along with boarding pay, a long-sought change that compensates crew members for the work they do before the plane leaves the gate.
The five-year agreement, ratified on Tuesday, covers nearly 30,000 flight attendants at United. It includes an average 31% pay increase this summer, boarding pay worth an additional 7% to 8% in compensation on average and $741 million in retroactive pay, according to the Association of Flight Attendants.
“The contract will immediately change the lives of United Flight Attendants, especially our thousands of new hires who have been hired since the pandemic,” said Ken Diaz, president of the union’s United chapter. “Our solidarity delivered the goods.”
The union said the deal also secures expanded job security, restrictions on red-eye flying, pay for lengthy delays over 2 1/2 hours, higher retirement contributions, 10 weeks paid parental leave and the elimination of 24-hour on-call reserve schedules.
