The “big three” carriers in the United States have had quite a couple of years, with record revenue (though also record costs). This success is a bit of a double-edged sword for airlines, as many labor groups are also looking for huge raises.
While American Airlines pilots ratified a lucrative contract in August 2023, flight attendants are still waiting on a new contract. Current pay is so poor that new hire flight attendants qualify for food stamps in some states. Flight attendants voted to authorize a strike nearly a year ago, though they haven’t been released from mediation.
While negotiations have been taking place in recent weeks, there’s now some bad news — apparently negotiations have once again ended with no resolution, and flight attendants are being told to prepare for a strike. While we haven’t seen a flight attendant strike in the United States in decades, something’s gotta give here…
In this post:
The basics of American flight attendant negotiations
American Airlines and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) have been in negotiations for a new contract for years. The two parties had started negotiations before the pandemic — as you might expect, that was put on hold for some time, given how the aviation industry changed in 2020.
Negotiations resumed in 2021, though around three years later, flight attendants still don’t have a new contract. The reason these negotiations are complicated is because flight attendants are demanding massive pay increases. We’ve seen a huge amount of inflation in recent years, and flight attendants want their new contracts to reflect that, along with retroactive pay.
Last year, American flight attendants voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. When flight attendants voted to authorize a strike, that didn’t mean a strike was anywhere close to happening. After all, they need to follow the procedures of the Railway Labor Act. A strike is only permitted if the mediation process fails, and then there needs to be a 30-day cooling off period before a strike could occur. Despite multiple requests to be released from mediation, that hasn’t yet been granted.
American’s management has promised flight attendants an industry leading contract. That promise was made before any other US airlines got to the point of approving a new contract, so that’s a bit of an empty promise.
We recently saw Southwest flight attendants ratify a new contract that sees them getting huge raises, plus retroactive pay. So if American management is serious about an industry leading contract, it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out what that entails.
Union tells members to prepare for a strike
Up until now, American’s flight attendant union hasn’t been released from mediation, meaning they haven’t been able to start the 30-day clock on a strike.
In the past couple of weeks, negotiations have been ongoing, but they’ve finally once again stopped, without a resolution. The flight attendant union is once again pushing to be released from mediation, and is telling members to prepare for a strike.
Earlier in June, the union set up a strike command center, to answer questions from flight attendants regarding a strike. The union states that it will only present a contract to members that meets economic requirements, including retroactive compensation for five years of stagnant wages.
The union suggests that members make preparations for a strike, including setting aside money, considering moving up doctor and dentist appointments, refilling prescriptions as early as possible, applying for “union-friendly” credit cards that have provisions concerning payments in the event of a strike, avoiding “big ticket” purchases, and more.
Management got sneaky behind union’s back
It’s worth noting that back in early June, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom wrote a note directly to flight attendants, offering them a 17% pay increase effective immediately, with no strings attached. It’s pretty well written, and smart on management’s part:
The company and APFA negotiating teams have been meeting regularly for months to reach a new agreement. We have made progress in a number of key areas, but there’s still a good deal of work to be done.
We will be back at the table with APFA leadership next week and a deal is within reach, but I don’t know how long it will take to get to the finish line and I don’t want another day to go by without increasing your pay.
So, to get more money to you now, we presented APFA with a proposal that offers immediate wage increases of 17% and a new formula that would increase your 2024 profit sharing.
This means we’ve offered increased pay for all flight attendants and are not asking your union for anything in return. This is unusual. But these are unusual times.
If APFA agrees, the increase would be effective for the June bid month, and you would see the increased rates in your pay on June 30.
Importantly, this does not replace our commitment to get the deal done as soon as possible but gives each of you an increase in pay now. We are committed to reaching a new agreement and now is the time to make a deal.
The union wasn’t happy about management trying to communicate directly with flight attendants, rather than through the union. For that matter, flight attendants expressed their displeasure with management, and quickly rejected this proposal.
It goes without saying that presumably management had a motive here, beyond just being charitable. On the one hand, more money immediately with no strings attached would have gotten flight attendants some much needed money immediately. On the other hand, the intent here was clear — it was supposed to weaken the bargaining position of the union, and decrease the odds of them getting the contract that they want. After all, management would argue they already got a “reasonable” 17% pay increase, and that should be enough.
I’m curious to see the outcome of this
Let me start by saying that I think flight attendants work hard while not being paid particularly well. I wouldn’t last long as a flight attendant, because I’d lose my patience with the traveling public. While service is consistently inconsistent, there are so many flight attendants who do a great job, and they deserve these raises.
Here’s my take on these negotiations:
- I can’t blame flight attendants for wanting more pay, and for negotiating for as much money as they can… who doesn’t want a raise?
- The fundamental issue with flight attendant negotiations vs. pilot negotiations is that there was a pilot shortage, while there seems to be a never-ending pool of people who want to become flight attendants (which airlines always highlight, by claiming that getting hired as a flight attendant is more selective than getting into an Ivy League)
- Even if there’s not a flight attendant shortage, the issue is that all the flight attendants belong to one union, so collectively they have quite a bit of bargaining power
- Airlines are getting to the point where I think they have unsustainable cost structures, but I also can’t blame flight attendants for wanting pay raises when you have some pilots making $400+ per hour
Southwest flight attendants just got great new contracts with immediate 22% pay increases, and 3% pay increases in each of 2025, 2026, and 2027. On top of that, they received retro pay, which comes out to around $18K per flight attendant. You’d think that would set the tone for negotiations at other airlines…
Of course American’s fundamental issue is that the airline lags Delta and United when it comes to profitability. Like, American can barely afford these contracts, but that’s not really the fault of frontline employees. Go figure that the compensation for American’s CEO doesn’t reflect the company’s lackluster performance.
Bottom line
American Airlines is currently negotiating a new contract with its flight attendants, which has been going on for years. In the past couple of weeks, the two parties have been making what they claim is their final attempt at negotiating a new contract.
The union has now said that negotiations have failed, and is telling flight attendants to make preparations for the possibility of a strike. A strike could only happen if the union was released from mediation, and that would then trigger a 30-day cooling off period.
We literally haven’t seen a flight attendant strike in decades. So while it seems unlikely that a strike would happen, at the same time, it seems that there’s no other way forward…
How do you see this situation playing out?
What Flight attendant at American Airlines is on food stamps? That sounds like B.S. to me.
Frankly all airlines suck. Air is, by far, the worst variable in the entire travel universe, and as a 20 year veteran in this business, believe me I know from so many maddening, deceitful, backstabbing experiences with all airlines. They are all treacherous. Unfortunately, until they develop human cellular transporters, like on Star Trek, airlines are a necessary evil.
Theirs an old saying in companies with union work groups.the company,gets the unions they deserve.not necessarily the unions they want ..
I think flight Attendants are more important than pilots. Anyone can go to school and learn how to fly a jet, but pilots are only here to fly. FAs are here exclusively for your safety. You cantt put a price on that, but if you did, I'd put it at around $100/hr for first year FAs, and it obviously only goes up from there.
Using the pilots' pay structure to demand a raise is akin to an electrician demanding a massive increase because the electrical engineer who designed the power grid makes a lot more than he does. If the FA's can't make a case on their own merits, than they don't get a raise...simple. The fact that the two people up front make considerably more than they do is irrelevant.
It is noted in the article that some pilots make $400.00/hr. That is true. However, one must note that pilots are limited by law to a maximum of 40 flight hours a week, 100 hours per month and 1000 hours per year. Very few pilots will walk away with a $400,000 salary. Like flight attendants, they are well trained for their position. The key is "their position". The pilots are responsible not only for the...
It is noted in the article that some pilots make $400.00/hr. That is true. However, one must note that pilots are limited by law to a maximum of 40 flight hours a week, 100 hours per month and 1000 hours per year. Very few pilots will walk away with a $400,000 salary. Like flight attendants, they are well trained for their position. The key is "their position". The pilots are responsible not only for the passenger's and flight attendant's safety but they are responsible for an aircraft that high end costs are $300,000,000 EACH and can weigh 1,000,000,000 pounds MTW. Once that aircraft leaves the runway, it is commanded by two people (and in some cases a relief(s) pilot. They are "chained" to that seat for the majority of the flight, too. As far as the AA management, like the unions, they are "in it" for their salary. The customer be damned!
And we wonder why spiraling inflation is becoming so engrained in the U.S. psyche and why it is so difficult for the Fed to deal with . . .
Unions had a significant value in implementing safety protocols, etc in factory based jobs in the early 1900's. Since then, they've become a nuisance. A flight attendant doesn't even have any particular skill set that makes them valuable like a nurse, lab tech, etc that makes them difficult to replace. From an employer perspective, it makes no sense why they should be forced to use union employees. I could replace the entire AA FA staff...
Unions had a significant value in implementing safety protocols, etc in factory based jobs in the early 1900's. Since then, they've become a nuisance. A flight attendant doesn't even have any particular skill set that makes them valuable like a nurse, lab tech, etc that makes them difficult to replace. From an employer perspective, it makes no sense why they should be forced to use union employees. I could replace the entire AA FA staff in 6 weeks with minimal effort.
From an employee perspective, if your wages are too low, simply quit and seek another career! In today's economy, there are tons of unfilled low skill positions out there. Any job will pay you at least 15$/hour which works out to at least 2400$/month. Why bother dealing with rude passengers and serving drinks from a cart at 30k feet for such crappy pay?
With all the "help" from your FA union over the last few decades, you still have crappy pay. The only winners from unions are the union bosses collecting your dues. And at the end of the day all of us, including the customers, are the losers. Wake up!
Let the supply and demand for labor reach its natural equilibrium!! Unions are simply an external inefficiency with no actual benefit in an already highly regulated industry like airlines.
Some individuals post comments mentioning that the $31 million dollar salary for the individual in charge of AA is unfair while the entry level FAs are on public assistance. That is a valid point. Especially when AA is in some matrix, the least profitable airline of the "big three".
The best way for AA FAs to earn support for their priorities in their new contract is to have the support of the customers. Unfortunately,...
Some individuals post comments mentioning that the $31 million dollar salary for the individual in charge of AA is unfair while the entry level FAs are on public assistance. That is a valid point. Especially when AA is in some matrix, the least profitable airline of the "big three".
The best way for AA FAs to earn support for their priorities in their new contract is to have the support of the customers. Unfortunately, based on personal experience of both myself and my spouse, they have not earned that support. This comment is NOT MADE LIGHTLY. While some FAs have gone above and beyond, their efforts have been eclipsed by other FAs who have been rude and distant. My wife has a very good heart, which is one of the things about her and why I fell in love with her. She would try to extend a warm word, or an olive branch, to the FAs that have been rude or distant. To her credit, some warmed up and were very nice.
My wife, the customer, made the effort to change the experience, not the employee of the service provider.
The FAs have the PR advantage because they are on the front line.
Give them their long overdue pay raise. Their CEO doesn't deserve $31M salary while their entry level FA is offered only $27K annual salary. Shame on AA! and YES! That's $31 Millions salary for 1 person. Ridiculous!
People are paid based on labor market forces, not some vague sense of what they "deserve". If people are willing to sign up to do the job for $27K then that's, by definition, a fair market price. An FA isn't a brain surgeon, so there is a very low bar for entry.
If $31M is what it takes to retain someone with the necessary experience and skills to serve as CEO, factoring in competition...
People are paid based on labor market forces, not some vague sense of what they "deserve". If people are willing to sign up to do the job for $27K then that's, by definition, a fair market price. An FA isn't a brain surgeon, so there is a very low bar for entry.
If $31M is what it takes to retain someone with the necessary experience and skills to serve as CEO, factoring in competition from other corporations, then so be it.
I don't blame FAs for trying to get more money, more power to them if they can negotiate it. But let's be realistic about the situation.
Most Delta flight attendants make an effort to show you are a valued customer. Most AA flight attendants treat me like a nuisance. I fly first class with my own money. I pay more to fly Delta. They then have higher profits to share. Basic cause and effect lost on AA flight attendants. PS don’t seek a job that qualifies for food stamps if you don’t want to be on food stamps. Your poor choice is YOUR poor choice.
Bad-mouthing an employer the way many American flight attendants do would get most people fired from their jobs. Flight attendants make decent money, get to fly almost anywhere in the world on their customers' dimes, and all they do is complain about how bad they have it. But I have to be fair. Flight attendants perform a vital job, which isn't as easy as it seems. The bottom line is that I'm all for people getting paid well for what they do well.
A starting flight attendant makes 2K or less per month at AA do STFU unless you know what you’re talking about, thank you.
I didn't write that a starting flight attendant made decent money. I wrote that flight attendants (overall) make decent money. I have a couple of close acquaintances who are American Airlines flight attendants, and they both make excellent money. We can cherry pick about pay all we want, but the bottom line is that slavery was outlawed in the US by the 13th Amendment. If you hate your job so much, why not go out and get a better one?
At the end of the day the company has all of the power here. The US Government WILL NOT allow a strike to move forward during an election year! NO STRIKE, it's as simple as that people! Either work and love what you do or find a new job, simple as that! Also AA is not in the best of financial conditions and the ending of pilot hiring is not a good indication of the future.
Ok when are we getting the official OMAAT guide to the most union-friendly credit cards?
What is the retention rate for AA flight attendants? It's one thing to say it's harder to get the job than it is to enroll at Harvard. But five years later, how many are so fed up that they have moved on to jobs with better pay and working conditions?
I want to fly on an airline with well-trained, experienced FA's who value their jobs, not just their hiring letter.
@Alonzo - what pay raise have they asked for within a year? They haven't had a contract since 2019. Do you have any idea what you're talking about?
You get paid what your worth and AA flight attendants are worth garbage. Just look at how rude, lazy and totally trashy they are. Fire them all. Or let them bankrupt the airline and put them out of work by their own doing.
LMAO at the "strike command center". Quick everyone look busy, we're taking a photo before our one day rental of a ballroom at the DFW Hyatt runs out.
There is a FAA mandate for minimum number of FAs required for any commercial service by aircraft type.
Otherwise if AA operated their flights without any FAs it would make the customer experience more pleasant.
Such greed. Only unions can sign a contract and then turn around and 1 year later demand higher pay because others in the industry are paying more.
I'm all for more pay but this latest raise that AA will eventually receive will either directly impact customers or destroy AA and force them into bankruptcy by 2030. Let's not forget that this won't be the last pay raise. They'll ask for another in 3-4 years....
Such greed. Only unions can sign a contract and then turn around and 1 year later demand higher pay because others in the industry are paying more.
I'm all for more pay but this latest raise that AA will eventually receive will either directly impact customers or destroy AA and force them into bankruptcy by 2030. Let's not forget that this won't be the last pay raise. They'll ask for another in 3-4 years. Cheer pay raises all you want, soon FA's will be applying to Delta and United. Or gasp! Frontier!
Meh, 3/5 of AA FAs are so old ,they’ll be dead in 2030.
“Such greed. Only unions can sign a contract and then turn around and 1 year later demand higher pay because others in the industry are paying more.”
You know that the AA FAs have been operating under a contract that lapsed 4.5 years ago? Nothing was signed a year ago. But why let facts ruin your rant.
Perhaps you are thinking of the AA pilots? And no, I’m not pro AA FA union or pilot union.
This is a case where I have little sympathy for either the FAs or management. As a AA million miler, I fired the collective group of AA management and FAs a few years ago when I switched to UA. The combination of AA management and FAs created a miserable customer experience and it was time to let both of them go. The customer-focused solution would be to terminate both groups (senior management and FAs) and...
This is a case where I have little sympathy for either the FAs or management. As a AA million miler, I fired the collective group of AA management and FAs a few years ago when I switched to UA. The combination of AA management and FAs created a miserable customer experience and it was time to let both of them go. The customer-focused solution would be to terminate both groups (senior management and FAs) and then hire back the 50% of the FAs who really do care, under a better contract in a relaunched airline.
It's incredible in America how the C suite evades all the flak but the front-line workers catch all the fire directly.
If you look at the compensation for AA leadership *and* their stated financial goals, it's easy to see this is an airline that is operating as a hedge fund that happens to just fly airplanes around.
Look at what the AA board has approved for leadership in terms of compensation and reward...
It's incredible in America how the C suite evades all the flak but the front-line workers catch all the fire directly.
If you look at the compensation for AA leadership *and* their stated financial goals, it's easy to see this is an airline that is operating as a hedge fund that happens to just fly airplanes around.
Look at what the AA board has approved for leadership in terms of compensation and reward models, then compare to the airline's competitive posture in the industry.
At this point AA should just agree to all their demands and start pre-packaging the bankruptcy. The FAs simply don't get it. Unions are all for solidarity, until it comes down to money, then its each for itself in total competition. The pilots absolutely hosed the FA Union's position by raiding the AA vault (what's left of it anyways) in its latest contract.
Given how disruptive this will be and it's an election year government is going to step in. The economic and social impact will be too much for any administration. My sense is that flight attendants will get much of what they want and they eventually lose it in bankruptcy court.
Pete BootyJig to the rescue!!
Booty Jig or Buttahole?
Noticed them striking at LAX giggling like children blocking the sidewalk. One had a sign that read “Flight Attendants Save Lives.” I told her she’s not a nurse and the pilots took all their money. The shock on their faces was hilarious.
Zero chance Feds release them before the election. Administration is only pro-union when it’s good for votes.
They deserve a raise? Really? All of them? What planet are you from? From my experience, the vast majority of AA FAs, especially the most senior ones, deserve to be looking for a new job. Here's a crazy idea: give raises to the ones who actually do a good job...you know, like the rest of the planet outside corrupt unions operates. Yeah I know, it would never work.
Nice. Fire them all. Probably the AF that offer the worst service.