News

United AFA Contract vs. EIG Improvements

28 May, 2026

Management wants us to believe that its own Employee Involvement Group (EIG) is a substitute for our own union with AFA. It’s not.

The truth is that the EIG can’t replace our union because there’s no legal framework for real change – and no accountability or independence from management. Just look at how long it’s taken for “elevated” EIG items to be implemented.

With United AFA’s new contract, over 67 improvements will be implemented. Since 2021 when United’s contract became amendable, Delta management has only implemented 10 “elevated” EIG improvements.

The years-long gap between when an item is elevated and implemented should come as no surprise. While Flight Attendants are part of EIG, EIG is controlled and funded by management. Only management can decide if and when something is implemented.

And while the Delta Flight Attendants involved in the EIG have the best intentions, it’s important to remember that the EIG is a union-busting tool meant to distract us from the only legally-recognized way for us to have a voice on the job: our union.

With our union, we’ll have a framework for negotiating directly with management about what’s important to Delta Flight Attendants — not what management decides. Securing our union is the best and only way to ensure we have a real voice on the job.

United AFA’s contract became amendable late 2021. The list below reviews what EIG items have been implemented in the same time frame. This data is provided by EIG, so nothing was missed.

2022: Delta implemented Boarding pay (Elevated 2015)
2022: Reevaluated RR04 (Flown into off-time pay) to perpetually increase 1 hour of pay for each additional 4 hours flown (elevated 2019)
2023: IPY increased to 4/8/12 (elevated 2019)
2023: When finishing rotation after 5AM on ADY assignment, allowing release into the day off option (elevated 2022)
2023: Per Diem increase (elevated 2022)
2024: Allow move-ups from domestic to international, allow move-ups to include rotation (elevated 2017)
2024: Allow move-ups to include more days (elevated 2018)
2024: Increase vacation pay to 3:45/day (elevated 2019)
2025: Increase LOD pay by 50c (elevated 2023)
2025: Provide CQ hotels for all FAs regardless of base (elevated 2019)
45 more items have been elevated since 2015 that are still “in progress”

United AFA 2026 Contract Changes:

Updated and expanded definitions to what is considered a Healthcare provider
Added an additional holiday:
1. Adding Halloween as paid holiday for US
2. Adding Boxing Day as paid holiday for UK
Added language which prioritizes Flight Attendants' access to cabin jumpseats
Increased parking stipend at Flight Attendants’ designated airport to $60/month
When a White flag (IPY) trip is traded, 150% pay follows rotation to the working Flight Attendant
Draft pay increased from 3:00 to 4:00
Reassignment pay increased to $20/hour
Drug testing pay increased from $25 to $50
Widebody galley position on international flights pay increased from $1/hr to $2/hr
International Purser pay increased from $7.50/hr to $10/hr
LOD pay increased from $2.50 to $3.75, LOD pay is included in the monthly guarantee
Short crew pay increased from $7.50 to $9.25
Implemented Boarding pay
Added language to make sure Flight Attendants are paid for each boarding if flight is deplaned
If flight is boarded and then cancelled, boarding pay is protected
Sit pay
Per diem increases
Downtown hotel layover requirement shortened from 19 to 17 hours
Improved hotel language
Hotel gains sharing reimbursements, increasing to $30 minimum from $20 per stay. (When a Flight Attendant cancels a hotel room.)
Red-eye departure/arrivals into home airport allow for travel reimbursement increasing to $20 from $10
Red-eye segments shall not be scheduled or rescheduled to include additional legs after redeye. Limit to 2 legs in segment including a redeye flight (DHD is okay if hotel is guaranteed after)
Flight Attendants may swap trips under 4 hours to report if both Flight Attendants are in base and at the airport with confirmation from scheduling
Flight Attendants may pick up OBP from OT starting at 8PM the day before the rotation begins
Flight Attendants can drop RSV days if staffing coverage is good starting 7 days before RSV day
After trip cancellation, domicile hotels are offered if electing for replacement flying until new trip assignment report
Flight cancellation time will now be recorded in Flight Attendant's schedule
Starting at 2 hours, Flight Attendants are paid $20/hr increased from $15/hr for each hour flown into their off time
Once blocked in during a reroute, Flight Attendant may not be rerouted further
Updated language to specify that Flight Attendants are not on call during layovers
Reserve Availability Periods (RAPs), 14:00 availability window rather than 24hr RSV
Added language that 24hr RSV will only be assigned if requested, protecting Flight Attendants from the company implementing mandatory 24hr RSV blocks
Limits extension of RAP from 4 to 3 times a month. Extensions must be notified at least 2 hours in advance, and extensions will pay an additional 3:00 of pay
Increases holiday preferencing from 3 to 4 layover city codes, to be awarded in seniority order on where they would like to be if trips become available
First-come, first-served pick up from open time for RSV beginning at 1PM the day before RSV block (10:00 or earlier RPT)
Automatic release to report
After 4 pre-boards, Flight Attendant is automatically released from flying
Paid Deadhead up to 5:00 for travel to company meetings/trainings at full pay
All trainings and company meetings now receive per diem
Trip drop for company trainings/meetings will be pay-protected
Purser pay, LOD pay to be included in vacation pay when hour requirement is met
Flight Attendants may take an additional week of vacation either unpaid or paid (Flex Vacation). This vacation can be paid for in advance by deducting hours from each month’s pay in advance. Deduction increased from 1:54 to 2:02
Flight Attendants can pick up white/purple flag pairings while on vacation
Sick leave bank increased to 1500 from 1250
Separate OJI bank increased to 500 from 400
Flight Attendants who were absent for maternity or illness onset will now accrue 8 hours of sick leave each month until they fully restore their sick leave to the amount it was at before the onset
OJI or occupational sickness will not accrue attendance points
Allows for telehealth visits following sick calls
Repeated changes from an accredited physician to Healthcare provider
Flight Attendants will continue to accrue sick leave until official Flight Attendant release or time of death, at which point all accrued sick leave will be paid out to beneficiaries at base pay rate
The first 10 weeks of maternity leave will be paid at base hourly rate on a 71:00 hr prorated monthly award
Adds language for surrogacy travel
2 weeks paid parental leave at base hourly rate, 71:00 prorated
2 weeks paid adoption leave at base hourly rate, 71:00 prorated
When awarded base transfer, awarded shipping weight limit increased from 500 lbs to 1,000 lbs of personal items
Flight Attendants involuntarily furloughed shall continue to accrue seniority for all purposes except for pay and vacation
Flight Attendants may not consume alcohol within 12:00 of duty report; currently, consuming alcohol within 8 hours is treated as a positive test for alcohol
Added disability benefit language for substance abuse
Lowered maximum probation to 12 months from 18
Management now has an obligation to notify Flight Attendants of their right to union representation
Flight Attendants are supplied with their first uniform and suitcase at company expense
Instead of charging Flight Attendants on probation who leave the company for uniform pieces, it is now an option for Flight Attendants to return the uniform pieces to the company instead
Uniform points now carry $1 per point value
Flight Attendants may use their preferred name on flight bar
Commuter policy now allows for 1 of 2 flights to be used on OAL
Includes Pilot’s scope clause in United Airlines' Flight Attendants' contract
Retro pay / ‘One-time payment’
401k contribution improvement