Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Ratify a New Labor Contract

Alaska Airlines flight attendants ratified a new three-year labor contract on Friday. The union that represents the Alaska Airlines flight attendants, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, said that 95% of the votes supported the new labor contract. 91% of the 6,900 employees voted. 

With the ratified agreement, Alaska’s flight attendants are getting a pay bump. However, the salary increase will depend on how long they have been working for the airline, ranging from 18.6% to 28.3%. 

It also comes with boarding pay, 25 months of retroactive pay, two additional pay raises during the duration of the contract, and other benefits. The additional pay increase will be at 3% by March 2026 and another 3% by March 2027. 

For the first time, flight attendants get “boarding pay” wherein they start getting paid for the work they do before the doors close. This includes setting up the meals and also greeting passengers. Alaska is among the first airlines to mandate boarding pay in a contract. 

In August, flight attendants rejected a three-year tentative agreement. This would’ve been the first contract to legally bind boarding pay to unionized flight attendants. The two sides went back to the bargaining table in November with the revised proposal and a federal mediator. 

Trips for a Pay

Alaska uses a system called “Trips for a Pay” where flight attendants get paid based on “segments” that depend from the distance flown. For instance, a flight from Seattle to Portland counts as one segment whereas a trip from Seattle to Anchorage will count as four segments.

A flight attendant in their first year could earn $24.95 per flight segment. Now under the new contract, a flight attendant in their first year could earn $32 per segment and $16 in boarding pay. 

Alaska Airlines Welcomes the New Three-Year Labor Contract

Alaska welcomed the ratification of the new three-year labor contract. The airline’s CEO Ben Minicucci said, “I’m glad to have them working under a new contract that values their contributions to Alaska.” 

Jeffrey Peterson, AFA President at Alaska Airlines, said that “This contract will immediately and significantly improve the lives of Alaska Flight Attendants.” Peterson added, “Alaska Flight Attendants’ solidarity pushed management to recognize our critical role to the safety and success of this airline.”