I don’t see how this doesn’t end up in arbitration, based on how far apart the side are.

I’d be curious to know how many majors have FAs using PBS vs line bidding. If 75% have already gone to PBS it might be in their best interests to focus their negotiating capital elsewhere (work rules). That way if it gets to arbitration you can say “look how unreasonable the company is, no one else does X,Y, and Z but the company is insisting on it.”

Matter of opinion

Anyone know what the current first and second year pay rate is for united FAs? What % increase they negotiating?

It’s extremily rare that a union accepts arbitration. Alaska Airlines pilots did it twice and got an ugly result both times. I don’t recall AFA ever agreeing to arbitration.

Arbitration probably isn’t the right word. In the current environment I doubt a strike would be permitted. I could see them getting forced into a contract with the labor board mandating “compromises” on both sides. The gist of my question is what percentage of other large airlines still have line bidding? If more than 1/2 do I can see the company being forced to accept that as one of their “compromises”. If we are one of the last hold outs, I can see it going the other way.

Uggghhh, I didn’t major in employment law, but isn’t that what binding arbitration is?

To your question, I believe the UAL cabin crew workgroup is one of the last holdouts of linear bidding. I believe the company has preferential in the passenger seat with the seat belt fastened in case they get pulled over for “industry standard”

First year is $28

Not sure second year. 5th year is $38. Top out at $67

But first year is about $10 less than everyone else and pretty far off as the years go on. Top out at American is $84, but that's due to increase per their contract. Will be $87 in October and continues to rise over the course of the contract.


Everyone else has boarding pay too. Me no good at math but I'd assume they want to match their competitors % wise

Does American do line bidding or PBS?

PBS. United is (of at least majors and legacies) the only FA group that does line bidding.

SWA attendants do not use PBS. Their new contract includes maternal/paternal leave, 22% initial raise w/retro, 3% increase per year.