Alaska Air Flight Attendants Secure Pay Raises Up to 28% in New Contract

Alaska Airlines flight attendants have approved a three-year labor contract after more than two years of negotiations. The Association of Flight Attendants reported that 95% voted in favor, with a 91% turnout. The agreement includes immediate pay raises of 18%-28%, plus 3% increases in 2026 and 2027. It also introduces boarding pay for pre-flight duties, making Alaska one of the few airlines to mandate this. A previous deal was rejected in August, prompting renewed talks with a federal mediator. CEO Ben Minicucci called it a major milestone for the airline. The urgency stemmed from Alaska’s recent $1.9 billion Hawaiian Airlines acquisition. Some flight attendants felt pressured to accept the deal due to uncertainty over future negotiations.

Alaska Air Flight Attendants Secure Pay Raises Up to 28% in New Contract

Alaska Air flight attendants have officially ratified a new three-year labor contract, with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA announcing on Friday that 95% of votes cast were in favor. The agreement includes pay increases between 18.6% and 28.3%, boarding pay, 25 months of retroactive pay, and two additional raises over the contract’s duration, along with other benefits. In August, workers had rejected a tentative three-year deal, which was the first to mandate boarding pay for unionized flight attendants. Welcoming the agreement, Alaska Air CEO Ben Minicucci stated, “I’m glad to have them working under a new contract that values their contributions to Alaska.”

Alaska Airlines flight attendants have overwhelmingly approved a tentative labor contract, concluding more than two years of negotiations and paving the way for further bargaining with Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants later this year.

The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), which represents Alaska’s crew members, announced on Friday that 95% of voting members supported the agreement, with a high turnout of 91% among the airline’s 6,900 flight attendants.

“This contract will immediately and significantly improve the lives of Alaska Flight Attendants,” said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA President at Alaska Airlines, emphasizing that their solidarity pushed management to acknowledge their vital role in the airline’s success and safety.

Under the new contract, all flight attendants will receive an immediate pay raise of 18% to 28%, depending on tenure, followed by additional 3% increases in March 2026 and March 2027. For the first time, attendants will also be compensated for boarding duties, such as passenger greetings, meal preparations, and safety checks, making Alaska one of the few airlines to mandate boarding pay in a contract.

Previously, attendants rejected an initial contract proposal in August, leading to renewed negotiations in November with the involvement of a federal mediator. While the original offer included boarding pay, the ratified agreement increases the amount. A first-year flight attendant, for example, will now earn $32 per flight segment plus $16 in boarding pay—up from the initial offer of $13.44 for boarding.

Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci called the contract a significant milestone, highlighting the crucial role flight attendants play in the airline’s reputation for exceptional service and safety.

The urgency in these final negotiations stemmed from the airline’s recent $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, completed in September. With contract merger talks set to begin in April, this agreement was the last opportunity for Alaska’s flight attendants to secure improved pay and working conditions before entering joint negotiations with their Hawaiian counterparts.

Some attendants admitted they felt pressured to approve the deal due to uncertainty over future negotiations. “Our backs were against the wall,” said Thresia Raynor, a flight attendant based in Anchorage. “There are parts that feel like concessions, but we had to vote yes or risk not knowing when we’d get a deal.”