Key Takeaways
• In September 2024, flight attendants approved a new five-year contract including long-overdue wage increases and pay for downtime.
• Pay disparity persists: PSA Airlines attendants earn about 45% less than mainline American Airlines staff for similar work.
• Union internal divisions remain; new contract introduces a controversial ‘B-scale,’ fueling concerns over fairness and future disputes.
The voices of American Airlines flight attendants have grown louder in recent years, as they battle for better pay, fair treatment, and safer workplaces. Their frustration is about much more than salary alone. It is about dignity, equality, and respect on the job. The story of American Airlines flight attendants—told through strikes, contract negotiations, and everyday struggles—touches on important issues not just for them, but for many workers across the United States 🇺🇸 and the entire airline industry.
Years of Frustration Lead to New Contract
For years, American Airlines flight attendants worked under old conditions, while costs for food, rent, and daily life soared. The lack of raises during a period of high inflation made things even tougher. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the growing gap between what attendants were paid and what it cost to live led to increasing anger and pressure on management.
After many rounds of tough talks, and strong shows of unity from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) union, flight attendants approved a new five-year deal in September 2024. The contract included the first wage increases in years, plus pay for the downtimes between flights. This was a major win for the flight attendants, who had long felt ignored as they waited for fair compensation.
However, the road to that deal was not easy. Before reaching an agreement, the union staged a major protest on May 9, 2024. Flight attendants picketed in front of the White House, demanding better pay and respect from one of the world’s largest airlines. The APFA asked for a 33% pay raise right away, followed by annual increases of 6% for four more years. American Airlines management responded with a smaller offer—an 18% raise at first, then smaller bumps each year after. The big gap between the two sides showed just how deep the frustration ran.
Pay Gaps Within the Company
A sore spot for many workers is the big pay gap between flight attendants who work for American Airlines itself and those at its regional subsidiaries, especially PSA Airlines. The latter are owned by the parent company, but their employees do much of the same work for far less money.
To make this more concrete, flight attendants at PSA Airlines earn about 45% less than those flying for American Airlines’ mainline. So while one attendant might make close to $24,000 a year in the first few years of service, others at the parent company make much more for the same duties. This has caused real pain for those at PSA, especially considering American Airlines posted profits of $846 million in 2024.
In reaction to these clear gaps, PSA crews held protests across major airline hubs. They called out what they saw as unfair pay and demanded a change. For many, it felt like being a second-class worker in the same family of companies.
Management Decisions Draw Criticism
While flight attendants fought for fairer pay, turmoil brewed within the company’s top ranks. In April 2025, financial news revealed that American Airlines had lost $473 million in the first quarter. This was a shock after such a profitable previous year.
The APFA union quickly issued a strong memo blaming upper management for mistakes. They highlighted decisions around sales and ticket distribution, which the union believes made some customers choose other airlines like Delta and United. Adding fuel to the fire, the union was angered that a former top executive, Vasu Raja, received a severance package worth more than $1 million—despite being at the center of the failed strategies.
The union’s statement read, “A contributor to this underperformance has been a series of missteps in sales and distribution strategies,” pointing to how these moves may have driven business customers away.
To many flight attendants, this was proof that those in charge were protecting themselves while average employees were left to face hard times and tough choices. When workers at the front line see top bosses walk away with big payoffs after leading the company to losses, morale takes another blow.
Demanding Work and Rougher Skies
The job itself has only become more difficult, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline industry saw a huge uptick in “unruly passenger” incidents during this time. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recorded a 492% spike in such events in 2021. Although these numbers have gone down, they are still higher than before the pandemic.
Flight attendants now face more threats and bad behavior from passengers than ever. A survey of more than 5,000 flight attendants across the industry showed that 58% dealt with more than five unruly passenger events, and nearly 20% were physically assaulted while on duty. These are not just numbers—they are real, stressful situations that cause serious damage to attendants’ mental and physical health.
Many flight attendants report feeling “exhausted, physically and emotionally.” Long hours, changing shifts, pressure to keep passengers safe, and now, increased risk of conflict have made their jobs even tougher.
Division Within the Union
As if outside pressures were not enough, the union representing American Airlines flight attendants has its own problems. In early 2025, one of the union’s base presidents filed formal charges against the union’s Vice President. The main complaints were about weak leadership and a claim that union leaders were not doing enough to protect members’ interests.
Critics of the new contract say it creates what they call a “B-scale” system—a pay structure in which new hires make less and have fewer benefits than those with longer service. They also worry that this new system will not keep up with pay increases given to flight attendants at Delta or United. This has caused splits within the union, as some feel their efforts have not brought enough progress.
The result is a divided workforce: some flight attendants are pleased with the new contract, which finally brings some relief after years of stagnation, while others are frustrated that it does not go far enough toward fairness and keeping up with competitors.
Broader Impacts on the Industry
The story of American Airlines flight attendants does not happen in a vacuum. Similar battles over contract negotiations, pay, and working conditions are happening at airlines all over the United States 🇺🇸. Unions are growing bolder, and staff are more likely than ever to speak up for better rights.
The pay gaps seen between regional airlines and mainline companies are a common problem across the industry. As airlines look to save money, regional staff often get left behind—even when profits are strong at the top. When attendants can’t afford to stay in the job, worker shortages risk flight delays, disruptions, and a risk to safety. Everyone—from passengers to business travelers to the airlines themselves—is affected when staff are unhappy or overworked.
The strikes and union actions also put stress on the summer travel season. Whenever contract talks reach a breaking point, there’s a risk that more disruptions could occur, affecting millions of passengers.
How Is the U.S. Government Responding?
Issues like unruly passenger behavior have led to public updates from the FAA. For its part, the FAA has promoted stricter policies, including fines and potential bans for passengers who act dangerously or violently. The FAA’s official campaign against these problems sends a clear message that safety of crews is a high priority. More information about these actions can be found on the Federal Aviation Administration’s official page addressing unruly passengers.
On the pay disparity front, however, many regional airline employees hope for more support. So far, most changes have come from union efforts and company negotiations, not government rules. Until there is stronger action, large pay gaps may remain.
Looking Forward: What Might Change?
With the new contract in place, American Airlines’ flight attendants will get long-overdue raises and some protection for downtime between flights. The deal is meant to provide stability for both the company and its workers. However, many worry that it falls short in closing pay gaps between mainline and regional staff, or in catching up with raises at other airlines.
Internal disputes within the union and complaints about “B-scale” systems could fuel more tension in the years ahead. If flight attendants feel the union is not standing up for them, or if new hires remain far behind in pay and benefits, the cycle of protest and demand may continue.
Across the industry, there’s growing pressure on airlines to value the people who keep flights safe and comfortable. If nothing changes, airlines could face more strikes, higher turnover, and a loss of skilled staff.
What This Means for Immigrants and Overseas Job Seekers
The story of American Airlines flight attendants also speaks to people from outside the United States 🇺🇸 who may dream of working in the airline industry. For foreign nationals, getting a job as a flight attendant in the United States 🇺🇸 usually requires proper work authorization—like a green card or a work visa. These jobs can be desirable for those wanting to travel, learn English, or build a career in a respected company.
But the problems faced by American Airlines flight attendants—job stress, pay disparities, uncertain union support, and the challenge of handling difficult passengers—might give pause to potential newcomers. Learning about these issues helps overseas job seekers set realistic expectations and decide if working as a flight attendant in the United States 🇺🇸 is right for them.
For those wanting to learn more about working in the United States 🇺🇸 and the rules for being employed as a foreign national, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website is a trusted source of information.
Final Thoughts
The last few years have put many American Airlines flight attendants in a tough spot. Inflation outpaced their wages, working conditions became more difficult, passengers more unruly, and management decisions sometimes made things worse. The approval of a new contract in September 2024 brought some relief—fairer pay, recognition for waiting time, and a sense of progress.
But real challenges remain: pay gaps between mainline and regional crews, complaints about union leadership, and ongoing issues with passenger behavior. These problems reflect larger struggles in the airline business, where companies, unions, and workers must work together to keep their industry fair, safe, and strong.
As the world watches, the choices made at American Airlines may shape how flight attendants everywhere are paid, respected, and protected in the years ahead. People who dream of joining their ranks—whether from the United States 🇺🇸 or anywhere else—will be keeping a close eye on what comes next.
Learn Today
B-scale → A pay structure where new hires receive lower salaries and benefits than longer-serving employees within the same role.
Mainline → Refers to the primary branch of an airline, as opposed to its regional subsidiaries with often different pay and conditions.
Downtime → The periods between assigned flights when flight attendants are not actively working onboard but are still on duty.
APFA → Association of Professional Flight Attendants, the union representing American Airlines’ mainline flight attendants.
Unruly Passenger → A passenger who behaves disruptively or violently onboard, potentially threatening safety and increasing job stress for attendants.
This Article in a Nutshell
After years of stagnant pay and difficult conditions, American Airlines flight attendants secured a five-year contract with long-awaited raises in September 2024. However, internal union disputes and persistent pay gaps, especially between mainline and regional staff, mean continued challenges for fair treatment and industry-wide labor relations.
— By VisaVerge.com
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