American Airlines Invests $32 Million in Boarding Pay for Attendants

FORT WORTH- American Airlines (AA) has paid $32 million in boarding pay to flight attendants from April to August 2025. This marks the initial compensation for boarding duties at the Fort Worth-based carrier.

The policy addresses longstanding inequities in crew pay structures. It recognizes ground time value and eases financial pressures on junior staff.

Representative Photo: American Airlines

American Airlines $32 Million Boarding Pay

American Airlines (AA) introduced boarding pay in April 2025, shifting from the traditional model where flight attendants earned wages only during flight time.

Crew members previously worked unpaid from arrival at the gate until pushback. This change ensures payment starts when boarding begins, covering a critical phase of operations.

According to PYOK, the boarding period ranks among the busiest and most stressful job aspects, as noted by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA).

The policy pays at 50% of the regular hourly flying rate, targeting support for lower earning new hires on short domestic routes.

Senior crew on long-haul flights see minimal impact, but the overall structure promotes fairness across seniority levels.

The inflated hourly rates under the old system compensated for unpaid ground time but favored veterans who selected extended airborne hours.

Junior flight attendants faced multiple daily legs with extended unpaid boarding, deplaning, and transitions. Boarding pay establishes that ground efforts hold monetary value, reducing financial strain for newer employees.

Representative Photo: American Airlines

Traditional Pay Challenges and Shifts

US airlines historically paid flight attendants solely for airborne time, leading to hours of uncompensated work before takeoff. This method inflated base rates to offset pre-flight duties but created disparities.

Long serving flight attendant secured high earning international routes, while less experienced staff handled fragmented domestic schedules with minimal flying time.

APFA highlights how this setup forced junior attendants into hardship, as ground tasks consumed much of their workday without pay.

American Airlines (AA)’s adoption reflects broader industry momentum toward equitable compensation.

Four carriers now provide this benefit: Alaska Airlines (AS), Delta Air Lines (DL), and SkyWest (OO) join American Airlines.

Labor costs rise with boarding pay, yet it aligns incentives for efficient operations. Airlines gain motivated crews during peak boarding stress, potentially improving service quality.

The policy’s weighted design ensures it bolsters those most affected by short-haul demands.

Photo: By Colin Brown Photography – https://www.flickr.com/photos/145232442@N02/47072084354/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81315193

Future Expansions

Calls grow to extend boarding pay into full ground duty compensation, covering all non-flying work hours. This would pay for deplaning, layovers, and other airport tasks. APFA pushes for this in upcoming contracts to achieve complete recognition of crew efforts.

Challenges persist, as airlines may seek offsets by adjusting flying pay rates downward or holding them steady.

Long haul flight attendants oppose such changes, fearing reduced earnings from their primary revenue sources. Negotiations balance these tensions to avoid unrest.

APFA commits to advocating for comprehensive pay reforms. In the recent contract, the union gained protections against excessive ground waits, termed “sits” in aviation.

Sits exceeding two and a half hours now earn one minute of pay per two additional minutes. From April to May 2025, this provision compensated 18,000 flight attendants for prolonged sits, adding tangible relief.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Operational Impacts and Union Gains

The new sit pay rule curbs airline scheduling of long, unpaid ground periods between domestic flights.

It directly addresses fatigue and inefficiency from extended waits. Implementation in early 2025 demonstrated quick value, benefiting thousands amid rising operational demands.

Boarding pay integrates with these gains, fostering a more sustainable work environment. Crew retention improves as junior staff face less economic pressure. American Airlines (AA) maintains competitiveness while adapting to union priorities.

Industry wide, boarding pay sets a precedent. Other carriers monitor their effects on costs and morale. As adoption spreads, it could standardize fairer practices across US aviation.

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