Flight Attendants Said “No” — Not Because of AI, But Because Their Union Failed

By Alexander Wood

When United Airlines flight attendants voted on their tentative agreement, union leadership hailed it as a historic win. The reality was starkly different: nearly 71% of members rejected the contract. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) had promised raises averaging $21,500 per flight attendant, with senior crew members potentially receiving up to $50,000. Five years without a contract—this was not enough.

Instead of listening, the union blamed “misinformation,” blogs, and even artificial intelligence for the overwhelming “no” vote, as Forbes reported. No algorithm convinces thousands of workers to reject a life-changing raise—unless the raise itself is inadequate.

Ground Pay Ignored. Wages Stagnant.

The proposed increase did little to offset inflation and stagnant wages over the past five years. Even worse, ground duty pay was ignored entirely. Flight attendants earn nothing during boarding, deplaning, or long tarmac delays—despite being responsible for safety, passenger issues, and operational prep. United attendants raised this as a top bargaining priority, but union negotiators quietly dropped it.

US Transport News captured the frustration bluntly: “Our negotiators suck.” They weren’t wrong.

The AI Excuse

AFA leadership, including President Sara Nelson, suggested AI-generated misinformation swayed members. Reality check: no AI program can overcome a union with a track record of unfulfilled promises, weak bargaining, and ignored priorities. At Endeavor Air, fewer than 1 in 4 grievances were resolved in favor of employees last year. At PSA, strike votes fizzled without action. And at United, promises of aggressive bargaining produced a contract that left the most critical issues untouched.

Newsflash, Sara: AI wasn’t a thing when United negotiated away pensions for flight attendants. This isn’t AI misinformation. It’s a history of failure.

A Union Protecting Itself, Not Its Members

AFA is defensive, dismissive, and gaslighting its own members. Workers who ask questions are often mocked or silenced. Reports of harassment, retaliation, and toxic behavior among union reps go unchecked. Meanwhile, at non-unionized Delta, management has proactively raised wages, offered profit-sharing, and kept employees satisfied—no pickets, no spin required.

CUPE, representing Air Canada flight attendants, went on strike earlier this year—and won substantial gains, including fair wage increases, better working conditions, and enforceable contract protections. Their success came through real bargaining, not media optics or PR stunts. That starkly contrasts with United’s “historic” deal and highlights what a union truly committed to members can achieve. AFA should be embarrassed that they can’t even accomplish this for their own members.

Meanwhile, AFA is planning to increase dues in 2026—more than $50 a month—while paying out roughly $70 million annually in salaries to union leaders. Flight attendants are expected to shell out more money with no meaningful results.

Why the Vote Failed

Flight attendants said no because:

• Ground pay inequities were ignored.

• Raises came years late and didn’t match inflation.

• Trust in AFA leadership is gone.

• Members are tired of excuses and blame-shifting toward AI, “fake news,” and outside forces.

Time for Accountability

If AFA wants to regain trust, it must:

• Make ground duty pay a central bargaining priority.

• Be transparent about negotiations.

• Stop blaming AI or outside forces.

• Enforce grievance wins over glossy PR campaigns.

• Remove Sara Nelson, Dante Harris, Keturah Johnson, and other leaders causing dysfunction.

Flight attendants deserve advocacy, not gaslighting. Paying high dues should mean accountability and results. Flight attendants deserve unions that fight for them, not excuses.

The Bottom Line

Flight attendants didn’t reject the United contract because of AI. They rejected it because their union failed them. AFA can either adapt—or keep watching members send the same resounding message: no.

Alexander Wood is a flight attendant with five years of aviation experience and nearly a decade in customer service. He is passionate about aviation and advocates for greater accountability from both airlines and unions.