Even With Retro Pay, Delta Still Comes Out Ahead
United AFA’s recent tentative agreement includes a one-time payment (also referred to as retro pay) intended to catch United flight attendants up after more than five years of no pay increases.
Even with that payment, Delta flight attendants still earned more than their United peers over the same time period in both hourly flight pay and total compensation (includes boarding premium pay, profit sharing and Shared Rewards).
If the agreement is approved, the one-time payment is based on United flight attendants’ eligible earnings: 4% of earnings from Sept. 2021 – Dec. 2024, 22% of 2025 earnings, 25% of Jan. – May 2026 earnings.
Here is how Delta and United stack up on total compensation over the same time period, including the retro payment:
Top of Scale – A Delta flight attendant who was already at TOS in September 2021 earned $49,900 more in total compensation than a peer at United.
| Top of Scale Total Compensation with Retro Pay September 2021 – May 2026 |
||
| Delta | United AFA | |
| Sept. 2021 – Dec. 2021 | $22,500 | $22,600 |
| 2022 | $73,700 | $68,800 |
| 2023 | $82,500 | $68,300 |
| 2024 | $89,700 | $73,800 |
| 2025 | $93,600 | $83,000 |
| Jan. 2026 – May 2026 | $39,600 | $35,200 |
| TOTAL | $401,600 | $351,700 |
Total compensation includes hourly flight pay, boarding premium pay, Shared Rewards and profit sharing; analysis assumes 80-hour per month schedule.
New Hire – A Delta flight attendant who started in Sept. 2021 earned $27,100 more in total compensation than a peer at United.
| New Hire Total Compensation with Retro Pay September 2021 – May 2026 |
||
| Delta | United AFA | |
| Sept. 2021 – Dec. 2021 | $10,100 | $9,800 |
| 2022 | $34,500 | $31,200 |
| 2023 | $40,000 | $32,300 |
| 2024 | $46,000 | $36,900 |
| 2025 | $50,200 | $44,700 |
| Jan. 2026 – May 2026 | $21,400 | $20,200 |
| TOTAL | $202,200 | $175,100 |
Total compensation includes hourly flight pay, boarding premium pay, Shared Rewards and profit sharing; analysis assumes 80-hour per month schedule.
Here is how Delta and United stack up on hourly flight pay alone over the same time period, including the retro payment:
Top of Scale – A Delta flight attendant who was already at TOS in September 2021 earned $9,000 more in flight pay than a peer at United, even after accounting for United’s retro pay.
| Top of Scale Hourly Flight Pay with Retro Pay September 2021 – May 2026 |
||
| Delta | United AFA | |
| Sept. 2021 – Dec. 2021 | $22,200 | $22,600 |
| 2022 | $68,500 | $67,800 |
| 2023 | $72,000 | $67,800 |
| 2024 | $75,000 | $67,800 |
| 2025 | $78,400 | $79,500 |
| Jan. 2026 – May 2026 | $33,200 | $33,900 |
| TOTAL | $349,300 | $339,400 |
Analysis assumes 80-hour per month schedule.
New Hire – A Delta flight attendant who started in Sept. 2021 earned $5,000 more in hourly flight pay than a peer at United.
| New Hire Hourly Flight Pay with Retro Pay September 2021 – May 2026 |
||
| Delta | United AFA | |
| Sept. 2021 – Dec. 2021 | $9,900 | $9,800 |
| 2022 | $31,100 | $30,200 |
| 2023 | $34,700 | $32,000 |
| 2024 | $38,500 | $34,000 |
| 2025 | $41,800 | $43,000 |
| Jan. 2026 – May 2026 | $17,700 | $19,500 |
| TOTAL | $173,700 | $168,500 |
Analysis assumes 80-hour per month schedule.
Delta flight attendants still come out ahead because of our commitment to continuous improvement, including regular pay raises. The truth is:
- Retro pay doesn’t make you whole for missing years of pay increases. Even AFA has said regular pay raises are better than a lump sum years later, telling its members last year:
“There is an economic principle of the time value of money, which holds that having a unit of money now is more valuable than having that same value in the future. That means having a wage increase at present is more valuable than having the same or similar amount down the road.”
- Retro pay means you’ve been underpaid for the years of work you’ve already done. It’s money that you missed out on that you could’ve saved, used for day-to-day living expenses, or invested (and grown) over years.
- Stagnant wages also negatively impact other parts of compensation, such as profit sharing, boarding premium pay, vacation pay, retirement savings (including company contributions), and other investments.
Factor it all in, and it’s clear that Delta’s approach delivers more. That’s the power of our direct relationship.
Related Articles
MAY 09, 2025
AFA admits waiting for pay increases is less valuable
Delta flight attendants don’t have to wait years to get pay increases.
APR 18, 2025
With AFA, improvements to pay are stop-and-go
Delta consistently delivers more for flight attendants.
OCT 25, 2024
The truth about retro pay and signing bonuses
Years of steady pay increases at Delta delivers more.
Stay in the know.
Text DELTA to +1 205 846 8096 for updates*
*By texting the keyword above, you are agreeing to receive periodic SMS text messages from Delta Air Lines regarding One Future. One Delta. Standard messaging and data rates may apply. You may unsubscribe any time by texting “STOP” and the keyword above to +1 205 846 8096. Full Terms.
Stay in the know.
Text DELTA to +1 205 846 8096 for updates*
*By texting the keyword above, you are agreeing to receive periodic SMS text messages from Delta Air Lines regarding One Future. One Delta. Standard messaging and data rates may apply. You may unsubscribe any time by texting “STOP” and the keyword above to +1 205 846 8096. Full Terms.