Rumor Has It: January 2026
Note: “Rumor Has It” is a biweekly newsletter sent to Delta flight attendants about a range of topics from company policies to questions about flight benefits and what is happening around the industry. Delta occasionally addresses questions in Rumor Has It related to AFA’s organizing efforts. For ease of reference, those questions and answers have been included below.
From January 27, 2026 Edition
QUESTION: What’s going on with United and AFA contract negotiations?
ANSWER: United and AFA remain stuck in negotiations. Here’s what they’ve recently shared with flight attendants:
- United said while flight attendants deserve an “industry leading contract,” AFA’s economic proposal would put the company at a “competitive disadvantage compared to other airlines.”
- United also reiterated that “the TA1 wage structure would have provided United flight attendants with industry-leading pay among unionized U.S. carriers for the duration of the agreement,” signaling the difficulty in reaching a new agreement.
AFA’s update paints a different picture.
- The union says it won’t be distracted by the “non-starter” concessions that United is proposing to fund improvements to a new agreement, despite telling flight attendants last year that a new agreement isn’t guaranteed to be “fundamentally different in terms of economics.”
This is the negotiations process in action. For any agreement, whether a first contract or a five-plus year negotiation for a new one, both parties have to agree. Negotiations sessions are scheduled through at least March, and United flight attendants continue to await their first raise in five years, with top-of-scale pay stuck at $67.11, which is 21% behind Delta.
RUMOR: I heard AFA say profit sharing would be better if it was “locked” into a contract.
FACT: This is misleading. Our profit sharing program is far superior to what AFA has negotiated for their flight attendants. No U.S. airline – whether AFA-represented or not – has come close to sharing as much profit with their people as Delta.
Consider what AFA has “locked” for United flight attendants:
- They don’t receive the same level of profit sharing as pilots. Last year, 7.9% was paid to pilots while flight attendants received 5.3%. This year flight attendants will receive 4.57%.
- A new hire flight attendant isn’t eligible for profit sharing until after one year of service.
At Delta, everyone receives the same payout percentage, regardless of workgroup or seniority, and we do it year after year. In fact, no U.S. airline has paid over $1 billion in profit sharing to their people in a single year, and we’ve done it nine times. Since 2007, we’ve shared more than $14 billion with employees.
Related Articles
SEPT 10, 2025
Rumor Has It: September 2025
Heard something and wondered if it’s true? Get answers in recent editions of Rumor Has It.
AUG 12, 2024
Rumor Has It: August 2025
Heard something and wondered if it’s true? Get answers in recent editions of Rumor Has It.
MAY 21, 2025
Rumor Has It: May 2025
Heard something and wondered if it’s true? Get answers in recent editions of Rumor Has It.
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.