Retro Pay - One time Payment
The percentage breakdown for TA2 Retro Pay has been adjusted from TA1. Calculations will be based on the new percentages below. Individual amounts may fluctuate from TA1.
To calculate your one-time payment, click here.
*Total Retro Pay pool, $740 Million increase from $595 Million in TA1
4% of Eligible Earnings for bid periods Sep 1, 2021, through Dec 31, 2021
4% of Eligible Earnings for bid year 2022
4% of Eligible Earnings for bid year 2023
4% of Eligible Earnings for bid year 2024
22% of Eligible Earnings for bid year 2025
25% of Eligible Earnings for the January 2026 through the May, 2026 Bid Periods.
When will I receive my Retro Pay?
United will make a one-time payment to all Eligible Flight Attendants no later than September 15, 2026.
Tax Withholding
Retro Pay is paid as a lump sum, with a 22% IRS withholding rate, which is lower than the withholding rate typically applied to regular paychecks.
*The tax rate does not change if Retro Pay is called anything different.
What is the Eligibility for Retro Pay?
You must be in the role as a Flight Attendant as of March 24, 2026, and be employed as an active Flight Attendant on the date of the One-time Payment
Any Flight Attendant who was active on or after March 24, 2026
If you are employed as a Flight Attendant at United, regardless of leave status, but excluding a management position
A discharged Flight Attendant who has a grievance pending as of the date of the One-time Payment will receive the One-time Payment if they are reinstated to employment by an award of the United Airlines Flight Attendant System Board of Adjustment and that System Board directs the One-time Payment as part of the award.
Retro Pay and 401(k) Contributions
Flight Attendants will have the option to adjust their 401(k) contribution levels, similar to profit-sharing checks. That means you can set whatever portion of the Retro Payment to go into your 401(k), up to the IRS annual maximums: $23,500 for those under 50, with higher catch-up rates beyond age 50.
Is Retro Pay different from a one-time payment?
A signing bonus or “one-time payment” is not tied to any formula and is typically a smaller, flat payment used as an incentive to sign an agreement.
Regardless of the company using the term “one-time payment”, the Retro Pay formula is what was agreed upon.
How Were the Percentages for TA2 Determined?
TA1 included 595 million dollars in retro pay to be distributed among Flight Attendants based on our eligible earnings during the period back to September 2021. TA2 includes an increased amount of 740 million dollars, which reflects the higher pay and longer period covered for our revised TA.
The amount is distributed according to the chart above and a Flight Attendants earnings during the period. Some of the numbers are different from TA1, as we wanted to ensure that Flight Attendants who flew in anticipation of TA1 received as close to the amount specified. We were able to secure 22% for the entire year of 2025, as well as 25% during January through May 2026. This captures the maximum number of Flight Attendants during the period.
The agreement structures it so there are lower increases right after the amendable date of the contract, which was also the Covid period, where raises were lower as well. It stages up the increases higher in recent years to take into account the length of negotiations and the impact on our work group.