United Airlines Sued for Unpaid Ground Duties of Flight Attendants

CHICAGO— United Airlines (UA) finds itself embroiled in a class action lawsuit initiated by a former flight attendant. The lawsuit alleges that the airline compelled its crew members to work unpaid during critical parts of their job.

The lawsuit was lodged in a New Jersey district court and asserts that cabin crew stationed at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) are not properly compensated for essential ground tasks. These include crucial activities like boarding, deplaning, and mandated pre-flight processes.

United Airlines Lawsuit Over Unpaid Duties

Ava Lawrey, a former flight attendant for United Airlines from July 2023 to July 2025, asserts that the airline breached New Jersey wage and hour laws by neglecting to pay crew members for all hours they were required to work.

As per the complaint, Lawrey had to:

• Arrive at Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) one hour before flights.
• Conduct safety checks and fill out pre-flight paperwork.
• Oversee passenger boarding and assist during deplaning.
• Wait in uniform for extended periods between connecting flights.

Despite these responsibilities, payment only commenced after the aircraft doors closed and the plane departed from the gate. Lawrey contends this policy resulted in crew members working lengthy hours without adequate pay.

Understanding Flight Attendant Pay Structures

In the United States, flight attendants are generally paid based on “flight pay,” which takes effect at pushback and concludes when the aircraft door opens at the destination. This structure excludes time spent on ground duties.

Lawrey claims that she frequently worked up to 72 hours over six consecutive days, but was compensated for only 48 hours due to multiple short-haul flights.

This discrepancy is especially pronounced for newer flight attendants, who often operate shorter routes compared to their senior colleagues on longer journeys.

Context within the Industry

In recent developments, United Airlines has proposed introducing boarding pay, following similar initiatives by Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and SkyWest Airlines. Typically, this boarding pay is half of standard flight pay but does not encompass other ground duties.

A tentative contract offering an average wage increase of 26.9% was rejected by United’s flight attendants in July. Reports indicate that dissatisfaction arose from union concessions on full ground duty pay.

Providing ground duty pay would offer fairer compensation, particularly for junior crew members. However, senior attendants express concerns that such changes might reduce overall flight pay, leading to ongoing debates within the workforce.

Other Lawsuits in the Airline Sector

United Airlines isn’t the sole airline facing such accusations. In February, Southwest Airlines (WN) was sued by veteran flight attendant Matthew Lanclos over the absence of boarding pay, challenging existing labor agreements ratified by the crew.

Both United Airlines and Southwest Airlines are likely to contend that federal aviation regulations, along with collective bargaining agreements and the Railway Labor Act, supersede state labor laws, thereby exempting them from local wage statutes.

Lawrey’s lawsuit against United Airlines is pending in New Jersey district court, under case number 2:25-cv-15624.