{"id":155077,"date":"2026-08-21T22:16:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T16:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=155077"},"modified":"2026-08-21T20:52:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T15:22:37","slug":"united-flight-attendant-lawsuit-dismissed-as-court-backs-airline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/21\/united-flight-attendant-lawsuit-dismissed-as-court-backs-airline\/","title":{"rendered":"United Flight Attendant Lawsuit Dismissed as Court Backs Airline"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEW JERSEY-<\/strong> United Airlines (UA)<\/a> has secured a major legal victory after a federal judge dismissed most claims in a proposed class action filed by two former flight attendants over unpaid work. The lawsuit alleged that employees were required to perform essential duties at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and other locations without compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The case focused on whether United Airlines violated New Jersey wage laws by not paying flight attendants for boarding, deplaning, pre-flight preparation, and other ground duties. The court concluded that most of the claims fall under the airline’s collective bargaining agreement and must instead be handled through the labor arbitration process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"United
Representative Photo: United Airlines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Federal Judge Sides With United Airlines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A New Jersey district court ruled largely in favor of United Airlines, dismissing nearly all claims brought by former flight attendants Ava Lawrey and Lauren Tripp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawrey worked for United between July 2023 and July 2025 and was based at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)<\/a>. She alleged that the airline required flight attendants to perform mandatory duties before and after flights without compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the lawsuit, Lawrey typically reported to work around 90 minutes before scheduled departure. During this period, she passed through TSA security, checked in at the gate, attended mandatory crew briefings, completed required paperwork, and inspected safety equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also participated in passenger boarding, a phase widely considered one of the busiest and most demanding parts of a flight attendant’s duties because of customer service responsibilities, carry-on baggage issues, and ensuring cabin safety before departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawsuit claimed that flight attendants<\/a> only began receiving pay once the aircraft door was closed and the aircraft started pushing back from the gate. Compensation ended once the aircraft arrived at its destination gate, even though cabin crew could still be required to manage passenger safety during deplaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to PYOK<\/a>, the plaintiffs argued that these unpaid duties violated New Jersey wage and hour laws requiring employees to be compensated for all required working time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"United
Photo: United Airlines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Claims Covered by Labor Agreement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lawrey identified several tasks that she claimed were routinely performed without pay, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n