Elements of America West Accord Released

America West’s 2,300 flight attendants would divide $3.1 million in bonuses as part of their tentative contract agreement with the airline, union officials said. The airline averted a strike by reaching a five-year, $80-million deal over the weekend with the Assn. of Flight Attendants. The AFA’s negotiating committee Wednesday night released some details of the contract, which includes a pay raise. Top-scale flight attendants would see their salary rise from $23,800 to between $32,200 and $33,800. Flight attendants would also be paid daily expenses for the first time--a payment for every hour they are on the job or awaiting a flight to their home base. America West spokesman Patty Nowack said the airline had no comment on the tentative contract, which must be ratified by a secret mail ballot by the attendants, with the final count scheduled for April 30.