United Continental forecasts a higher profit margin in Q4, as bookings strengthened and expenses related to employment benefits were lower than expected, the company said Thursday. United said it now expects its pretax margin to be between 7.5% and 8.5%, a jump from its earlier prediction of 5 to 7% for the period. Shares were unchanged in after-hours trading. The carrier announced a smaller-than-expected passenger unit revenue, which compares sales to how many seats United flies and how far it flies them. It is now projected to decline 3 to 4% compared with prior expectations of a 4 to 6% drop. The improved forecast comes on the heels of a newly ratified contract with the carrier's mechanics. United said it expects the deal to increase Q4 unit costs, excluding fuel and other expenses, by 0.5 percentage points. However, United said lower benefits expenses would limit unit costs to growing between 4 and 4.5% in the quarter from a year ago.<br/>