Pay Rates
*UA is actively in negotiations which means their pay scale does not increase past the 2020 rates.
Minimum Guarantee
Line Holder: 71 hours
Reserve: 78 hours
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Leader Pay
Flight Service Leader: $7.50 per hour extra.
Non Qualified Flight Service Leader: $6.50 per hour extra.
Purser (Domestic): Up to $4 per hour extra depending on aircraft and location.
Foreign Language Speaker Premium Pay
Paid $2.50 per hour extra for each flight in which the flight attendant uses his or her language skills.
International Pay
Paid $2.00 per hour extra on each international pairing.
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Deadhead Pay
All deadheads are paid at 100% for block or actual flight time, whichever is higher. All premium pay additives apply to deadheads.
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Holiday Pay
Lineholder: Pay rate times pairing credit. Take that number and divide it by the total time away from base on the pairing. This will provide the holiday pay rate. At this point multiply the holiday pay rate times the time away from base that is applicable to the holiday and that will result in the total holiday pay paid to the flight attendant.
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Reserve flight attendants receive no holiday pay if released on the holiday.
Ready Reserves that do not fly: 4:27 (30 day bid period) or 4:13 (31 day bid period) hours extra of pay.
Ready Reserves that do fly: Lineholder rules or non-flying ready reserve rules apply, whichever is higher.
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No more than 5 holidays per year will be paid extra. Applicable holidays depends on domicile country as listed in Section 2.Q of the contract.
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Incentive Pay
Flight attendants will be paid an extra $5 per hour for all block hours flown between 200 - 330 hours in a calendar quarter.
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Exception: No incentive pay will apply for flying above 110 hours in a bid month. In order to hit the 330 hour calendar quarter maximum a FA will need to hit the monthly maximum every month as a result.
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White Flag Pay
The company may elect to designate specific white flag days. If an FA picks up a trip on a white flag day the entire trip will be paid at 150%. This pay is based on specific days being considered white flag.
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Purple Flag Pay
The company may elect to designate specific purple flag trips. If an FA picks up a purple flag trip the entire trip will be paid at 150%. This pay is based on specific trips being considered purple flag.
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Per Diem (as of 8/28/22)
Domestic - $2.20 per hour away from base
International - $2.85 per hour away from base
Vacation Pay and Accrual
Vacation Pay and Credit
Vacation will be paid at 3:15 hours per day
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A flight attendant may elect to contribute 7 to 14 days of vacation toward their 401k.
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Vacation Bidding
Vacation must be bid in blocks of 6 days or more and have no more than a total of 5 vacation periods.
A flight attendant may elect to take an extra 7 days of unpaid vacation ("Optional Flex") each year.
Sick Pay and Accrual
Sick Accrual
Flight attendants will accrue 4 hours of sick time for each month of active service. The bank will max out once reaching 1,250 hours
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Sick Pay and Usage
Flight attendants sick hours will cover their missed flying or reserve at 100%, assuming they have enough sick time to cover the absence
A line holder's sick bank will be charged the value of the trip/portion of trip he or she missed
A reserve flight attendant's sick bank will be charged based on the reserve day value for that bid period.
Hours of Service
Minimum Days Off
Line holders are required to have 10 days off free from duty in base. The flight attendant may choose to go below 10 days off by trip trading or picking up trips.
Reserves must have a minimum of 12 days free from duty in base. A minimum of a four day stretch of days off will be considered as "set" days. A flight attendant may not be scheduled into a "set" day.
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Reserve Rotation
All flight attendants will be on continuous reserve until their seniority allows them to hold a line.
Retirement/401k
401k Contributions
Retirement plans differ for previous Continental flight attendants and employees. The following retirement program is what will shape United's 401k going forward until a new contract has been negotiated.
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Flight attendants shall receive direct contributions equal to 5% of eligible compensation.
United will make an additional 100% match for the first 3% a flight attendant contributes.
The total maximum company contribution is 8%
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Vesting Schedule
Domiciles and Fleet
Fleets
United currently operates the B737, B757, B767, B777, B787, and A320 family (A319, A320, A321).
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All of the long haul international flying is conducted by the B757, B767, B777 and B787.
Domiciles
United utilizes co-domiciles and satellite domiciles with many of their bases. While flying may originate in certain cities other than the domicile on record, seniority may make it difficult to get these trips.
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LHR*
BOS
EWR (includes EWR/LGA)*
IAD (includes IAD/DCA/BWI)*
CLE
ORD*
FLL
MCO
TPA
IAH*
AUS
DEN*
PHX
SAN
SFO*
LAX*
HNL*
GUM*
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*Widebody
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Parking
United will pay for a parking pass at the flight attendants domicile. If parking at a domicile but not provided parking a flight attendant may use public parking and expense it to the company.
If parking facilities are not available for employees at an airport other than their domicile the company will provide up to $35 per month for parking.
Flight Benefits
Non-Revenue Travel
Flight attendants are given flight benefits on all United and United Express flights. Standby travel is normally free, however, some international destinations will charge taxes and fees as well as imputed income.
They may choose one spouse, domestic partner, or registered companion to share the same benefits with. Flight attendants are given buddy passes to give to family and friends which will cost the individual depending on the distance and destination. Flight Attendants may choose to add a second registered companion in lieu of receiving buddy passes.
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Flight attendants will receive 20% off of purchased United Airlines flights
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Jumpseating
Flight attendants have the privilege of jumpseating on United and United Express flights. They may also jumpseat on other air carriers that have reciprocal agreements with United.
Union Information
Union
Association of Flight Attendants (AFA)
Flight attendants are required to maintain membership with the AFA as a condition of employment. Membership is required within 60 days of employment, and all dues/initiation fees must be paid.
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Contract
The current contract is effective August 28th, 2016 to August 28th, 2021. The contract has been amendable for 2 years. The AFA is still in negotiations with United for a new contract.
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Probation
A flight attendant shall be on probation for the first 180 days of service with the company
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Hiring Information
Currently Hiring?
As of October 14th, 2023 United is only hiring foreign language speakers.
Apply Here
https://careers.united.com/us/en/search-results?keywords=flight%20attendant
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Total Flight Attendant Group
As of September 29th - 26,930 flight attendants
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Furlough Status
There are no flight attendants on furlough.
If any of the above information is incorrect or you would like us to add information, please feel free to fill out the form below and we will make the adjustments as quickly as we can!