United Airlines Flight Attendant Job Description
United Airlines, the world's largest airline with the most expansive network, invites applications for the position of Flight Attendant. As part of a growing team of over 28,000 active Flight Attendants, this role offers the unique opportunity to travel the globe while delivering world-class service and ensuring passenger safety. No prior special schooling or a college degree is mandated, as comprehensive training is provided by United.
Role Summary & Responsibilities
Flight Attendants serve as the face of United, prioritizing the highest levels of safety and security ("Safety First") while embodying a "People-First" demeanor. Key responsibilities include:
- Adapting and responding effectively to diverse customer-facing scenarios.
- Serving with optimism, positivity, and outstanding interpersonal skills.
- Exercising good judgment and resolving issues with understanding, compassion, and grace.
- Engaging directly with customers to build loyalty through excellent service.
- Representing United Airlines with pride and distinction.
- Ensuring dependability and timeliness critical to operational schedules and customer expectations.
- Working effectively both independently and as part of a team.
- Creating memorable experiences for customers on every flight.
This role requires significant flexibility and availability, supporting United’s 24/7 operation. Flight Attendants must be available for global assignments, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours, fulfilling reserve assignments on short notice and being away from their base for days at a time.
Training Process
The United journey begins with industry-leading Flight Attendant Initial Training, a rigorous 6.5-week program conducted in Houston, TX. Training focuses on mastering United’s safety and service standards. Upon successful completion and base orientation, trainees transition to full-time employee status. During training, a stipend of $140 per week is provided, along with dual occupancy hotel accommodations and two meals per day (breakfast and either lunch or dinner, depending on the training schedule). Successful training graduates receive a $1,000 bonus. Trainees will be assigned a base at one of United's seven hubs (Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington Dulles) or another designated base location; relocation funds are not provided.
Compensation & Benefits
United offers a competitive compensation package. The starting hourly flight pay is $28.88, with the potential to reach the top of base scale at $67.11 per hour. Pay increases are seniority-based. Additional compensation is available for language skills, lead positions, and international trips.
Outstanding benefits are provided, including:
- 401(k) plan
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Employee Assistance Plan for the employee and their family
- Paid time off for sick days and vacation
Exceptional travel privileges are a key benefit, allowing the employee, their family, and friends to fly globally on a standby status. United promotes inclusive uniform standards, allowing employees to express their individuality while adhering to professional appearance guidelines.
Qualifications & Requirements
Prospective Flight Attendants must meet the following criteria:
- Minimum age of 21 at the time of application.
- High school graduate or GED equivalent required; 2 or more years of college preferred.
- At least one year of customer service experience in the service industry (e.g., retail, hospitality, food, teaching/education, aviation, social service).
- Ability to speak English fluently, clearly, concisely, and loudly enough to be heard in an emergency.
- Ability to read, write, and understand English fluently.
- Ability to speak Dutch fluently.
- Ability to hear all types and ranges of sound.
- Effective communication skills in high-stress situations (e.g., evacuations, security threats, medical emergencies).
- Professional appearance with excellent grooming standards and willingness to follow uniform, hair, tattoo, and piercing guidelines. Visible tattoos on the head, hands, or neck (including behind the ear) are not permitted. Visible tattoos on arms, wrists, legs, and feet are permitted if they are no larger than a credit card / employee badge (3.5 x 2.24 inches) or are covered by standard uniform pieces. Visible tattoos must not contain offensive imagery (violent, obscene, sexual, racist, objectionable content, weapons). Decorative covers, adornments, or jewelry on teeth or in the mouth are prohibited.
- Proficiency in operating electronic devices (phones, tablets, laptops) for work tasks.
- Possession of a valid passport book at the time of application with at least 18 months of remaining validity and eligibility to travel globally without restrictions as a working crew member. Having applied for or awaiting a passport is not sufficient.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Willingness and ability to work a flexible schedule supporting United’s 24/7 operation (weekdays, weekends, holidays).
Physical Requirements & Onboarding Prerequisites
Candidates must be able to perform required physical duties, including:
- Standing, walking, kneeling, bending, stooping, stretching, reaching.
- Lifting heavy objects (luggage to overhead bins, window exits).
- Pushing and pulling beverage carts (up to 250 lbs.).
- Passing a functional reach assessment (combined 76-inch vertical and 43.5-inch horizontal reach and hold, without shoes).
- Sitting in an assigned jump seat with restraints fastened.
- Serving and/or selling food and beverages, including alcohol, diligently and professionally.
Onboarding and training involve additional prerequisites:
- Successful completion of a water evacuation drill during training.
- Completion of pre-employment DOT drug screen, comprehensive background checks, fingerprinting, and vision/hearing tests.
- Ability to pass DOT/FAA pre-employment and randomized drug screens; medical and recreational marijuana use is prohibited.
- Successful completion of a 10-year background check, including criminal history, that does not prohibit travel to any United destination. Candidates with a DWI/DUI conviction or probation within the last 10 years may require specific documentation (e.g., Canadian Temporary Resident Permit) to travel internationally for work.
- Meeting FAA and United Airlines hearing and vision requirements, with or without reasonable accommodation (e.g., averaged hearing loss in better ear not exceeding 40 dB at specified frequencies; corrected vision 20/40 or better for far and near vision in each eye).
Application Deadline
The job posting end date is 9/29/2025.