Flight Attendant
Overview
At United Airlines, achieving organizational goals is intrinsically linked to supporting employee success. The company fosters career growth, provides access to comprehensive health and wellness benefits, encourages the building of strong connections with teams and customers, and offers the opportunity to travel the globe utilizing an extensive route network. United invites individuals to contribute to shaping the future of aviation.
Description
United Airlines boasts a dedicated team of over 28,000 active Flight Attendants, serving as the frontline ambassadors for the world's largest airline with the most expansive and rapidly growing network. This role offers a distinctive opportunity to experience global travel as part of one's profession. The position is highly sought after and does not necessitate specialized schooling or a college degree, as comprehensive, industry-leading training is provided directly by United.
The Flight Attendant journey commences with 6.5 weeks of intensive Initial Training conducted in Houston, TX. Trainees receive thorough instruction on United’s rigorous safety protocols and elevated service standards. Upon successful completion of training, each individual is assigned a base location at one of United's seven major hubs, including Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, or Washington Dulles, or another designated flight attendant base (please note that relocation funds are not provided). Following base orientation, trainees transition into full-time United employees. During the training period, United provides trainees with a weekly stipend of $140, dual occupancy hotel accommodations, breakfast, and either lunch or dinner, depending on the daily training schedule. Successful graduates of the training program are eligible for a $1,000 bonus.
Key Responsibilities & Proficiencies
Flight Attendants are vital Inflight Crew members responsible for maintaining the highest levels of safety and delivering exceptional customer service. Essential proficiencies include:
- **Safety Leadership:** Prioritizing and ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew members above all else.
- **Customer-Centric Approach:** Possessing a "People-First" demeanor characterized by optimism, positivity, and the ability to adapt and respond effectively to diverse customer situations. Engaging directly with customers through outstanding interpersonal skills, exercising good judgment, and resolving issues with understanding, compassion, and grace. Driving customer loyalty through consistently excellent service and representing United Airlines with pride and distinction.
- **Operational Flexibility:** Operating within United's extensive global route network requires availability for assignments 24/7, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended duty periods. Flight Attendants must be prepared to fulfill reserve assignments on short notice and be away from their assigned base for multiple days at a time. Dependability and timeliness are paramount to maintaining the operational schedule and meeting customer expectations.
- **Team Collaboration:** Demonstrating a consistent track record of working effectively both independently and as an integral part of the cabin crew team.
- **Experience Creation:** Traveling the world, exploring new cultures, and actively contributing to crafting memorable experiences for every customer on every flight.
Compensation & Benefits
United Airlines provides employees with a competitive compensation package. The starting hourly flight pay is $28.88, with the top of the base scale reaching $67.11 per hour. Compensation increases are seniority-based. Additional pay is offered for language skills, holding lead positions, and operating international trips. This position is also eligible for bonus compensation, including profit sharing.
Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, accident and disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, commuter benefits, paid holidays, paid time off (vacation and sick time), and participation in a 401(k) retirement plan. Exceptional flight privileges allow employees, their family, and friends to fly globally on a stand-by basis, subject to the respective collective bargaining agreement. United is committed to inclusive uniform standards, enabling employees to feel welcome and express their authentic selves at work. Safety and cleanliness are core priorities for both employees and customers.
Qualifications & Requirements
Prospective Flight Attendant candidates must satisfy the following qualifications and requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of application.
- Hold a high school diploma or GED; two or more years of college are preferred.
- Possess a minimum of one year of customer service experience within the service industry (e.g., retail, hospitality, food service, teaching/education, aviation, social service).
- Must demonstrate the ability to speak in a clear, concise, and organized manner, with sufficient volume to be heard effectively in emergency situations.
- Require fluency in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding English.
- Require fluency in speaking, reading, and writing Italian.
- Must possess the ability to hear all types and ranges of sound.
- Be capable of effective communication during high-stress situations, including aircraft evacuations, security threats, delays, medical emergencies, severe weather conditions, and turbulence.
- Maintain a professional appearance, adhere to excellent grooming standards, and comply with uniform, hair, tattoo, and piercing guidelines. Tattoos are not permitted on the head, hands, or neck, including behind the ear. Visible tattoos on arms, wrists, legs, and feet are permitted if they are no larger than a credit card or employee badge (3.5 inches long x 2.24 inches wide), or they must be covered by standard uniform pieces. Visible tattoos must not be offensive, including but not limited to content that is violent, obscene, sexual, racist, objectionable, or includes weaponry imagery. Decorative covers, adornments, or jewelry on teeth or in the mouth are not permitted.
- Must be able to proficiently operate electronic devices (phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) necessary for completing required tasks.
- Must possess a valid passport book at the time of application with a minimum of 18 months of remaining validity prior to expiration. Physical possession of a valid U.S. passport book or foreign passport book with applicable visas and eligibility to travel globally without restrictions is required. The passport book must be in good condition. Having applied for or awaiting a renewed passport is not sufficient; the valid passport must be in physical possession prior to the commencement of Flight Attendant training.
- Must be able to travel to and from all countries United serves without any restrictions. Applicants are responsible for verifying travel eligibility for all destinations, as crew members must be able to enter and exit these locations for work duties, not merely as passengers.
- Must be physically capable of standing, walking, kneeling, bending, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting heavy objects (such as luggage to an overhead bin or a window exit), and pushing and pulling a beverage cart (weighing up to 250 lbs.).
- Ability to successfully pass a functional reach assessment requiring a combined 76-inch vertical and 43.5-inch horizontal reach and hold simultaneously, without shoes, to operate necessary equipment, machinery, and doors.
- Must be able to sit in an assigned jump seat with the seatbelt and shoulder harness fastened.
- Required to serve and/or sell food and beverages, including alcoholic beverages, in a diligent and professional manner.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Must be willing and able to work a flexible schedule supporting United's 24/7 operation, including availability for weekdays, weekends, holidays, and varying hours.
Onboarding and Training Expectations
Candidates selected for training should anticipate the following:
- Successful completion of an evacuation drill in water (pool) during the training program.
- Willingness to complete a pre-employment DOT drug screen, comprehensive background checks, fingerprinting, and vision/hearing tests.
- Ability to pass DOT/FAA pre-employment and randomized drug screens. The use of medical or recreational marijuana is strictly prohibited due to the safety-sensitive nature of the Flight Attendant position.
- Ability to pass a 10-year background check, including criminal background history. The background must not prohibit travel to or from any destination served by United Airlines. For example, Canada maintains a strict inadmissible classification for DWI/DUI charges, including misdemeanors. If an individual has been on probation for or convicted of a DWI/DUI within the last 10 years, the Canadian government may deny entry unless a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) has been secured from the Canadian government, allowing for continuation of work duties temporarily.
- Must, with or without reasonable accommodation, meet the hearing and vision requirements established by the Federal Aviation Administration and United Airlines. This includes not having hearing loss on audiometry in the better ear greater than 40 dB when losses at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz are averaged, and having corrected far and near vision of 20/40 or better in each eye.
The application period for this position is scheduled to conclude on June 29, 2025.
United Airlines is an equal opportunity employer. The company recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes individuals without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. United Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from Minorities, Women, Veterans, Disabled individuals, and members of the LGBT community.