Flight Attendant - Aviation Career Opportunity
Overview
United Airlines invites talented individuals to join its esteemed team as Flight Attendants. Achieving the airline's ambitious goals begins with empowering its employees. A career with United offers opportunities for professional growth, access to comprehensive health and wellness benefits, the chance to build lasting connections with colleagues and customers, and the ability to explore the world through an extensive route network. Join United to innovate and shape the future of aviation, together.
Role Description
United Airlines operates the largest global network and is experiencing unprecedented growth, supported by a dedicated team of over 28,000 active Flight Attendants. This highly sought-after position offers the unique opportunity to travel globally while working. United provides comprehensive, industry-leading training, and neither specialized schooling nor a college degree is required for this role.
The journey begins with 6.5 weeks of Initial Training in Houston, TX, where individuals learn United's rigorous safety protocols and service standards. During training, trainees are assigned a base from one of United's major hubs, including Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington Dulles, or other Flight Attendant base locations (relocation funds are not provided). Upon successful completion of training and base orientation, individuals transition to full-time employee status. A weekly stipend, dual occupancy hotel accommodations, and daily meals (breakfast and either lunch or dinner) are provided during the training period.
Key Responsibilities and Proficiencies
As a United Flight Attendant, the primary focus is ensuring the safety and comfort of all passengers. Key responsibilities and required proficiencies include:
- **Safety First:** Upholding and enforcing the highest standards of aviation safety.
- **People-First Demeanor:** Demonstrating adaptability and responsiveness to diverse customer scenarios with optimism and positivity. Engaging directly with customers using outstanding interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and the ability to resolve issues with understanding, compassion, and grace. Building customer loyalty through exceptional service and representing United with pride and distinction.
- **Flexibility:** Serving on a global team available 24/7, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours. This role requires fulfilling reserve assignments on short notice and involves being away from the assigned base for multiple consecutive days.
- **Dependability and Timeliness:** Maintaining critical reliability and punctuality to ensure seamless operation of flight schedules and meet customer expectations.
- **Team Player:** Possessing a consistent ability to work effectively both independently and as an integral part of a cabin crew team.
- **Crafting Experiences:** Creating memorable and positive experiences for every customer on every flight while exploring new cultures and traveling the world.
Compensation & Benefits
United offers a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits:
- **Starting Pay:** Hourly flight pay begins at $28.88, with the top of the base scale reaching $67.11/hour.
- **Pay Increases:** Seniority-based pay increases are standard.
- **Additional Compensation:** Opportunities for increased earnings are available for language skills, lead positions, and international trips.
- **Bonus Eligibility:** This position is eligible for bonuses, including profit sharing.
- **Competitive Benefits:** Access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, life, accident & disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, commuter benefits, paid holidays, paid time off (vacation and sick time), and a 401(k) retirement plan.
- **Travel Privileges:** Employees, their family, and friends enjoy stand-by flight privileges anywhere within United's extensive global network.
- **Training Bonus:** Successful graduates of the initial training program receive a $1,000 bonus.
- **Inclusive Culture:** United embraces inclusive uniform standards, encouraging employees to express their individuality while upholding professional appearance.
- **Safety Focus:** The airline prioritizes safety and cleanliness for both employees and customers.
Qualifications and Requirements
Applicants for the Flight Attendant position must meet the following qualifications and requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of application.
- Must be a high school graduate or possess a GED; two or more years of college are preferred.
- Requires at least one year of customer service experience in a service industry (e.g., retail, hospitality, food service, teaching/education, aviation, social services).
- Must be able to speak clearly, concisely, and in an organized manner, with sufficient volume to be heard during emergencies.
- Must be able to fluently speak, read, write, and understand English.
- Must be able to fluently read and speak Greek.
- Must have the ability to hear all types and ranges of sound.
- Requires effective communication skills in high-stress situations such as evacuations, security threats, delays, medical emergencies, severe weather, and turbulence.
- Must maintain a professional appearance and excellent grooming standards, adhering to uniform, hair, tattoo, and piercing guidelines.
- Tattoos are prohibited on the head, hands, and neck (including behind the ear). Visible tattoos on arms, wrists, legs, and feet are permitted if they are no larger than a credit card (approximately 3.5 x 2.24 inches) or can be covered by standard uniform pieces. Visible tattoos must not contain offensive content (violent, obscene, sexual, racist, objectionable imagery, weapons).
- Decorative covers, adornments, or jewelry on teeth or in the mouth are not permitted.
- Must be proficient in operating electronic devices (phones, tablets, laptops) for required tasks.
- Must possess a valid passport book at the time of application with at least 18 months of remaining validity. This includes valid U.S. or foreign passports with applicable visas, enabling global travel without restrictions as a working crew member. Applicants must have physical possession of the passport prior to application.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Must be willing and able to work a flexible schedule supporting a 24/7 operation, including weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
- Must be able to stand, walk, kneel, bend, stoop, stretch, reach, lift heavy objects (e.g., luggage into overhead bins, operating window exits), and push/pull beverage carts (up to 250 lbs.).
- Must pass a functional reach assessment (combined 76-inch vertical and 43.5-inch horizontal reach held simultaneously, without shoes) to operate necessary equipment.
- Must be able to sit in an assigned jump seat with seatbelt and shoulder harness fastened.
- Must be prepared to serve and/or sell food and beverages, including alcohol, professionally.
Onboarding and Training Expectations
Prospective Flight Attendants must successfully complete pre-employment and training requirements:
- Successful completion of an evacuation drill in water (pool) during training.
- Willingness to undergo pre-employment DOT drug screens, comprehensive background checks, fingerprinting, and vision/hearing tests.
- Ability to pass DOT/FAA pre-employment and randomized drug screens. Please note that medical and recreational marijuana use is prohibited due to the safety-sensitive nature of the role.
- Successful completion of a 10-year background check, including criminal history. The background must not restrict travel to any United destination. Applicants with a DWI/DUI conviction or probation within the last 10 years may face restrictions entering certain countries, such as Canada, unless a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) has already been obtained.
- Meeting FAA and United Airlines hearing and vision requirements, including hearing loss on audiometry in the better ear not exceeding 40 dB averaged at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, and 20/40 or better corrected vision for both far and near sight in each eye, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Application Information
The Job Posting End Date is September 29, 2025.
United Airlines is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to recruiting, employing, training, compensating, and promoting individuals without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status, or other protected status as required by applicable law. United Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/LGBT.
Reasonable accommodations are provided to individuals with disabilities to facilitate their participation in the job application or interview process and to perform crucial job functions. Please contact the company to request accommodation.