Flight Attendant
Location: Various United Airlines Hubs (Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington Dulles, and other base locations)
Overview
United Airlines invites passionate and dedicated individuals to join its world-class team as a Flight Attendant. As the largest airline globally with the most expansive route network, United is experiencing unprecedented growth, offering unparalleled career opportunities. This role is ideal for those seeking to make a significant impact, grow professionally, and travel the world while building lasting connections with colleagues and customers. United is committed to supporting its employees' goals through top-tier health and wellness benefits and extensive travel privileges, fostering a collaborative environment to "create what's next" and "define tomorrow, together."
Position Summary
Flight Attendants are integral to delivering United's promise of safety and exceptional service. This dynamic role provides the unique ability to explore diverse cultures and global destinations as an essential member of the cabin crew. United provides comprehensive, industry-leading training, eliminating the need for prior special schooling or a college degree in this field.
Key Responsibilities
The Flight Attendant is responsible for ensuring the highest levels of safety and delivering a "People-First" customer experience. This includes:
- Prioritizing passenger safety above all else, including proficiently communicating in high-stress situations such as aircraft evacuation, security threats, medical emergencies, or severe weather.
- Engaging directly with customers, adapting to various scenarios with optimism, positivity, and outstanding interpersonal skills.
- Exercising good judgment and resolving issues with understanding, compassion, and grace to influence customer loyalty.
- Representing United Airlines with pride and distinction, upholding professional appearance and grooming standards.
- Serving and selling food and beverages, including alcohol, in a diligent and professional manner.
- Operating electronic devices proficiently for required tasks.
- Working both independently and as a cohesive team player, consistently contributing to a positive crew environment.
- Embracing a flexible schedule, available for global assignments 24/7, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours, fulfilling reserve assignments on short notice and being away from base for days at a time.
- Demonstrating unwavering dependability and timeliness, crucial for maintaining operational schedules and exceeding customer expectations.
- Crafting memorable experiences for every customer, on every flight, every day, turning travel dreams into reality.
Training and Development
United is committed to equipping its Flight Attendants with the best training in the industry:
- Initial Training: Successful candidates will complete 6.5 weeks of intensive Initial Training in Houston, TX, focusing on United’s rigorous safety protocols and service excellence standards.
- Base Assignment: During training, Flight Attendants will be assigned to a base at one of United's seven hubs (Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington Dulles) or another flight attendant base location. Relocation funds are not provided.
- Compensation During Training: A stipend of $140 per week is provided, along with dual-occupancy hotel accommodations, breakfast, and either lunch or dinner (dependent on the training schedule).
- Post-Training: Upon successful completion of training and base orientation, individuals will be welcomed as full-time United employees and will receive a $1,000 bonus.
Compensation and Benefits
United Airlines offers a competitive compensation package designed to reward its dedicated employees:
- Competitive Pay: Starting hourly flight pay of $28.88, with top-of-base scale reaching $67.11 per hour. Pay increases are seniority-based.
- Additional Compensation: Opportunities for increased earnings through language skills, lead positions, and international trips.
- Bonus Eligibility: This position is eligible for profit sharing bonuses.
- Travel Privileges: Extensive flight privileges for the employee, family, and friends on a standby basis across United’s global network.
- Comprehensive Benefits: A robust benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, life, accident & disability insurance, an Employee Assistance Plan, paid holidays, and generous paid time off for sick and vacation days.
- Inclusive Uniform Standards: United embraces and celebrates individuality with inclusive uniform standards, allowing employees to be their authentic selves.
Essential Qualifications and Requirements
Candidates for the Flight Attendant position must meet the following criteria:
- Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of application.
- Possession of a High School Diploma or GED is required; two or more years of college are preferred.
- At least one year of customer service experience in a service-oriented industry (e.g., retail, hospitality, food service, teaching/education, aviation, social service) is mandatory.
- Ability to speak, read, write, and understand English fluently. The ability to speak in a clear, concise, and organized manner, loudly enough to be heard in an emergency, is essential.
- Proficiency in a second language, such as Arabic, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, or Tagalog, is highly desirable and considered a significant asset.
- Ability to hear all types and ranges of sound.
- Possession of a valid U.S. passport book or a foreign passport book with applicable visas prior to application. The passport must be in physical possession, in good condition, and have at least 18 months of remaining validity at the time of application. Candidates must be eligible to travel globally without restrictions and must be able to enter and exit all countries United serves as a working crew member.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Willingness and ability to work a flexible schedule supporting United’s 24/7 operation, including weekdays, weekends, and holidays on scheduled or reserve days.
- Physical Requirements:
- Ability to stand, walk, kneel, bend, stoop, stretch, reach, and lift heavy objects (e.g., luggage to an overhead bin or window exit).
- Ability to push and pull a beverage cart (up to 250 lbs.).
- Ability to pass a functional reach assessment with a combined 76-inch vertical and 43.5-inch horizontal reach and hold (simultaneous, without shoes) to operate all necessary equipment, machinery, and doors.
- Ability to sit in an assigned jump seat with seatbelt and shoulder harness fastened.
- Grooming and Appearance:
- Maintenance of a professional appearance, excellent grooming standards, and strict adherence to uniform, hair, tattoo, and piercing guidelines.
- Tattoos are not permitted on the head, hands, fingers, or neck (including the back of the neck and on, in, or behind the ear) and cannot be covered by makeup or bandages.
- Visible tattoos on arms, wrists, legs, and feet are permitted if they are not larger than a credit card/employee badge (3.5 inches long x 2.24 inches wide) or are covered by standard uniform pieces. Visible tattoos must not be offensive (e.g., violent, obscene, sexual, racist, objectionable content, or imagery including weapons).
- Decorative covers, adornments, and/or jewelry on teeth or in the mouth are not permitted.
Onboarding and Compliance
Successful candidates must be prepared for the following:
- Successfully complete an evacuation drill in water (pool) during training.
- Successfully pass pre-employment DOT drug screens, comprehensive background checks, fingerprinting, and vision/hearing tests. Medical and recreational marijuana use is prohibited due to the safety-sensitive nature of the Flight Attendant position.
- Pass a 10-year background check, including criminal history. A background check must not prohibit travel to or from any destination United serves. (e.g., candidates with DWI/DUI convictions or probation within the last 10 years may face restrictions for travel to Canada unless a Temporary Resident Permit has been secured).
- Meet hearing and vision requirements established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and United Airlines, including specific audiometry and corrected vision standards.
Application Deadline: The Job Posting End Date is September 15, 2025.
Equal Opportunity Employer
United Airlines is an equal opportunity employer that recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. United is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform crucial job functions. Please contact to request accommodation.