United Airlines | Flight Attendant

Overview

United Airlines extends an invitation to dedicated professionals to embark on a fulfilling career as a Flight Attendant, offering unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional growth. This dynamic role provides access to top-tier health and wellness benefits, fosters lasting connections with colleagues and customers, and enables global travel through an extensive route network. United Airlines is committed to supporting its employees' goals while collectively shaping the future of aviation.

About the Role

As the world's largest airline with the most expansive and rapidly growing network, United Airlines proudly maintains a fleet of over 28,000 active Flight Attendants. This highly sought-after position offers the unique opportunity to experience global travel while working. United Airlines provides comprehensive, industry-leading training, eliminating the need for specialized schooling or a college degree for this role.

Initial Training and Base Assignment

Successful candidates will commence their career with an intensive 6.5-week Initial Training program in Houston, TX. This program is meticulously designed to instill United's stringent safety and exceptional service standards. Upon successful completion of training, Flight Attendants will be assigned to one of United's seven major hubs—Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington Dulles—or another designated flight attendant base (relocation funds are not provided). Following successful completion of training and base orientation in their assigned location, individuals will officially transition to full-time employment with United Airlines. During training, United Airlines provides a stipend of $140 per week, alongside dual occupancy hotel accommodations, breakfast, and a second meal (lunch or dinner), dependent on the training schedule.

Key Responsibilities and Proficiencies

The United Airlines Flight Attendant plays a critical role in ensuring passenger safety, comfort, and an exceptional travel experience. Key responsibilities and desired proficiencies include:

• Safety Excellence: Prioritizing and ensuring the highest levels of safety for all passengers and crew members. This includes effective communication during high-stress situations such as aircraft evacuation, security threats, delays, medical emergencies, severe weather conditions, and turbulence.
• Customer-Centric Service: Demonstrating a "People-First" demeanor, adapting to diverse customer-facing scenarios with optimism, positivity, and outstanding interpersonal skills. This encompasses exercising good judgment, resolving issues with understanding, compassion, and grace, and influencing customer loyalty through excellent service while representing United with pride and distinction.
• Global Mobility & Flexibility: Exhibiting readiness for global assignments 24/7, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours. The role requires fulfilling reserve assignments on short notice and being away from base for multiple days, leveraging United's comprehensive route network.
• Dependability & Timeliness: Demonstrating critical dependability and punctuality to maintain operational schedules and meet customer expectations effectively.
• Team Collaboration: Maintaining a consistent track record of working both independently and as an integral part of a dynamic team.
• Service Delivery: Diligently and professionally serving and/or selling food and beverages, including alcoholic beverages, in accordance with company policies.
• Memorable Experiences: Contributing to a fun and engaging atmosphere, enabling customers to explore new cultures, and crafting memorable experiences for every customer, on every flight, every day.

Qualifications and Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of application.
• Possess a high school diploma or GED; two or more years of college are preferred.
• A minimum of one year of customer service experience in service industries (e.g., retail, hospitality, food service, teaching/education, aviation, social service) is required.
• Must be 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.

Communication & Language Skills:

• Ability to speak, read, write, and understand English fluently.
• Capable of clear, concise, and organized communication, with sufficient vocal projection to be heard in an emergency.
• Proficiency in a second language is highly desirable, with languages such as Arabic, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Tagalog considered significant assets to United's global operations.

Physical & Sensory Requirements:

• Ability to stand, walk, kneel, bend, stoop, stretch, reach, lift heavy objects (such as luggage to an overhead bin or window exit), and push and pull beverage carts (up to 250 lbs.).
• Ability to pass a functional reach assessment, demonstrating a combined 76-inch vertical and 43.5-inch horizontal reach (simultaneous) without shoes, to operate all necessary aircraft equipment, machinery, and doors.
• Ability to sit securely in an assigned jump seat with a fastened seatbelt and shoulder harness.
• Ability to hear all types and ranges of sound.

Appearance & Professionalism:

• Maintain a professional appearance and adhere to excellent grooming standards, including strict 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, provided they do not exceed the size of a credit card / employee badge (3.5 inches long x 2.24 inches wide) or are covered with standard uniform pieces.
• All visible tattoos must be non-offensive, excluding imagery that is violent, obscene, sexual, racist, objectionable, or includes weapons.
• Decorative covers, adornments, or jewelry on teeth or in the mouth are not permitted.

Technical Proficiency:

• Ability to proficiently operate electronic devices (phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) for the completion of required tasks.

Travel Documentation & Eligibility:

• Must possess a valid U.S. passport book or foreign passport book with applicable visas prior to application, with at least 18 months of remaining validity. Applicants must have physical possession of the passport; pending applications or renewals are insufficient to meet this requirement.
• Ability to travel to and from all countries United Airlines serves without any restrictions as a working crew member. Flight Attendant applicants are responsible for identifying and verifying their travel eligibility and entry requirements for these locations.

Pre-Employment and Training Requirements

• Flight Attendant trainees must successfully complete an evacuation drill in the water (pool) during training.
• Candidates must be willing to complete and pass a pre-employment DOT drug screen, comprehensive background checks (including a 10-year criminal background history), fingerprinting, and vision/hearing tests.
• Adherence to DOT/FAA pre-employment and randomized drug screening policies is essential; medical and recreational marijuana use is prohibited due to the safety-sensitive nature of the Flight Attendant position.
• Background checks must demonstrate no prohibitions for international travel to or from anywhere United Airlines flies. For example, Canada maintains a strict inadmissible classification for DWI/DUI charges, including misdemeanors; candidates with such offenses within the last 10 years may require a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) from the Canadian government to travel for work duties.
• Candidates must, with or without reasonable accommodation, meet 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 each eye must be 20/40 or better corrected for both far and near vision.

Compensation and Benefits

United Airlines offers a comprehensive and competitive compensation and benefits package designed to support employees' well-being and career growth:

• Compensation: A starting hourly flight pay of $28.88, with top-of-base scale reaching $67.11/hour. The position is eligible for seniority-based pay increases, profit sharing (bonus eligible), and additional compensation for language skills, lead positions, and international trips. A $1,000 bonus is awarded upon successful completion of training.
• Health & Wellness: Access to top-tier medical, dental, and vision insurance, an Employee Assistance Plan, and coverage for life, accident, and disability.
• Work-Life Balance: Paid time off for sick leave, vacation, and paid holidays.
• Retirement: A robust 401(k) retirement plan.
• Travel Privileges: Extensive flight privileges for the employee, family, and friends on a stand-by status, allowing for global travel across United's extensive route network.
• Training Support: During the 6.5-week initial training in Houston, TX, Flight Attendants receive a $140 weekly stipend, dual occupancy hotel accommodations, and two meals daily.
• Inclusive Environment: United promotes inclusive uniform standards, encouraging employees to express their authentic selves while maintaining professional appearance guidelines.
• Safety Focus: United prioritizes safety and cleanliness at the forefront of the travel experience for both employees and customers.

Application Information

• Application Deadline: September 15, 2025.
• Learn More: For additional information about the Flight Attendant position and hiring process, please visit the United Airlines Flight Attendant Information page.
• Official Job Description: This document serves as a summary; candidates are strongly encouraged to review the Official United Airlines Flight Attendant Job Description for complete and authoritative details.
• Equal Opportunity Employer: United Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer, 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. Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided throughout the application and employment process; requests can be directed to the Job Accommodations team.