United Airlines | Flight Attendant

Overview

United Airlines invites dedicated individuals to embark on a fulfilling career as a Flight Attendant, where personal growth is intricately linked with professional success. Join a global leader in aviation, committed to supporting its employees with top-tier health and wellness benefits, unparalleled opportunities for global travel through an extensive route network, and a culture fostering lasting connections with colleagues and customers. This is an invitation to contribute to the future of air travel.

Position Summary

As the world's largest airline operating the most expansive network, United Airlines is experiencing unprecedented growth. The Flight Attendant role is highly sought after, offering the unique ability to explore the world while ensuring the safety and comfort of millions of passengers. United Airlines provides comprehensive, industry-leading training, eliminating the need for prior special schooling or a college degree for this position.

Training & Onboarding Experience

The United journey commences with the industry's best Flight Attendant Initial Training, an intensive 6.5-week program conducted in Houston, TX. Trainees will master United's stringent safety protocols and superior service standards. Upon successful completion of training, Flight Attendants are assigned a base at one of United's seven hubs: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington Dulles, or other designated Flight Attendant base locations. Please note that relocation funds are not provided. During training, United Airlines provides a weekly stipend of $140, along with dual occupancy hotel accommodations, breakfast, and either lunch or dinner (dependent on the training schedule). Successful graduates of the training program will receive a $1,000 bonus upon becoming a full-time United employee and attending base orientation.

Key Responsibilities & Attributes

United Flight Attendants are integral members of the inflight crew, embodying a "People-First" demeanor and upholding the highest safety standards. This dynamic role requires:

• Safety Excellence: Ensuring paramount safety for all passengers and crew members through diligent adherence to procedures and proactive measures.
• Exceptional Customer Service: Adapting and responding to diverse customer scenarios with optimism, positivity, and outstanding interpersonal skills. Demonstrating sound judgment, compassion, and grace to resolve issues, fostering customer loyalty, and representing United Airlines with pride and distinction.
• Global Flexibility: Operating within United's comprehensive global network, Flight Attendants must be available 24/7 for assignments, including nights, weekends, holidays, extended hours, and reserve assignments on short notice, often requiring multiple days away from base.
• Dependability & Timeliness: Exhibiting critical reliability and punctuality to maintain flight schedules and exceed customer expectations.
• Team Collaboration: A consistent track record of working both independently and cohesively as part of a diverse and high-performing team.
• Memorable Experiences: Passionately creating enjoyable and memorable experiences for every customer, on every flight, every day, while exploring new cultures globally.

Compensation & Benefits

United Airlines offers a competitive and attractive compensation package for its Flight Attendants, designed to support career growth and well-being:

• Competitive Pay: Starting hourly flight pay of $28.88, with potential to reach $67.11/hour at the top of the base scale.
• Seniority & Performance-Based Increases: Regular pay increases based on seniority.
• Additional Compensation: Enhanced pay for language skills, lead positions, and international trips.
• Bonus Eligibility: This position is eligible for bonuses, including profit sharing.
• Outstanding Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families, a 401(k) retirement plan, and an Employee Assistance Plan.
• Generous Time Off: Paid time off for sick leave and vacation.
• Unrivaled Travel Privileges: Extensive flight privileges for the employee, family, and friends on a stand-by basis across United's global network, enabling worldwide travel opportunities.
• Inclusive Environment: United promotes inclusive uniform standards, fostering an environment where employees are encouraged to be their authentic selves at work.
• Safety & Cleanliness: A steadfast commitment to prioritizing safety and cleanliness for both employees and customers.

Qualifications & Requirements

To be considered for the Flight Attendant position, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Age: Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of application.
• Education: High school graduate or GED required; two or more years of college preferred.
• Experience: At least one year of customer service experience in a service industry (e.g., retail, hospitality, food, teaching/education, aviation, social service).
• Communication: Ability to speak clearly, concisely, and loudly enough to be heard in an emergency. Fluency in reading, writing, and understanding English is mandatory. 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 an asset.
• Hearing: Ability to hear all types and ranges of sound.
• High-Stress Communication: Effectiveness in communicating during high-stress situations such as aircraft evacuation, security threats, delays, medical emergencies, severe weather conditions, and turbulence.
• Appearance Standards: Adherence to professional appearance and excellent grooming standards, including strict guidelines for uniforms, hair, tattoos, and piercings.
  • Tattoos are NOT permitted on the head, hands, fingers, or neck (including back of neck and on, in, or behind the ear). Tattoos in these areas cannot be covered by makeup or bandages.
  • Visible tattoos on arms, wrists, legs, and feet are permitted if not larger than a credit card (3.5 inches long x 2.24 inches wide) or if covered with standard uniform pieces.
  • All visible tattoos must not be offensive (including, but not limited to, violent, obscene, sexual, racist, objectionable content, or any imagery including weapons).
  • Decorative covers, adornments, and/or jewelry on teeth or in the mouth are not permitted.
• Technical Proficiency: Ability to proficiently operate electronic devices (phones, tablets, laptops) for the completion of required tasks.
• Passport & Global Travel Eligibility:
  • Possession of a valid U.S. passport book or foreign passport book with applicable visas prior to application, with at least 18 months of remaining validity. Having applied for or awaiting a renewed passport is not sufficient.
  • Ability to travel to and from all countries United Airlines serves without any restrictions as a working crew member, not as a passenger. Applicants are responsible for identifying and verifying their travel eligibility.
• Physical Demands:
  • Ability to stand, walk, kneel, bend, stoop, stretch, reach, and lift heavy objects (e.g., luggage to overhead bin or window exit).
  • Ability to push and pull a beverage cart (up to 250 lbs.).
  • Successful completion of a functional reach assessment: 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.
  • Requirement to serve and/or sell food and beverages (including alcohol) in a diligent and professional manner.
• Legal Work Authorization: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Flexible Availability: Willingness and ability to work a flexible schedule in support of United Airlines’ 24/7 operation, including weekdays, weekends, holidays, and on-call (reserve) days.

Onboarding & Compliance Expectations

Flight Attendant trainees must successfully complete the following:

• An evacuation drill in water (pool-based) during training.
• Pre-employment DOT drug screen, comprehensive background checks, fingerprinting, and vision/hearing tests.
• DOT/FAA pre-employment and randomized drug screens. Medical and recreational marijuana use is strictly prohibited due to the safety-sensitive nature of the Flight Attendant position.
• A 10-year background check, including criminal background history. The candidate's background must not prohibit travel to or from anywhere United Airlines flies. For example, Canada has strict inadmissibility classifications for DWI/DUI charges; if applicable, a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) from the Canadian government must be secured prior to employment.
• Meeting hearing and vision requirements, with or without reasonable accommodation, as established by the Federal Aviation Administration and United Airlines (e.g., specific audiometry and corrected vision standards for far and near vision).

Application Information

The job posting end date is September 15, 2025.

For more detailed information about the Flight Attendant position and the hiring process, please refer to the official United Airlines careers website.