United Airlines Cabin Crew
A landmark 2026 contract with 31% raises, boarding pay and a path to $100/hour on the biggest long-haul network in America.
Entry · per month
$2,600–3,400
Rank 6 of 59 for entry pay
Senior · per month
$5,500–7,800
+122% to senior
Tax-free
— No
Not provided
Crew rating · editorial
7.9 / 10
Crew score rank 4 of 59
Overview
United's flight attendants made history in May 2026 by ratifying a five-year AFA-CWA contract that delivered an average 31% immediate raise, first-ever boarding pay at half the hourly rate, $741 million in retroactive pay, and scale rates that will push the most senior crew past $100 per flight hour before the deal ends in 2031. After six years of negotiations the deal snapped United from laggard to pay leader almost overnight, and it makes United one of the strongest total packages in world aviation for a career flight attendant.
The flying itself is the other headline. United operates the largest international network of any US carrier and is taking delivery of hundreds of new aircraft under its United Next plan, which translates into real growth for crew: Tokyo, Singapore, Cape Town, Sydney and deep-Pacific flying that no other American airline matches, plus the unique Guam base flying Micronesian island-hoppers. Bases span Chicago, Newark, Houston, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles, Honolulu and Guam, and international-heavy bases like SFO and EWR give even mid-seniority crew access to long-haul trips.
The junior experience is standard US-major reality: assigned base, reserve duty that can run several years in senior bases, crashpads and commuting. United's reserve system and scheduling technology drew years of complaints, and the new contract's improved reserve rules and higher pay were designed to fix exactly that. Hiring resumed in force after ratification, with large training classes running through the Houston training center — and United historically hires bilingual crew at scale for its global network.
Salary
2026 AFA contract: ~31% average raise, first-year rates in the high-$30s per flight hour, top of scale climbing past $100/hour by 2031; boarding pay at 50% of hourly rate adds roughly 7–8% to paychecks, plus international per diems and profit sharing.
Estimates in USD compiled from public sources and crew reports; actual offers vary. Compare all airlines →
Requirements
Minimum age
21
Height / reach
No published minimum
Education
High school diploma or GED; two years of customer service experience preferred.
Languages
Fluent English; United hires heavily for second languages across its global network, from Japanese and Mandarin to Portuguese and Hindi.
Tattoo policy
Small tattoos may be visible if no larger than the work badge and not on face, neck or hands; larger tattoos must be covered by the uniform.
Also required
Right to work in the US, valid passport, ability to sit jumpseat and operate all exits, pass background check and drug screen; willing to accept any base including Guam.
Do you meet the requirements at United Airlines?
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See how these compare industry-wide on the requirements comparison page.
Base & accommodation
Chicago · Not provided
No housing or allowance; commuting on staff travel is widespread and crashpads near Newark, SFO and Chicago are an established sublet economy.
Roster & layovers
Roster style
PBS seniority bidding with monthly awards; reserve for new hires runs one to four years by base with improved rules and rest protections under the 2026 contract. Trip trading and drops are active through the crew scheduling app.
Layovers
The best long-haul layover portfolio in US aviation: 24–72 hours in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa and Oceania at seniority, alongside the usual 10–14-hour domestic overnights for junior crew.
Benefits beyond the paycheck
- ★Boarding pay plus $741M retro payout under the 2026 contract
- ★Unlimited standby travel on United and Star Alliance interline discounts for family
- ★401(k) with company match and profit sharing
- ★Full medical, dental and vision from day one
- ★Guam and Honolulu bases offer island living on mainline US pay
- ★Paid ~6.5-week training in Houston with lodging provided
How to apply, step by step
- 01
Apply online at United's careers portal when flight attendant postings open.
- 02
Complete an on-demand video assessment covering scenarios and motivation.
- 03
Attend a virtual or in-person interview day with group exercises and one-to-one interviews.
- 04
Receive a conditional job offer pending checks.
- 05
Clear fingerprinting, 10-year background verification and drug screening.
- 06
Complete paid initial training in Houston (~6.5 weeks) and receive a base assignment from the needs list.
Career progression
Crew rating
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Why crew love it
- +The strongest contractual pay trajectory in US aviation — top scale headed above $100/hour
- +Unrivaled international route map for layover variety and trip values
- +Nine bases including Honolulu and Guam for lifestyle flexibility
- +Growth from the United Next fleet plan means faster seniority movement than shrinking rivals
Watch out for
- −Six years without raises preceded the 2026 deal — labor peace is new and untested
- −Senior bases like SFO can mean years of reserve before holding a line
- −Newark and San Francisco base living costs eat junior paychecks without a commuting strategy
Frequently asked questions
What is the new United flight attendant contract worth?
The May 2026 AFA-CWA deal delivered an average 31% immediate raise, boarding pay worth another 7–8%, $741 million in retro pay, and scale increases that take the most senior crew past $100 per flight hour by 2031.
Is United Airlines hiring flight attendants in 2026?
Yes — hiring accelerated after the contract ratification, with regular postings for English-speaking and bilingual candidates and large classes running through the Houston training center. Applications are only accepted while postings are open, so set alerts.
Where are United flight attendant bases?
Chicago, Newark, Houston, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles, Honolulu and Guam. New hires are assigned by operational need — historically often Chicago or Newark — and transfer later by seniority.
Hiring status
Large training classes running after the May 2026 contract ratification; language-of-destination roles and Guam-base positions appear regularly.
Compare with other North America airlines
DL · Atlanta
Delta Air Lines
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The best-paying and most selective flight attendant job in America — harder to get into than Harvard.
WN · Dallas (Love Field)
Southwest Airlines
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Industry-topping union pay and home-every-few-days domestic flying — when the hiring window is actually open.
AS · Seattle
Alaska Airlines
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A 2025 contract with raises up to 28%, the Hawaiian merger's growth story, and the best base lifestyle on the US West Coast.
Preparing to apply? Start with our step-by-step hiring roadmap and interview question bank.