U

United Airlines

Flies passengers and cargo worldwide from US hubs

Flight Attendant

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/22/2026Deadline 12/1/26
$37.10 - $100.13/hr
Entry
Houston, TX, USA+6 moreMore locations: San Francisco, CA, USA | Los Angeles, CA, USA | Newark, NJ, USA | Chicago, IL, USA | Denver, CO, USA | Washington, VA, USA
In PersonAssigned base is among listed United hubs or another flight-attendant base; training is in Houston, Texas.
Vehicle Operation & Delivery

About the job

Requirements
  • Applicants must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.
  • Applicants must have graduated from high school or hold a GED.
  • Applicants must have at least one year of customer-service experience in a service industry such as retail, hospitality, food service, teaching or education, aviation, or social service.
  • Applicants must speak clearly, concisely, and in an organized manner, loudly enough to be heard during an emergency.
  • Applicants must speak, read, write, and understand English fluently and read and speak Hebrew fluently.
  • Applicants must be able to hear all types and ranges of sound.
  • Applicants must communicate effectively in high-stress situations, including aircraft evacuations, security threats, delays, medical emergencies, severe weather, and turbulence.
  • Applicants must meet professional appearance and grooming standards and follow uniform, hair, tattoo, and piercing guidelines. Tattoos are prohibited on the head, hands, fingers, or neck, including behind the ear, and cannot be covered by makeup or bandages. Visible tattoos on arms, wrists, legs, and feet may not exceed credit-card or employee-badge size unless covered by standard uniform pieces, and may not be offensive or depict weapons. Decorative covers, adornments, or jewelry on teeth or in the mouth are prohibited.
  • Applicants must proficiently operate electronic devices, including phones, tablets, and laptops, to complete required tasks.
  • Applicants must possess a valid passport book before applying, with at least 12 months of remaining validity and two consecutive blank pages. A U.S. passport or foreign passport with applicable visas is acceptable, provided the applicant is eligible to travel globally without restrictions; applying for or awaiting a passport is insufficient.
  • Applicants must be able to travel to and from all countries served by United without restrictions, and be eligible to enter and exit those locations as working crew members.
  • Applicants must be able 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 a beverage cart weighing up to 250 pounds.
  • Applicants must pass a functional reach assessment with a combined 76-inch vertical and 43.5-inch horizontal reach and hold, simultaneously and without shoes, to operate required equipment, machinery, and doors.
  • Applicants must sit in an assigned jump seat with the seatbelt and shoulder harness fastened.
  • Applicants must serve and/or sell food and beverages, including alcohol, diligently and professionally.
  • Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
  • Applicants must be willing and able to work a flexible schedule supporting a 24/7 operation, including weekdays, weekends, holidays, and scheduled or reserve days.
  • Trainees must successfully complete a water-pool evacuation drill during training.
  • Applicants must complete a pre-employment Department of Transportation drug screen, comprehensive background checks, fingerprinting, and vision and hearing tests.
  • Applicants must pass Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration pre-employment and randomized drug screens; medical and recreational marijuana are prohibited for this safety-sensitive role.
  • Applicants must pass a 10-year background check, including criminal history, and their background must not prevent travel to or from any United destination. A driving while intoxicated/driving under the influence conviction or probation within the last 10 years may prevent travel to Canada unless the applicant has a Temporary Resident Permit.
  • Applicants must meet Federal Aviation Administration and United hearing and vision requirements, with or without reasonable accommodation. Hearing loss in the better ear must not exceed an average of 40 dB at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 Hz; corrected far and near vision must be 20/40 or better in each eye.
Responsibilities
  • Maintain the highest levels of safety.
  • Adapt and respond to different customer-facing scenarios, engage directly with customers, resolve issues with understanding and compassion, and provide service that supports customer loyalty.
  • Fulfill global assignments around the clock, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours; accept short-notice reserve assignments and be away from the assigned base for days at a time.
  • Serve and/or sell food and beverages, including alcohol, diligently and professionally.
  • Complete initial training in Houston, Texas, and attend base orientation after successful training completion.
Desired Qualifications
  • Two or more years of college are preferred.

About the company

United Airlines flies passengers and cargo across the United States and to destinations around the world, running a hub network that spans Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington Dulles and Guam. It was a founding member of Star Alliance, the global airline partnership that links its routes and frequent-flyer benefits with carriers such as Lufthansa and Air Canada. Travelers book seats in economy, premium and Polaris business cabins, and United earns money from fares, bag and seat fees, cargo, and its MileagePlus loyalty program, which sells miles to card partners. United traces its roots to Varney Air Lines, which began flying airmail in 1926, and is based in Chicago.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Chicago, Illinois

Founded

1926

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Premium travel fuels growth: premium revenue rose 16% in Q2 2026 as total revenue reached $17.7 billion.
  • Hiring keeps expanding: United had 117,500 employees by June 2026, up 5.6% from a year earlier.
  • Cabin crew pay is climbing: the flight attendant deal reached in March 2026 lifts base pay 31% on average.

What critics are saying

  • Fuel prices squeeze profits: in July 2026, United expected nearly $6 billion more fuel expense for the year.
  • Mechanics' labor fight drags on: United technicians rejected a Teamsters tentative deal 53.5% to 46.5% in September 2026.
  • Newark growth was capped: the FAA limited the airport to 72 hourly flights from January through October 2026.

What makes United Airlines unique

  • United gives loyalty members free fast WiFi: it targets Starlink on nearly 1,000 aircraft by end of 2026.
  • Its Pacific reach extends past Hawaii: United runs a hub on Guam, a US island territory near Asia.
  • United dominates New York's Newark airport: it runs about 70% of the flights there.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Parental Leave
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Commuter
  • Paid Holidays
  • Paid Time Off

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

11%

1 year growth

11%

2 year growth

11%
Yahoo Finance
Oct 21st, 2026
United bets on Starlink to win brand-loyal flyers as Q3 revenue rises 17% to $17.9B

United Airlines is betting that Starlink, SpaceX's in-flight satellite internet service, will win over customers loyal to other airlines. Chief executive officer Scott Kirby said on the company's third-quarter 2026 earnings call that the carrier sees evidence the service influences which airline people choose. United offers more Starlink flights than the entire US airline industry combined, Kirby said. It has launched a tracker so customers can check whether their flight has the service. Kirby said some customers loyal to rival airlines switched solely because of Starlink, and stayed after trying United. He expects higher revenue per available seat mile in 2027 and beyond. Third-quarter total operating revenue rose 17% year over year to $17.9 billion. Loyalty and premium revenue each grew 17%, while basic economy revenue rose 16%.

PR Newswire
Sep 24th, 2026
United Airlines receives first GTF Advantage-powered A321XLR from RTX's Pratt & Whitney

United Airlines has received its first Airbus A321XLR aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney's GTF Advantage engines, marking the inaugural delivery of this enhanced engine variant. The GTF Advantage offers up to twice the operational lifespan of current GTF engines and provides 4-8% more takeoff thrust, enabling extended range capabilities. The engine features an advanced hot section design and remains fully compatible with existing GTF models, simplifying fleet operations. Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, plans to transition its entire PW1100G-JM production line to the Advantage specification by 2028. Current GTF operators will be able to access 90-95% of the Advantage's durability improvements through a Hot Section Plus upgrade option, available from early next year during scheduled maintenance visits.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 17th, 2026
DISH and United Airlines bring live football to 35,000 feet via Starlink screens

DISH and United Airlines have partnered to bring live football to passengers on Starlink-enabled flights. The service launches this week on over 200 United aircraft, expanding to nearly 700 planes by February 2027. Passengers will have access to nine live sports channels including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, NFL Network, and Prime Video's Thursday Night Football. The service covers both college and professional football games throughout the 2026–2027 season. The partnership uses DISH's OnStream platform, which delivers entertainment across multiple business sectors including hospitality, senior living, and aviation. The collaboration aims to keep sports fans connected to live games whilst travelling at 35,000 feet.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 27th, 2026
United trades at forward P/E of 11 as US airfares jump 25.5% and CEO predicts more rises

US airline fares rose 25.5% year over year in July, and United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby expects further gradual increases through the first half of 2027 if demand holds. United's second-quarter revenue reached $17.67 billion, up 16% year over year. Despite industry-wide fare growth, United shares have gained only 2.69% year to date, compared with Delta's 20.64% rise. United trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 11, versus Delta's 13. Kirby framed the fare increases as structural catch-up, noting airport fees have risen roughly 60% since COVID and maintenance costs remain elevated. He told investors that airfares are still 13% below 2019 levels in real terms.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 24th, 2026
United Airlines CEO targets JFK expansion and new international routes amid rising fuel costs

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby announced plans to expand at New York's JFK Airport and increase international routes. The airline aims to acquire takeoff and landing slots from struggling carriers, potentially returning to JFK next year through its partnership with JetBlue Airways. United's second-quarter operating revenue rose 16% year over year to $17.7 billion, with revenue per available seat mile up 12.1%. The carrier raised its full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance to $9 to $11, despite expecting nearly $6 billion in additional fuel expenses for 2026. The expansion builds on United's existing network of more than 370 destinations across six continents. Shares closed at $113.17, down 18% from their June record high.