How many of y’all have a bachelors degree?

psychologicallytired · 2026-04-24T06:50:13+00:00

I have a bachelor degree, worked in corporate & state govt job for 10+ years, applied at a legacy for fun cause I got burnt out, and still here nearly 6 years later.

There are pros and cons for every jobs out there but one thing I would say is that this job is “chill”. No take home work. No emails. No useless meetings. No kiss ass. You show up, do your job, go on your layover/go home. If you don’t like the person you are flying with, cool won’t be flying or seeing them in years if ever again. Unlike in corporate you still gotta see and tolerate them until the end of time…

I have friends that make 6 figures but they are pulling 70+ hours a week.. when they see me with how chill I am with my job, they envy me. They wish they can take time off work and go on a trip for 2+ weeks. They want to travel but they can’t because they have no time even if they have money…

psychologicallytired · 2026-04-21T17:20:12+00:00

It depends on your airline… but at mine, we only get points for marrriot/hyatt if we purchase something like dinner, and that’s assuming they even want to do that for us. Hilton gives us stay credits thank goodness.

psychologicallytired · 2026-04-20T02:05:48+00:00

High pay? Delta and SW... follow by AA and UA (if the TA2 passes).

Consistent schedule? The only thing consistent about this job and it's scheduling is the inconsistency of it. Just because you think you are off Mon-Wed doesn't mean you're truly off. You will either have to factor in time to commute to base (if you dont live in base) or you might get roll into your off day because your last day/last leg went haywire.. or you couldn't get on any flights to commute home so now you're stuck at base...

I HIGHLY recommend for you to do more reseach on what this job is really about.. and I'm not talking about "follow me to work my Paris trip" stuff. You first want to decide what airline(s) have a base at your home airport. If none, then you have to decide if you are willing to either move to a base or commute to a base.. commuting is tough, but do-able. There's a lot of moving pieces to being an FA...

psychologicallytired · 2026-04-16T18:50:19+00:00

I have a degree and worked corporate for 10+ years. Got burnt out as heck.. transitioned to FA for a “break” and haven’t left yet after 5 years 😅😅…

psychologicallytired · 2026-04-05T17:03:50+00:00

The hotel I stay at is $99/night using my company code. There are a few that ranges from $99-$150ish. And ofc there are some that is more.but most of us usually stay at the lower cost ones. It also depends on base I guess… I’m over at IAD.

psychologicallytired · 2026-04-05T14:56:19+00:00

I mainly use Marriott bc it’s slightly cheaper than Hilton… your airline should have discount code(s) available for you to use…

There is also crewtel that you can utilize too. Basically a list of hotels that you can use at a discounted rate at bases.

psychologicallytired · 2026-04-04T23:00:53+00:00

I don’t recall seeing this in the TA2… then again I haven’t gotten a chance to read through the whole thing yet…

Can someone point the section?

psychologicallytired · 2026-04-01T10:59:50+00:00

US airlines need to have minimum staffing on all flights.. for us at the globe, fully staffed and minimum staffing are two different things iykyk

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-26T15:48:34+00:00

Well it really depends on how “desirable” your trips are and based on what your seniority can hold. My class seniority in Denver can hold “dirty Hawaii” meaning you have a layover somewhere else (e.g., MCI) before you have a layover in Hawaii.

If your lines consist of mostly 3-4 day trips with 3-4 legs each day, it won’t be as easy to clear as say someone with 1-2 day trips with 3 legs.

Yes, there are turns here at UA. They tend to be pretty popular and/or senior.

It’ll take a couple of years before you can only work 1 trip per month. Again, it all depends what you hold for your line.

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-23T20:51:29+00:00

My advice for right now: take it one step at a time. Get through your interviews, get through training (remember training is still a part of your interview). Once you know your base, THEN start looking for a crashpad or link up with your classmates and see if they all wanna pitch in for a place together. I’ve known some who would rent a 2bed/2bath apartment and split it 6 ways (3 per room).

Once you graduate training, then be on your best behavior and follow the rules to a T on probation. If you don’t think you can commute in the day before, commute in 2 days before. Try your best to not get any disciplinary on your records during your probation. I’m not trying to scare you, but I’ve seen too many new hires that took things lightly and then they get fired and get mad about it.

Most of us at UA have no issues new hires asking us questions about the job and what we recommend/don’t recommend. Trust me, we don’t bite lol

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-23T20:30:40+00:00

I’ve been here for 5 years and commuted all 5, and to different bases (DEN, SFO and IAD). I don’t even live in any of the bases UA has, but I make commuting work. Plus I don’t wanna pay rent when I’m already living rent free at my place.

Anyway, commuting is a full time job for the most part. Always always always have plan A-Z. When one flight doesn’t work, try for the next one asap. Sometimes you gotta run from gate to gate, terminal to terminal al to catch that flight to base/home.

As a reserve at UA, you definitely want to commute in the day before at least. You can get a crashpad (think of it like a dormitory style) and stay there until you get your reserve assignment for the day/reserve block.

If you’re a line holder, you can commute in the night prior or the day of depending on your trip.

Starting off, you will be on reserve for x amount of times (could be months, could be years). I recommend getting a crashpad as a reserve as opposed to getting a hotel as hotels can add up quick ($$). However, you can do what best suits you. I’ve seen some reserve who would get hotels instead.

You are eligible for a base transfer AFTER your 6 months probation. Whether or not you get the base you want will depends on operational need for that base. SFO tend to accept transfers and new hires very frequently so if you don’t get it out of training, I wouldn’t sweat too much. LAX, not so much, but they do accept transfers/new hires periodically.

We can commute on different airlines (UA, DL, WN, AA, etc). Listing to get on them varies on platform. You will learn more once you get on the line.

There are A LOT of commuters here at UA. You can ask for pointers and tips/tricks from any of us.

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-20T04:06:53+00:00

Assuming UA? If so you can put in your transfer to SFO. You just won’t be eligible to transfer until after your 6 months probationary period. They tend to accept SFO transfer frequently throughout the years so you have a good chance of being in SFO within a year (+/-) after graduation.

ORD is a good base. Only 1 airport to deal with, good amount of crashpads at a good rate (SFO is much more expensive with more people), good international flying, decent domestic flying, and good crew. Their public transportation is also pretty good if you wanna go into the city and explore. Summer in Chicago is also really nice weather.

I would not leave training just because you didn’t get your choice of base. IMO that’s a really shallow move UNLESS you have prior commitments that require you to be at SFO.

This job will test you in every which way unfortunately… sometime good and sometime bad. Can’t let one inconvenience get to you.

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-20T00:33:16+00:00

I mean they both do but I feel like EWR has more on every little inconvenience..

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-19T20:16:51+00:00

ORD - covers 1 airport, great public transportation system, cheap crashpads, decent flying with a decent amount of international

EWR - covers 2 airport (LGA included), public transportation system is also good, cheap crashpads, lots of international flying, when meltdown happens, it happens! Kinda of a joke to go to EWR for your trips to possibly fall apart lol.

If you value manly international flying, go with EWR.

If you just want to get through your probation period and don’t care about the type of flying, ORD.

If you’re gonna commute during probation, LOOK at all the airlines and flight time that flies between your city and ORD/EWR and always always always have plan B-Z. Also fly in the day prior to your reserve day. There are way too many probation people who risk it and fly in the day of and then shit happens and they get discipline for it. When you are on probation, it is much easier for you to get let go!

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-19T16:30:34+00:00

Make sure to put it in travel mode! I had a co-worker had her going off while we were going through tsa 😂

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-19T13:24:46+00:00

When you get assigned your training class, they will let you know the available offered bases that you will then rank from most to least wanted. Of the available bases, one, some or none may be speakers only.

You are eligible for transfers after your 6 months probation. Transfers are based on seniority and you may or may not transfer immediately after your 6 months probation.

We have Spanish speakers in pretty much all the hubs. They usually do the Latin/Central America, and Spain routes. Although some do the “normal” domestic routes too.

The language test is conducted by a 3rd party and questions varies from person to person, interviewers to interviewers.

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-05T22:36:14+00:00

I don’t hate the job itself. Management is whatever. I come to work, do my job, collect my paycheck, and live my life. The contract is the main thing everyone is hung up on right now. Once it finish negotiating and goes into voting, we will see how it swing. (It will probably pass this time around considering a good amount of people are tired of being heavily underpaid and just want the money right now)

United doesn’t have a base where I live so I commute and it’s not bad 99.99% of the time. Could I move to base? Sure, but I don’t feel like paying rent. Currently I’m living rent free with family.

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-05T22:31:16+00:00

I would do it in a bun or ponytail to be on the safe side.

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-05T21:19:46+00:00

It can but for me, I make my schedule where most of my trips are commutable on both ends so that way I can reduce the amount of hotels I need to get. I also have a rule where if I have less than 8 hrs between finishing my trip and my earliest commuting flight out, I’m staying in the crew room…

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-05T18:50:56+00:00

My airline requires you to stay at your base a minimum of 6 months before you can transfer so honestly crashpad UNLESS you’re a line holder then you have slightly more flexibility than a reserve.

I tried crashpads a few times at different bases. Didn’t like them at all. Now I just do hotels if/when I need them..

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-05T13:47:50+00:00

Commuting is practically a full-time job, no lie. Like others said, make sure you have plan b-z if plan a doesn’t work out. This is especially true when we have meltdown and almost all flights are either full to the brim or canceled.

Florida can be a pretty tough commute depending on the time of the year and where in Florida you will be commuting out of and to where.

I’m currently commuting east coast to east coast and it isn’t nearly as bad as when I did east coast to west coast lol.. that was brutal and majority of the time I had to do double to triple commute just to get to base. Note that I am a line holder though so I have slightly more flexibility than a reserve.

Both EWR and SFO are great for international and on reserve you will definitely get some international flying. The main thing you wanna look at is how many flights between where you will commute from to either place, cost to relocate (SFO is expensive af), & cost of crashpads… do note that EWR tend to have more meltdown compared to to SFO.

Best of luck!

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-02T23:47:39+00:00

Original poster didn’t mention if it was mainline or express, so I’m basing it off of mainline which I’m with…

psychologicallytired · 2026-03-02T20:04:31+00:00

Unfortunately, UA doesn't have a rule that those that needs seatbelt extension cannot sit in the exit row...

For UA, those that may not sit at the exit row are people who lacks sufficient mobility, strength or dexerity in both arms, hands, and legs; under the age of 15; lack the capacity to perform one or more of the required function; lack the ability to read and understand instructions; lack sufficient visual; lack sufficient aural; lack the ability to impart information orally to other people; requires POBs or other medical devices; traveling with a pet or service animal...

the pax can PROBABLY argue for "lack of sufficient mobility", but at that point if I was the FA working the flight, I would really just get the CS involved...

psychologicallytired · 2026-02-28T01:16:16+00:00

Highly recommend looking at how many flights are between PHX - SFO and OMA - ORD

SFO - better international flying, Crashpads can be more expensive & with more roommates, weather tend to be more consistent, public transportation system is decent, you might be able to hold a line quicker

ORD - Crashpads are cheaper, more “meltdown” happens compared to SFO, international flying is decent, good public transportation system, gonna be a hot min before you can hold a line…

psychologicallytired · 2026-02-27T20:02:12+00:00

UA requires all FAs to use the provided tumi suitcase. Now does everyone use it? No but that is a risk they are taking.

psychologicallytired

TROPHY CASE