Commuter Program

A message from the JIT

This communication is part of our ongoing commitment to providing information on issues related to implementation. Please read through the following updates.

Commuter Program

We are pleased to announce that effective Friday, October 16, 2026, the terms Section 28.B.4.b., 28.B.4.b.(1)., 28.B.4.b.(2)., and 28.B.4.b.(3). will be implemented.

Flight Attendants can now choose to use Other Airlines when listing for their primary flight to commute to their home domicile. The back-up flight must still be on United/United Express.

The requirements and process to have your commute covered by the Commuter Program remains the same as today in terms of listing for flights, timing for the flights to arrive at base and contacting Crew Scheduling in the event the flights do not operate as scheduled. Like today, if your primary flight does not operate as scheduled, you will need to contact Crew Scheduling to advise them of the disruption and that you will be utilizing your back up flight.

When you make that first call to Crew Scheduling, please be prepared to advise the Scheduler of your primary flight number, the airline on which the flight is operating and the scheduled arrival time, along with your back-up flight information. Please remember that the back-up flight must be on United/United Express.

Commuter Documentation Requirements

As we do not have access to other airline systems, we will need a way to start tracking this information in COSMOS, uCrew, CCS, Help Hub and Inflight Records (IR) when the Flight Attendant calls Crew Scheduling. This form must be submitted within 24 hours of speaking with Crew Scheduling.

In accordance with Section 28.B.4.b (1-3) Flight Attendants requesting consideration under the Commuter Program must provide documentation supporting their commute.

All supporting documentation must be submitted within 24 hours of the applicable commute.

Submissions received more than 24 hours after the commute will not be accepted.

Other Airlines – Seat Availability:

All screenshots must clearly display the date and time associated with the availability.

Acceptable documentation includes*:

• Airline Website or App: A screenshot showing that a seat was available for purchase through the operating airline’s website or mobile application.

• Third-Party Travel Websites: A screenshot from a third-party travel website, such as Booking.com, Expedia or Priceline, showing that a seat was available for purchase.

• ID90 Travel: A screenshot of the applicable flight listing showing available seats.

• My ID Travel: A screenshot of the applicable flight listing displaying a yellow or green smiley face, indicating seat availability. A red smiley face does not demonstrate seat availability and will not be accepted.

Flight Attendants are not required to purchase a confirmed seat to meet the seat availability documentation requirement.

The documentation must demonstrate that a seat was available for purchase at the applicable time.

*see examples below. As this is a new process, United reserves the right to revise, add or eliminate acceptable documentation.

Revenue Tickets

In addition to being permitted to use Other Airlines for stand-by travel for the primary flight, Flight Attendant may also choose to purchase a revenue ticket (including myUAdiscount) for commuting. The revenue flight for which the ticket is purchased must be schedule to arrive at the Flight Attendant’s base (or point of their duty assignment) at least one hour prior to report time for their assignment. When a revenue ticket is purchased, no back-up flight is required.

In support of this new provision, United has made a revision to the ‘same routing, same day’ policy. This policy can be viewed here. Please carefully review this exception for commuting crew members.

As United takes any violation of our Pass Travel Policies seriously, before engaging in conduct that could be seen as a violation of those policies, crew members should check with their Base leadership to ensure that their conduct is in compliance.

When a revenue ticket is purchased for the applicable commute, Flight Attendants must provide both of the following:

• The email confirmation verifying the purchase of the revenue ticket, which must show both the date and time of the purchase.

• The boarding pass for the applicable flight.

NOTE: Both documents must be submitted to support the request.

Acceptance/Rejection of Documentation

Once the Help Hub request is completed and documentation is submitted, the request will be reviewed by the Supervisor on Demand Team. Once the review is complete, you will receive an email to your United email address advising you if the request has been accepted or rejected.

If the original request is rejected for insufficient documentation, Flight Attendant may resubmit a new case within 24 hours of rejection notification.

For Documentation examples, go to 

https://sites.google.com/unitedafa.org/jit-updates-cba2026/2026-october-16?authuser=0#h.fp5xn5yn3xuf

🚙🚫 Surface Commute Disruption - Steps to Follow

If you are unable to make it to the airport due to severe weather, mechanical trouble or traffic accidents you should contact the DEN Concierge Supervisor desk ASAP (303) 348 3052 and give as much notice as possible that you are unable to report to your assignment. (Always get the name of who you talk to!) If possible, continue to base unless you are released from obligation by a supervisor or crew scheduler. 

Next, you should gather evidence that will help you demonstrate to your supervisor your inability to commute in. Examples include:

• Traffic reports (city/state traffic websites)

• Photos/videos of impassable roads/hazardous conditions/vehicle damage

• Accident report

• Towing service/mechanic receipts

Send what you have to your supervisor in an email and cc afaden@unitedafa.org so that we can advocate on your behalf.

SECTION 28

COMMUTER PROGRAM

28.A.

This Section establishes standards for managing Flight Attendant attendance when certain unavoidable circumstances preclude Flight Attendants from reporting as scheduled. While all concerned are required to conduct themselves with reasonableness, prudence, and good judgment, the obligation and responsibility to report for work as scheduled remains that of each Flight Attendant.

28.B.

This Section governs circumstances in which Flight Attendants are unable to report for scheduled assignments due to any of the following:

28.B.1.

Unforecasted severe weather conditions or other natural disasters (i.e., blizzards, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other similar events), or

28.B.2.

Hazardous or impassable roads resulting from severe weather, accidents, or natural disasters, or

28.B.3.

Mechanical problems while on the way to work, or

28.B.4.

Unexpected airport disruption(s) or closures, or

28.B.4.a.

Flight Attendants who commute by automobile, bus, train, or public surface transportation will be afforded the same privileges contained in this Section for unforeseen events related to severe unforecasted weather conditions or natural disasters which render roads hazardous or impassable, or enroute mechanical problems, provided that they call their Inflight Duty Office as soon as the unforeseen event becomes known and it appears they will not make it to the airport to arrive at their Domicile in time for their scheduled report (e.g., road accident, mechanical breakdown, severe weather). Flight Attendants are expected to exercise prudent judgment and planning regarding checking load factors, flight availability, forecast weather, traffic reports, and otherwise generally “planning ahead” to avoid commuting problems. For example, it is not sufficient to utilize a flight(s) whose arrival/departure time is likely to be adversely impacted by forecasted weather events.

28.B.4.b.

A Flight Attendant commuting by air, must exercise good judgment and exert every reasonable effort to report for work. In all cases the flight(s) must be scheduled to arrive at their Domicile or the point of their duty assignment at least one hour (1:00) prior to their report time for such assignment. The primary flight may either be a flight for which the seats are controlled by the Company or it may be a flight operated by another carrier (OAL). The secondary flight must be a flight for which the seats are controlled by the Company.

28.B.4.b.(1).

A Flight Attendant commuting on an airline whose seats are controlled by the Company, must have a legitimate reasonable potential to commute on at least one (1) flight listed through the Company’s reservations systems, including accounting for non-revenue space available travelers that are listed and have either a higher boarding priority or greater seniority than the Flight Attendant. Within the twenty-four (24) hours prior to the flight departure time the flight must have available capacity as displayed on the Company’s reservations system.

28.B.4.b.(2).

A Flight Attendant commuting on an airline whose seats are not controlled by the Company, must have a legitimate reasonable potential to commute on the flights for which they are listed. Within the twenty-four (24) hours prior to the flight’s departure time the flights must have available capacity as displayed on that company’s reservations system/interline booking system. It will be the responsibility of the Flight Attendant to provide the necessary documentation to show the available capacity.

28.B.4.b.(3).

Flight Attendants choosing to commute with a revenue ticket with a confirmed seat on any commercial carrier will qualify as long as the flight is scheduled to arrive at their Domicile or the point of their duty assignment at least one hour (1:00) prior to their report time for such assignment.

28.B.4.c.

Upon actual assignment, a jumpseat(s) (Mainline and United Express) is considered an available seat for commuting purposes.

28.C.

This Section applies to Flight Attendants whose mode(s) of transportation to report for work are rendered unavailable by any of the conditions in Paragraph 28.B. only if there are no other reasonable alternative means of timely reporting for their scheduled assignments. A Flight Attendant may utilize two (2) or more airports in proximity to each other for purposes of satisfying the two (2) flights requirement of this Section (e.g., one (1) flight from Tampa, one (1) flight from Orlando, or one (1) flight from Sarasota) as long as the scheduled departure times between the two (2) flights reasonably allow the Flight Attendant to travel by surface transportation (i.e., automobile, bus, train or taxi) from one (1) airport to the other and physically check in at the gate in time for the scheduled departure of each flight. The commuting Flight Attendant must be at the gate and have checked in for the flights(s) to be utilized for purposes of this Section.

28.D.

This Section does not apply to any other circumstance or condition related to a Flight Attendant’s failure to report for their scheduled assignment, or to timely report for their scheduled assignment, including personal emergencies.

28.E.

When an unforeseen event takes place (e.g., no available seat, weight restriction, delay or cancellation due to unforeseen significant weather at the intended airport of departure or arrival, ATC or aircraft maintenance), affecting the Flight Attendant’s first commuting flight, they must immediately contact Crew Scheduling. A Flight Attendant commuting by air will notify Crew Scheduling of the airline and flight number of their primary flight and that they will be utilizing the back-up flight, when applicable, immediately upon discovering that they are unable to commute using the primary flight, regardless of the reason for such inability. They shall also recontact Crew Scheduling immediately upon discovering that they will be unable to commute on their back-up flight, when applicable. In the case where a Flight Attendant is physically onboard their first or back-up flight and the flight diverts in route, the Flight Attendant shall contact Crew Scheduling as soon as they are able to do so. Upon notification to Crew Scheduling, the Flight Attendant shall continue on to their Base if possible, unless released by Crew Scheduling/ Coordination. Upon arrival at their Base, the Flight Attendant shall promptly contact Crew Scheduling/Coordination to advise them that they are there. They will be subject to assignment, as follows:

28.E.1.

They may be directed to report to their original pairing or to a portion of the original pairing, joining it at a later point; or

28.E.2.

They may be assigned a substitute pairing scheduled to fly on the same days as the original pairing; or

28.E.3.

They may be assigned a substitute pairing which begins on any day following the start of the original pairing, as follows:

28.E.3.a.

For domestic pairings, the substitute pairing may not be scheduled to end later than the final day.

28.E.3.b.

For international pairings, the substitute pairing may not be scheduled to end later than the calendar day following the day on which the original pairing was scheduled to end. The Flight Attendant may advise the Company that they do not want to be assigned to a pairing scheduled to terminate the day after the original pairing was scheduled to terminate. In such cases, the Flight Attendant will not be entitled to a hotel room under Paragraph 28.E.5, and they will still be subject to assignment under Paragraphs 28.E.1, 28.E.2. and 28.E.4.

28.E.3.c.

A Flight Attendant whose assigned substitute pairing is scheduled to end on the calendar day following the day on which the original pairing was scheduled to end will not be entitled to have that day off restored.

28.E.4.

They may be given any other substitute assignment which is mutually agreeable to the Flight Attendant and Crew Scheduling; and

28.E.5.

Except as provided in paragraph 28.E.3., if requested by the Flight Attendant, the Company will provide a hotel room for a Lineholder Flight Attendant who commutes by air and who is in compliance with this Section if the Lineholder receives no immediate assignment or receives an assignment with a report time more than five (5) hours after the Flight Attendant arrives at their Base. The Company shall not be obligated to provide more than the number of nights in a hotel than would otherwise have been provided on the Flight Attendant’s original pairing.

28.F.

A Flight Attendant given an assignment pursuant to Paragraph 28.E. will be compensated as if the original assignment had never occurred, and the substitute assignment had in fact been their original assignment. If no substitute assignment is given, the original assignment shall be treated as a personal drop, and the Flight Attendant shall receive no pay or credit relating to it.

28.G.

This Section shall be applicable to all Flight Attendants, whether Lineholders or Reserves.

28.H.

Upon request, Flight Attendants shall be responsible for providing documentation required by the Company to establish their compliance with the terms of this Section.

28.I.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit or abridge the Company’s existing rights to make assignments/reassignments as necessary, and consistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement to protect the operational integrity of the schedule.

28.J.

A Flight Attendant who is unable to meet their scheduled report time as a direct result of any of the circumstances listed in Paragraph 28.B., and who has complied fully with all of the terms of this Section shall be considered to have an authorized absence without pay, and shall not be subject to discipline (assessed points) as result of their inability to report, unless such inability occurs repeatedly. The parties have intentionally not specified a precise number of instances that will be afforded the protections of this Section. Each invocation of this Section will be considered an independent event and judged on its own unique circumstances, however repeated invocations of this Section may be considered in evaluations of a Flight Attendant’s overall attendance/reliability.