Friday, October 16, 2026 🔗

10-16-2026  Implemented Other Airlines & Revenue Tickets

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.

Documentation Examples 🔗

Help Hub -  Commuter Program Report (Other Airlines) & Revenue Ticket🔗

Commuter Program contract language for Section 28.B.4.b., 28.B.4.b.(1)., 28.B.4.b.(2)., and 28.B.4.b.(3). 

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 flightdeparture 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 the 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. 

Friday, June 19, 2026 🔗

6-19-2026 International Substitute Pairings 

Commuter Program - International Substitute Pairings (Section 28.E.3.b.)

While the majority of the Commuter Program currently remains unchanged from the JCBA, the terms of Section 28.E.3.b. have gone into effect.

Section 28.E.3.b. provides: “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.” 

This provision only applies to Flight Attendants who were scheduled to fly an International pairing, were unable to commute for that pairing and who are assigned to a substitute pairing that is scheduled to terminate on the day after the original pairing was scheduled to terminate.

As a reminder, if the Flight Attendant declines this reassignment, they are still subject to a being assigned to report for their original pairing or a portion of that pairing (Section 28.E.1.); a substitute pairing that is scheduled to fly on the same days as the original pairing (Section 28.E.2.); or any other substitute pairing that is mutually agreeable to the Flight Attendant and Crew Scheduling (Section 28.E.4.).

Commuter Program contract language for Section 28.E.3.b.

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.