Tuesday, November 10, 2026 🔗

The “480:00” – Employer Subsidized Healthcare 

Effective with the October 2026 bid month, the terms of Section 29.A.2.g. is in effect. This provision of the Agreement requires Flight Attendants to maintain 480:00 of paid activity between the October 2026 bid month through the September 2027 bid month in order to have subsidized health care benefits for the 2028 benefits plan year. This provision would then apply for each subsequent October through September for the following benefit plan year. 

As this is new to the 2026 - 2031 Agreement, we are providing the following Q&A to answer what we believe will be the most frequently asked questions.

What is the 480:00? 

The 480:00 refers to the four hundred and eighty hours of paid activity that is required annually (measured from October to September) to receive the employer's contribution toward health care benefits for the following plan year. This is achieved through two components:

1. Paid activity, which is credited towards the 480:00 and

2. Proration of time for approved leaves

What contributes to the 480:00? 

The same paid activity that is currently used to calculate vacation and sick leave accrual under the terms of Section 12.A and 13.A. of the Agreement is used to calculate 480:00 for employee subsidized health care benefits.

The calculations for sick/vacation accrual are done under both the JCBA and the new Agreement based on the total months’ pay:

Lineholders:

• Greater of Guarantee or trips flown, including paid abs codes such as:

  • Management Drop Paid (MDP)

  • Death in Family Paid (DIFP)

  • EOM Reserve Days (RA)

  • Emergency Drop Paid (EDP

  • Withheld from Service (WFS)

• Protection codes such as /INL

  • Restored Off Day (ROD)

  • Pay Protected (PROT)

  • Ineligible (INE/INL)

  • Pay Adjustment (PAYT)

  • Jury Duty (JD)

• Pay Protect when pairing modification is made

• Manual pay register codes used to increase pay credit/flight time in guarantee LINE VALUE CODE

• Company Paid Occupational and Non Occupational Sick Time

• Paid Vacation DAT and PVC

Reserves:

• Greater of Guarantee or trips flown

• Company Paid Occupational and Non Occupational Sick Time

• Paid vacation, DATV,PVC

• Reserve assignments including:

  • Pairing Assigned Off Standby (PSB)

  • Airport Standby (OSB)

  • Assignment off of Preboarding (PB1)

  • Callout Pay (SNG)

  • Reserve Move-Up credit (RM)

Total months’ pay also includes Add Pay at Base Pay (Section 4.A.) rates:

• ALL Paid vacation fly thru including vacation trade code

• RSV Pairing pickups on days off

• CBT training modules

• Draft incentive code for 4:00

• Scheduling: OFFR 5:00 EACH

  • Reserve assigned into 1 calendar day off

• Scheduling: RSV ASSGN INTO DAY OFF-726 CODE

  • Reserve Assigned into more than one calendar day off

• Scheduling: RODP 5:00 (663 CODE)

  • Reserve Day off Restored

• Crew Pay Manual code for union business add pay hours (UNAP) and (UNBS)

  • Union Add Pay

• Crew pay manual code for Pay credit /flight time changes (ADPP)

  • Management Drop

• Crew Pay manual pay adj codes UNAP add pay union business/ADPP (increase flight time pay credit)

How does the credit Work?

As part of the annual calculation, the 480:00 will be prorated for any months or portions of months a Flight Attendant is on any approved leave of absence, unpaid FMLA, furlough and any other leaves protected by law. For a full month leave, a Flight Attendant will be credited with 40:00; for a partial month leave a Flight Attendant will be credited with one hour and twenty minutes (1:20) per day.

For example, if a Flight Attendant is on a medical leave for eight full months between October and September, the 480:00 hours would be credited proportionally with 320 hours (8 x 40:00), toward the 480:00 requirement. Alternatively, if a Flight Attendant was out on a medical leave for the entire year, they would be credited with the full 480:00 (12 x 40:00).

When will the measurement period start? 

United began measurement of the 480:00 hour paid activity minimum beginning with the October 2026 bid month through September 2027 bid month. Paid activity, and any appropriate prorations of the 480:00 during this period will determine eligibility for employer subsidized health care benefits for the 2028 Benefits year.

With respect to new hires, this provision will not apply until enrollment for January 1 of the second calendar year following the year in which the Flight Attendant was hired. A new hire in this instance is a Flight Attendant whose orientation occurred after September 29, 2026. For those individuals, their accrual period will begin with the October 2027 bid month, in order to give them 12 full months of accrual, and will determine eligibility for employer subsidized health care benefits for the 2029 Benefits year.

The Company and AFA are continuing discussions on a number of items related to the 480:00 calculation. When we conclude those discussions, we will provide an update on any items that would impact the accrual of the 480:00.

Effective DOS (June 2026 Bid Period)

29.F.2.      SUNSET   

Any Flight Attendant who retires after the end of the sixteen (16) year period commencing on August 28, 2016, shall not be eligible for retiree medical benefits under the provisions of Paragraphs F.3. or F.4. below, of this Agreement, but shall instead be eligible for retiree medical benefits under Paragraph F.5. below, subject to the terms of such provision.