For United Airlines employees, traveling doesn’t just mean flying as part of their job—it’s often an essential part of their personal and professional lives. Whether it’s attending a work meeting, spending time with family, or exploring new destinations, travel is an integral part of the United experience. United Airlines recognizes this and offers a valuable benefit to its employees through the Flying Together program, which provides a host of travel-related perks. Through flying together ual has significantly streamlined and improved the travel process for its staff, making it easier, more affordable, and more flexible than ever before.
One of the main advantages of the Flying Together program is the opportunity for United Airlines employees to fly at a fraction of the price of regular airfare. Through the space-available (standby) travel system, employees can book flights for themselves and their eligible family members at deeply discounted rates. While space-available travel means there’s no guarantee of a seat, the substantial savings make standby travel an attractive option for employees who have flexible travel plans.
The affordability of these discounted tickets helps alleviate the financial burden of travel, making it easier for employees to fly frequently for both personal and professional reasons. Whether attending training sessions, business conferences, or family gatherings, employees can enjoy significant savings on airfare. This reduced cost allows employees to travel more often without worrying about the high costs typically associated with commercial airline tickets.
One of the primary factors that can make flying smoother for United employees is access to real-time seat availability and flight information. The Flying Together portal allows employees to see the current load of seats on United flights, including whether a flight is full or if there are open seats available. This is critical for employees flying standby, as it helps them assess their chances of securing a seat before they even get to the airport.
The Flying Together portal provides employees with a wealth of tools and resources that streamline the booking and travel process. The flight availability tool helps staff make informed decisions on which flights to book, increasing their chances of finding an open seat. It also helps employees plan alternate travel routes or dates if their preferred flight is fully booked.
This kind of information can be a game-changer for standby travelers, helping them avoid unnecessary trips to the airport for flights that are likely to be unavailable. With the convenience of real-time data, employees can more efficiently plan their trips, reducing frustration and ensuring that they can travel with peace of mind.
Priority boarding is another major benefit of the Flying Together program that significantly smooths out the travel experience for United employees. The seniority-based system ensures that employees with more years of service get priority when boarding standby flights, which increases their likelihood of securing a seat. This system is designed to reward long-term employees and create a fair and transparent process for all staff.
Knowing that their seniority will give them an edge when traveling on standby allows employees to make more confident travel decisions. Those with higher seniority can be more assured of boarding a flight, even during peak travel times. This priority boarding system also extends to eligible family members traveling with employees, offering them a smoother experience as well.
For newer employees, while they may not have the same seniority ranking, understanding the process and checking flight loads regularly can help them navigate their travel options. The priority boarding system makes it clear when and why certain employees have a higher chance of securing a seat, and this transparency is key in helping staff manage their expectations.
The ability to bring family members along on discounted flights is another way the Flying Together program makes travel easier for United employees. Eligible family members—such as spouses, children, and sometimes parents—can travel on space-available flights for a significantly reduced cost, giving employees the opportunity to share their journeys with loved ones.
This perk is especially valuable for employees who travel often for work and want to incorporate personal travel with family time. However, just like employees, family members must travel on a space-available basis, which means they are subject to the same standby rules and priority boarding system. Despite this, having the option to bring loved ones along at a reduced cost makes family vacations, holiday visits, or weekend getaways much more accessible.
Additionally, some employees may have the option to extend the benefit to friends, allowing for even more flexibility in travel plans. By including family and friends, the Flying Together program fosters a sense of connection and camaraderie both within the United Airlines community and among their loved ones.
United Airlines employees can also take advantage of discounts on accommodations and car rentals through the Flying Together program. United has partnered with a range of hotels and car rental companies to offer employees exclusive rates, which makes travel even more affordable and convenient. Whether traveling for business or leisure, employees can save on hotels and rental cars, helping to reduce the overall cost of their trips.
This added layer of convenience is another way the Flying Together program smooths out the travel process. Employees can manage their entire travel experience—flights, accommodations, and transportation—all through the same system. The ease of booking through the Flying Together portal helps ensure that employees can focus on enjoying their trips instead of worrying about logistics.
The benefits of the Flying Together program extend well beyond active employees to include retirees. United retirees continue to enjoy space-available travel and priority boarding based on their seniority at the time of retirement, allowing them to travel on United flights at discounted rates. This means that even after employees leave the airline, they can still enjoy the same travel perks, making it easier to stay connected with family, visit friends, or simply enjoy leisure travel.
This lifelong access to travel benefits provides retirees with the freedom to explore the world without worrying about high airfare costs. It’s an ongoing connection to the United Airlines community that enhances the travel experience long after an employee has retired.
While the Flying Together portal provides many tools to help employees manage their travel, there are times when additional support is needed. The Employee Travel Desk is available to assist with booking flights, troubleshooting issues, and answering any questions related to travel policies. Whether dealing with last-minute changes, flight cancellations, or complex itineraries, the Employee Travel Desk is a resource that ensures employees have the help they need to navigate any obstacles.
This support can be crucial, particularly for employees who may be new to the standby system or need help resolving any issues that arise during their travels. The availability of a dedicated helpdesk ensures that employees can travel with confidence, knowing they have assistance when needed.
United Airlines’ Flying Together program provides an extensive range of benefits that make travel for employees smoother, more affordable, and more flexible. From discounted flights and priority boarding to family travel benefits and discounts on accommodations, Flying Together simplifies the entire travel experience. With real-time seat availability information, seniority-based priority boarding, and added support through the Employee Travel Desk, United Airlines has created a comprehensive system that enhances the travel experience for its employees. By offering these perks, United ensures that employees can travel with ease, whether for business or leisure, making their journeys more enjoyable and efficient.