Vacation 2023 – Reminder: Election Phase Closes October 15

Date: October 6, 2022

Over the entire period of time starting September 25 through December 5, there are a number of activities involving vacation all of which fall into what might best be described in three words: Choose, Bid, Trade.

The (20) twenty-day “Choose” period during which Flight Attendants have the ability to make Elections, which is elect Vacation Buy Back (with an incentive), Defer 7-14 days of vacation into the 401(k) or UK Stakeholder Plan or Elect for paid or unpaid Flex Vacation, starts as of September 25th. 

During this initial phase and prior to making any elections, we strongly recommend that you review your Vacation Accrual Letter for accuracy.  If you have a question about your accrual, contact the Flight Attendant Vacation Team, Monday – Friday from 0800 – 1600 CT at 1 800 FLTLINE (Option 1,9, & 1) or from LHR at 0800-89-6516.  Alternatively, e-mail your questions to FAVactionTeam@united.com with your questions.

Once you have assured you fully understand your vacation accrual, consider whether the following Election options are appropriate for you.

Vacation Buy Back

Vacation days are “sold” back at a rate of three hours and fifteen minutes (3:15) of pay per day plus an incentive payment, which shall be determined and announced prior to the annual vacation bid. 

Annual Vacation Buy Back:

Our Contract provides for a vacation buy back option, which allows a Flight Attendant to take pay in lieu of accrued vacation. Flight Attendants must opt to “sell” at least six (6) full days of accrued vacation and partial days are not eligible. Those participating in the Buy Back program may not participate in the Flex program. 

Vacation days are “sold” back at a rate of three hours and fifteen minutes (3:15) of pay per day plus an incentive payment, which shall be determined and announced prior to the annual vacation bid. For 2023, the incentive rate is 0.1%.

NOTE:  The rate of pay for Vacation buy back is based on your individual rate of pay as of 12/31/21. International Purser and Purser pay overrides are not included in your hourly rate of pay and are not applicable to Vacation Buy Back payments.

Deferred 401(k) Contribution: 

Flight Attendants may elect to contribute a minimum of seven (7) days and a maximum of fourteen (14) days of paid vacation accrued for use in 2023 into their 401(k) Savings Plan account or UK Stakeholder Group Plan. 

Flex Vacation Program 

Flight Attendants may elect to take an additional seven days of FLEX vacation. Flight Attendants taking FLEX vacation will either take the additional seven days as unpaid vacation or elect to have one hour and fifty-four minutes (1:54) pay deducted from their earnings each month to pay for the FLEX vacation week. 

FLEX Period Assignments:

Flight Attendants who opt for paid Flex vacation will have their last seven days of their last awarded vacation period designated as Flex.

Flight Attendants who opt for unpaid Flex vacation will have their first seven days of the first awarded vacation period designated as Flex.

FLEX vacation will be labeled for Flight Attendants in various vacation information screens in CCS as follows:

 Flight Attendants having paid FLEX vacation, which will be designated as the last vacation period of the year, are not eligible to defer that FLEX vacation period into the subsequent year as set forth in IRS guidelines.

Additional information is available via our Vacation Microsite on the MEC website.  In addition, the annual Vacation Article by our Central Schedule Committee is available on the Committee home page.