UA F/As, !st Flight Attendant Interview

[Highlander]

Hello,
I have my interview with Spherion later this week and was wondering if anyone could give me any advise? I am very excited and want to put my best foot forward. If there is anything I shoud know that will help, please let me know. Thanks!!!!

 

[jimntx]

1. Have a typed resume (several copies) with you. Make sure that ALL the words in the resume are spelled correctly. I once saw a resume in which the person misspelled their own name (they did not get hired). Don't lie on the resume. Since 9/11, airlines are required to do exhaustive background checks on all applicants--particularly flight crew members.
2. Dress business-like and conservatively. If you are female, they will not care that your gold lame party dress that barely covers your butt looks good on you (or so you think ). If you are male, make sure that you have, at least, dress slacks, sport coat (in a conservative color), white shirt, tie (knotted and drawn up to the neck), and shined shoes.
3. Women: Nails manicured to a reasonable length--red or clear polish. (No they don't want to see the green polish that matches your dress). Guys: nails clipped short and CLEAN.
4. Make sure that you have a well thought out answer to the question, "Why do you want to be a flight attendant?" Do not say, "I just want to work with people." That is a non-answer. Unless you are a professional hermit you will always be working with people.
5. Make sure that you are confident within you that you are ready to get up and move to any base United assigns you to at the end of training. The least hesitation when they ask you that question will kill your chances. The airline doesn't care that you are close to your family and want to be based in ORD so that your commute to Ashtabula won't be too hard.
6. Be sure that you are flexible in your life and work. This week because of weather around the country, I have not ended up a single place that I started out for that morning. If you can't function unless you are on a regular schedule, don't apply for the job of flight attendant.
7. Make sure that you have the resources to attend 4-6 weeks of training without pay. As far as I know, United is like AA (my airline) and pays for your meals and hotel room while you are in training, but nothing else. You are not a company employee until you successfully complete training and report for work somewhere.

Good luck!

 

[Highlander]

1. Have a typed resume (several copies) with you. Make sure that ALL the words in the resume are spelled correctly. I once saw a resume in which the person misspelled their own name (they did not get hired). Don't lie on the resume. Since 9/11, airlines are required to do exhaustive background checks on all applicants--particularly flight crew members.
2. Dress business-like and conservatively. If you are female, they will not care that your gold lame party dress that barely covers your butt looks good on you (or so you think ). If you are male, make sure that you have, at least, dress slacks, sport coat (in a conservative color), white shirt, tie (knotted and drawn up to the neck), and shined shoes.
3. Women: Nails manicured to a reasonable length--red or clear polish. (No they don't want to see the green polish that matches your dress). Guys: nails clipped short and CLEAN.
4. Make sure that you have a well thought out answer to the question, "Why do you want to be a flight attendant?" Do not say, "I just want to work with people." That is a non-answer. Unless you are a professional hermit you will always be working with people.
5. Make sure that you are confident within you that you are ready to get up and move to any base United assigns you to at the end of training. The least hesitation when they ask you that question will kill your chances. The airline doesn't care that you are close to your family and want to be based in ORD so that your commute to Ashtabula won't be too hard.
6. Be sure that you are flexible in your life and work. This week because of weather around the country, I have not ended up a single place that I started out for that morning. If you can't function unless you are on a regular schedule, don't apply for the job of flight attendant.
7. Make sure that you have the resources to attend 4-6 weeks of training without pay. As far as I know, United is like AA (my airline) and pays for your meals and hotel room while you are in training, but nothing else. You are not a company employee until you successfully complete training and report for work somewhere.

Good luck!

Thank you. I appreciate your advise and will follow it.
I am currently an customer service agent with another airline that offers free unlimited space available travel to its employees. Does United offer free travel for its employees or is there a charge involved? I know AA charges a service fee and DL charges a $50.00 fee to set up your travel data base but offers free travel to its employees.

 

[Highlander]

Thank you. I appreciate your advise and will follow it.
I am currently an customer service agent with another airline that offers free unlimited space available travel to its employees. Does United offer free travel for its employees or is there a charge involved? I know AA charges a service fee and DL charges a $50.00 fee to set up your travel data base but offers free travel to its employees.

I found this in the forum so the non rev question has been answered. Thanks!
Are these taxes and other fees payroll deducted?

BIG NEWS - SERVICE CHARGE FEES changed

Effective 01 Nov 2007 For NRSAs, Active and Retirees

Complete details in copy of 27 Aug 2007 NEWSREAL below:





SPECIAL NEWSREAL



Please Post Promptly Monday, August 27, 2007



----------------------------------------------------



Today's Special News:






1. United Announces Enhancements to Pleasure
Travel/NRSA Policy






----------------------------------------------------



United Announces Enhancements to Pleasure
Travel/NRSA Policy



----------------------------------------------------



United is enhancing its pleasure travel policy for
United, United Express and Mileage Plus travel-
eligible employees, retirees and travel-eligible
family members.






Several changes will take effect Nov. 1, 2007:






* First, we will no longer assess service charges
for U.S. domestic and international flights in
United Economy on United and Ted. We will continue
to waive service charges for travel in United
Economy on United Express. Applicable
transportation taxes and fees will continue to
apply.




Active Employees only

* Second, Performance Incentive service charge-
waived flight segments, which are provided when we
meet our reliability and customer goals, will have
their usage period lengthen from one year to two
years. This will give employees more time to take
advantage of the awards. Any Performance Incentive
segments that remain in your "bank" as of Nov. 1,
2007, will expire two years after the date of
issuance. You can see how many segments you have by
visiting WebList and clicking "My Coupons."




Active employees only

* Employees who list themselves in United First or
United Business using Performance Incentive segments
but who are ultimately seated in service charge-
waived United Economy will have their Performance
Incentive segments returned to their "bank" of
unused segments.






* Next, we're simplifying the way pleasure travel
service charges for United First and United Business
are calculated that, in many cases, will reduce the
cost. Premium cabin travel prices will be based on
a new zonal fee structure, matching the Zonal
Employee Discount (ZED) service charge structure
currently used on some interline carriers. ZED
pricing is based on the mileage between a point-to-
point origin and destination.






* Premium cabin prices will be discounted 65 percent
off ZED fares for U.S. domestic travel and
discounted 50 percent off ZED fares for
international travel.






* The cost for travel to Hawaii, which we've
traditionally priced separately from other U.S.
domestic travel, will be calculated in the same way
as mainland domestic.






* To assist employees in determining cabin pricing,
the calculator on WebList will soon be updated so
you can quickly and easily see the new pricing.






* To make premium cabin pricing more consistent
between mainline and United Express, we will be
introducing the discounted ZED service charges for
travel in the United First cabin on United Express.






* Finally, in the first quarter of 2008, United
employees, retirees and travel-eligible individuals
will board United Express flights based on company
hire date or years and months of service, according
to United's travel policy. This will replace the
current boarding at BP-8C, same day, time of check-
in policy.






* As always, United Express employees will board
first on their own carrier, before other non-
revenue, space-available travelers. For example,
when the aircraft is operated by SkyWest, the
boarding priority would be the SkyWest traveler, the
United traveler, and then other United Express
partner travelers.






* Separately, we are reviewing our companion travel
policy and will keep you posted if we make any
changes to this travel privilege.






"We are pleased to introduce these enhancements to
our travel policy," says Pete McDonald, executive
vice president and chief operating officer. "The
changes are an acknowledgement of the value we place
on our employees and our commitment to improving the
employee experience, while making our travel policy
more consistent across the company and more
competitive within the industry."






A letter that details these changes will be mailed
to employees and retirees in the near future.