United Airlines Flight Attendant Uniform & Appearance Standards

United Airlines Uniform Standards

Wear only current uniform articles issued by United approved vendors.
The fit of the uniform must reflect a professional appearance. Extreme styles are not permitted. Unapproved alterations, such as cuffs or tapering of the uniform pants, are not permitted.
Uniform must be clean, pressed, neat and in good repair.
Follow the specific care instructions included on the label inside each garment.
Basic undergarments are required and must be an appropriate color.
Personal hygiene must be maintained. Perfumes and colognes must be applied sparingly.
The uniform or any identifiable part of the uniform may not be worn into an establishment where alcoholic beverage are sold or served. This rule does not preclude entering an establishment for meal service when other suitable places are not available.
Tattoos must never be visible while in uniform.
Chewing gum when in uniform is not permitted.
International uniform appearance standards apply when the premium cabin service is United Global FirstSM and/or United BusinessFirst®. Domestic standards apply when the premium cabin service is United First®, United Business® and on p.s.® flights. Refer to Cabin Classes in the FAIM or P&P manuals.
Compliance with these standards is the responsibility of each flight attendant. Final compliance direction is determined by Inflight Services leadership.

Uniform schedule

Standards vary based on the four phases of flight. If you choose to wear your uniform enroute to and from the airport, it must be worn in its entirety.

Phase 1

Full uniform, including blazer, when applicable.

Phase 2

Serving garment with name displayed.

Phase 3

Serving garment on during service periods only.

Phase 4

Full uniform, including blazer, when applicable

Uniform identifiers

United identification badge

Must be worn until the aircraft door is closed.
If ID badge is worn on a chain or a cord, it should only be plain black, blue, silver or printed with the current United logo. ID pouches and cords must look professional at all times with no other ornaments attached to them.
No other printed lanyards are allowed unless issued, approved or distributed by United.

Wings

Wings are part of the uniform and must be worn upright on the left hand side of the outermost garment listed below:

Blazer
Short sleeve jacket
Trimmed and v-neck dresses
Female cardigan sweater
Male aviator shirt
Male zip-cardigan
Maternity dress/tunic

Name bars

International service managers and Pursers must wear the name bar centered below the wings on the outermost garment.
Must be worn on the upper left portion of the apron, serving jacket or vest.
Acceptable options for the name bar are:
First name or approved United nickname (e.g Unice).
ISM and Pursers must display their full name, (e.g. Unice United)

Language bars

Language qualified flight attendants must wear the appropriate language bar when working a language position.
The language bar must be worn below the wings. When wearing the vest the language bar must be worn below the name bar.
Language bars must be worn upright on the left hand side of the outermost garment listed below:
- Blazer
- hort sleeve jacket
- Trimmed and v-neck dresses
- Female cardigan sweater
- Male aviator shirt
- Male zip-cardigan
- Maternity dress/tunic
- Vest

Female Flight Attendants

Blazer

Required to be worn with the blouse at all times when off the aircraft.
Optional over a dress.
Optional over the short sleeve jacket.
May be worn over the vest and v-neck sweater.

Short sleeve jacket

Must be worn fully buttoned with skirt or pants.
May not be worn tucked in or belted.
May not be worn over a blouse or dress.

Blouse

Wear only with pants and skirt.
Must be worn with the scarf and blazer.
Must be fully buttoned at all times.
Collar must be worn in the down position.
Must be worn tucked in at all times.
Long sleeves must be worn fully extended and buttoned.

Vest

May be worn underneath the blazer with the blouse and pants or skirt.
Must be buttoned at all times.
When the tailored vest is used as a serving garment it may be worn in all cabins on all domestic flights and international United Economy.
Not approved as an outermost garment.

Sweaters

Cardigan sweater may be worn over a dress, short sleeve jacket, skirt, pants and blouse.
Can only be worn as an outermost garment when flying domestically.
V-neck sweater may be worn on the aircraft and only over the blouse. When off the aircraft, it may only be worn underneath the blazer. The v-neck sweater is never worn as the outermost garment in Phases 1 and 4.
Cannot be tied around the neck or waist.

Skirt

Length may not exceed 1 inch above or 1 inch below the crease of the back of the knee.
Worn with blouse, scarf and blazer or short sleeve jacket.

Pants

Must be hemmed to touch the top of the shoe.
May not be tapered, cuffed or pegged.
Worn with blouse, scarf and blazer or short sleeve jacket.

Trimmed and v-neck dress

Length must not exceed 1 inch above or 1 inch below the crease of the

back of the knee.
Trimmed dress may be worn with the optional United issued belt.

Scarf

Required with the uniform blouse.
Only one current uniform scarf may be worn at a time.
May only be worn tied around the neck or under the collar of the blouse.
Must be tied in a conservative manner projecting a professional image.
May be worn with the dress or short sleeve jacket.

Hosiery

Must be worn at all times with the uniform.
Acceptable shades include flesh tones and sheer black.
White, opaque, textured or patterned hosiery/tights are not permitted.
Plain black tights may be worn from October 15–April 15.
Solid black trouser socks may be worn instead of hosiery only when wearing the pants.
Extra hosiery is to be carried.

Purse

Only the United issued purse may be visible when in uniform.

Shoes
Must be plain (no adornment), business-style, black smooth leather, leather-look, or patent-leather pump-style shoes, with a closed toe, heel and sides.
Mary Jane pump style with one strap fastened with a small buckle or button are permitted.
Heel height and width (pump and Mary-Jane style) must not exceed 3 inches measured from the inside of the heel. Heel height must be at least 1 inch and be a separate heel.
Hard sole, plain (no adornment), black flat-heeled (heel height at least ¼ inch) shoes are acceptable with the uniform pants. Skid-resistant sole is preferred. Loafers/tie shoes may be worn only with the pants.
Athletic style shoes, mules, wedges and clogs are not permitted.

In flight shoes

Heel height must be at least ¼ inch.
Worn only while on aircraft, during Phase 2 (After takeoff through end of main meal service) and Phase 3 (time remaining in flight until initial descent).
Must be plain (no adornment), business-style, black smooth leather, leather-look, or patent-leather with a closed toe, heel and sides.
Mary Jane style with one strap fastened with a small buckle or button are permitted.
Skid-resistant sole is preferred.
Athletic style shoes, mules, wedges and boots are not permitted.
Clogs with closed heels are permitted during Phases 2 and 3.

Boots

Heel height should not exceed 3 inches.
Plain black leather boots may be worn to and from the aircraft during cold or inclement weather.
Skid-resistant sole is preferred.
When worn with the dress or skirt, boots may not extend above the knee.
Laces, straps, buckles and buttons are not permitted; Ugg style and rain boots are not permitted.

Hair

Must be clean, neatly trimmed, and conservatively styled.
Hair longer than shoulder length must be secured up in a bun, twist or pony

tail during meal services.
Hair shorter than shoulder length should be pulled back if possible or styled and secured so that it does not fall forward onto the face during meal services.
Product such as gel, mousse, pomade or spray should be used to achieve a controlled style
Acceptable hair accessories include: headbands, hair clips, barrettes (black and silver).
Color must complement natural hair and skin tone and should be well maintained.
Extreme styles are not permitted.

Hands and fingernails

Must be clean and well-manicured.
May be no longer than ½ inch measured from the fingertip and should be even in length and shape.
Polish must be only one color with no adornment, decals or language.
Color must complement the uniform, no extreme colors (e.g. blue and black).
French manicure is permitted.
Polish must be removed if chipped.

Earrings

One pair of matching earrings may be worn, one earring per earlobe, no larger than a U.S. quarter.
Drop and hoop styles are permitted, but must not be larger than a U.S. dime.
May be gold, silver, pearl, precious or semi-precious gemstones that complement the uniform.
Cuff styles are not permitted while in uniform.
Visible body piercing (including tongue piercing) other than earlobes is not permitted while in uniform.

Rings

A total of four rings may be worn, with no more than two on each hand.
Wedding and engagement sets are considered one ring.
May not be worn on knuckles or thumbs.

Necklaces and chains

One single-strand necklace or chain may be worn.
Length may not exceed 20 inches
Chain width is not to exceed ¼ inch.
Any accompanying pendant is not to exceed one square inch.
Choker style necklaces are not permitted.

Bracelets

One bracelet may be worn on each wrist.
Width may not exceed ½ inch.
Charm bracelets may not be worn.
Acceptable colors include gold, silver, pearl, precious and semi-precious stones that complement the uniform. Only metal bracelets are allowed.

Cosmetics
Apply makeup conservatively in order to achieve a natural look and in shades that are compatible with individual skin tones.
Extreme colors are not appropriate and may not be used.

Choose your domestic look

Pieces with a ( * ) can be included into the look if you wish

LOOK #1

Blazer with wings and

Blouse with scarf
Skirt or pants

LOOK #2

Blazer with wings and

Blouse with scarf
Skirt or pants
Vest

LOOK #3

Blazer with wings and

Blouse with scarf
Skirt or pants
V-neck sweater

LOOK #4

Cardigan with wings and

Blouse with scarf
Skirt or pants

LOOK #5

Short sleeve jacket with wings and

Skirt or pants
Scarf *

LOOK #6

Short sleeve jacket with wings and

Skirt or pants
Blazer with wings
Scarf *

LOOK #7

Short sleeve jacket with wings and

Cardigan with wings
Skirt or pants
Scarf *

LOOK #8

Trimmed dress with wings and

Belt *
Scarf *
Blazer *

LOOK #9

Trimmed dress with wings and

Cardigan with wings
Belt *
Scarf *

LOOK #10

Trimmed dress with wings and

Blazer with wings
Belt *
Scarf *

LOOK #11

V-neck dress with wings and

Scarf *
Blazer *

LOOK #12

V-neck dress with wings and

Cardigan with wings
Scarf *

LOOK #13

V-neck dress with wings and

Blazer with wings
Scarf *