Employer Provided Benefits Minimum - 480
Originally introduced by management in TA1, the 480 minimum hours per accrual year required to receive employers' contribution to health care benefits has remained in TA2. While management refused to drop the 480 minimum requirement, the Negotiations Committee secured some improvements, including changing the requirement from flight credit to paid activity, which brings in more hours toward the minimum requirement.
With the change to paid activity (versus flight credit), in addition to flight credit, now Add Pay is included in the minimum calculations. For example, in TA1, Reserves picking up on days off and vacation moved to add pay (flown through) would not have been included in the 480 calculation.
We were also successful in adding language for expedited arbitration for any cases that may fall outside the negotiated exceptions and where AFA and management may have a dispute.
AFA made every attempt to improve the language surrounding the health coverage minimums so as to limit the impact to Flight Attendants, ensuring that those with medical and/or other personal emergencies are able to maintain their health care coverage.
What is the “480”?
The 480 refers to the four hundred and eighty hours of paid activity required annually (measured from October to September) to receive the employer's contribution toward health care benefits. This is achieved through paid time which is credited towards the 480 and and Prorated time which reduces the obligation.
What Counts Towards the 480 for Paid Activity?
In order to receive employer contributions for health care, Flight Attendants must maintain 480 hours of paid activity in an accrual year. Hours included will be the same as those used for Vacation Accrual and Sick Leave.
Paid Activity Includes:
Flight time credit, including all time credited towards assignments
Reserve Guarantee or Flight Credit (Whichever is higher)
Vacation
Paid sick leave
Training (In person and computer-based)
Deadheads
RSV Pickup on Days Off (Add Pay)
VAC Fly-Through (Add Pay)
Family Medical Leave (Paid)
Maternity Leave (Paid)
Other paid leaves protected by law (such as California KinCare, etc)
How Does Proration Work?
Proration is for time off or leaves that are not paid. Proration reduces the 480 annual requirement by the amount of time equal to the leave of absence or approved circumstance, at a rate of 40:00 hours per month, on a prorated basis.
For example, if a Flight Attendant is on a medical leave for eight months, the 480 hours would be reduced proportionally by 320 hours (8 x 40:00), so their minimum requirement would be 160 hours for that year. If a Flight Attendant was out the entire year, their minimum requirement would be reduced to zero.
These prorations are applied when taking any leave of absence (COLA, Medical, Un-Paid Maternity, Parental, Adoption, FMLA (unpaid), Colorado FAMLI, Military, Personal, etc.). They also include any other leaves protected by federal law and state law.
How does this equate monthly?
The 480 minimum averages to 40 hours a month if divided equally throughout the year. The 480 is not broken down into quarterly or monthly requirements. There are NO monthly or quarterly minimums to maintain health coverage. This is an annual accrual based on the accrual year of October - September. Flight Attendants maintain their flexibility to adjust their flying up or down throughout the year.
Special Circumstances/ Exemptions
We negotiated language specifying that Flight Attendants will receive a credit for any month in which they have special circumstances that limit their ability to fly. This includes urgent personal circumstances (e.g., family care, natural disasters, or other personal circumstances that result in a reduced ability to fly).
The urgent circumstances exception addresses situations where a Flight Attendant may not need a full leave of absence but has circumstances that limit their ability to fly.
Expedited Arbitration
In the event base management does not approve a special exemption it will be escalated to be reviewed by the MEC President and Managing Director of Labor Relations, or designees. If the parties are unable to agree on a specific exemption either party may enter expedited arbitration. Expedited Arbitration was negotiated as further protection and is new to TA2.
Why does TA2 include minimums?
At the highest level of management, United Airlines was unwilling to continue offering employer-subsidized health insurance to a very small subset of Flight Attendants who fly fewer than 480 hours per year. Their position was unchanged from TA1, but we were able to get improvements in the language.
While the requirement to maintain a minimum level of flying is new to the agreement and something we have never seen before, these provisions are commonplace among airlines today and across other industries.
AFA has consistently fought to ensure that those with medical conditions or other emergencies have health care when they need it most. We are confident that the provisions AFA fought to include in 29.A.2.g will serve to protect those who need health care the most.
When Will This Start?
United will begin implementation of the four hundred and eighty (480) hour paid activity minimum, along with any credits and prorations, beginning October 2026 through September 2027. This will determine coverage rates for the 2028 Benefits year.