Compare / AA vs UA
American Airlines vs United Airlines
Two very different offers for the same job. Here is what actually separates American Airlines and United Airlines for cabin crew — pay, roster, rules and who each one suits.
American Airlines
AA · Dallas/Fort Worth
7.6
crew score
United Airlines
UA · Chicago
7.9
crew score
Choose American Airlines if…
- The two are closely matched on the measures we track.
Choose United Airlines if…
- ✓Starting pay is higher — about 3% more per month
- ✓Kinder roster (6.9 vs 6.5)
- ✓Visible tattoos may be accepted — a hard stop at the other airline
- ✓Actively hiring right now
Side by side
| American Airlines | United Airlines | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry pay / month | $2,500-$3,300 | $2,600-$3,400 |
| Senior pay / month | $5,200-$7,000 | $5,500-$7,800 |
| Tax-free | No | No |
| Housing | Not provided | Not provided |
| Base | Dallas/Fort Worth | Chicago |
| Type | Full-service | Full-service |
| Fleet | ~980 | ~1000 |
| Destinations | ~350 | ~350 |
| Alliance | oneworld | Star Alliance |
| Minimum age | 20 | 21 |
| Reach / height | — | — |
| Visible tattoos | Not allowed | Some allowed |
| Language beyond English | None required | None required |
Crew scores compared
American Airlines
United Airlines
Apply
American Airlines
Hires in waves tied to fleet deliveries and attrition; postings open and close quickly on the careers site, with language-qualified roles appearing most often.
United Airlines
Large training classes running after the May 2026 contract ratification; language-of-destination roles and Guam-base positions appear regularly.
Still torn? Let the data decide.
Tax-free money or home every night? Fast promotion or a calm roster? Seven questions, ranked against pay, lifestyle, career and hiring data.
Frequently asked questions
Does American Airlines or United Airlines pay cabin crew more?
United Airlines pays more at entry level: about $2,600-$3,400 a month against $2,500-$3,300. Remember to weigh tax status and housing before comparing headline figures.
Which is easier to get into, American Airlines or United Airlines?
American Airlines is periodic intakes (Hires in waves tied to fleet deliveries and attrition; postings open and close quickly on the careers site, with language-qualified roles appearing most often.) while United Airlines is actively hiring (Large training classes running after the May 2026 contract ratification; language-of-destination roles and Guam-base positions appear regularly.) Requirements differ too — check both requirement pages before deciding where to spend your effort.
American Airlines or United Airlines — which is better for a first cabin crew job?
United Airlines scores higher overall in our index (7.9 vs 7.6), but "better" depends on what you want: money, roster, promotion speed or where you live. The reasons listed above split it by priority.