United Airlines has quietly widened its pre-flight alochol ban to include flight attendants, not just pilots.
Earlier this week, I noted that United Airlines is tightening the rules concerning alcohol consumption for its pilots. Up until this week, pilots were held to the Federal Aviation Administration required minimum standard of being able to drink up to eight hours before reporting for duty. United instituted its own stricter rule, banning alcohol consumption within 12 hours of duty.
> Read More: Why Did United Restrict Pilot Alcohol Consumption?
United Applies New Alcohol Rule To Flight Attendants
Brian Sumers reports that this ban is spreading to flight attendants too, effective August 17, 2019 (this Saturday).
In the guideline (picture below), United sites regulatory guidelines as the impetus for change:
This change is to help assure flight attendant compliance with standards established by the United States and individual states where United operates around the world.
United reminds flight attendants they are ultimately responsible for reporting to duty sober, as defined by local standards.
Last Saturday, @united unilaterally changed guidelines for pilot booze use before flights. On August 17, rules for flight attendants change, too. They’ll have to abstain 12 hours before reporting from duty. From @united internal comms. pic.twitter.com/CUdu7Lmfou
— Brian Sumers (@BrianSumers) August 15, 2019
CONCLUSION
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union representing United pilots, issued a rather cryptic statement on the new rules, suggesting internal disgatreement on whether to support or oppose the new mandate. Will the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) take a similarly muted reponse? I’ve reached out to them for comment and will update this post if I receive a response.
I suspect that the recent story about the impaired United Express FA (ORD-SBN) had a lot to do with this. United got really bad press about it, even though she actually worked for a regional carrier. This is probably an attempt to prevent a repeat of that incident.
No big deal the CEO of American Airlines (Parker) has 3 DWI”s and still has his job!
Personally I’m strongly opposed to these moves. Had united announced a 0.0 BAC Policy I would have supported it. But the 12 hour change is a simple PR move that unfairly penalizes employees who responsibly manage their lives.
A great many layovers are in the 12 hour range and sometimes after a long and stressful day of flying you just want a drink or two as you unwind. Under the old policy this was possible and the pilot would show up at the airport stone cold sober the next day.
So instead of setting a reasonable standard and expecting its employees to act like adults and follow that standard United has imposed an arbitrary rule that treats all of its employees like children that cannot be trusted.