Deadheading assignments allow us to sit in a passenger seat while still being recognized as an on-duty crew member. It is important to remember that, although we are deadheading, we must remain compliant with Section 3.I.11. a-d to avoid discipline, review the section below.
A Flight Attendant may drink alcoholic beverages while deadheading subject to the following conditions:
(A Flight Attendant may drink subject to the following rules)
a. The Flight Attendant is not in uniform.
(A Flight Attendant is not wearing any of the working uniform pieces with or without wings this includes a Crew Badge)
b. If a Lineholder, she/he does not have a scheduled flight departing within twelve hours after scheduled arrival at a Domicile or co-terminal point; or at a non-Domicile layover point will not be legal to be reassigned or drafted to work any flight for at least twelve hours after scheduled arrival.
(A Flight Attendant who is a Lineholder is not scheduled for another flight assignment for 12 hours. This rule applies to locations where United has a Flight Attendant Base, including satellite bases. At non-domicile locations, drinks can only be consumed if you would not be legal to be drafted for any flight assignment.)
c. If a Reserve, she/he would not be legal for assignment for twelve hours after scheduled arrival at a Domicile, coterminal or non-Domicile point.
(A Flight Attendant who is on Reserve regardless of location would have to not be legal for any additional flight assignments.)
d. If the conditions above are met, the Flight Attendant may drink after takeoff, and in the event of multi-segment deadhead, may only drink on the final deadhead segment.
(Deadheading Flight Attendants may not enjoy pre-departure beverages, and must wait until after the aircraft has taken off, and only on the final segment of a deadhead.)
Under these provisions, it is worth noting that at non-Domicile layover points, we often can be drafted in an instance to work another flight. Make sure to remember this when weighing your choice to consume a drink on your last deadhead segment.
To reiterate, a Flight Attendant may only drink AFTER takeoff in every single scenario, this is important to remember before you grab a pre-departure beverage at the gate. Flight Attendants are advised to not risk discipline, the safest course of action if you question your legalities is to not drink.
