SkyGuide for Crews
Airline Contract, Grievance, and Leave Questions
How FMLA Works for Flight Attendants and Pilots
Airline flight crew employees have special FMLA hours-of-service and leave-calculation rules, including the 60-percent guarantee and 504-hour eligibility test.
Reviewed against primary U.S. sources - July 15, 2026
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Short answer
Eligible airline flight crew employees use special FMLA rules. In addition to the general employer, tenure, and worksite requirements, the crew hours test is generally met by working or being paid for at least 60 percent of the applicable monthly guarantee and at least 504 duty or paid hours during the prior 12 months. Eligible crew receive 72 days for most FMLA reasons, subject to the governing rules.
Supported now: United and American flight attendants and pilots, Alaska flight attendants, and Delta pilots.
My contract is supported - sign up Not listed? See the waitlist and progress optionsReserve and lineholder guarantees differ
For a lineholder, the applicable guarantee is generally the minimum hours the employer agreed to schedule. For reserve, it is generally the minimum hours the employer agreed to pay. Personal commute, vacation, medical, and sick leave do not count toward the 504-hour component.
Leave is calculated with a crew-specific method
Eligible airline flight crew employees receive a 72-day entitlement for most qualifying reasons and 156 days for military caregiver leave. Intermittent leave may be accounted for in increments no greater than one day.
Contract benefits can be more generous
A CBA or employer program may provide greater leave or pay benefits, but it cannot diminish federal FMLA rights. Use the current Department of Labor guidance, company leave administrator, and union or legal support for an individual eligibility dispute.
This page provides general U.S. educational information, not legal advice or an individual legality determination. Regulations, agreements, side letters, policies, and facts can change the result. Use current official channels for safety decisions, discipline, medical or leave issues, and grievance deadlines.
Primary sources
Use the current regulation, agency guidance, and your current collective bargaining agreement for an individual decision.
- Department of Labor Fact Sheet 28J: Airline Flight Crew Employees under the FMLA
U.S. Department of Labor - 29 CFR Part 825 Subpart H: Special Rules for Airline Flight Crew Employees
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
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