Source: Elines

Flight Attendants & Pilots traveling to cover flight assignments are automatically granted ‘must ride’ status when they are assigned to deadhead to/from covering a flight. This status is granted because of the critical impact the absence of those traveling at this boarding priority would have if they were not to arrive at their destination as scheduled. Employees traveling at any PS0 boarding priority cannot be asked whether they are declaring ‘must ride status’ at the departure gate for any reason, including during an oversale situation.

Again, PS0 travelers, including PS0X on United Express, should never be asked nor are they expected to declare must ride status. They are to be accommodated as booked on the flight.

All other employees traveling on company business at other boarding priorities must use their best judgment and may declare ‘must ride’ status, when necessary. In an oversale situation, positive space travelers who are not PS0 should be alerted by the CSR that a potential oversale situation exists and the CSR may ask the traveler if she/he is declaring must ride status.  

When declaring must ride under these circumstances, the CSR should not challenge the decision or ask for additional validation, justification or supervisor contact information other than the employee file number to enter into Aero.

When not declaring must ride status on any boarding priority other than a PS0, the employee should board the aircraft after all revenue customers but before standby customers. It is the responsibility of the CSR to advise the employee when her/his seat is needed to accommodate a confirmed revenue customer. An additional responsibility includes booking the employee who was denied boarding on the next available flight.