United says about 97% of employees met vaccine deadline; Meanwhile, AA and Southwest pilots warn of travel chaos
United Airlines said Tuesday that less than 3% of its 67,000 U.S.-based employees applied for a religious or medical exemption to the airline's vaccine mandate, and that of the remaining, more than 99% had complied with the airlines vaccine mandate.
That left 593 employees who had failed to get vaccinated and upload their documentation, or apply for an exemption, by the Sept. 27 deadline, a senior executive said during a background briefing. Those employees will be fired over the coming days and weeks.
The airline said it expects no operational disruption from the termination of the non-compliant employees.
Employees who submitted for a medical or religious exemption would be placed on an unpaid leave, but the deadline for that has been extended due to pending litigation, CEO Scott Kirby said in a memo to employees viewed by TPG.
"We want to start by thanking the tens of thousands of employees who got their shot," Kirby and airline president Brett Hart wrote in the memo. "We know for some, that decision was a reluctant one. But there's no doubt in our minds that some of you will have avoided a future hospital stay — or even death — because you got vaccinated."
United's news came as pilots unions at American Airlines and Southwest Airlines warned that an exodus of pilots could occur if the federal vaccine mandate is implemented at airlines, potentially causing mayhem during the holiday travel period.
More: United doubles down on vaccine requirement with stringent policy for religious exemptions
About 30% of American Airlines pilots are unvaccinated, the pilots' union, the Allied Pilots Association, said, citing medical reasons and reluctance.
"We are also concerned that the Executive Order's anticipated 60-day implementation period for mandatory vaccinations could result in labor shortages and create serious operational problems for American Airlines and its peers," APA president Captain Eric Ferguson wrote in a letter to the Department of Transportation and the White House. "Airlines generate a substantial portion of their annual revenue during the holiday period, with a great many travelers depending on us to get them to their destinations. Our nation's airlines, and the traveling public, cannot afford significant service disruptions due to labor shortages."
On Monday, a representative for the union representing American Airlines maintenance workers in Tulsa and Southwest Texas, Dale Danker, posted a video to YouTube protesting potential mandates and advocating for employees to refuse.
Both American and Southwest declined to comment.
The developments come as U.S. airlines have taken different tacks on encouraging their employees to get vaccinated, though United has been the most aggressive.
Delta Air Lines last month took a different approach to mandates, saying it would add a $200 monthly surcharge to unvaccinated employees' health insurance, citing the high cost burden of unvaccinated employees who end up hospitalized. If the Biden administration's executive order moves forward, the airline would likely also have to mandate vaccination or weekly testing.
The airline said that as of Sept. 23, 82% of its employees were fully vaccinated, up from 75% a month prior. A spokesperson for the airline said Tuesday that the rate was continuing to increase.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.