United Airlines Faces suit Over Flight Attendant's Firing 5-Years Back

CHICAGO- A longtime United Airlines (UA) flight attendant has secured the right to file a legal lawsuit against her former employer, following her termination in Houston (IAH) in 2020 over alleged misconduct related to trip trading.

After a five-year legal battle, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Anna Palova, who served the airline for nearly three decades, can sue United Airlines for age discrimination and wrongful dismissal.

Photo: Clément Alloing

United Lawsuit Over Trip Trading

Anna Palova had served United Airlines for 28 years, maintaining an unblemished performance and attendance record.

Her career was abruptly disrupted in February 2020 when she was terminated alongside other senior flight attendants for allegedly engaging in unauthorized trip trading, commonly referred to as “trip parking.”

Trip parking refers to the act of using seniority to secure premium flight assignments, often long-haul or international trips, and then passing those trips to junior colleagues, often for cash or gifts.

At United Airlines, which uses a seniority-based bidding system, such practices are strictly prohibited and considered a breach of policy.

In March 2019, United issued a company-wide warning against such activities, stating it would enforce a “zero tolerance” approach.

According to PYOK, the airline had already begun using an algorithm to track trip trades for suspicious patterns. Anna was one of 28 flight attendants flagged for “problematic trades.”

United’s corporate security department summoned her for a disciplinary meeting in February 2020.

Her responses were deemed “unconvincing,” leading to her dismissal on February 28, just as the airline began facing financial strain from the unfolding COVID-19 crisis.

Photo: United Airlines

Legal Battle

Following her termination, Anna filed a lawsuit alleging age discrimination, asserting that the airline had deliberately targeted older staff members as a cost-cutting measure.

The district court initially dismissed her case, agreeing with United’s claim that the Railway Labor Act (RLA) preempted individual legal actions.

However, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision, stating Anna had presented sufficient grounds to challenge her termination.

The court emphasized inconsistencies in United’s disciplinary action, noting that younger flight attendants engaged in similar behavior were not terminated, raising questions of unequal enforcement.

This legal breakthrough allows Anna to proceed with her case before a jury, potentially setting a precedent for how labor practices and enforcement standards are applied at major US airlines.

Photo: Aero Icarus | Flickr

Industry-Wide Implications

The controversy surrounding trip trading reflects broader challenges in the airline industry’s labor practices.

Seniority systems, while designed to reward long-serving employees, can foster underground economies that airlines struggle to regulate.

United’s algorithm-based investigations signal a shift toward stricter enforcement, but the practice persists at carriers with less oversight.

American Airlines’ recent crackdown, which includes warnings about potential loss of bidding privileges, suggests a growing industry focus on curbing trip trading.

Palova’s legal victory may encourage other flight attendants to challenge terminations, particularly if they suspect discriminatory practices.

This case underscores the tension between airline policies, employee rights, and the economic pressures of the aviation industry.

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