United Airlines honors top employees with special “United 100” plane

CHICAGO, IL – A United Airlines aircraft took to the skies today to honor the company’s top 100 employees. The new Boeing 737-900ER features the company’s “United 100” logo on the exterior. The airline designed the United 100 program to recognize 100 employees nominated and selected by their co-workers for exemplary performance or achievements that support the cornerstones of the company’s business plan. Being honored as a United 100 recipient is the company’s highest honor for employee recognition.

The United 100 plane also features a plaque inscribed with the winners’ names on a wall inside. The airline plans to update the plaque with the annual winners’ names each year.

“It takes many talented people with a wide variety of skills and expertise to make us successful,” said Jeff Smisek, United’s chairman, president and CEO. “These outstanding employees represent the best of who we are and what the United culture is all about, and I am proud to be on their team.”

United this week honored these top employees at its second annual “United 100” celebration in downtown Chicago. At the luncheon, Smisek surprised the winners with an announcement that the newest aircraft in the company’s fleet would be dedicated in their honor.

The winners also each received a crystal award and 100,000 MileagePlus miles. The 100 winners, who represent every work group in the company, and their guests came from throughout the United States as well as nine international locations for the event, where United’s senior leadership congratulated and recognized them for their great efforts to go above and beyond for customers, co-workers and the company.

In 2013, 5,612 employees were nominated for United 100. The 100 annual winners are selected by their divisions from among the approximately 400 quarterly winners, who are chosen by divisions. All of United’s more than 85,000 employees are eligible for the program.