Which seat are you booked in?
On a domestic (Basic) flight: First Class if it is open when you are booked. Otherwise Business on a three-class aircraft, then Economy Plus, booked aisle first, then window, then middle. § 5-C-1 § 5-C-1-a-(1) § 5-C-1-a-(2) If First opens up later, you are upgraded automatically ahead of upgrading passengers, unless you were booked within three hours of departure. § 5-C-1
On a Global flight: Business, then First, and if both are full Business is overbooked for you. You can never be put in Economy or Economy Plus on a Global deadhead. § 5-C-2 Any deadhead leg, or run of deadheads in one duty period, longer than eight hours is booked under the Global rules. § 5-C-1-b
What if you end up in a middle seat?
If you have to deadhead in an Economy middle seat (including Economy Plus and Premium Economy), you get Add Pay of half the leg’s scheduled flight time. You can’t reseat yourself to earn it, and the claim needs your reservation number and seat. § 5-C-1-g
Can you be downgraded or moved?
A pilot booked in First or Business is downgraded only after every passenger and pass rider holding a free upgrade has been downgraded, and never to make room for a free upgrade. § 5-C-1-e Within a cabin you can only be moved for disabled seating, missed check-in requirements or a seat map change, and the new seat must be the same type unless you agree. § 5-C-3
What about off-line deadheads?
Off-line deadheads under three hours can be booked in Economy. At three hours or more it is Business, then First, then Economy, but not Economy on a Global flight of three hours or more if a legal United routing exists, unless you agree. § 5-C-4-a § 5-C-4-b
How is deadheading paid?
At your blended pay rate, which averages the rates of all aircraft types in your equipment by fleet count. § 3-A-3 § 3-A-3-a
Can you skip the deadhead and travel on your own?
Yes. You can deviate from a deadhead if you tell the company at least 15 hours before it, or by the time of assignment if later. You get PS5 positive-space travel, normally within a day or two of the scheduled deadhead. § 5-D-1 § 5-D-2 Deviating in the middle of a trip needs company agreement. § 5-D-4
“When On-Line deadheading on a Basic Flight, a Pilot shall be booked positive space in First Class, if available at time of booking.”
“If a Pilot is required to deadhead in a middle seat in Economy Class (including Economy Plus and Premium Economy), he shall receive Add Pay equal to fifty percent (50%) of the scheduled Flight Time of the deadhead leg.”