United Airlines Data Analyst Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

Welcome to United Airlines, a leading global airline committed to connecting people and uniting the world. With hundreds of locations, millions of customers, and tens of thousands of employees, United is more than just an airline—it’s a community and an opportunity to thrive in a dynamic and inclusive environment.

Get ready to embark on a challenging yet rewarding journey. This guide will walk you through the interview process, sample United Airlines data analyst interview questions, and tips to prepare for your role. Let’s get started!

The interview process usually depends on the role and seniority, however, you can expect the following on a United Airlines data analyst interview:

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

If your CV happens to be among the shortlisted few, a recruiter from the United Airlines Talent Acquisition Team will make contact and verify key details like your experiences and skill level. Behavioral questions may also be a part of the screening process.

In some cases, the United Airlines data analyst hiring manager stays present during the screening round to answer your queries about the role and the company itself. They may also indulge in surface-level technical and behavioral discussions.

The whole recruiter call should take about 30 minutes.

Technical Virtual Interview

Successfully navigating the recruiter round will present you with an invitation for the technical screening round. Technical screening for the United Airlines data analyst role usually is conducted through virtual means, including video conference and screen sharing. Questions in this 1-hour long interview stage may revolve around United Airlines’ data systems, programming languages like SQL, and analytical tools such as advanced Excel.

In the case of data analyst roles, take-home assignments regarding product metrics, analytics, and data visualization are incorporated. Apart from these, your proficiency in solving puzzles, guesstimates, and theoretical questions on linear regression and generalized linear models may also be assessed during the round.

Onsite Interview Rounds

Followed by a second recruiter call outlining the next stage, you’ll be invited to attend the onsite interview loop. Multiple interview rounds, varying with the role, will be conducted during your day at the United Airlines office. Your technical prowess, including SQL, BRD writing capabilities, and Teradata knowledge, will be evaluated against the finalized candidates throughout these interviews.

If you were assigned take-home exercises, a presentation round may also await you during the onsite interview for the data analyst role at United Airlines.

Typically, interviews at United Airlines vary by role and team, but commonly Data Analyst interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

1. Write a function knn to find the nearest data point to a given query point using Euclidean distance.**

Write a function knn which returns the nearest data point from a list of data points to a given query point. Use Euclidean distance as the similarity measure. For this task, consider ( k=1 ), meaning you only need to find the single closest data point. External libraries such as numpy and scikit-learn are not allowed.

2. How would you implement a KNN function to find the nearest data point using Euclidean distance?

Write a function knn that returns the nearest data point from a list of data points to a given query point using Euclidean distance. Assume ( k=1 ), meaning you only need to find the single closest data point. Do not use external libraries like numpy or scikit-learn.

Example:

Input:

data_points = [
    [1, 2, 3],
    [4, 5, 6],
    [7, 8, 9]
]

querying_point = [1, 9, 7]

Output:

def knn(data_points: List[List[float]], query_point: List[float]) -> List[float]:
    return [4, 5, 6]

3. What factors could have biased Jetco’s study on boarding times, and what would you investigate?

Jetco, a new airline flying domestically across North America, found it had the fastest average boarding times in a study. Identify potential biases in this result and specify what aspects you would investigate to validate the findings.

You should plan to brush up on any technical skills and try as many practice interview questions and mock interviews as possible. A few tips for acing your United Airlines data analyst interview include:

• Know Your SQL and Excel: United Airlines questions often rely heavily on your proficiency with SQL and advanced Excel. Ensure you are well-versed in these areas and can confidently answer related questions.
• Be Data Driven: United Airlines’ interviews assess how well you can provide business-driving insights with data analytics. Brush up on your knowledge of statistics, probability, and visualization tools given these questions can be some of the most complex.
• Follow the STAR Method: Behavioral questions during United Airlines interviews are typically designed to evaluate your problem-solving and teamwork skills. Practice responding to these questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

What is the average salary for a Data Analyst at United Airlines?

What types of technical skills are essential for a Data Analyst role at United Airlines?

Strong knowledge of SQL, experience with BI tools (like PowerBI and Tibco Spotfire), advanced Excel skills, and familiarity with ecommerce platforms are crucial. Additional skills in data visualization, error pattern analysis, and handling large datasets are highly valued.

How important is cultural fit during the interview for a Data Analyst position at United Airlines?

Cultural fit is very important. Interviewers will assess this through behavioral questions, focusing on how you handle cross-department communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Behavioral answers often follow the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format.

Are there any preferred qualifications for a Data Analyst role at United Airlines?

While a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field is required, a master’s degree and relevant certifications (like Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate) boost your application. Experience with tools like DataDog, Palantir Foundry, and AWS services is a plus.

A Data Analyst role at United Airlines offers a unique and rewarding opportunity to be part of a global team driven by innovation, inclusion, and the promise of excellence. As gleaned from the varied interview experiences, the process is thorough, encompassing technical and behavioral assessments, ensuring that candidates are well-equipped to meet the company’s high standards.

If you want more insights about the company, check out our main United Airlines Interview Guide, where we have covered many interview questions that could be asked. We’ve also created interview guides for other roles, such as data scientist and business analyst, where you can learn more about United Airlines’ interview process for different positions.

Good luck with your interview!