Fellow Furloughees,

The calls have started.

We are calling the top 100 on the list over the next few days as a courtesy to explain the process and answer questions. As we gauge the response from the senior furloughees we will re-evaluate how many more we will need to contact.

Initially, Continental will send offer letters and election forms to the top 100 on the furlough list. Once this information has been received the furloughee will have approximately 14 days to respond (actual deadline will be on the letter). If you elect to join Continental, they will contact you shortly after the deadline to give you your official class date, have you fill out the application and setup your travel arrangements to complete the hiring process in IAH. The completion of the process will consist of fingerprinting, drug testing, uniform fitting and paperwork.

Continental has also established a Guam volunteer list for our furloughees. The top 400 on the furlough list (including the top 100) will receive a letter (and a Guam information guide) asking if they would like to volunteer for a Guam assignment. The election will be required prior to the deadline stated on the letter. Once received we will compile and sort the list in seniority order. The most senior volunteers will be placed in Guam slots in the October 4th class. If you decide not to volunteer for the Guam list we will not count this as a bypass. Please do not volunteer unless you are willing to accept the assignment.

United and Continental recognize that some of you have a military commitment and may not be able to attend a class date that is offered. In this case you will be placed on a “deferred status” until your current military obligation is fulfilled. After claiming Military Deferment, you must notify Continental once you are able to accept a position. More detailed information is available in the offer letter.

As we continue to work our way through the process we will establish new timelines for the additional classes. I just returned from IAH where I toured Continental’s training facilities. There is a level of excitement down there that I can equate to TK when I was a new hire in 2000. Most of the excitement has to do with our furloughees joining them…and some has to do with the very nice 787 sim sitting in one of the bays (I got to take a peek and it did not disappoint). I look forward to speaking with many of you in the coming weeks and meeting you on day one of training.