Well, for allot of folks CAL was their first choice airline. I only applied at one airline when I thought the time was right and for me it was CAL. I was treated and greeted very graciously on their jump seats and for that I was grateful. I thought the vision and energy of Gordon Bethune was contagious and it was allot of fun to be a part of a turn around. Allot of folks saw that UAL and CAL both had their share of scabs and that was sort of a "neutral offset." UAL was pushing hard for minority/females and so if you didn't fit that demographic you knew you should look elsewhere.

CAL was also attractive in the sense that if you looked at the ages (seniority age visualizer) you could predict that with modest growth one might be a Captain in 2 to 2.5 years. CAL had a unique age demographic with allot of senior bubba's and CAL was looking to backfill with youth. That was a combination of post Vietnam era hires and the older scabs that age 60 was mandating.

Meanwhile UAL had already hired a whole bunch of younger pilots in the mid 90's, so most folks thought a quicker upgrade would come at CAL. That has mostly been true to form, as most of the Captains at CAL lack grey hair or still have most of it left. Naturally, both airlines suffered the same setbacks post 9-11, albeit UAL suffered the most, and both pilot groups suffered the same setbacks in terms of upward mobility due to age 65.

I still think CAL was the better choice. Had friends hired at UAL around the same time and they didn't like it. It was fun, no HR boogie man in every room, good crews, Gordon had some hot girl friends, and we got for the most part prompt upgrades due to mandatory retirements.