You'll find all employee focused IT products at UA less than ideal. The company iPad is locked down and only authorized for company approved apps. It could be a useful device, but instead, you'll want to carry a personal laptop.

The Crew Companion product for UA pilots is a result of UA losing a grievance in which the company was responsible to provide a trip trading system. I'm guessing that the UA IT dept. was unable to produce such a system although I don't know all the details. The award was just a few weeks ago so the software isn't available yet. Like so many things, it's coming, we're just not sure when.