Most of us doing the hiring process now at the airlines would say it is (by choice) DAL, UAL, and AA in that order. Based on company strength, future potential, junior line # growth, etc. I had an app in with DAL and AA, but United emailed me fairly quickly. I guess it depends on who asks you to the dance first. I still haven't heard from either of the other two yet. It was posted earlier, but if you get in with one of those three, I would hope over a career period you would be OK. But look at Eastern, Pan Am, TWA, etc. So in the end, it's a crap shoot at best probably. I wouldn't leave United to go to Delta or AA, though.