Cobalt
Quick correction. We do not have a flow just a pref hiring processes. They still had to take the hogan and pass the HR portion. They do not have an SBI portion because United assumes that they are already flying customers around so that's good enough. They are only hiring ~50% of them which is far lower then off the street. The earliest classes they could be offer is this fall and no more than 25% of class. (I will double check all this info but this is my current understanding). I also believe they get in the pool after you since you had a CJO before them. The biggest thing is furloughs can hold wide body fo or narrowbody capt so they are coming back (also I believe that many are coming up on drop dead date so they either have to come back or resign). Many see united is in its best shape in 16 years and are making the choice to come back.
The company really can't estimate how that shakes out until 30 days out. Also things have changed a lot in the last 120 days.
I hope this info helps. And btw when I interviewed in 13 the same thing happened.....weeks turned into 3 months for me and somebody who interviewed 4 weeks after me was in the pool for 9 months. Just timing.