Originally Posted by
TSRAGR
So from a guy on the outside looking in, wanting to be at UAL, how does this bode for a 25 yr career? Are there going to be any differences here from the other legacy carriers? I feel like more dudes on the UAL thread have an optimistic approach, until recently. Would this be your first choice if you were me?
There's no simple answer to your question. United currently has a good pilot agreement and, for the first time since Greenwald, appears to have a CEO that want's to run an airline. Starting pay for f/o's is very good by historical standards, and upgrade times are forecast to be reasonably short (by historical standards).
That said, I would add the caveat that there are no guarantees on the future and one's career. We endured a terrible decade .. 9/11, bankruptcy (loss of pension, dramatic pay & benefit cuts, furloughs, downgrades), SARS epidemic, $175/barrel oil, Financial market meltdown, age 65, merger. The last decade was a real sh@# storm. Things seem better, for now
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Ultimately, try and work for an airline where you seem to mesh with the personality of the operation. I've always felt like United's Flight Operations policies, procedures and philosophies made sense and I've been happy here. When I was in the right seat, I was privileged to fly with some great Captains, and now I'm fortunate that, without exception, every f/o I fly with is great at the job as well.