Just to add my unsolicited theory to this conversation.......maybe UAL knows that the experience pool is going to dry up in the future and they’re trying to space it out a little? Otherwise they’re going to have a span of time where ALL their new-hires are “unworthy” of the standards WE all think they should have. I freely admit, I’m jealous as hell. I’ve been slugging it out at a wounded regional for well over a decade, and I have a CHANCE at a CHANCE to go to UAL....maybe. But it’s their game and their rules. When I think too much about it, it doesn’t help my state of mind much, but when I’m as objective as I can be, that’s the theory I come up with. I think they’re trying to drag out the experienced applicants so they still have some, while also making sure they have experienced guys and gals operating their feed. Sucks for those of us who think we have “paid our dues”, but it’s not my company and I don’t make the hiring decisions.