With 27 years to go I'll be one of those extreme types Hummingbear warned you about. (Plus it's more like 29 years because based on what I understand the change to age 67 for retirements is a done deal and is a question of when not if.)

Assuming you got hired in the next year or two and age 67 happens and the new contract passes, you will have 27 years of UAL putting 18% into your 401k. I don't know how much you make now, but I'm willing to bet this alone FAR outweighs anything retirement wise you might have today. Beyond the retirement money there is also the simple fact that you can have the exact same life style you now enjoy living in Virginia if that is what you wish within a few short years. There is uncertainty in the timing of that move and true it could be 1 year or 5 depending on economics and politics, but I would argue there is a 100% certainty you would get there eventually.

There is a website open to the public, UPA23.com, that outlines what the new contract has to offer. Take a close look and compare that to a future staying where you are. My guess is, there will be no comparison.


EDIT: To answer your question as regards fleet types, the choice of fleets can dramatically alter both how much you work and what that work looks like. One position might give you weekends and holidays off put send you to tiny midwestern airports and another position might cost you a holiday trip or two but you'd be laying over in Japan or Germany. Nice thing about Dulles is you'd have a choice of virtually every type of flying United has to offer.